Julie’s Story

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Many years ago, a child of 10 siblings attended a tiny bush school, their heroic Dad camped away in the bush for months on end cutting timber just to keep the family.

The child’s mother, a beautiful and gentle Gumbaynggirr woman spent long days and nights scrubbing houses and weeding banana plantations – being paid with a pot of curry to keep food on the table. That inquisitive child learnt to read via her Ma’s kerosene lamp as the family did not have electricity until she was in high school. That small child spent many afternoons collecting the sticks to light the stove for the cooking and to keep the house warm.

From a young age, that small child questioned why her mum struggled, why she and her siblings had to wear their best ‘2nd’ outfits around the house, hair plaited and immaculate. They soon realised the children had to be paraded out to the nurse and welfare officer on their arrival at the door to be checked. Her mum lived a life of fear that one day her children would be taken away from her.

That small child from a very young age sensed a world of injustice; but she had dreams of learning and knowledge and the need to gain a sound education to be an influencer, an activist and to chase the opportunities brought on by knowledge.

Ginagaay! Hello! That child is yours truly - Julie Perkins, Norah Hegedus’ mum who is a Year 11 Yalari scholar at St Hilda’s School on the Gold Coast in Queensland.

In 2014, Norah and her brother Jacob were attending a wonderful school in their small home town, though due to the work required by their father and me, the educational experience was very disrupted. We were concerned about the lack of opportunity as they grew older.

Through our despair, a blessing arrived in our lives. We applied for a Yalari placement for Norah. Waverley Stanley arrived at our small home and interviewed us. Norah was in Year 6 and our families had never known or experienced the schools associated with Yalari; the thought of boarding terrified us. The day arrived for us to attend

Reflections from the heart of a Yalari parent

the St Hilda’s interview; all of our insecurities arose again. How could we possibly fit in at St Hilda’s? We did not have to hold those fears though as the school was really beautiful, the staff were most welcoming and we were accepted!

The six-year journey begins: I didn’t know how I would release my baby girl into the care of others - far from our small town. Day one saw the Yalari staff and St Hilda’s embrace our daughter and all of her unique qualities. Yes, we missed Norah terribly, though we focused on the most amazing opportunity in her life and the eye-opening experiences that we had learnt of students under the Yalari program.

Norah has not looked back; dancing, drama, hockey, swimming, rowing, volunteering, educational and cultural learnings, the making of life-long friendships and so much more. This amazing Yalari program changes lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; the team effort of Waverley, Llew, staff, partner schools and the truly compassionate sponsors, and supporters are ensuring through their work that Aboriginal children from regional and remote communities are provided that much needed start for a successful life’s journey.

The highlights are many, there have been ups and downs along the way, no life journey is smooth; though the resilience taught and support provided has brought us nearly to the final year! A personal highlight has been the opportunity to attend the annual Yalari Fundraising Dinner in Brisbane. A celebration of youth, a celebration of achievement, a celebration of a committed team of students, schools, staff, volunteers and generous donors and sponsors giving practical assistance to grow our children into talented, gracious, and respectful young adults.

Next year, in 2020, our daughter’s boarding and school experience is nearing the end at St Hilda’s. We truly pay homage to Yalari, the sponsors and St Hilda’s. Norah has moved from the shy little girl we left on day one to a unique and inquisitive young woman who has been educated and empowered via the many experiences of the last six years. We are indebted to the sponsors of Norah. As a family, we will be forever grateful and have committed to continue our association with Yalari to continue the dream for many more children from regional and remote communities. I urge anyone who can; to continue to work out ways of assisting Yalari, your actions will be appreciated; you will ‘close the gap’ and you will bring generational change to Australia’s First Nations Peoples.

And, that young girl — it was not smooth sailing. Losing her parents at a young age she was forced out of school and sent to a hostel many kilometers away to attend deportment school. She was advised she did not belong to the “right type” of family to study her dream of law, so Year 12 studies would have been irrelevant to her. At age 30 and having won a scholarship, she was able to take up studies and finally succeeded in gaining a Bachelor of Laws.

If only I had a Yalari back in my childhood.

“I stood by and wondered why someone was not assisting, I looked around – and realised that someone could just be me.”

Please spread the word and join the Yalari movement!

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As a family, we will be forever grateful and have committed to continue our association with Yalari to continue the dream for many more children from regional and remote communities.

JULIE PERKINS YALARI PARENT

Julie Perkins with her children, Norah (middle) and Jacob Hegedus.

Clay Shafer and Michael Argyrou ( Joint Managing Director, Hickory Group).

Clay is in Year 8 at Geelong Grammar School. His Yalari journey is made possible by the generous support of the Hickory Group.

OUR YALARI FAMILY

It is only through the support of our special, generous and compassionate Yalari community that our students can achieve positive, life-changing outcomes for themselves and their families.

It takes a whole community to educate a child.