Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
Aloysiad 15-12 2006.indd - St Aloysius
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using aboriginal picture art and the traditional dot painting.<br />
We would present the painting to the School when we got<br />
back to Sydney.<br />
On the Sunday the elders had organised a special<br />
mass for us. The mass was held on a sacred site, on a little<br />
peninsula in the river. The mass was very social, with Father<br />
often asked the gathering questions, especially the younger<br />
boys and girls. There were many songs in both Goori and<br />
English. The Father had printed pictures that we were given<br />
and discussed, what they meant in relation to Catholicism<br />
and aboriginality. During the mass there was a ceremony of<br />
water and smoke, which symbolised the aboriginal link to<br />
the land, and how they incorporate their aboriginal culture<br />
within their Catholicism. This mass was a reflection of how<br />
the white and aboriginal communities have joined and how<br />
they bonded together through faith and love of God.<br />
Fr Brian S.M. (Marist Missionary Father’s, Macksville)<br />
These experiences were a huge chance to reflect for us.<br />
Living in the city it is very busy, but out at Nambucca there is<br />
a sense of relaxation and just living that is inescapable and<br />
unforgettable. The co existence of the aboriginal and white<br />
community is truly inspirational. The Nambucca community is<br />
so welcoming that we were accepted immediately and I’m<br />
sure will always be welcome as members of their community.<br />
It is a beautiful thing, how every body knows everybody;<br />
so that no matter where you go in the town you are always<br />
guaranteed a friendly face and a welcoming hand.<br />
Luke Fussell (Year 9)<br />
The Vee – Wall<br />
The Vee-Wall was made by the council for residents and<br />
visitors to the town of Nambucca Heads. It is made of<br />
rocks of varying shapes and sizes which are available<br />
for anyone to paint.<br />
When a rock was found that fitted our need, Miss<br />
Moran prepared it for us while we were at school. We<br />
now have a large flat rock, which we have to paint in such<br />
a way that when everybody sees it, they will know that <strong>St</strong><br />
<strong>Aloysius</strong>’ College students had been there. We settled on<br />
Left to right: Miss Emily Moran, Luke Fussell, Martin Ballangarry,<br />
William Hart, Nicholas Plummer and Brendan Lim<br />
a basic design of the school crest, the names of all five of<br />
us and a painting by Uncle Martin who was an Aboriginal<br />
elder of the area.<br />
With Luke as our painting leader we started that<br />
afternoon. Luke drew the outline of our college crest (which<br />
we realized was very detailed) while Nick, Brendan and<br />
Will painted a blue and gold border around the rock. After<br />
that the drawing of the crest was outlined in black and the<br />
larger parts were coloured in.<br />
The next day all that was left to do was finish colouring<br />
in the crest and for Uncle Martin to finish his bit. Uncle<br />
Martin’s contribution was a painting of some of the local<br />
mountains (the tribe his Dad came from) with the sea at their<br />
base (his Mothers tribe). Over the top of these was a carpet<br />
snake (representing the Gumbaynggnirr tribe, they were the<br />
local tribe) with Gumbaynggirr nation written on it. Once<br />
we had all placed our hand prints along with our names on<br />
the rock our Vee-Wall painting was done.<br />
The Goorie radio station was just off the main street.<br />
It is voiced by Uncle Gary Williams, and it is run by the<br />
local elders as a public radio station for all who want to<br />
hear it. This was where we did a half hour interview one<br />
afternoon.<br />
In a funny coincidence, Tom Makinson (SAC 1940) visited the<br />
Nambucca Heads area in October and came across the rock that the<br />
boys had painted.<br />
<strong>St</strong> <strong>Aloysius</strong>’ College<br />
A Jesuit School for Boys _ Founded 1879 a l o y s i a d / p a g e 2 1