Uncle Michael Bell was joined by Onerwall Land Council CEO, Marcayla Stopp and Yass High School Principal, Andrew Facer to celebrate.
Almost six months of battling difficult weather conditions, Yass High School’s latest instalment – a Yarning Circle – has been completed.
Uncle Michael Bell welcomed students from the Yass High School, community members and local Elders to the official opening on Thursday, September 3.
“It’s a wonderful thing for our community and our students, and it’s a great cultural opportunity,” he said.
“In a step towards reconciliation, we need these places, we need to promote our culture [and] we need to share our culture.”
Auntie Audrey, whose continued work with the students from the high school was acknowledged by many in attendance.
“I can see that our school is moving forward with confidence and culture and knowledge being taught the right way by the right people,” said Uncle Bell.
“To all of those that are invested in the education and cultural fulfilment of the students at Yass High School, thank you.”
Marcayla Stopp, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Onerwal Local Aboriginal Land Council addressed the gathered crowd.
“The Yarning Circle is not just a physical place,” she said.
“It’s a place of connection, respect, listening and learning for Aboriginal people gathering together.
“The space can be used for consulting and learning, conversations and coordination, reflection, celebrating one another’s achievements and building relationships.”
Culture, she reminded those gathered, is not something to be learnt in a classroom or textbook.
“Culture is lived,” she said.
“It is carried through our stories, our language, our blood, out connection to country and more importantly, through our people.
“It means a lot to see a space like this being created for young people in our community. I hope that every student who sits in this circle feels a sense of belonging and understands their voicer matters.
“So when you use this space, I encourage you to remember these values of respect, equality, truth, listening and connection.”
Attendees were then welcomed with a smoking ceremony to cleanse everyone’s spirits.
Uncle Rick Hampson, a proud Anaiwan/Dunghutti man who constructed the circle thanks to local donations and several months of hard work, was gifted a painting of the completed project by students, and was given the floor to speak.
“It makes me proud to have it finished,” he said.
“The kids are our future, and we need more people to join up and be mentors for [the kids], they need to be supported.”
The Yarning Circle was built in careful collaboration with the Onerwal Land Council and Yass Valley Council (of which the land sits on Council managed land).
Yass Valley Mayor Jasmin Jones, who attended on behalf of the Council, later congratulated the school’s students, teachers and dedicated volunteers for the construction of the circle.
“A lot of hard yakka from Uncle Rick and students and volunteers,” she said.
“Lovely to see such community support to create this space for everyone to respectfully use.”
The Yarning Circle is now open for students and members of the public alike to sit and have a yarn, as Yass takes another step forward in reconciliation and celebration of it’s rich culture.
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