Inducting our newest FIRE Carriers

Our College community and special guests witnessed four staff and two students become FIRE Carriers at a whole school assembly yesterday – a significant event organised to coincide with Reconciliation Week.

Sherry Balcombe from Catholic Aboriginal Ministry led the induction ceremony and our guests included, Mr Steve McGhie, Member for Melton, Helen Christensen and Leila Gurruwiwi from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and Joshua Carter from Melton City Council.

FIRE stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education and we are proud of our current and new FIRE Carriers who have committed to leading the College on its reconciliation journey.

A moving prayer read by our Liturgy Captain Aydan Dear captured the spirit in which we recognise and work to right the wrongs of the past.

Almighty and loving God, you who created ALL people in your image,

Lead us to seek your compassion as we listen to the stories of our past.

You gave your only Son, Jesus, who died and rose again so that sins will be forgiven.

We place before you the pain and anguish of dispossession of land, language, lore, culture and family kinship that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced.

We live in faith that all people will rise from the depths of despair and hopelessness.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families have endured the pain and loss of loved ones, through the separation of children from their families.

We are sorry and ask Your forgiveness Touch the hearts of the broken, homeless and inflicted and heal their spirits.

In your mercy and compassion walk with us as we continue our journey of healing to create a future that is just and equitable.

Lord, you are our hope.

Amen.

A call to action

Speaking at yesterday's full school assembly, two of our current students and FIRE Carriers Ethan Davis, a Gunai-Kurnai man, and Nicholas Borg, a Ngadjuri man, called on the College community to embrace this year's Reconciliation Week theme Be Brave and Make Change.

"This is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations such as CRC Melton and the government, to be brave and make change, and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so that change can be made that benefits all Australians," Ethan said

"I hold our message stick inspired by the words of John Paul the second in his address to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Darwin in 1986 where he stated: 'You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others'.”

"So together we call on you all here at CRC Melton to Be Brave and Make Change. Acknowledge our Reconciliation Week initiatives and extend that to every aspect of your lives. We ask you to take this call of action and ensure that Indigenous voices are heard throughout our community and the wider Australian society," Nicholas said.