Girls from Oz instructor Rhiannah Boch with Lockhart River students.
WHAT began as an idea from Dame Quentin Bryce 15 years ago has blossomed into an all-singing, all-dancing success story which will be showcased this week in Lockhart River as students perform a special Sorry Day concert.
“I could never have dreamt 15 years ago what it could do, what it could mean for young ones in very remote First Nations communities in our country,” Dame Quentin said ahead of the community concert this Friday.
Dame Quentin, former Governor-General of Australia, is the patron of the charity Girls from Oz, and recommended the group work with youth in Lockhart River.
The group uses performing arts to engage with students, particularly Aboriginal girls and young women in remote Australia, and visits Lockhart River four times a year.
Three Girls from Oz instructors will spend this week working with students singing, dancing, performing and learning about culture, culminating in a school concert on National Sorry Day this Friday.
Lockhart River Elders taught instructors a special song called Old Lockhart, written by Joseph Hobson who was born in 1948, and students will sing the song to their Elders at the concert.
“Each one of the girls will remember this experience and it will stand them in great stead in ways they couldn’t imagine,” Dame Quentin said.
“To be part of this wonderful performing arts program is to build in them stores of resilience that are going to stand them in great stead.”
