Country To Coast Sapphire Coast Anglican College | Newsletter

A Message From Our Director Of Teaching and Learning

"A good teacher is like a candle—it consumes itself to light the way for others." - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk

Exactly a week ago, we celebrated World Teachers’ Day at a special morning tea where those among the staff, both teaching and support, who had reached 5-year milestones for their service to Sapphire Coast Anglican College, were recognised. The words of a highly respected, former adversary of Australian and other British Empire forces at Gallipoli, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, were mentioned as fitting the commitment and care our teachers display every day. The candle metaphor has recently been extended to an exciting new development that is bringing the Anglican school, Anglican parish council and church community much closer together, ‘Little Lights’. This meaningful and warmly welcomed connection, offering a 0-5 years, pre-school aged children’s play group, has been supported by our wonderful Year 9/10 Child Studies students. As part of their learning, students have planned, organised and selected resources to establish and support the messy play and music zones. Reverend David Luck has helped guide this project, meeting with staff at the College for in-depth discussions, and followed up with a personalised, guided tour of St John’s Church for our Year 9/10 students. Many of our students openly declared to Reverend David that they had never been inside a church. Unfazed, Rev. David invited students to explore each area whilst he answered many questions from the altar to the pulpit. Students listened with awe whilst learning of local family connections and heart-filled stories linked to beautiful stained-glass windows. We are grateful for the ongoing support and guidance of Rev. Mandy Wheatley, who travels from Narooma to support St John’s and the Little Lights program, St John’s parishioners who are keen to embrace the Bega Valley community, Stef Brown, our Year 9/10 Child Studies Teacher, and our Chair of the School Board, Dr Jill Ireland, who has shared much time, insight and resources. Jill brings over 20 years of experience in community outreach and early childhood programs. Thank you all. Together, we are mentoring students as they turn their ideas into a real, lasting program that will serve local families and strengthen collaboration and connections across the wider community. We warmly invite all families with very young children to come along, join in and be part of something special. This project is more than just a St John’s - SCAC activity, it’s a growing partnership inviting friendship, fun and learning whilst celebrating community, care and creativity. Everyone is welcome — please spread the word, and see the advert below in our Community Notices! Millie Proudlove | Director of Teaching and Learning

Emma's Speech to Parliament

Emma Cook, one of SCAC’s new Year 12 school leaders, had a speech she had written recently read in Parliament by the Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain. This is Emma’s story: “Raise Our Voice in Parliament is an annual initiative that encourages young Australians to engage in civics and share their ideas to influence parliamentary debate. This year’s question was: “What steps should the government take today to build a better tomorrow for young Australians?” Earlier in the year, I completed a minimum standards writing task that asked me to respond to the question, “What’s a more effective medium at engaging an audience – written or oral stories?” From that, I wrote a piece exploring the power of oral storytelling and the role of Aboriginal Elders in keeping their culture alive. After reading it, my mum encouraged me to adapt it and submit it to the Raise Our Voice campaign. My speech was then selected and read out in Federal Parliament as part of the Youth Voices in Parliament Week 2025, amplifying that Elders deserve the microphone – not only in Indigenous spaces, but in front of the whole country.” – Emma.

The Transcript:

"Storytelling has long been a practice that is utilised by humans in a way to share experiences and entertain. Around campfires, my ancestors orally told stories and exchanged sacred information in the form of song. With eager ears and light-filled eyes, small children cast their hearts and minds to the world of oral storytelling, allowing themselves to be immersed in indigenous lore. The stories my ancestors told around campfires were not fairytales or fantasy words spun together simply to spend an evening with peaceful, quiet children. No, the stories we told around campfires, continue to tell around campfires and on country, are lores and the way in which we owe the country as custodians. Even now, it is the most important form of which elders convince the younger generation to care. When elders tell stories, they are convincing us with their utter existence that country is our soul and our spirit. That in the lines on their weathered face and hands, we could trace paths similar to desert tracks, or the grooves in sea-worn stone. The tone of their voice and the melody of their songs trace our entire ancestry; the same songs have left the lips of hundreds of mothers before them, and we are growing in this moment to understand that they will leave our lips one day for the future lineage. In order to convince somebody to care, that has to be a connection. To hear a parental figure’s voice crack under the weight of the cruel mistreatment that they have endured is to be convinced your entire childhood is crumbling. The innate human response to others’ pain - written or told, is empathy, but the sheer gravity of seeing another human’s pain, written on their body, in their voice, see it well up in their eyes. There is nothing that could convince someone to care more than that. It is much more difficult to ignore somebody standing in front of you, begging you to care and to listen, than it is to simply close a book with the same message. Oral storytelling is powerful and potent. It forces us to face our humility and morals. It allows us to connect and care, and share with real human connection. And most importantly, it can convince the young to continue this culture that has existed for over 60,000 years. Around campfires, in river valleys, on beaches, in communities. The stories told by elders continue convincing the young to be black, loud and proud, more than a white man’s written word ever could."

Video:

Emma Cook | Year 12

Building Lasting Connections

St John’s Anglican Church & Sapphire Coast Anglican College

0-5 Years ‘LITTLE LIGHTS’ program commences on Tuesday, 11th November; When: 09:30-10:30 Term Time Only; Where: St John’s Anglican Church, Bega Cost: Free What to bring: Water/snack, as required