FROM OUR CHAPLAIN

This week’s article honours two sets of Elders.

Firstly, two of our College leaders, who are moving to another stage of their journey.

At Tuesday’s Assembly, Year 6 student, Arav Khuttan gave Mr Ben Green a blessing for his kindness, generosity in spirit and deed, and for his future journey in the education of young people to be their best, as he moves from the position of Head of Middle School to Head of Junior School.  At the end of the blessing, Arav anointed Mr Green’s hand with oil in a meaningful symbol from his Sikh religion.  A very special moment indeed.   All the very best, Mr Green.

We said good to Mr Lachie Wright this morning at our Junior School Connect.   All Junior School students had prepared a Book of Kindness for every act of kindness that they felt Mr Wright had done for them.  One person from each class was able to say their own tribute to Mr Wright and the book was gifted to him by members of the student body so that he could have fond memories of them as well.

It was a beautiful exchange of kindness, with a blessing given by the Year 4 Leaders to finish his 40 years of education.

From all of us here at Chaplaincy, enjoy your retirement, Mr Wright.

Now we turn our attention to next week, NAIDOC Week which has the theme this year of honouring our Aboriginal Elders.

Four students and I have been invited to attend the official lunch in Launceston celebrating the Elders Council of Tasmania Aboriginal Corporation.  This is the organisation that was set up by those Elders who were on Cape Barron, to honour their Elders and teach their culture so that they do not lose who they are and how they live.

May you all enjoy NAIDOC Week, and if you are wondering what you might do, here is the Uniting Church link which has lots of events, readings, events and things you can do and participate in –  5 ways to celebrate NAIDOC week – Uniting Church Australia.

May you all enjoy the Term break.  Semester One has certainly been uplifting in many ways, and I look forward to sharing Semester Two when we come back refreshed and renewed.

Rev Grace
College Chaplain

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Images: 

1 – A scan of student’s own work.  This is the front page of the book given to Mr Wright.
2 – The office NAIDOC Week poster accessed at 2023 Poster | NAIDOC 30 June, 2023.