Campaspe Shire Council proudly supported One Mob Under the Sun, a vibrant youth culture event held recently at Rochester Secondary College on Thursday, 2 April, bringing together students from across the Rochester community to celebrate Aboriginal culture, connection and unity.
Students from Rochester Secondary College, Rochester Primary School and St Joseph's Primary School took part in the day, which focused on cultural learning, creativity and shared experiences in a welcoming and inclusive setting.
The event opened with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Neva Takele, followed by a didgeridoo performance by Munyari Johnson that set a powerful tone for the day's activities. Students then rotated through a range of cultural, creative and sporting experiences designed to encourage participation, teamwork and fun.
Activities included collaborative mural painting, rippa tag, football, netball and tug of war, along with hands‑on creative sessions such as necklace making and colouring. Music and shared food added to the positive atmosphere, creating a relaxed space for students to connect with each other and with culture.
Campaspe Shire Mayor, Cr Daniel Mackrell said One Mob Under the Sun was a meaningful opportunity to celebrate culture and support young people, resulting from more than 12 months of collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Rochester Secondary College.
"Events like One Mob Under the Sun play an important role in fostering understanding, pride and connection among our young people.
"The students took the lead in shaping the event as it was entirely youth‑led and youth‑developed, with a clear focus on bringing everyone together, having fun and creating a welcoming and culturally safe environment for their peers.
"Events like this play an important role in fostering understanding, pride and connection, while giving young people the confidence and opportunity to lead within their school community." he said.
One Mob Under the Sun was delivered in partnership with local schools and community contributors and was made possible with funding from the Victorian State Government Amplify! program.
