In the spirit of reconciliation, a Baradine school has unveiled a welcome sign acknowledging the building is situated on Gomeroi country.  

Members of the First Nations community, students and local residents attended a formal ceremony to reveal the new sign held at St John’s Catholic Primary School last Friday. Proceedings included a smoking ceremony followed by the sign unveiling by Pat Madden, deputy chair of the Baradine Local Aboriginal Lands Council (LALC) board of management.

 A traditional Smoking Ceremony was held prior to the sign unveiling.

School principal, Margaret McKinnon said that the sign, which features the image of a sand goanna, was designed through a consultation process with First Nation students and members of the Baradine LALC.

Guests at the sign unveiling ceremony, Michael Ross (CEO Baradine LALC) Pat Madden, Leanne Bovington (Catholic Education Aboriginal Cultural Liaison Officer) with Margaret Mckinnon and Merv Sutherland.

“The Baradine LALC have supported our endeavour from the start with helpful instruction, clarification and advice,” she said.

“In August last year we discussed how best to reflect that our school is located on Gomeroi land. Through discussion we were able to confirm that the totem of the sand goanna is an important part of the local Aboriginal culture.

“We wanted the sign to be a greeting, so the Gamilaraay word ‘Yaama’ for hello was the obvious choice to be included.

“Aunty Robyn Ruttley confirmed that our school sits on Gomeroi country and we sought permission from the LALC to base the design of the sand goanna on a painting which can be seen on the front of the LALC building in Wellington Street.

“First Nation fabricators, Indigenous Creations, laser cut the outline onto a steel panel and the sign was located in the front garden of the school. We thank Chris Wallis for the erection of the sign and Mrs Wallace, our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander officer, for coordinating the manufacturing process.

“We chose an unveiling ceremony as a symbolic act representing the revealing of memories and legacies from the past and the continuing culture of the Gamilaraay Nation here in Baradine.

“The sign is to serve as an ongoing focal point at our school for the town and community.”

Students presented a delightful rendition of ‘'Mirii-dhuul, mirrii-dhuul, ngandanganda' (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) in the Gamilaaray language and the event concluded with cutting the 2024 NAIDOC cake followed by a barbeque lunch.

 Michael Ross Ross (CEO Baradine LALC) cut the NAIDOC cake assisted by school students.