The school kids fighting to get the Aboriginal Flag flown on the Harbour Bridge

Posted in Preschool.
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Our friend, Ben Thatcher (ie. Benny Time Music), who works at the early childhood centre, recently shared a post on his Instagram about how these kids were on a special mission to get the Aboriginal Flag flown on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 365 days of the year – not sporadically, like it is at the moment.

To get their petition in front of the legislative council, they need 10,000 physical signatures.

So, how did it all begin?

Turns out this wasn’t the kids’ first foray into political advocacy. A few years ago, the kids noticed the huge amount of rubbish on Cammeraygal land in the park across from their centre. They spent months working their community to lobby the local council – and their hard work paid off. The council installed a bin in the park to encourage respect for the land.

“They went through the process of learning who to speak to – and they achieved what they wanted,” says Benny. “They were incredibly empowered by their abilities.”

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Ok. This is a long story which I’m going to condense into a few sentences with little cohesion and many a gap in narrative. Last year a boy at my early childhood centre questioned why the Aboriginal Flag wasn’t on the Harbour Bridge. We researched and found it wasn’t permanent. The children seemed a little perplexed and enquired why and if they could change it. Through a long journey we came across Cheree Toka who is running a campaign to get 10,000 physical signatures to take the concern to legislative council. We explained what this meant and the kids wanted to help. They wanted to get signatures. So they essentially went door knocking on their own volition and got over 300 signatures. But this kinda wasn’t enough and they came to us educators and asked how they could get more people to sign, more precisely, how do we get other daycare centers involved. We discussed this over a long period and they decided to set up a Facebook page so they could reach more centre. So they did #helpkellyskidsflytheflag to date they have over 50 childcare centers, primary schools and universities Australia wide joining in. And have now amassed over 1600 signatures. Which we as educators are completely flawed by. The kids? They seem to think that’s just what happens. Only 13 more years till these kids can vote. Phew. Please visit Cheree’s site and see if you can help out and give your kids heaps more responsibility. They’re up for it. #proudteachermoment #earlychildhoodmusic #earlychildhoodeducation @kinderlingradio @littlerockersradio @triplejhack

A post shared by Bennytimemusic (@bennytimemusic) on

After this, their confidence was contagious …

“Last year a boy at my early childhood centre questioned why the Aboriginal Flag wasn’t on the Harbour Bridge,” Benny posted on Instagram. “We researched and found it wasn’t permanent. The children seemed a little perplexed and enquired why and if they could change it.”

As one kid shared, “It’s their land. They were here first… they need to feel welcomed!”

Over the following months, the kids – with the help of their educators – managed to link up with Cheree Toka, a woman hoping to get 10,000 signatures to fly the Aboriginal Flag on the bridge all year round. They printed out petitions and started assisting Cheree’s cause by collecting signatures of their own.

1,600 signatures, and growing!

Through close friends and family, and some proactive door knocking, they managed to get 300 signatures – but this wasn’t enough for the kids.

“We discussed this over a long period and they decided to set up a Facebook page so they could reach more … So they made #helpkellyskidsflytheflag. To date, they have over 50 childcare centres, primary schools and universities Australia wide joining in. And have now amassed over 1600 signatures.”

As Benny says, the 50 childcare centres involved have built a little community.

“We’ve heard rumours that there’s a preschool in Melbourne that started collecting signatures, another boy came back and said there’s no flag on the Westgate Bridge – and now they want to petition for that … It’s unreal! The kids at Kelly’s have inspired another kid in another preschool in another state!”

It’s been a busy time over here with the children with a whole bunch of visitors and of course POST!!!!!!! There has…

Posted by Help Kelly's Kids Fly The Flag on Tuesday, 18 June 2019

“We as educators are completely floored”

When you combine the kids’ collected signatures with Cheree’s and other schools, they’re starting to get close to the halfway mark. And if you’d like to show your support, Benny encourages everyone to get in touch with the centre (or with Cheree directly – just be wary that she needs physical signatures, not people signing her change.org petition).

If you’d like to give your signature to their cause, drop the centre a Facebook message on their Help Kelly’s Kids Fly The Flag page. The centre reads out all the messages they get via Facebook, an activity which really consolidates that they are agents of change. Their centre will post out petitions for you to collect signatures on, and then send back to them to add to their tally.

“The kids have really started to understand the connection they have to the project. They’re blown away by how people are perceiving them – that they’re being an inspiration to people.”

As Benny aptly sums it up: “Only 13 more years till these kids can vote. Phew.”

This post was originally published on Kinderling Kids Radio. Download the Kinderling app for more great stories. 

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