KUMMARGEE PROGRAM

The Year 8 Kummargee - Rise Up program has come to an end, with 8D taking the title for 2025.

The program came to an end in a stunning closing ceremony, with a Welcome to Country by Bunurong elder Uncle Mark Brown, a presentation/performance by Indigenous artist J-Milla and in attendance was John Murray, our Bayside Peninsula - Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO).

Through his story and the story of his family and community, J-Milla spoke passionately about the negative effects of intergenerational trauma, the importance of truth telling and how we can unite and heal through cultural reconnection. He uses his passion for music to get his message across to a wider audience, as well as a tool to inspire younger Indigenous children to actively be part of the change and help rewrite their story.

It's these messages from J-Milla and from Scott Darlow earlier in the year that we want to instil in our students and develop empathetic, compassionate, respectful and responsible members of our school, your family and the broader community.

Our partnership with the Bunurong Land Council continues to inspire rich learning experiences. Throughout the year, our Year 8 students participated in 10 events that showcased a variety of challenges that related to different subjects, and through this, learned different aspects about Indigenous culture and perspectives.

This year's challenges included brain busting Maths and Science challenges, physical pursuits in Sport and the Aquathon, creativity in VCD and History, multilingual skills in Language Perfect, as well as searching for checkpoints in Rogaining and Geography.

In 2025, 8D were victorious. Although tied on points with 8A, 8D won on placings count back. This has awarded them with a T-shirt that was designed by a fellow Year 8 student, which will be unveiled at the Junior Art Show on Monday 1 December at the East Campus. Students can wear this T-shirt to school over the remaining weeks of the year and for their PE uniform in 2026. The winning individual group though was Bodalook from 8A, who will join 8D in their celebratory pizza lunch.

I'd like to thank all teachers who ran challenges and assisted in the smooth running of each event. With more classes and more teams in 2026, who will be champions?

Paul King

Marrung Strategy Coordinator