Minister praises St Mel’s for anti-racism project

Sydney
6 January 2002

Pope John Paul II prays that peace will triumph over evil

Church helps secure anti-AIDS drug for South African mothers

Pilgrims return to the skies

Catholic students, schools among best in HSC results

Minister praises St Mel’s for anti-racism project

Pax Christi peace vigil extends

Brothers celebrate 200 years of religious life

Abortion doubles breast cancer risk

Vietnamese fast for freedom

Liturgy and ministry programs official

Editorial: Mary for our time

Letters: Fr Ray’s ministry

Conversation: Fr Desmond Daniels, Indian health worker

Reflections: Christ’s God - Mohammed’s God

In the footsteps of the ‘founding father’

Opinion: Star shows us the way to peace - in Christ’s way

A blend of Dreamtime and history

Obituary: Lawyer, tireless worker and papal knight - Lawrence Paul Trisley 1939-2001

Reform family law to raise status of marriage, says analyst

Mary, the perfect Christian

Inspirations: Social justice may lead kids to Mass

Minister praises St Mel’s for anti-racism project

By Kathleen Carmody

The NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation, Morris Iemma, was so impressed by an article in The Catholic Weekly about an anti-racism conference at St Mel’s Primary in Campsie that he rang the school and requested a personal visit to offer his congratulations.

The Racism No Way! conference had been organised in response to some instances of racism at the school, and proved very successful in alerting the children’s attention to the damaging effects of racism.

Mr Iemma said: “I was impressed by how St Mel’s’ teachers immediately took control of the situation and turned it into something constructive. I was also encouraged by the positive comments made by some of the children following the conference.

“It was obvious from their comments that the teachers had succeeded in showing the children how important it is for them to get along with each other. Really, they’d demonstrated to the kids the importance of social harmony - and that’s absolutely essential in a country as culturally diverse as Australia.”

Mr Iemma told the children at the assembly on the last day of school that racism should never be tolerated and that there was no place for it.

The various cultural groups - 47 are represented at St Mel’s - should strengthen us as a nation.

Also visiting the school were the State MP for Canterbury, Kevin Moss, and the local mayor Kay Griffin.

St Mel’s principal, Elizabeth O’Carrigan, said the children were overawed at seeing so many dignitaries at the school.

“The children sat for nearly an hour and a half without moving,” she said. “They could not believe so many important people were here.

“I thought it was really inspiring that someone of his (Mr Iemma’s) stature would give his time to come out to a small primary school and talk to students and teachers.

“I think it shows how important they hold the whole issue to be.”

Ms O’Carrigan said that there were already signs that the anti-racism push was having a positive effect at the school.

“The children are now able to identify comments to do with racism,” she said.

“And they’re able to speak about them and come up with possible solutions.

“They’re able to recognise and sort through ways of solving those problems rather than through violence.

“I’m not saying all’s cured but I think we’ve done a lot.”