Flinders Park Primary School celebrates first raising of new Aboriginal flag

Flinders Park Primary School celebrated the first raising of the school’s new Aboriginal flag at a special ceremony on Monday. Hosted by the school’s Year 6 student councillors, the ceremony was an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the region’s Menang Noongar history, students and teachers. Menang Noongar elder Avril Dean delivered the welcome to country, followed by a smoking ceremony by Lindsay Dean, with Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington and MLA Rebecca Stephens in attendance. Flinders Park PS student councillor Ryder Ashwin was chosen to raise the flag for the first time in front of his peers. Principal Julie Simpfendorfer said the school had funded the installation of additional flag poles to permanently feature the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian flag. She said the ceremony was organised by the school’s Aboriginal and Islander Education officer Belinda Edwards who was passionate about making the school a place that was inclusive, welcoming and celebrated Aboriginal students’ heritage. “Flying the Aboriginal flag allows us to acknowledge and show respect for Albany’s first people, the Menang people,” she said. “The Aboriginal flag flying at the entrance to our school is a visual demonstration of our respect for Albany’s first educators and the way we value our Aboriginal students and families. “Raising the Aboriginal flag for the first time... and the involvement of local elders in the ceremony is very special because it signifies the beginning of a stronger relationship with Albany’s first people and demonstrates our respect for them as Albany’s first educators.”