New generation voices reach out

Students from Cable Beach Primary School got a taste of what it is like to be a movie star last week when they filmed their entry to a nationwide song competition.

By entering the GenerationOne Hands Across Australia competition, the students are working to end indigenous disparity throughout Australia and will have a chance to win $15,000 for their school.

Andrew Forrest initiative GenerationOne is a movement to bring people together to end the disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians in one generation.

Cable Beach Primary School music teacher Deb Watkiss said the students, who were from Years 5 to 7, would be filmed singing a song they wrote with local artist Naomi Pigram.

Ms Watkiss said the students had completed two days of filming at picturesque spots around Broome, including Town Beach, Gantheaume Point, Cable Beach and Broome Port.

“Naomi came in and did some workshopping with them and they had to put ideas down for song lyrics,” she said.

“They are very excited.

“They had two days to bring their permission slips back and I got them all.”

Students Leilani Ozies, 11, and Mahalia Lane, 12, said it meant a lot to them to be able to incorporate Aboriginal culture into their entry to the competition.

“It has been so much fun,” Leilani said.

Entries to Hands Across Australia close on September 23, with winners announced October 20.