School students awarded for entries in reconciliation essay/poster competition [Audio]

November 18, 1998

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dr Kim Hames today awarded more than 50 Western Australian school students for their understanding of and commitment to Aboriginal reconciliation.

"Their efforts are outstanding and if that effort could be replicated across society there would be no intolerance between people of different cultures," Dr Hames said.

"If only society as a whole could catch the true vision of reconciliation as portrayed by more than 1200 students who entered this competition."

The Minister was presenting the awards for the 1998 Ministerial essay and poster competition 'Breaking Down the Barriers between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.'

He said he was pleased to see that 45 schools had entered the competition this year.

It is open to all WA students from years 1 to 10 and is used as a vehicle to bring non-Aboriginal and Aboriginal students together in the classroom to talk, write and draw about the barriers which stand in the way of reconciliation, as well as possible solutions.

Dr Hames said the feedback from schools had been outstanding and highlighted the important role competitions like this played in dispelling myths and creating greater understanding and tolerance within the schoolyard and the community at large.

"It is through these young Western Australians that society learns the truth about Aboriginal Australians. Through them the road to reconciliation will become shorter," he said.

The competition has three age categories with themes to match the respective groups including:

·      Years 1-3 'Friendship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians';

·      Year 4-7 'Sharing and Respecting Each Other's Culture - Aboriginal and

·      non-Aboriginal'; and -

·      Years 8-10 'Breaking Down the Barriers between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians'.

This year's winners are:

MINISTER'S RECONCILIATION PRIZE:

Elliot George, Year 6

Melville Primary School

Year 7, Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Esperance

SPECIAL RECOGNITION:

Al-Hidayah Islamic School

YEAR 1-3 PICTURE WITH STORY 'FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS'

FIRST PRIZE:                        Sarah Owen, Year 3, St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

SECOND PRIZE:                   Ella Batt, Year 2, Vasse Primary School

THIRD PRIZE:                        Danica Baesjou, Year 1, Vasse Primary School

HIGHLY COMMENDED:         Anna Livingstone, Year 3, Vasse Primary School

                                            Michael Abbott, Year 2, O'Connor Primary School

YEAR 4-7 ESSAYS 'SHARING AND RESPECTING EACH OTHERS CULTURE: ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL'

FIRST PRIZE:                        Ewa Targowski, Year 7,

                                            Mel Maria Catholic Primary School

SECOND PRIZE:                   Tamara Pyke, Year 7, Melville Primary School

THIRD PRIZE:                        Jackie Zaretzky, Year 6, Baldivis Primary School

HIGHLY COMMENDED:         Rebeccah Fuller-Smith, Year 5, Midvale Primary School

                                            Angie Raphael, Year 7, Melville Primary School

YEAR 4-7 POSTERS 'SHARING AND RESPECTING EACH OTHERS CULTURE: ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL'

FIRST PRIZE:                        Dustin Bridges, Year 7, Vasse Primary School

SECOND PRIZE:                   Lisa Alarcon and Nikki D'Amico, Year 6,

                                            St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School

THIRD PRIZE:                        Emily Meakins, Year 7, Melville Primary School

HIGHLY COMMENDED:         Shane Stewart, Year 7, Yuluma Primary School

YEARS 8-10 ESSAYS 'BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS BETWEEN ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS.'

FIRST PRIZE:                        Sarah Halls, Year 10, St Brigid's College

SECOND PRIZE:                   Tegan Smith, Year 10, St Stephen's School

THIRD PRIZE:                        Anneliese Bolding, Year 10, St Brigid's College

HIGHLY COMMENDED:         Phillip Sibosado, Year 8, St Mary's College Broome

                                            Jordan Sharp, Year 10, Bethel Christian School Albany

YEARS 8-10 POSTERS 'BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS BETWEEN ABORIGINAL AND NON-ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIANS.'

FIRST PRIZE:                        Justine Hansen, Year 9, St Mary's Anglican Girls School

SECOND PRIZE:                   Hope Rowling, Year 10, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls

THIRD PRIZE:                        Laura Nicholls, Year 10, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls   

HIGHLY COMMENDED:         Rebekah Barnett, Year 10, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls

                                            Anna Carew-Reid, Year 10, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls

                                            Olivia Joso, Year 10, St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls.

Dr Hames said the number of schools entering the competition had risen steadily each year, a clear indication of its popularity.

"Reconciliation is topical," he said.

"It is one of the biggest and most vexed issues we face in this country. How we resolve it will reflect on the future of WA and Australia."

Media contact: Caroline Lacy 9424 7450