Newsletter - January 2023

GOOLUM News

Planting the seed of perseverance

The 21-year-old is en route to joining the military full time, a goal he has worked tirelessly and some might even say relentlessly to achieve.

He joined a Army Indigenous Development Program last year to prepare people to meet the education and fitness requirements to join the Army.

With his die-hard attitude, Tyreece tried on three attempts to complete year 10 before he found out about the program.

“My turning point was a year after my father passed away on the 23rd of April, 2018,” he said.

“I went to an Indigenous football carnival in Ballarat and there was a recruitment tent there for the military. It was a Navy bloke at the tent. After messing with him for a bit, I actually just ended up signing up then and there.

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When I told my mum I had done something she initially thought I had stolen something or injured myself.

“When I told her I joined the military she had no expression on her face; she just said wait until you tell your grandmother who I was living with at the time. She just asked ‘what the hell were you thinking!’.”

Tyreece said for him this felt like his opportunity to start a new life. “I was just thinking this is my second chance, my second life. I went back to high school twice to try and get a year 10 pass and failed both times. I thought if I can’t pass the third time, I’m going to call up the AIDP, said.

Tyreece Taylor has worked tirelessly to make changes in his life to reach his goals, including joining the army. Tyreece has also been writing war fiction in his spare time and was working at Grainflow as a supervisor after making pivotal changes in life. Want to see more

Goolum News www.goolumgoolum.org.au

We are a primary health and wellbeing organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people operating on the traditional lands of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We strive to provide a holistic model that responds to the physical, social emotional, Cultural and spiritual need of our people.

Wotjobaluk man Tyreece Taylor is living proof of second chances.

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative//goolumgoolum.org.au

From Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co Operative to our community and their families, welcome back into the new year. I hope you have all had an opportunity to unwind during what can be a busy and stressful period during Christmas and New Years.

Goolum Goolum has a lot to look forward to and I'm looking forward to seeing us continue to flourish as we work together to have a successful year again.

Our hard work is the reason behind our success and we dedicate our growth to our employees and the community that we support. We will look forward for more success stories to write and new accomplishments to make this year!

Meet the Goolum Goolum Board of Directors

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-operative respectfully acknowledges that our offices are based on unceded land of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawajali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples. We pay our respects to their ancestors, and to Elders, both past and present, and to the future Elders and caretakers of this land.

Always was, always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Anthony ‘Ants’ Craig Goolum CEO

Goolum

Jake Goodes

Chairperson

John Gorton Director

Nola Illin Deputy Chair

Lachlan Marks Secretary

Adrian Morgan Director

Kelly Britten Director

MakaylaSecombe Director

Tyreece Cont

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I failed the third and decided to call up AIDP guys and started the process of my enlistment. I went to Melbourne in June 2022 to do my assessment interview, which consisted of a medical review and psych evaluation. Now I’ve gotten to this point, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away.”

Tyreece also started work with Grainflow during this time and worked up to a supervisor role where he was overseeing a team of people and training new employees.

But the road to get this point has been an uphill battle. Before looking to join the military, Tyreece said his life was spiraling out of control.

Joining the military was something that Tyreece has been interested in since he was little.

“Since I could walk and talk I’ve been interested in this,” he said.

“The first book I picked up was a book about tanks. I was just fascinated with the history of warfare and got right into it when I started writing stories and learning about history.

“From warfare tactics up to weaponry, hand signals, radio communications, the fitness, the officer rankings and everything in between.”

He said his fascination with warfare led him to writing his own stories. He has now written an eight-part fictional series.

“I am now up to the eighth season of a book series. I’ve gathered different parts of what I know and have learned about warfare and integrated that into my story telling,” he said.

Tyreece said if he could offer any advice to anyone who was struggling on their own journey, it would be to make goals not dreams.

“When I look back on it, there were many times when I screwed up.

“You end up finding bad people and go down the rabbit hole. When you get to that side of things and you go too deep, it gets harder to get out of it.

“My school life was going down hill. I failed year 10, failed year 11, I did grade 10 in grade 11 and grade 12 in 11.

“My second chance is the military.”

He said heading down this path has felt like a renewal that has led him to pushing for a goal.

“You have to push yourself, you can’t just give yourself a tiny nudge. It won’t just come to you,” he said.

“Run, jump, do whatever means necessary to achieve that goal and get rid of the people that hold you back.

“You’ve got kill for it - kill your old self to become something new. You can rebuild yourself to something new and greater.

“You have to take responsibility for your own actions. Don’t say I’ll do that later or I’ll get back to it. Especially if you have a goal. A goal is not a dream. A goal is something that is attainable,” he said.

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From that goal, set another goal. Stepping stones, one thing at a time. Once you’re running, you can sprint.

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I was getting to a point where I was frustrated at everyone else and blaming others around me.

“Everyone told me I would never make it to the military but I proved them wrong and I made it.

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I want to teach people that they can’t live in the past. You’ve got to look to the future and set yourself goals and not be contained in a self-conscious box of hatred for yourself and everyone else.

“You have to break down that box and put yourself on a path to the light and not be hidden away from everything that you

Indigenous Students excel in 2022

Hodge was the first in 2020. Tehya at this stage is considering a career in teaching but during 2023 plans on taking a gap year before heading to university.

We are all incredibly proud of the success you have achieved throughout your schooling and the legacy you have left for other Indigenous kids who are following in your footsteps. A future leader.”

Goolum Goolum would also like to congratulate First Nations students Harper Harradine from Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, Tamilia Valla from Horsham College, Skye Dowler from Kaniva College and Jasmine Lyall from 12 for graduated.

The Goolum Goolum team wishes you the best for all of your future

Treaty animated series released

From left, Harper Harradine and Tehya Lani Clarke.

Goolum Goolum Aboriginal Co-Operative has decided to join a growing number of Australian organisations giving employees the option to work on Australia Day.

Goolum Goolum CEO Anthony Craig said the CoOperative acknowledged that not all Australians viewed January 26 as a day of celebration.

"Out of respect for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on January 26 this year all of our staff will have the flexibility to work instead of taking the day as a public holiday," he said.

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Those who decide to work on this day can then substitute the public holiday with another day of their choosing. The move has been overwhelmingly supported by all Goolum staff.

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It is important that we stand with and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on this day of mourning. For many people January 26 or invasion day is a deeply distressing experience.

Goolum Goolum General Manager John Gorton said the change would ensure the way the Co-Operative conducted its business supported its ethos. “

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As we evolve as a health and wellbeing organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it is important we are inclusive, supportive, and progressive in the way we run our organisation,”he said

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We hope this move encourages unity within our community as well a chance to reflect on the history of Australia and even provides an opportunity for our non-indigenous staff to reflect on what this day means to their fellow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues and those they support in their work.”

Australia Day is also referred to as ‘Invasion Day’ or ‘Survival Day’ particularly by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This is because it ‘celebrates’ a painful part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history.

From left, Goolum Goolum CEO Anthony ‘Ants’ Craig and General Manager John Gorton.

Taking Expressions of Interest from January 9th 2023.