Kimberley Immersion

The Kimberley Immersion provided an opportunity for 12 of our Year 11 students to have a variety of challenging and heart-warming experiences with the Indigenous people of the Kimberley. These trips often change the mindsets of the participants, on the lives of Aboriginal people and enhances their understanding of the culture and traditions of these remarkable people. This year the Immersion participants were Tennessee Buti (11.3), Matthew D’Souza (11.2), Ashton Godfrey (11.7), Alex Hammond (11.1), Ethan Hansen (11.4), Samuel Henley (11.5), Zachary Hooper (11.6), Daniel MacMillan (11.7), Ben McGuire (11.6), Samuel Moffatt (11.3), Luke Scarfone (11.8) and Bradley Skajko (11.8) accompanied by Mr David Allen, Mr Michael Murphy and Mrs Marya Stewart.

“Being a part of the athletics team, going on the cricket tour and going on the Year 11 OED camp to Dampier are all experiences that will stick with me but the 2016 Kimberley Immersion will be in my heart for the rest of my life. Over the duration of our trip, we based ourselves in Broome and broke into three groups traveling to Bidyadanga, One Arm Point and Wyndham. For all the students and staff who attended, the highlight was spending six days in the communities. We worked in local schools with the kids and spent time with the local rangers. The highlight for me was travelling out to Nita Downs Station with the Karajarri rangers. We learnt about land management and life and traditions and culture of the Aboriginal people. On our return to Broome we spent time working with Goolarri Media and worked with an organisation called Feed the little Children, where we delivered food to houses where kids struggle to be fed. We spent time with Jesse and Leroy Pigram and they took us all out to Crab Creek where we spent the morning fishing.”

Luke Scarfone

“I had the privilege of travelling to the tip of the Dampier Peninsula to One Arm Point with Brad Skajko, Ben McGuire and Matt D’Sousa. One Arm Point is a small Indigenous community with a population of around 350 people. Arriving in the town we began questioning what we were there for after seeing 20 stray dogs and four children before seeing any adults. We did a variety of things such as playing basketball with the kids, working in the classroom and having a chat to the locals about the way in which they live their lives. The kids were enthusiastic to show off their skills and make us look like we had never touched a basketball before. We spent our afternoons enjoying the beaches and swimming spots around the community. It was wonderful to see the great pride in which the local Bardi people have for their land and their willingness to share it with us. After returning from the creek owned by local gardener and head of the Land Council, Peter Hunter, we told him how we were so grateful and impressed with the landscape we had seen. He simply replied, “boys, that’s my backyard”. My experiences have shown me just how important the land is for the Indigenous people and why it is so important for us to respect the culture and way of life of Indigenous people. The Kimberley Immersion program allowed me to appreciate the things I have here at Trinity even more.”

Samuel Henley

“I was lucky enough to spend 19 days with 11 other boys from my year group, to go to the Kimberley and learn and experience things about Aboriginal culture that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. I’m Indigenous myself and know a lot about my culture but it was the culture up there that was different. I learnt that these Indigenous people hunt in the same way that they have been for thousands of years. They value respecting their elders and when non-indigenous people want to learn about their culture they invite them in and welcome them to their land. The number one thing I learnt in my immersion experience was that no matter what circumstance you live in you can have a future with whatever you choose, be happy and enjoy life. We as people who are more fortunate than others are given things like a good education, food, clothes, water and somewhere to sleep at night. We need to appreciate what we have and what our parents do for us. Feeding the less fortunate Indigenous children in Broome by giving them a small meal and something to drink made me appreciate this. Their “thankyous”, the chance to put a smile on their faces and the way they showed their appreciation for what we were doing for them, makes me cherish this experience for the rest of my life.”

