St Bede’s College held the first ever St Bede’s Little Long Walk today, in partnership with the Long Walk Foundation and proudly sponsored by Happsa Group.
More than 300 Year 10 students participated in the walk which ran from the Mentone Campus along the beach to the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place in Mordialloc.
Students began the day with an assembly and Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
As part of the walk, the students carried they made earlier using ochre, wattle sap, river rocks and gum nuts as part of an Aboriginal Art Workshop. They walked from the school grounds along the beach to Mordialloc where they were be greeted by Kingston Council officers who explained the significance of the gathering place along with Kingston Mayor Cr Steve Staikos and Deputy Mayor Cr Jenna Davey-Burns. At the conclusion of the walk, the students were treated to an Indigenous Hip Hop Troupe.
General Manager of the Long Walk Foundation, Leanne Brooke said that having St Bede’s and Happsa collaborate with Long Walk on this project gave students a further understanding and opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
“Little Long Walks are an important way to increase understanding, celebrate the First Peoples of Australia and promote and foster Reconciliation, unity and respect,” Leanne said.
St Bede’s College Principal, Deb Frizza, said that the school and students were excited to take part in the event.
“We would like to thank The Long Walk Foundation and Happsa Group for choosing our school to collaborate on this project and for giving our students an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture,” Ms. Frizza said.
Happsa Group Managing Director Harry Georgiou said that Happsa was elated to be the inaugural partner the first ever St Bede’s Little Long Walk.
“We have been a sponsor and collaborator with the Long Walk Foundation for many years now. To be able to work with our local community on this initiative for the students is something that we are so proud of,” Harry said.
The Little Long Walk concept gives secondary school students an opportunity to learn about Michael Long and his historic walk to Canberra in 2004 to ask the Prime Minister to put the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people back on the national agenda.
The Long Walk Trust is a charity inspired by AFL champion Michael Long which aims to develop and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and educate the broader Australian community about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.
#thelongwalk #St BedesLittleLongWalk #HappsaGroup #Happsa #poweredbyourpeople #PropertyServices #MaintenanceServices #CleaningServices #SecurityServices #cleanmaintainsecure #Community #ReconciliationActionPLan #IndigenousEnagement #Reflect @thelongwalk @stbedescollege_1938 @derrimutweelamgatheringplace @kingstoncouncil
