It was no less than the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir, who launched a new book - a collaboration between 16 primary school students and renowned children's books author Nadia Wheatley and illustrator Ken Searle in suburban bushland at Bardwell Park last week.

Governor Bashir said that the themes of environment, respect for differences in a multicultural society and Indigenous culture that come together in this project uplifted her spirit and gave her hope for the future.

"The students involved will make the world a better place," she said.

The project originated in 2003 as part of a harmony project between eight schools in the inner western suburbs of Sydney.

These were Al Zahra College, Arncliffe, Al Rissalah College, Lakemba, Arncliffe Public School, Arncliffe West Infants Public School, Athelstane Public School, Bexley Public School, Our Lady of Fatima, Kingsgrove and St Francis Xavier's at Arncliffe.

Rose Marie Hoekstra, the former Principal of Our Lady of Fatima School at Kingsgrove said the initial focus was to break down barriers between the communities.

"The Principals met regularly with school leaders and planned a special project each year," she said. "The first one was a drama performance called 'Friendship Tower'.

"In 2005, we invited Nadia Wheatley and Ken Searle to work with the Inter-school Harmony Committee to work with students to develop the theme of freedom.

They used an educational model they had developed with others in the 1990s at Papunya School in Central Australia that puts country at the core of the curriculum.

Al Zahra College provided a room and resources for the group of young authors.

The result is a book published by Allen and Unwin that details the children's exploration through a slice of urban bushland along Wooli Creek.

Nadia Wheatley congratulated the children for their brilliant writing and art, for their hard work and good humour, and for the harmony that they have created.

The beginning paragraph of this new book sums up its theme.

"Our story begins with ngurra, the land. That's what we have in common. No matter where our families come from, this is the place that is home to all of us."

For Further Information:
Ted Myers, Catholic Education Office, Leichhardt Tel: 9568 8224

Caption:

Year 6 students from St Francis Xavier Primary School, at the book launch with Br Kelvin Canavan and Governor, Professor Marie Bashir.