Celebrating Country – Deanside’s Smoking Ceremony
To connect to the land on which they play, learn and grow on, Aspire Deanside held a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country event. On Friday the 20th of September, Aspire Deanside’s Smoking Ceremony welcomed in community members, Aspire families and other local connections. As part of the celebrations, the guests took part in the “Little Long Walk”, an initiative from The Long Walk Foundation. Overall, we had a wonderful time, read all about it below!
Recently, we hosted a powerful Smoking Ceremony at our Aspire Deanside centre where we embraced cultural learning, connection, and joy. Craig Murphy led the ceremony, introducing the children to the significance of the event. He also shared the powerful story from the book Welcome to Country. He captivated everyone with an interactive session, using a didgeridoo to make animal sounds that delighted both children and adults.
Community members, including an electorate officer, real estate agents, builders, doctors, our management team, families, and staff from our sister centres, joined us. Together, we celebrated this special occasion, strengthening our sense of unity and learning.
The children actively participated in the Smoking Ceremony, walking through the smoke and placing leaves in it to symbolise cleansing and connection to land. They also received special sand marks, which deepened their engagement with this cultural ceremony. Everyone felt the significance of these moments as we honoured Indigenous traditions.
After the ceremony, we embarked on a Little Long Walk around the centre, hosted by the First Nations organisation, The Long Walk. This initiative teaches Indigenous cultures and history, and the Little Long Walk offered a unique opportunity for our community to learn and celebrate together. Walking alongside our community members, we embraced the spirit of unity and learning.
We concluded the day by enjoying delicious food prepared by our dedicated educators. Their hard work made the celebration even more special, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who participated and made this day unforgettable. The Deanside Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country was a wonderful celebration. Because of this, it reminded us of the importance of learning from and respecting First Nations Cultures. We look forward to continuing these celebrations in the future!
Aspire Early Education and Kindergarten Deanside currently has limited vacancies at the centre. If you want to secure a spot, call 1800 978 429 or click the button below.
