Maria Vamvakinou (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last Friday I had the opportunity to officially open the Tanderrum Gardens at the Keilor Downs Secondary College. It is a great school in my electorate, with excellent teaching and learning results, with dedicated teachers and a dynamic leadership team led by Principal Linda Maxwell. The beautiful new garden space was created as a quiet place for students who want to spend their time doing something peaceful, such as reading, talking with friends, playing chess or just having a bit sitting around and lazing in the sun. Tanderrum is an Aboriginal word taken from the language of the Wrundjeri people, who are the traditional inhabitants of the land that Keilor Downs College stands on.

When the clans of the Wrundjeri people got together they would do a welcome ceremony, which declared that in this meeting place everyone was equal and everyone was expected to participate. This space has been named after that welcome ceremony, so it will be known as the Tanderrum Gardens. The definition of Tanderrum really captures the true spirit of this space. Literally, it means 'to promote the energy of participation'. If there is one thing that drives schools, apart from learning, it is participation. The best way to learn is to participate in what is going on around you, and to be very much a part of it. I want to thank the hardworking facilities team that created this space for the students of Keilor Downs College. In particular, I want to thank the hard work and dedication of the principal, Linda Maxwell. Congratulations Keilor Downs College.

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