Reconciliation Week at SFCC

To reflect this year's Reconciliation Week theme of All In, students and staff at St Francis participated in a variety of activities to raise awareness of Indigenous culture and highlight that meaningful change cannot happen without all of us working together.

Throughout the week, students designed individual message sticks to express their own messages about community, faith, culture and Country. 

They also gathered in our food rooms to make Lemon Myrtle Bliss Balls, learning about the history of lemon myrtle and its use in First Nations cooking. 

For many centuries, Indigenous Australians have used the leaves of the lemon myrtle tree for medicinal purposes, including helping with colds, coughs, and stomach pain, as well as adding a citrus flavour to food. 

Students also created jewellery using emu feathers, learning how natural materials have been used in First Nations cultural practices, including for adornment, ceremony and storytelling. This activity encouraged students to appreciate the importance of respecting cultural traditions and the connection between people, Country and the natural environment.

On National Sorry Day (26 May), students and staff took part in a trivia activity, and the lunchtime bell was replaced with Midnight Oil’s Beds Are Burning, the Voices for Reconciliation song for 2026.

Through these activities, we hope our community has taken a step off the sidelines and furthered our journey towards recognition, understanding and reconciliation. Imra Banu, Project Officer, Indigenous Program

Melton Campus Assembly

A very special assembly commemorating National Reconciliation Week for 2026 began with a heartfelt Welcome to Country performed by Wurunderji elder Daniel Ross, reflecting on what it means to celebrate and live out our own cultures as Australians in 2026. 

During the assembly, a number of students were recognised for demonstrating our Core Wellbeing Values of Empathy, Endeavour and Community. We congratulate all award recipients.

Students and staff were also treated to a preview of our 2026 SFCC College Production Mamma Mia! with Alannah, Abbey and Edie performing Honey, Honey.

We thank everyone who was involved in the assembly and look forward to a very exciting Term 3 and Semester 2. Jessica Read, Senior Student Leadership Coordinator, Melton Campus

Cobblebank Campus Assembly

Students and staff made the short bus journey to neighbouring Kolorer College today, where they all gathered in the school's new gym for the whole-campus Reconciliation Week assembly.

It was a wonderful experience to come together as a whole campus and witness seven new FIRE carriers being inducted. 

The FIRE Carrier Project is a joint initiative of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria, the Opening the Doors Foundation, and the Sandhurst Catholic Education Office. It seeks to keep the Reconciliation flame alight in schools and educate the wider community about Reconciliation.

Our concert band and vocal ensemble provided impressive performances and the student leaders represented the College with confidence and enthusiasm, speaking about Term 2 events such as house challenges, excursions and Year 10 exams.

Congratulations also to all students who received awards for displaying our Core Wellbeing Values of Community, Empathy and Endeavour throughout Semester 1. Your commitment to modelling positive behaviour has not gone unnoticed, and you should be proud of this achievement. Charlee Keating, Student Leadership Coordinator, Cobblebank Campus