A Principal’s Thoughts

Abbotsleigh’s Indigenous program is something that is very close to our hearts and I was delighted with the initiative of our Yalari scholars, who ran our Senior School assembly in March of 2019. Beautifully introduced by Olivia Oakeshott (Year 8), who gave the Acknowledgement of Country, and Holly Austin (Year 12), the girls wanted to let the whole Senior School know a little more about Yalari and about their own stories.

“Yalari is a non-for-profit organisation that offers scholarships at leading Australian boarding schools for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities. It was founded by Waverley Stanley and his wife Llew in 2005, and since then it has expanded nationwide with 22 partner schools. As of this year, there are 190 students receiving a quality education on a Yalari Scholarship, and there are 354 students who have graduated at one of these schools and are now studying at university, working or undertaking further training. Abbotsleigh has been involved with Yalari since 2008 and, overall, has had 13 girls graduate. Currently there are 10 girls who are on a Yalari Scholarship.” – Mackenzie Hyde (Year 9) and Ava Seaton (Year 7). What is really clear from the girls is how much they value being a Yalari scholar and how much they value being at Abbotsleigh. The poignant stories of Georgia Dennison and Sophie Oakeshott and their families were very inspiring. “I just want to recognise the Yalari girls here today. Each one of these girls has a unique and different back story, and they should be proud of how far they have come,” Georgia said. “It is proven that Aboriginal youth are more likely to be put in the juvenile justice system than they are to graduate from Year 12. These are the girls that you will see making a change in our Indigenous community — these Yalari girls here with me — they are the ones breaking the stigmas and stereotypes around Indigenous kids from rural and remote areas, and they will be the ones giving back to their communities. Our girls, and the other Yalari scholars across Australia, appreciate the opportunities they have been given so much that, each year, they embrace Yalari’s Pay it Forward fundraising campaign.” As Jayda Craigie (Year 10) and Brooke Brown (Year 9) told the girls at assembly, “The Pay it Forward campaign is a Yalari fundraising initiative encouraging Year 10 and 11 Yalari scholars to think creatively and work together in order to collectively fund a scholarship for another Yalari student.” The funds that are raised make a real difference. Yalari scholars have been able to fundraise enough money each year to pay for the education of another Yalari student. In 2018, this initiative helped Jada Davui graduate from St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast.

Last year’s NAIDOC Day at Abbotsleigh was the key fundraiser for the Pay It Forward initiative. Students were invited to dress in the colours black, red and yellow to celebrate the Indigenous people of Australia. During lunchtime, we had a sausage sizzle, and there were many activities such as face painting, mosaic and pebble painting. All the money that was raised on this day was for Pay it Forward, and we made just over $1,500, smashing our goal of $800!’

Congratulations girls on your passion and initiative and the great assembly that you organised. 31

What is really clear from the girls is how much they value being a Yalari scholar.

MRS MEGAN KRIMMER HEADMISTRESS - ABBOTSLEIGH