Andreas, 7, with his winning picture. 72744 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Vanessa Chircop
A YOUNG gun from Hobsons Bay was awarded a NAIDOC Award last Friday.
The Grade 1 student, Andreas Weibkhardt, entered the colouring competition for NAIDOC Week along with his classmates and thousands of other students across the country, and was last week awarded the prestigious prize.
NAIDOC, which stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, works to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Activities take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week, and many schools including Seabrook Primary School get involved by holding activities, holding a NAIDOC stall and entering competitions.
Vice principal Ann O’Connor said the school took part in the week so the students were made aware of the Indigenous cultures that make up Australia.
“We have Koori students at our school, and learning about the culture is part of being an Australian,” she said.
“We are very proud of Andreas.”
Last Friday NAIDOC representatives flew down from Canberra to present the seven-year-old with his award and took part in a special assembly at the school. Andreas is the first student at Seabrook Primary School to win the award.
