On Friday 31st May 2013, CBC St.Kilda celebrated National Reconciliation Week where we come together to recognise the 2 historic events in Australia’s history. 27 May marks the anniversary of Australia’s most successful referendum which saw over 90% of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the national census. On 3 June, 1992, the High Court of Australia delivered its landmark Mabo decision which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have special relationships to the land that existed prior to colonisation and still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights called Native Title.
We all know the importance of recognition and how good it makes us feel. National Reconciliation Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise all Australians, and the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within this country.

To celebrate NRW, CBC Year 9 Balaclava campus & the St.Kilda campus supported the Have a Ball Foundation and organised a ‘bring a ball’ day whereby all kids were asked to bring in a new or good conditioned used ball or donate a gold coin. Many kids dressed up in indigenous colours and an amazing 237 balls and $370 was raised as part of the event which was a fantastic effort. All sporting balls collected will be distributed to a number of schools and communities around Arhnem Land and Katherine in the Northern Territory in the coming months. 100% of all donations will go towards a number of projects which support indigenous health services.
Thank you to all the kids, parents & staff from CBC St.Kilda for supporting the Have a Ball Foundation and special thanks to Cathryn Quigley and Sasha Koomen for organising the event.