Ormond College Master, Lara McKay welcomed students, alumni, staff of the College and staff of Murrup Barak from the University of Melbourne to NAIDOC Week Formal Hall in the College Dining Hall on Monday 8 August, 2022.

Alana Ryan (2014) speaks at NAIDOC Week Formal Hall

The theme of NAIDOC Week 2022 is “Get Up – Stand Up – Show Up” – celebrating the history, culture and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week was held nationally from 3-10 July 2022, however as this is typically a university mid-year holiday, Ormond holds its own NAIDOC Week in week 3.

Alumna Alana Ryan (2014) delivered a thought-provoking speech on her Indigenous ancestry, time at Ormond, and career as a history teacher at Presbyterian Ladies College in Melbourne.

“This NAIDOC Week theme has got me thinking about what I’ve learnt about activism, the importance of being well informed and having a good mentor when fighting the good fight,” said Alana.

Alana was integral in the development of Ormond College’s second Reconciliation Action Plan to Reconciliation Australia and it was wonderful to welcome her back to College for this special event.

Following Formal Hall, Alana was joined by Todd Fernando (2014) who is the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities and was a former OC Indigenous Representative, President of the Indigenous Committee, Ryan Archer and acting Vice-Master, Di Bambra for a Fireside Chat in the SCR.

The topic of The Development of the Ormond College Reconciliation Action Plan (OC RAP) was discussed in its past, present and future form. With Todd Fernando drafting and submitting the first OC RAP, Alana Ryan the second, Ryan Archer the current, and Di Bambra being involved since 2013, those in attendance received a fascinating insight into Ormond’s journey of reconciliation.

Ryan Archer said “the most important thing about the OC RAP, is that its responsibility does not sit with one person or one Committee. To be truly impactful, it needs everyone to be involved in its development, implementation and understanding across the entire Ormond community”.