Kimberley Immersion 2014

Kimberley Immersion Back Row: Stephen Pover, Jack Catanach, Zachary Ting, Rory Kendell, James Valentine, Nathan Sparks, Daniel Gileno Front Row: Beau Salvia, Callum Dewsbury, Mr Michael Murphy, Jackson Flematti, Mrs Marya Stewart, Jesse Vivante, Reece Drudi

In July this year, twelve students and three staff travelled to the Kimberley to experience the life and wisdom of Aboriginal people. We spent a week in isolated Aboriginal communities of Beagle Bay, One Arm Point and Bidyadanga where the local schools and communities offered us many opportunities to interact and learn from them. Their open acceptance of us was a humbling experience. We felt so welcome and accepted in these communities where we were strangers.

“One Arm Point is right at the end of the Dampier Peninsular and Rory Kendell (11.7), Zachary Ting (11.1), Jack Catanach (11.4), Mrs Stewart and I and had a very bumpy drive to reach there. The first day in the school was very nerve-wracking, however, within minutes the kids were using us as climbing frames and wrestling bags as if we had known them for months. This feeling was something we experienced for the whole immersion. Wherever we went we were welcomed – like family. Talking to the students and to their Indigenous teachers, we became aware of how proud they are of the Aboriginal culture and how willing they are to share it with us. We were given a tour of the community by one of the Aboriginal teacher assistants and she gave us an insight into what it is like to live in such a small community and how things work. Part of their education includes learning to speak their local language. The children were constantly trying to teach us different words for animals, making sure we had perfect pronunciation. This is another example of the people in the community wanting to share their culture with us, being proud of who they are and where they come from.

A big issue of which we became aware, was the cycle that limits the opportunities of children brought up in an isolated community. Once they reach high school many don’t see any future beyond community life, which, although rich in culture, does not provide meaningful employment at present.” James Valentine (11.4)

“In the words of Mother Teresa “It is easy to love people far away. It’s not always easy to love those who live right next to us.” This quote made sense to me when we travelled to the Kimberley, through the realisation that our country has cultural divisions that create challenges we must face. Our group of Jackson Flematti (11.5), Daniel Gileno (11.3), Callum Dewsbury (11.5) and I, and led by Mr Jones, visited the remote community of Bidyadanga. From the first day we all gained a deeper understanding of Aboriginal people from the children. Aboriginal people highly value community – they value it like family. They also value the land as sacred to them, which we were privileged to experience through the local rangers who took us to places only accessible with special permission.

Mrs Marya Stewart Director of Christian Service

In our time at Bidyadanga, we were accepted by the community and able to join in activities such as football training and a mini concert by a local band. Their love of footy means that the oval has pride of place as the centre of their community. The whole community gathered there to hear the band play and we helped serve food and drinks which gave us the chance to talk to people of all ages who made us feel a part of their community. Although we were the minority, we were included and treated with respect – a powerful lesson that we learnt from this community.” Nathan Sparks (11.4)

“Attending the 2014 Kimberley Immersion was, without doubt, one of the most inspiring and beneficial experiences I have had. Beau Salvia (11.4), Jesse Vivante (11.5), Reece Drudi (11.7), Mr Jones and I travelled to Beagle Bay on what could barely be called a road. When we arrived we were taken aback by the isolation and sheer smallness of the town which has a population of 250 people, and with one general store and a school. But we were welcomed with open arms by this small community, spending every waking minute with Aboriginal children ranging from 5–15 years of age. Being mostly oblivious to Aboriginal culture, we were privileged to learn from the rangers and the children about many elements of Aboriginal past and present lifestyle which made us appreciate how astounding Aboriginal people are. Seeing how proud, honoured and appreciative all the children were in sharing and promoting their identity and culture was a gift to us. It is a week we will forever cherish.” Stephen Pover (11.6)

Apart from this invaluable time in these communities, the Kimberley Immersion participants assisted with NAIDOC events and celebrations in Broome, which included setting up and clearing up after events – sometimes until after midnight – serving food and drinks at events where we heard from many inspiring Aboriginal leaders and helping out wherever we could. We also helped serve meals to the homeless at the Michael McMahon Centre, worked at the St Vincent de Paul depot and interacted with Aboriginal football teams. A highlight of our time in Broome was the wonderful liturgies we attended on Sunday at the Broome Cathedral and the hospitality of Bishop Chris Saunders and the Catholic community. We were also privileged to meet with Aboriginal leaders who challenged us with the fact that racism and discrimination continues to have an impact on Aboriginal peoples’ lives but who demonstrated that this does not prevent them believing in themselves and continuing to work for the future of their people.