Supporting our indigenous people

Members of the Dominic College community will be marching in Hobart in support of the Tasmanian indigenous community on this Tuesday 26 January.

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) invited the College to participate in the peaceful protest march and rally, to mark the day as one of survival of aboriginal people and remember that this date marked European invasion.

Almost 50 Aboriginal students attend Dominic College, one of the largest group of indigenous students in a Catholic School in Southern Tasmania, and the College has a strong commitment to its aboriginal program and addressing issues of injustice.

College Principal, Beth Gilligan, said that she supported Aboriginal people in their quest to find an alternative day to mark Australian nationhood.

“If Australia Day is a day to reflect on what we have achieved and can be proud of as a nation, and a day for us to re-commit to making Australia an even better place for the generations to come, then the day Captain Phillip made claim to our lands is not the day to symbolically do this.”

Ms Gilligan explained that aboriginal families and communities have long hoped that the country could find a more appropriate day for all Australians to celebrate together, especially its First Peoples.

“All members of the College community are welcome to join us on the march, departing from the TAC, 198 Elizabeth Street, at 11.20am to reach Parliament House lawns for speeches and entertainment at noon celebrating aboriginal survival. Some may want to just be part of the parliamentary lawns gathering.”