Schools in the Illawarra's southern and northern suburbs did their bit to celebrate National Reconciliation Week (May 27-June 3) on Wednesday.
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In previous years thousands of people yearly have taken part in Bellambi Public School's annual Walk for Reconciliation.
COVID-19 restrictions meant the walk could not go ahead but an "equally moving event" was held this year.
Wednesday's event swapped walking for a video of students singing and sharing of stories.
The school released a video of the school's virtual choir singing I Am Australian which features a Welcome to Country by Uncle Richard Archibald, message from Aunty Sharralyn Robinson, and the digeridoo playing of one of their littlest students, Kyran Solberg.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2020 is In This Together and Bellambi Public School principal, Michelle Sotiros, said it was more important than ever to find a way to bring the community together this year.
"Unfortunately due to COVID-19 our annual walk with the community was postponed," Ms Sotiros said.
"Our Aboriginal Education team wanted to ensure that the focus and importance of reconciliation wasn't forgotten during this unusual time and so we had to get a little more innovative and creative and came up with the idea of a Reconciliation Virtual Choir.
"The video came out of a desire to ensure that while we might be physically apart at this time, it would help to connect us and keep our community close together."
Meantime, Oak Flats Community of Schools held the first of four events to celebrate National Reconciliation Week, at Albion Park Rail Public School.
Over 100 students and teachers took part in the celebratory walk around the school. Similar events will be held at Oak Flats Public School (May 28), Balarang Public School (May 29) and Oak Flats High School (June 2).
"Acknowledging Reconciliation Week is a really important part of our Community of Schools celebrations each year," Oak Flats High School principal Angela Byron said.
"This year our celebrations will be a little bit different because of the current COVID-19 situation. But we are really looking forward to acknowledging this important time.
"For me reconciliation, is acknowledging our past, but then walking together to create a much better future for all Australians.
"As educators we play a key role in this because closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is a key focus of what we are doing in our schools.
"I'm really grateful to all of the people who have developed our Reconciliation Action Plan and we are looking forward to continuing that process once we get back to normal over the next few weeks."
Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
