Today marks the beginning of Reconciliation Week and I was delighted to share celebrations with girls across the School today at both the Senior School and Raymond House assemblies. In Senior School, members of the Social Justice Committee explained the significance of the dates that mark the start and end of the week: 27 May being the date on which voting expanded to include indigenous Australians, and 3 June being the date of the Mabo decision, which challenged Terra Nullius and recognised Native Title. The girls also celebrated Sorry Day, which is marked on 26 May each year to commemorate the date of Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations. In assembly today the Senior School girls watched this speech and had the opportunity to remember all that is needed for reconciliation to be realised. In Raymond House, Aunty Joy Murphy’s book, Welcome to Country was read to the girls via video by the author and the Humanities Captains participated in a Q and A about Reconciliation Week.

It is pleasing to go into this important week having successfully raised the funds needed to offer the opportunity for more indigenous students to participate in a Lowther Hall education. Our first Giving Day was an enormous success and I was absolutely thrilled with the response of the whole Lowther Hall community to come together in this initiative. Thank you to everyone for your support and especially to those who donated – we were so pleased to reach our target of $400,000 – it represents a true commitment to our school motto, Non Nobis Solum and is a reflection of the heart and soul of our community.

Ms Elisabeth Rhodes
Principal