Woori Yallock Primary School has announced its new cultural leader to celebrate diversity, create inclusive environments and educate its students.
Grade five student Abby Lindsay was selected for the school’s 2026 cultural leader on 5 December and she said she was excited to be leading the way for cultural diversity.
“I’m excited but also nervous,” Abby said.
Abby was inspired by the school’s 2025 cultural leader Felix Zangmeister, who lead the way in supporting the school’s Indigenous students.
“I saw what Felix was doing with the Indigenous kids and making them feel safe and happy and changing the acknowledgement to make it more inclusive.
“So I wanted to do that for the other kids of different religions,” Abby said.
Woori Yallock Primary School principal Oliver Thockloth said as cultural leader, Abby will help bring students, families and the whole Woori Yallock community together.
“She will lead certain days in our school so that there is a wide understanding of other cultures, customs, and religions.
“The school learns German, and Abby, along with our German student leader, Layla Fletcher, will plan a German day where all the students will celebrate German food, and culture,” Mr Thockloth said.
The official sponsor for Woori Yallock Primary School’s cultural leader is local south Indian restaurant Babaji’s Kerala Kitchen.
Co-owner Billy Crombie said Babaji’s was proud to be supporting the school in its endeavour to champion multiculturalism.
“We’re really proud to be sponsoring the cultural leader, we feel very grateful to be so well accepted in the Yarra Valley.
“It’s a little way of giving back and we’re here to support them in what they do,” Ms Crombie said.
Abby has already come up with ideas to make the school’s environment more inclusive for different cultural backgrounds.
“There’s a TV down the hall that has book reviews on it. Maybe, we could do that with people of different cultures and have stuff about their culture. So then people can watch them and get a bit of a better understanding,” Abby said.
She was aware of the lack of cultural diversity in the Yarra Ranges and was motivated to make sure that people felt comfortable with expressing themselves.
“I want to help kids with different cultures and religions feel safer and happier because there’s not too many kids around here that are multicultural or have different religions,” Abby said.
Mr Thockloth also thanked Babajis for coming up with the idea of a cultural leader.
“We welcome Abby to her new role and proudly thank Babajis for coming up with the concept last year and for sponsoring what the world needs, kindness and understanding,” Mr Thockloth said.
