At the heart of the vibrant South West region of Western Australia, a special event unfolded on May 9, 2024, that showcased the beauty of unity, culture, and community spirit.
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Bunbury emerged victorious in the CDF Wardandi Gift, held on the grounds of Bunbury Catholic College. Created in 2023 to celebrate Bunbury Catholic College’s 50th anniversary, this year’s event was a wonderful culmination of hard work by college event coordinator Michael Chappel and Indigenous Student Coordinator Tobie Watson.

The CDF Wardandi Gift was more than just a relay race. It was a celebration that brought together approximately 200 students from five primary schools: St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Catholic Primary Schools in Bunbury, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in Dardanup, St Mary’s Primary School in Donnybrook, and Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School in Bunbury. These schools gathered on Albert Oval for a day filled with activities that honored Aboriginal culture.
The event was not just a celebration of culture, but also a reflection of Catholic values. It emphasised the importance of community, respect, and inclusivity, core tenets of our faith. As Pope Francis often reminds us, "The Church is a community of those who have encountered Jesus Christ and have made a commitment to follow him."
The CDF Wardandi Gift embodied this spirit of community and commitment. It was a day where many came together to honor the rich cultural heritage of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, recognising the divine presence in every culture and tradition.
“This year’s CDF Wardandi Gift was a testament to our collective effort in promoting a culture of love, respect, and unity. Celebrating Aboriginal languages and culture at our College, which stands on beautiful Wardandi country, reinforces our commitment to inclusivity and community.”
Micheal Pepper, Bunbury Catholic College Principal
"Sponsoring the CDF Wardandi Gift has allowed us to collectively deliver a day that celebrates all cultures and the community". "Hearing the students embrace Aboriginal culture on Country and enjoy each other’s company has made this event truly valuable. CDF looks forward to the next CDF Wardandi Gift."
Ella Valois, CDF Relationship Manager highlighted the importance of the event in fostering a united community
Ethan from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, described the event as "fun, exciting, and amazing," particularly enjoying the bracelet-making activity.
Faces of Humanity
Noah from Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School, valued the opportunity to engage in sports activities and storytelling with students from other schools.
In the spirit of our Catholic faith, we look forward to continuing our support for the Bunbury Diocese and community, ensuring that events like these continue to thrive and inspire future generations. Together, we build a future where all cultures are celebrated, and every community member feels valued and included. Here's to many more successful Wardandi Gifts and the continued celebration of our vibrant, diverse heritage.
To help CDF continue to meet strong loan demand from the Catholic community, you too can put your faith in action and save for a greater reward than money alone. Not only will you earn a competitive rate of interest, but your savings will assist schools like St Patrick's College and other Catholic organisations to continue the work the Gospel calls on them to do.

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CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, has indemnified the Catholic Development Fund ABN 15 274 943 760 (the Fund) against any liability arising out of a claim by investors in the Fund. In practice, this means your investment is backed by the assets of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Fund is required by law to make the following disclosure. Investment in the Fund is only intended to attract investors whose primary purpose for making their investment is to support the charitable purposes of the Fund. Investors’ funds will be used to generate a return to the Fund that will be applied to further the charitable works of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and the Dioceses of Sale and Bunbury. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or the depositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by ASIC. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and investments in the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed here or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
