Trey’s Story

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The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy, a Martin Luther King

Jr. quote told to me by Uncle Waverley which I remember every time

I doubt myself.

My full name is Trey Elias Petterson. I have been asked to share with you a story about myself and I know no better way to do that than by sharing with you some of the challenges I have had to overcome and some I still battle with to this day.

I was born on the day after Bindi Irwin on the 25th of July 1998 in the Royal Darwin Hospital. The day was one of celebration in the Northern Territory, not because I was born, but because it was firecracker night, and here I was six years later thinking everyone in Darwin was celebrating my birthday! I am the eldest of 10 siblings and the first grandchild of 26, so of course growing up I was spoilt and had high expectations from all my family.

I went to preschool and primary school at Nightcliff and was taught by some of the loveliest teachers I have ever known, one of them being my Nana Christine. It was my life in primary school from the ages of 6 to 11, my life before Yalari, that I had dealt with some of the most challenging times. Throughout school, I was always seen as someone who never really belonged — I was too white for the black kids and too black for the white kids. I was brought up to never judge anyone by the colour of their skin because if I look at my family, we are all different shades of beautiful. Almost every recess and lunch I would sit alone or hide away in the library because when I would hang out with the kids, a lot of the older kids would approach me and throw food at me, calling racist slurs, steal my food, steal my pokemon cards and almost anything they could do to hurt me emotionally. I was a constant victim of bullying. Of course, me being young I never understood why people would hate me for being me. However, at least at school, I could escape the life I had at home.

Something that sticks with me all the time are the memories of my

Yalari changes lives

life at home. At the time it was just my mum Joelene, my dad Daniel, my younger brother Brenden and me. My brother and I would spend almost all our time outside catching lizards and playing in the park; we were never inside because that’s where the drama was. Most nights our father would be yelling and swearing, and abusing our mother. I remember one night going into the hallway, seeing clothes ripped up, holes in the walls, plates broken, blood on the floor and the house basically flipped upside down because my dad had broken in trying to look for money and things to steal so he could go and buy more drugs.

I try to think back about all the good times but unfortunately, I am haunted by the memories that are filled with pain and the feeling of being powerless. My home was rarely ever a happy place. The only real times I remember being happy were when the police would come to take my father away. He was always coming and going, he was always in and out of jail. I was never able to look up to him, a drug addict, a criminal, a coward and a liar, not once was he there for his family.

In 2010, I graduated Year 6 and was about to go into the transition high school, Nightcliff High. I honestly didn’t know that my Aunty Karlea had filled out applications for Yalari in hopes that I would be accepted into boarding school and move to a place that offers more opportunities. I really didn’t even know what boarding school was, so I didn’t understand what was about to happen to my life. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by two of the most amazing and inspiring people I know, Llew and Waverley.

To my amazement I was accepted into Riverview where I began my adventure of finding my place in this world. It wasn’t that easy though. Luckily there were people like George Sykes and Filise Freeman-Mafi in the boarding house who quickly came to my side and made me feel welcome. I was even elected Junior Class Captain, Junior House Captain and Junior Liturgy Captain in Year 7 and Year 8.

I cried over many nights from Year 7 to Year 9, no matter how many friends I made. I always had this feeling of being alone. It was in Year 9 that I wanted to pull out of boarding the most. I am thankful that an amazing man by the name of Chris Farnsworth, the Indigenous support coordinator, was there to keep my head grounded.

In Year 10 I had a boarding master, Michael Webb, who was always checking up on me and making sure I was happy. I would always fake a smile and tell him I was fine. Little did he know that since Year 9, I would be going home to domestic violence and drug abuse. When I would come back to school I would be getting phone calls from the police informing me that my mother was in hospital as she was always being ‘flogged’ by her boyfriend, I would see photos of my mother bruised and beaten. I just wanted to be home to protect my family.

In Year 12, I was elected Chisholm House Vice Captain, a Eucharistic Minister, Yalari Captain for my school and an Indigenous Spiritual Leader.

It’s been three years now since I’ve graduated and I’ve had some pretty big ups and some pretty big downs including my younger brother being in and out of jail. I want to be there helping him but I am now studying social and political science at UTS, focusing on my own future. I am now going strong, having to carry what seems to be the weight of the world upon my shoulders. I push through my challenges because of my brothers, my sisters, my cousins, Brenden, Jaxon, Beau, Ali, Ricky, and many more. I keep going because of people who I’ve met along the way, Julian, Waverley, Llew, Reilly, Farnzy, Ms Zwar just to name a few.

Growing up, I never saw a future. I never knew that there was more to life than what I had already experienced in Darwin. I was never given these opportunities before Yalari. My years at boarding school were honestly the best years of my life. I wouldn’t have met the most amazing people. I wouldn’t have accomplished so much, I will always remember all of you who have been there.

So I want to say thanks to you, the people who have supported Yalari, which has then in turn supported me — supported us. It is this ongoing support that you give to us that changes our lives, that breaks the chains and opens our eyes. It gives us hope.

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It is this ongoing support that you give to us that changes our lives, that breaks the chains and opens our eyes. It gives us hope.

TREY PETTERSON YALARI ALUMNUS

Trey’s Yalari journey was made possible by the generous support of the Australian Government. Photo: Warrior Spirit personal development course - Holsworthy Army Barracks.