Tuesday 7 August 2012 Kairos Catholic Journal A CLEVER idea from the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria is enabling Catholic Schools to celebrate local Indigenous people and their stories. Proud Race is the unique initiative from the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria capturing the attention of school communities across Australia. Since Proud Race was launched in June over 96 schools have signed up to take part in the program. The Proud Race concept enables schools to record and celebrate the stories of Indigenous Australians on life-size bollards which will be exhibited in venues throughout Australia. The National 'Proud Race' campaign is initiated and supported by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for Victoria and sponsored by Reconciliation Victoria and Reconciliation Australia to develop the project.
Proud Race empowers communities to participate in keeping alive the spirit of the “I Feel Proud Today” campaign, held in February this year, to commemorate the National Apology delivered by former Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Kevin Rudd in February 2008.
Co-ordinator of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Ms Vicki Clark said that the response from schools had been overwhelming. “Schools are excited about the concept and are already thinking about the stories they are going to tell and how they will decorate the bollards.”
The project is currently in stage two and schools have till the end of August to register. “I encourage all Catholic schools and Aboriginal people to participate in this Project, to ensure that the National Apology, and all that it requires of us, becomes and remains an integral part of our shared story.“
“It is vital that this significant date is central to our children’s understanding of our history and the story of our Country’s First Peoples,” said Ms Vicki Clark, Coordinator of Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria.
It is anticipated that over 1,000 bollards will be placed in venues right around Australia, each one telling a story of a member of a ‘Proud Race’. It is the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria’s hope that the Proud Race program will grow as the bollards are added to each year to commemorate National Apology Day.
Catholic schools and Indigenous Australians seeking more information about the concept, or to register for the Proud Race campaign are encouraged to contact Ms Vicki Clark via email address vicki.clark@cam.org.au.