To celebrate the commencement of the 2025 school year, the St James community participated in a traditional Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony followed by our Opening School Year mass. Uncle Mark Brown, an elder from the Bunurong country, welcomed us to the land and explained the significance of the plants used in the Smoking Ceremony. He shared that Wominjeka means “Welcome and to come with purpose.” Each child had the opportunity to pass through the smoke which had cleansing properties thanks to the eucalyptus leaves.
Thank you to Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools (MACS) who provided funding for this to occur. Some of our learners who joined Uncle Mark in the ceremony shared their thoughts.
“It made me feel calm and relaxed. It was important to acknowledge the Bunurong people, to thank them for letting us on their land. It made me proud that I could share my culture with the school.”
“It made me happy because not many schools do Welcome to Country and it made me proud that St James did one. It made me happy that we celebrated my culture. It makes me feel special because we feel a connection to country.”
“I felt calm and refreshed because the smoke fills your body and cleans. I wore the Aboriginal flag on my cheek to pay respect to the elders and other Aboriginal people. It makes me feel happy that St James was celebrating Aboriginal culture.”
