Wakakirri state title in reach
Areflection on experiences of the Stolen Generation has won Horsham Holy Trinity Lutheran College students an opportunity to vie for a state title.
Twenty-five students from years seven to 11 are off to Melbourne after cleaning up at a regional final of Australia’s largest performing arts event for schools, the Wakakirri dance story competition.
Nine award-winning schools will compete for the Story of the Year 2018 title at The Palais, St Kilda, on September 11. Holy Trinity Lutheran College is among two regional schools to qualify for the final.
The college has already won the competition’s Best Indigenous Australian Story accolade for its ‘The Colour is Within’ piece.
The piece collected four awards at the regional final in Bendigo: Best individual costume design, best lighting design and sound call, best creative use of the signature item, and Spirit of Wakakirri.
The Holy Trinity team also received four performance and production nominations: Excellent ensemble, well-rehearsed performance, amazing moment and excellent theme-concept.
Holy Trinity Wakakirri co-ordinator Tanya Mock was thrilled with the result.
“We are all very excited to have the opportunity to tell our beautiful story again,” she said.
“We really love our unique and powerful illustration of such a moving true story of our indigenous people.
“To have the opportunity to tell this story again and to honour the Aboriginal people of our land, that is what motivates us.”
The Colour is Within reflects on the experiences of children of the Stolen Generation.
Mrs Mock said difference in appearance and behaviour could be challenging for some.
“But we can only be united and share in the process of reconciliation when we believe in each other,” she said.
“We always attend with the intention of telling a good story. When so much time, effort and cost is invested, you want to honour those who’ve provided the opportunity by doing the best you can at the time.”
Mrs Mock and the students started working on their Wakikirri entry at the start of the year, devoting two lunch times a week to the project. The process involved creating, processing concepts, researching the theme and polishing the story.
Students also needed to source their own costumes and use glow paint to create their own unique pattern.
Mrs Mock said the glow paint also showed the qualities individuals had within them were always present.
“It’s just if you’re open-minded to see them or not,” she said.
Positive attitude
Mrs Mock said rehearsals had been great.
“The students have such a positive attitude towards creating and learning,” she said.
“To see each of them grow in their skillset and abilities has been wonderful.
“All time allocated to Wakakirri is in the students’ own time, including school holidays – especially for our tech students.”
Holy Trinity Lutheran College has participated in the Wakakirri challenge for the past three years, since Mrs Mock joined the school’s performing arts department.
The school previously participated in the competition’s primary challenge.
“A couple of the stories got through to this level,” Mrs Mock said.
“This is our second story in the secondary challenge, so to make it through to the state awards night is a huge achievement.
“The college has also been promoted to division two for future competitions, reflecting the effort of staff and students that has gone into the production of this story.”