Three of Temora’s combined schools celebrated a belated NAIDOC week event at Temora High School last week on Thursday 30 July. Students from Temora Public School, Temora West Public School and Temora High School gathered on the Temora High School oval for a smoking ceremony before taking part in various NAIDOC activities. The schools hold their events after the normal NAIDOC activities due to the school holidays falling during the nominated period. To start the afternoon Addy Katon, from Temora Public School, read her entry to the multicultural perspectives public speaking competition, for which she received a highly commended award. Her presentation celebrated her aboriginal culture. After Addy gave her very moving address the students then took part in the smoking ceremony conducted by Stewart James who said each year the NAIDOC activities, at the school, begin with the smoking ceremony. “There are those who've done it before and understand the purpose of our smoking ceremony and for those who haven't done it, I do a little demonstration to give an idea of what to do when we start the process,” Mr James said. “I've been able to help support the community in learning more about Wiradjuri and Aboriginal culture in general, I'm always proud and privileged to do that with the community of Temora. “Without the way that I was raised within my family and my culture, I wouldn't be able to share the knowledge that I've been lucky enough to have.” Some of the activities included some weaving, story telling and ephemeral chalk art depicting Aboriginal art, giving a bit taste of what Aboriginal culture entailed. Principal of Temora High School, Ian Pattingale said that the event is held each year and it is an opportunity for the three schools to get together and celebrate Wiradjuri culture and the Wiradjuri nation. “We do some sort of cultural activities with the kids so they can get an understanding of First Nations cultures, I mean there's also lots of understanding of culture and the different cultures that we've got and what the strengths are of culture,” Mr Pattingale said. “There's certainly lots of things we can learn from understanding and having patience and resilience for each other and in our shared histories. “The kids, they generally have an interest in our Wiradjuri heritage and of the land around Temora.”
