On Thursday 23 November, Year 6 students presented their concert, Many Dreams, One Land. Through a combination of dance, drama and music, students told the story of Australia’s rich multicultural heritage. Beginning with pangea and the landforms of the Earth separating and moving to the First Australians and ‘the Dreaming’, it traced the hopes and dreams of those who have arrived on our shores: from convicts and early settlers on the First Fleet, to prospectors during the Gold Rush, post World War II European migrants, Vietnamese refugees and more recent migration from all over the world. Interspersing African drumming, expressive dance and dramatic tableau, it also incorporated poetry, songs, letters and speeches, with a couple of nods to iconic Aussie films. Many of the scenes were choreographed by the students themselves as part of their learning in history, dance and music.

Students have gained a lot from the experience: not only in developing their confidence and skills in dance and drama, but also thinking about what it means to be Australian. As Lily in 6B described it, ‘Australia has not always had a great past, but it has shaped who we are today’. They’ve had the opportunity to reflect on where they and their families have come from, and develop their understanding of how war and migration have shaped our history.  And ultimately, they have learned what a diverse community we live in, and how important and enriching that diversity is.​

Congratulations to all students on a fantastic performance. Special congratulations to Patrick I who created the beautiful artwork for our poster, our sound and lighting technicians - Mitchell R, Toby Mc, Billy S and Harley T and to Nicola B for her beautiful crocheted costumes. We also owe a HUGE thankyou to our janitor, Frank, who spent his time blacking out the hall windows to help make the concert really special and to Ms Frogley for getting behind the camera to take some stunning photos of the event.