2020 School Magazine

URALLA CLUB

T his year has been a very busy and eventful for the Uralla Club. In our meetings, girls have been engaged and inspired in discussions regarding global topical issues. We’ve also discussed local Indigenous history, issues of intergenerational trauma, and courtesy of the expertise of the School Collections Manager, Mrs Lorraine Thornquist, we learned about Indigenous artworks in our School Collection. Outside our weekly meetings, we’ve created powerful installations for both Reconciliation Week and Close the Gap Day. This involved countless Grammar girls reflecting on questions such as ‘why is it imperative to reconcile?’ and ‘how can we work to close the gap’ and then sharing their answers on the installations. We also initiated a toiletry drive for the Children’s Hospital. Throughout the year, we also focused on how we as a School community can begin to integrate greater Indigenous perspectives and inclusivity.

Our main event of the year was the Diversity Day Forum. Our theme for the event, ‘Listen, Learn, Act!’, prompted excellent discussion among our phenomenal panel of guests including Sarah Boyne from The Healing Foundation, Zana Bowen from World Vision Australia, Ingrid Green from the Immigrant Women’s Support Service, Randall Fraser from the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, and Aunty Mary Martin (1970), BGGS Grammar woman and Workforce Coordinator at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council. Our guests generously shared their expertise to educate us on issues facing minorities in Australia, as well as ways our School community can help combat these issues. Despite COVID-19 chaos and remote learning, the Uralla Club has persisted and had an extremely productive year, we are a committed and passionate group and look forward to even greater progress and community engagement next year. Sierra Reza (11H)

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