Fairholme Flagpoles

The efforts towards installing these flagpoles have been the work of the Reconciliation Action Plan working group. Fairholme is working hard with community members to put together a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

A RAP is an essential document for any organisation or school because it outlines a whole-school approach to driving reconciliation by building relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school and within the community.

Each part of the Fairholme College RAP is about looking at ways the culture of Fairholme College can be enhanced through a solid foundation of reconciliation.

The installation of the flagpoles was a necessary move and is part of the RAP’s Symbols, Spaces and Signs focus. 

This branch of the RAP looks at the various opportunities to promote reconciliation efforts around the college through visual representation.

These signs and symbols are about education for all, yet they also provide comfort to our Aboriginal students and let them know that Fairholme College is a safe space. We acknowledge that these signs and symbols also provide a means of cultural expression and are a vehicle for the transmission of culture. 

Furthermore, they chronicle the communication of knowledge of the land, events and beliefs of the Aboriginal peoples. 

For these reasons, we have started to ensure more of these signs and symbols are present around Fairholme College, whether this is in our gardens, classrooms or other spaces. Examples of signs and symbols around the college are; various pieces of art from local Indigenous artists connected to Fairholme, murals, yarning circles, gardens and totems. 

We look forward to sharing more about the Reconciliation Action plan in the near future.

Tom McCormick | Head of Senior School