1992 School Magazine

Read Letter Day in Grade Eight English class, the gii'Is study Pastures of the Blue Crane by H. Brinsmead as a set text. Tills novel introduces the Kanaka or Pacific Island people as charac- 16rs and thus an area of general interest to the airls is revealed. Within our society there seems to be little awareness of the role of the Kanakas in Queensland history, as major con- in butors to the Sugar Industry in the state. The romance- filled tales of dastardly blackbirdei's kidnappino Pacific island people and whisking them away 10 North Queensland fired the girls' imagination and sympathy and viewing some videos of programs on the Kanakas and also a "Meet the Press" session where their CUI'lent problems were voiced bi. ought out their sense of social justice With their enthusiasm and indignation fired up, Grade 8F wrote letters 10 the Prime Ministei'. Mr Keaiing, I'eqLiesiing that some recognition of the role of the Kanakas be made at an official level. The Kanakas' descendants have also been ignored on Australian Census Fomis, which the oirls also sought to redress

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Sharon Do\1.1ing with Sieven Herrick

ing their talents with assorted props to present a filling lauricli foi' a book of perfoimance poetry. The Gritliusiastic response of boili staff and students to the poetry in performance provided living evidence that poet- ry still serves, in Dryden's words, both to instruct and to delight, especially when both the poet and his verse have such contemporary leievance and appeal BRUCE DAWE The staff and students of the Enolish Department were privileged and delighted to welcome a very special guest, Dr Bruce Dawe, one of Australia's foremost and most famous poets, to the school on Friday, 30th October The program for the day was a busy one for Dr Dawe, and it enabled many students in the school to have the OPPortu- ITity to listen to. speak with, and work with a poet who is so highly esteemed by, and so popular with, staff and SIu- dents alike. Small groups of students who enjoy writing and reading their own poetry were given the opportunity of sharing this, and of benefitino from the advice of Dr Dawe on the art and craft of creating a successful poem One of the lastino memories which Year 12 students will take with them from the school. and SUI'ely the best English "double" they have ever had, was Ihe seminar, comprising readings and discussion of his poems, conduct- ed by Dr Dawe in the Gehmiann Theatre. This constituted a very special extension of the Unit on Modern Australian Poetry in which the Year 12 students were currently engaged. The acclamation which followed the session was as much a tribute to the warmth, humour and humanity of Bruce Dawe. the person. as it was for the accomplishments of Bruce Dawe, the poet.

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They processed these letters on Word Processors and they were duly posted off to Canberra. To our surprise, about two weeks later, a special Census of South Sea Islander people was announced; we swelled with pride! As a final result, a letter was received form Laurie Brereton, M. P. , the PI'line Minister's Parliamentary Secretary, expressing Mr Keating's pleasui'e at their awareness of such issues and oLitlining future action. This has been a valuable lesson in the benefits of letter writino to one's Meinbei. of Parliament and a pleasant result for all concerned.

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Mrs Col\\. ill introduces Dr Dawe to a seminar uruup

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