Living Along the River

The Maclean High School Art Show has been running for several years; it is another way we can connect positively with primary schools in the transition of Year 6 students to secondary education in 2026. The Art Show is a project that runs through Reconciliation Week, inviting the community to view artworks on the very spot where many of our Elders and their families lived as children. The Art Show is held at the Old Kirk exhibition space at the Yamba Museum.

This year, we asked the students to depict Living Along the River as the theme for this year’s exhibition, as part of Maclean High School’s Reconciliation Week celebrations. All Year 6 students from primary schools within Yaegl Country were invited to participate in this Art Exhibition. The exhibition ran from Monday 26 May, to Tuesday 10 June. We had 96 entries from nearly all of our primary schools in the area, which included Maclean, Yamba, Lawrence, Iluka, Wooli, Tucabia, Chatsworth, Harwood, Gulmarrad and Palmers Island primary schools. Not only did our judge award each school a first place, but they also insisted that several highly commended awards be awarded to students. The overall winner was a student from Yamba Primary School, whose depiction of their interpretation of living along the river resonated strongly with the judge.

The school would like to thank the Yaegl Elders who attended the opening and who have always supported this special event, as well as the Yamba Historical Society, who helped with the organisation and set up of the exhibition and the catering for the opening afternoon tea.

 

 

Story Submitted by Liz Hamilton from Maclean High School, Published in August, 2025.