INDIGENOUS STUDENT FOCUS ST MARY’S IS VERY PROUD TO PRESENT SOME OF OUR INDIGENOUS GIRLS WHO WILL BE GRADUATING THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE WORKED HARD, LEAVING THEIR FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES, TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS PROVIDED BY ST MARY'S, MADALAH, MINARA MINES AND THEIR LOCAL LANGUAGE GROUPS. WE CELEBRATE THEIR PASSION AND INPUT INTO MAKING OUR SCHOOL A MORE CULTURALLY AWARE AND DIVERSE DYNAMIC COMMUNITY GROUP AND GIVING US AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WONDERFUL ABORIGINAL CULTURE THAT IS A PART OF OUR NATION.
If I could go back in time and change something, I wish that in Year 8 and 9 I was involved in so many more activities that were on offer, because getting older and being in Year 11 and 12 there is so much work that you are too busy to do other extra activities.
My name is Marlanie Haerewa and I come from the Nyikina language group, which is located in the north west of the Kimberley region. I commenced boarding at St Mary’s in Year 8, 2012. I was 13. I come from a small town called Derby, around 2,500 km north of Perth so the move to Perth was very challenging. What I have loved about St Mary’s is the endless opportunities the school has given me that I definitely wouldn’t have had if I was in Derby. I have been able to explore the love I have for music and singing, with the opportunity to perform regularly on stage. Also, going on the Europe History tour in Year 11 was amazing. St Mary’s boarding has also given me the warm feeling of being at home, whilst this year I have had the opportunity to be Hamilton Wing Captain in Anne Symington House, which I have enjoyed so much.
My best memory was my first performance at St Mary’s. Coming from Derby my confidence was not very high, I was shy and quiet until the girls said that I should get singing lessons. In Years 10 and 11 I was successful in my auditions and was given the chance to perform on stage in front of the Senior School. It was amazing. If I were in Derby I wouldn’t have had the experience or confidence to do this. What I would like people to know about Aboriginal culture is that we all come from different language groups and they all hold completely different laws and rules. Coming from the Kimberley region, I learnt new languages from the girls who come from Kalgoorlie and Perth. They have shared their stories from home and I have shared mine with them. This is what I have loved about being a part of the St Mary’s Indigenous group at school, that we learn so much more about our culture each and every day. Next year I am applying and hope to be accepted into WAAPA to study Aboriginal Performance.
I am Kaitlyn Weldon and I am from the Wongatha language group in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. I started school at St Mary’s when I was in Year 7, in 2011. I was at the Mt Margaret Remote Community School during my primary school years and have been a boarder since then. I live in a small town in the Goldfields called Laverton. What I have loved about St Mary’s is the amazing opportunities it has given me throughout the past five years. I have tried to use these experiences to my advantage in all areas of my life. I have made amazing friends that I will have for a lifetime, and I will cherish all the memories I have here. My best memories would be within the boarding house. All the friends I’ve made over the years have given me funny, crazy, sad and very memorable times that I will always remember. I would like people to know that being Aboriginal doesn’t make us any different from anyone else. I would like to change the perspective so that we all have the same opportunities for our future and education in life regardless of our skin colour. Next year I would like to go to Curtin University to complete a Diploma in Business Management.
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Senior School News