On September 21, Blue Mountains Grammar School primary students competed in the NSW Sydney Region finals of the 2016 Wakakirri competition.
Wakakirri is a national festival that includes more than 20,000 students across Australia, with competitors sharing stories using dance, movement and acting.
The cast from Blue Mountains Grammar Junior School received two awards for their performance entitled "Under the Southern Stars" which focused on the Eureka Rebellion of 1854. They won Best Australian History Award and Spirit of Wakakirri Award and the group were commended for the amazing acting, singing and dancing talents of the students.
A delighted headmaster, Trevor Barman, said: "I congratulate the students involved, and offer a special acknowledgement to Mr Russell Tredinnick and his production team for their outstanding achievement."
Mr Tredinnick, who both wrote and composed the piece, is head of the Junior School's innovative Year 5/6 performing arts class and head of junior co-curricula.
"Our school has a leading reputation in fostering talent in the performing arts and it is wonderful to see our students perform so well. They have made us very proud," Mr Barman said.
The Blue Mountains Grammar Junior School entered the Wakakirri competition for the first time 2011 and now holds an enviable reputation, from six years’ participation in Wakakirri, of being regional finalists on four occasions and state finalists in 2012.
According to the Wangaaypuwan people from Cobar, the word "Wakakirri" means “to dance a story”.