Voices Of Victoria: Your thoughts on Sorry Day, Welcome to Country in schools

They’ve become part of pre-game activities and other significant events, but should Welcome to Country ceremonies also be held in schools? See what readers had to say.

Leader reporters have asked community members if they believe schools should have Welcome To Country ceremonies and mark National Sorry Day on May 26. File picture.

They are becoming increasingly held before sports games and other major public events to acknowledge traditional landowners.

But should Welcome To Country ceremonies also be introduced in schools?

In this week’s Voices Of Victoria poll, Leader reporters have spoken to community members from Mulgrave to Mount Martha, and as far as Wodonga, to get their thoughts on whether students should be involved in the ceremonies and taught more about our Indigenous history.

We’ve also asked if schools and students should commemorate National Sorry Day on May 26.

See if you can spot someone you know, and let us know your thoughts in the comments section.

Talisa Shannon, Ballarat

Talisa Shannon from Ballarat said schools should continue to incorporate more Indigenous commemorations, as doing so was necessary to keep Australia’s history known.

“It’s not really our land,” Ms Shannon said.

“We all just came in on it and it’s not really fair, and we should be apologising for that.

“Even though it’s years on, it’s still relevant and still painful for Indigenous people, so I think we just need to keep recognising it. It is their land and we’re just here.”

David Tawil talks about celebrating Indigenous culture at schools.

David Tawil, Mulgrave

“Yes, I think students should be taught a bit more it and the Indigenous culture.

“This is more their country than ours. With the whole genocide with what happened to them and how it affected them and how they were treated, students should definitely be taught more about it.”

Mount Martha’s Mikaeli Wharton.

Mikaeli Wharton, Mount Martha

“I’m studying teaching at the moment and I think it’s a great idea.

“We absolutely should include more in the curriculum about Aboriginal culture and history. “Starting young is the way to go if we are serious about reconciliation.”

Kylie Smedley, Wodonga

“I work at a disability school and we have a lot of Indigenous kids and it’s really important we acknowledge Sorry Day.

“I do think it needs to be spoken more about. It’s good for everyone really.

“Until I started working at a school I didn’t really know a lot about it, but it is important schools do more.

“Every time we have a meeting or anything we always do a Welcome to Country, we just did an activity last term where all the kids made handprints and we did a big ‘Sorry’ display on our oval.

“Our school is really trying to engage with Indigenous culture.”

Supplied Editorial Fwd: Be

Karen Harper, Vermont

“Yes, we should, because it’s time we recognised history.

“My children never learnt anything about Indigenous history, and it’s relevant.”