Clontarf Foundation - Warrnambool Academy

Our Country 🖤💛❤

Our campaign has kicked off!

During the first week, we will explore the theme, Acknowledging Country.

Warrnambool is on Maar Nation soil. If you’re living elsewhere, check out who the traditional owners are in your region: https://achris.vic.gov.au/weave/wca.html

In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the meaning of Country is more than just ownership or connection to land, as Professor Mick Dodson explains:

“When we talk about traditional ‘Country’...we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. For Aboriginal Australians...we might mean homeland, or tribal or clan area and we might mean more than just a place on the map. For us, Country is a word for all the values, places, resources, stories and cultural obligations associated with that area and its features. It describes the entirety of our ancestral domains. While they may all no longer necessarily be the title-holders to land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still connected to the Country of their ancestors and most consider themselves the custodians or caretakers of their land."

Remember, Country takes care of us all, we can all find meaning and belonging on it and it’s all our responsibilities to take care of it in return.

If you haven't signed up for your , you can sign up here https://bit.ly/2HIkJrI

Over the coming weeks, the People and Parks Foundation organisation will be giving away some incredible nature-based prizes for those sharing their photos and experiences including the tag .

Stay tuned for winner announcements and more prize reveals.

Victorian Traditional Owners launch Australia’s first cultural landscape strategy The strategy sets out a plan and framework to ensure Traditional Owners are incorporated in the planning, policy and management of Country.

Congrats on a deadly career Eddie and thanks for always standing strong against racism 🙌🏾 You’re right, the burden shouldn’t fall on Aboriginal people – we need everyone to chip in. The shared journey to Treaty is our opportunity to make Victoria a fairer place for everyone.

Nice morning training along the Promenade today.. walk/run from the surf club to granny's grave.. all parents, friends, community and Clontarf partners welcome every Friday morning from 7.00am..

Brilliant to have staff from a valued Clontarf partner Fulton Hogan along to a high energy morning training session last week. The crew then took a number of boys along to a worksite visit in Cobden, a great experience for the boys and a real-life taste of the workforce in that industry. A big thanks to FH for this opportunity, it was fantastic to see a Year 12 Graduate in Jordan Chivers out working on site as well Warrnambool College Brauer College

Plenty of action in the Warrnambool Clontarf Academy room over the past week. It was great to have one of our Clontarf Alumni in Taylem Wason back into the room to share his Clontarf experiences with our current crop of boys. Tay also spoke about his employment journey post Year 12 and the vast experiences he's had in different fields.

Bethany Group - Community Support and Kindergarten Services have also delivered a couple of engaging and educational presentations to the boys on the strong links between gaming and gambling, where the boys have learnt a lot.

Clontarf boys partnered with Daybreak Rotary yesterday to participate in the annual Clean Up Australia Day. Again, the boys were responsible for cleaning up around the Levy's Beach carpark. Well done to the boys who participated, a great way to give back to the community as well as supporting a valued Clontarf partner.

The Warrnambool Clontarf Academy boys have been out and about in the community the past couple of weeks:

It's always great to assist a key local partner Warrnambool And District Food Share and this week the Year 7 academy members from both Warrnambool College and Brauer College received an introduction and tour of the warehouse and the boys all got involved packing plenty of bags of firewood to raise some funds for a terrific cause.

A range of boys have also been assisting Warrnambool West Primary School with their sports day and PE classes on Friday's, mingling with students and staff, getting involved and developing their leadership skills.