Tumut Community Preschool drives engagement during National Reconciliation Week

The team at Tumut Community Preschool took the lead on engaging their local community in National Reconciliation Week, encouraging them to write pledges of support that are now proudly on display in Learmont’s front window in Russell Street.

Residents, schools and businesses joined community members in the display, placing their pledges of solidarity, bold actions and change to inspire reconciliation across the community in heart shapes.

Elder Aunty Sue Bulger applauded the initiative, telling local media the preschool “does such a wonderful job during Reconciliation Week.”

“For me it’s an ongoing process and certainly is a step in trying to get that balance of equality for First Nations people and recognition for our Elders and the struggles that Aboriginal people have been through.”

Aunty Bulger noted the results of the Voice referendum as being one of the things which has really affected the First Nations community. 

“We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go,” she said. 

Snowy Valleys Council deputy mayor Trina Thomson contributed to the display, promising to respect and recognise our First Nations people across all aspects of the council.

“To make decisions that reflect and support the longest, continuous living culture in the world!” Cr Thomson wrote.

NRMA Tumut pledged to create opportunities for all children and young people to succeed, to shine and to be proud of their heritage, while Franklin Public School pledged to expand student and staff knowledge of First Nations languages by integrating them into their everyday actions at the school.

This story was covered by local paper Tumut and Adelong Times. Read the original here.