Benjamin McGuire

“Kimberly Immersion was a once in a lifetime experience that I gained a lot from and thoroughly enjoyed. In the first week, I visited One Arm Point with Ben McGuire, Brad Skajko, Sam Henley and Mr Allen. It was a bumpy, long and enjoyable ride from Broome that was certainly one to remember. It took us a while to settle in to the school in One Arm Point, but after a couple days it felt like home as we had made strong connections with a lot of the kids and staff members and one child in particular. He was a shy kid and didn’t like talking, having experienced a traumatic childhood. After a while he became fond of us and we all really connected with him, participating in numerous activities such as kicking the footy around and playing basketball. Overall, the people of One Arm Point were intelligent, kind and very welcoming. We went to a secret fishing spot, where only a few are allowed to go. Peter Hunter, an Elder of the community, allowed us to have this experience, even though he barely knew us. This feeling of acceptance and welcoming 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. I am very grateful to have gone on such a fulfilling and unique experience.”

Matthew D’Souza

“The 2016 Kimberly Immersion was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Zachary Hopper, Tennessee Buti, Ashton Godfrey, Mrs Stewart and I travelled to Wyndham—2,210 kilometres north of Perth, where we spent five days working at St Joseph’s School. We began the first day of school waking early to be greeted by the eager students willing to play before the school bell rang. I was placed with the Year 3/4 class for the week. During

my time, I learnt to appreciate all the little things we take for granted. The students were always happy to see us and what took me by surprise was their eagerness to be at school and learn. One boy would turn up to school every day at 6.30am because he was excited for the day ahead. A lasting memory from my time in Wyndham, was the time we spent with the Indigenous Elders. They welcomed us with open arms, taking us to see sacred Indigenous grounds, the prison tree and taking us fishing. Through this invaluable time spent with the Elders, I learnt more about the Indigenous culture than I ever thought I could. On our return to Broome we spent a majority of our time helping at the Father McMahon Centre, where we served breakfast and lunch to the homeless. The joy and smiles of gratitude I saw on the faces of those I served, is something I will never forget.”

Samuel Moffatt

The impact the Kimberley Immersion has had on my life is unquestionable. From our time in the remote communities, to the week with the boys in Broome, I was presented with several life changing experiences that I will cherish for future years to come. I was lucky enough to go to the East Kimberley to a town called Wyndham. I felt immediately welcomed in a place where I have never been and this tells you a lot about the culture of the Indigenous people. They welcomed us into the community, educating us about their past, their culture and their hopes for the next generation. I understood the need for community participation for many Indigenous people, as it not only brought them closer to their culture but closer to comfort in their lives. I am certain that many of the boys (including me) were not expecting that the Kimberley Immersion would have such a profound impact on the way we live our lives. Our understanding of the disadvantages that many people of the Indigenous culture are confronted with and their determination to not let these limitations affect their lives, will truly live close to our hearts.”

Tennessee Buti

“My experience of the Kimberley Immersion was very confronting, but at the same time, amazing. I was indeed surprised as to how a wealthy country like Australia could have such poverty and homelessness within its boundaries. Furthermore, my perception of Aboriginal people has changed following this Immersion. Prior to this I had stereotypical views portrayed by the media, which illustrate Aboriginal people in a very negative light. The experience of the Kimberley Immersion helped me see the true reality of the grim context which has moulded their present status. I learnt about how they have been treated in the past and how work is being done to heal wounds of past generations. I felt a great deal of sympathy for the victims of the Stolen Generation and the misery, torment and hardship that Indigenous people have suffered over the past two hundred years. Work has been done to heal the wounds of the past but much more needs to be done to counteract the continuing racism which exists in our society. Hopefully, our society will learn from the failures of the past and help us to enter a new era of peace, harmony and respect for one another.”

Ashton Godfrey

KIMBERLEY IMMERSION BACK ROW: Mr Michael Murphy, Matthew D’Souza, Benjamin McGuire, Bradley Skajko, Ethan Hansen, Alex Hammond, Mr David Allen, Mrs Marya Stewart FRONT ROW: Sam Henley, Ashton Godfrey, Daniel MacMillan, Luke Scarfone, Sam Moffatt, Zachary Hooper