On Friday, 13 February, in excess of 1 000 people attended the annual breakfast hosted by Reconciliation SA to honour the Survivors of the Stolen Generations and remember the National Apology that named their pain, hurt and suffering.
Michael O’Loughlin, a Narungga/Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri man who grew up in Salisbury North and went on to play 303 AFL games for the Sydney Swans, was the special guest speaker. As well as being the Co-Founder and Director of the GO Foundation which provides Indigenous children with scholarships to quality schools and helps meet their associated expenses, Michael is an Ambassador for the RECOGNISE Campaign.
He spoke passionately about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ right to be recognised in the Constitution and had a clear and powerful message for the younger ATSI generation: ‘Stay Strong. Stay Proud. Stay in School. An education helps you to become resilient, to become tough – like our Survivors.’
Catholic Education SA was represented by school and CEO personnel, plus several invited guests, including community members from Tauondi Aboriginal Community College and Aboriginal Academics from The University of Adelaide, UniSA and Yunggorendi First Nations Centre for Higher Education and Research at Flinders University.
Reception students who join a 2024 mid-year intake at a Diocesan Catholic school will get free tuition in Terms 3 and 4.
