The story of the Gurindji Strike is the basis for the famous Paul Kelly song, “From Little Things Big Things Grow” and is also the theme for our Chapel services in Term 4. The hero of the story, Aboriginal man Vincent Lingiari gives us a wonderful example of what great things we can achieve starting with small steps.
The story of the Gurindji Strike, also known as the Wave Hill walk off, is the story of the Gurindji's claim to their traditional lands, that was taken over by the Vestey group. The nine year battle, which started with the Gurindji people leaving their work on the cattle station and protesting against the large UK corporation, ended in a small part of their land being handed back to the Gurindji people on a 30-year-lease by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. This then sparked the Indigenous Lands Rights movement. This symbolic and powerful moment in history started with one man taking a stand and generated a movement that has had a fundamental impact on our country.
Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Jesus talks about the kingdom of God like a seed that is planted in the hearts of human beings. It begins as a first inkling of what Jesus and the Gospel are all about. It starts as a grain of faith that is planted like a mustard seed which then germinates and begins to grow. In all things, begin with the small and watch how these develop into great and wonderful things!
Bronwyn Wilson, Principal