Acknowledgement of Country

In 2022, our SRC and student leaders worked alongside our Aboriginal Education team to co-write a Sherwood Ridge PS Acknowledgement of Country. An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement of recognition of the ongoing owners of the land. It can be performed by any person as a way to show respect for Aboriginal peoples, cultures and heritage and the relationship the ongoing custodians have with the land. It may be performed by any person - Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal (but generally by a non-Aboriginal person) - as a way to show awareness of and respect for Aboriginal peoples, their culture and heritage.

All Department of Education staff are encouraged to acknowledge the ongoing custodians of Country at any forum - from general office meetings to formal gatherings, functions, events and ceremonies, our students and staff felt strongly that it was important to write an Acknowledgement of Country that was unique to our school.

Our Acknowledgement of Country was approved and endorsed by the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) and is now a feature of all assemblies, meetings and special events. These meaningful and significant words are displayed on a posted in our school hall to showcase to our community.

SRPS Acknowledgement of Country

Acknowledgement of Country artwork

Our Acknowledgement of Country artwork was created by Ms Sarah Gartside, a proud Aboriginal artist and teacher at Sherwood Ridge Public School. This beautiful and meaningful piece brings our Acknowledgement of Country to life, celebrating connection, culture, and community.

The artwork features significant elements including Dharug totems – Flying Fox, Possum, and Long-neck Turtle, as well as the Goanna (a totem of one of our students) and the Cassowary, Ms Gartside’s personal totem from her maternal grandfather’s side. Sherwood Cottage is featured to honour the origins of our school. The fundamental elements of Earth (eucalyptus leaves), Fire, Air (blue spirals), and Water (wavy lines) are represented through our sport house colours, reflecting the natural world around us. The circles throughout the artwork symbolise connection and community within Sherwood Ridge PS.

This artwork is proudly displayed with permission and carries copyright by the artist.

Yarning Circle

A Yarning Circle is a culturally significant space and process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to share knowledge, build respectful relationships, and pass on cultural understanding through narrative. They serve as a structured, safe, and inclusive method for dialogue, promoting active listening and collaborative discussion to support holistic learning and community engagement within schools.

Our school is situated on the traditional land of the Dharug people.

Smoking Ceremony

On Wednesday 1 June 2022 the school held a Smoking Ceremony to officially launch the opening of the Indigenous Outdoor Learning Space, “Yarning Circle” - A smoking ceremony is an ancient Aboriginal custom in Australia that involves burning various native plants to produce smoke, which has cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits from the people and the land and make pathways for a brighter future.

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