Dear Friends

Words from our Founding Director

2020 WILL BE ONE OF THOSE YEARS THAT RESHAPED WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE DO, AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT BOTH. WHETHER WE REALISE IT NOW OR NOT, IT HAS CHANGED THE COURSE OF OUR FUTURE.

What we do know for sure, is that children are resilient and our Yalari students adapted to learning online (and at home) in a way that made us proud. Families were flexible with the dining room table doubling as a study desk. Zoom and Teams calls were common language and helped connect us all. Teachers used innovative ways to engage students. Our sponsors and donors dug deeper into their pockets than ever before. Our Student Support Team recreated and improved the support program for our students and families. People paused and checked on one another; and the Yalari community stayed connected and strong, with many achievements and stories that we’re looking forward to sharing with you in this Annual Review.

I’m grateful for the support of our community, staff, volunteers, schools, families, students and alumni. In many ways, 2020 brought out the best in us.

Waverley Stanley AM Founding Director

IMAGE TOP LEFT: WAVERLEY STANLEY AM, CHANTAY TURNER (ST MARGARET'S ANGLIGAN GIRLS SCHOOL) AND LLEW MULLINS IMAGE TOP RIGHT: WAVERLEY STANLEY AM AND JERMAINE HARRISON (TOOWOOMBA GRAMMAR SCHOOL) IMAGE RIGHT: MRS ROSEMARY BISHOP WITH YALARI STUDENTS AT THE 2015 YALARI BRISBANE DINNER

Yalari

is Born

Rosemary Grier was a young primary school teacher at Cloyna State School when she caught the eye of a local farmer, Ron Bishop. Ron tells the story of how he used to herd his few head of cattle past Rosemary's classroom window, and then circle around again with the same cattle, hoping to impress her with the illusion that he had more cattle than he actually did.

On the first of January 1955, Ron and Rosemary married and soon had their own family of three daughters and a son. While the children were still young, Rosemary returned to teaching at Murgon State School, 'just for a little while to help out while things were tough on the land'. Thirty-three years later she retired from teaching, having lead a full and active career as a primary school teacher.

In 1979, while organising for her son to enrol as a boarder at Toowoomba Grammar School the following year, she also mentioned to the Headmaster at the time, Mr Dent, that she had a 'terrific young Indigenous boy' in her Year 7 class who was also the School Captain. 'Waverley was a good boy and deserved the chance to succeed,' Rosemary recalls. It was due to Rosemary’s belief in Waverley that he was subsequently offered a boarding school scholarship.

Many years later, in 2005, well into her retirement living on Tamborine Mountain, Rosemary was lamenting with her daughter (also a teacher) wondering if she had really made a difference as a teacher.

A week later, Waverley rang ‘Mrs Bishop’ (as he calls her to this day). He had stayed in contact with Rosemary and her family over the years. As a confident yet humble 37 year-old man, he told his former teacher that he had established a charity offering scholarships for Indigenous children to attend boarding schools throughout Australia. To acknowledge the scholarship she had set up for him as a 12 year-old boy, he was asking her permission to name it in her honour. Uncharacteristically lost for words and overcome with emotion, Rosemary hesitated and tried to compose herself before answering. It was at this moment, she realised that she really had made a difference to her students' lives.

Waverley’s life was forever shaped by the quality education he received. And like Rosemary Bishop, Yalari’s generous sponsors have opened a door to opportunity for more than 500 Indigenous children over the past fifteen years. Our supporters are changing lives, just like Rosemary changed the life of her young student all those years ago. Rosemary’s legacy continues through those of us who are supporting generational change for Indigenous people and a better future for all Australians.

What a blessing Yalari has been to so many people — the children themselves, the parental and family support and so many generous people who give their strength to our cause. - Mrs Rosemary Bishop