Over the weekend, Fremantle held its annual Festival. This included the Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural Festival on the Saturday and the Parade through the city on the Sunday.

Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural Festival

This well attended, colourful and fun afternoon was highlighted by the PALS (Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing) Program annual award ceremony, which opened the festival, with Director General Patrick Walker and PALS Ambassador Troy Cook presenting most awards.

Students, teachers and parents from schools throughout WA gathered to see if they were amongst this year’s PALS award winners.

PALS (Partnership, Acceptance, Learning & Sharing) is an initiative of the Department of Indigenous Affairs, in partnership with BHPBilliton, that encourages young West Australians to develop projects that promote and advance reconciliation (see: August Western teacher and our website sstuwa.org.au).

2009 was a record breaking year for the PALS program, with more than 160 schools across the State gaining funding to undertake a range of innovative projects. Each project contributed to promoting Reconciliation and building positive relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

WT met some of the teachers & union members who won awards, as well as many of the excited kids.

These included `Hedland Senior High School, who were Runner-up in “Sustainable Partnerships” for their Harmony Tree, and Baldivis PS, who won the Environment Award for their “Koondarn Biddi Koorling Kootadining: Dream Trail Walking See and Understand.”

The Day also had music and dance, stalls and displays, cultural demonstrations and the beautiful Winjan Sand Display.

See: below for full list of winners.

REGISTRATIONS FOR 2010 PALS AWARDS OPENS SOON. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT THE PALS TEAM ON 08-9235 8051, OR GO TO HTTP://PALS.DIA.GOV.AU

BHP Billiton Prize
Borden Primary School

Troy Cook Youth Award
Culunga Aboriginal Community School and St Stephen's School (joint project)

Sustainable Partnerships
Winner: Koorana Primary School and Riverlands School (equal first)
Runner-up: Headland Senior High School

Community Development
Winner: Narrogin Primary School
Runner-up: Neerigen Brook Primary School

Environment
Winner: Baldivis Primary School
Runner-up: Osborne Primary School

Health
Winner: Riverlands School
Runner-up: Culunga Aboriginal Community School and St Stephen's School (joint project)

Education
Winner: East Waikiki Primary School
Runner-up: Wandering Primary School

Arts and Culture
Winner: Moorditj Noongar Community College
Runner-up: West Beechboro Primary School

High Commendation
One Arm Point Remote Community School

School Commendation
Palmyra Primary School

Innovation Award
Edale Kindergarten