Stars Foundation Year 11 and 12 students coordinated the 2026 Merredin College NAIDOC colouring-in competition as part of celebrating NAIDOC week, developing leadership skills, and sharing culture. Demi Silver, a proud year 12 First Nations student created the design which was made up of the number 50 and the word Deadly to acknowledge the 50^th year milestone of NAIDOC in Australia. The design also included the school’s logo, and a Merritt tree and a swan which are both significant to the Traditional Custodians, the Njaki Njaki people of the Merredin area. Additionally, Demi incorporated a native hibiscus which is the national symbol for Sorry Day.

We had over 140 students participate from Kindy to Year 12.

Merredin College & Stars Foundation would like to acknowledge the prize donors: Merredin Cinema and Café, Nextra Merredin, Subway & Two Dogs Mitre 10. We would also like to thank Merredin College staff for distributing the designs, and the students who participated. We look forward to NAIDOC celebrations in 2027.

Competition Winners:

K-Year 2

1^st Darcy L (PP)

2^nd Maya B (Yr 2)

3^rd Celeste H (Yr 1)

Yr 3 – Yr 6

1^st Lucy H (Yr 6)

2^nd Lana A (Yr 6)

3^rd Hemi W (Yr 4)

Yr 7 – Yr 9

1^st Olivia D (Yr 8)

2^nd Hayley T (Yr 7)

3^rd Caity C (Yr 8)

Yr 10 – Yr 12

1^st Jade D (Yr 12)

2^nd Sophie S (Yr 10)

3^rd Saphira S (Yr 11)