CULTURAL awareness through artistic creation has advanced at Kerang South Primary School over the past two school terms.
The school’s Indigenous Arts Project has culminated in a celebration of the students’ work after numerous workshops with well-known Indigenous educator and elder, Uncle Ron Murray.
All the stories the students have written with Uncle Ron Murray, including their artwork completed with Aunty Esther Kirby, were on display in the school library.
Visitors included parents, grandparents, Gannawarra mayor Cr Brian Gibson and three other shire councillors.
Throughout the day, buddy grades spent time with Uncle Ron sharing their books and celebrating the end of this major project completing Indigenous activities and creating a huge Aboriginal flag in the passage made out of copies of their hands with special messages promoting unification between cultures.
Each student in Grades P-4 received an individual book to keep with the class story they wrote and their own personal artwork. The Grade 4/5 and 6s have digital copies of their personal stories and artwork on their iPads.
Art teacher and project co-ordinator Meredith Jones said that the project was made possible by a $22,000 grant from the CASS Foundation.
“We would also like to thank the Gannawarra Shire for their assistance with applying for the grant. Both students and teachers have gained a greater understanding of the Aboriginal culture as well as students developing their story writing and painting skills,” she said.
