Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

Educating Indigenous Children QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 29 | JUNE 2015

YALARI’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

SPECIAL! P. 6-11

Dive R A W R FO IT Y A P iat Init g isin Yalari Student Fundra

YEAR 12

WORKSHOP a night to inspire...

Sydney Fundraising Dinner success

Educating Indigenous Children Yalari is a not-for-profit organisation that offers quality, secondary education scholarships at leading Australian boarding schools for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities.

We believe education is the key to generational change and a brighter future, and we are deeply committed to the ongoing success of our national program of scholarships and postschool opportunities.

Our vision is to provide trusted, quality educational opportunities for Indigenous children to achieve positive outcomes for themselves and their families and make valuable contributions as Australians.

Our mission is to educate and empower Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities to bring about generational change.

Core Values: Respect, Compassion, Resilience, Openness, Inclusiveness.

It takes a whole community to educate a child.

www.yalari.org YALARI LIMITED PO BOX 1355 Oxenford QLD 4210 P: 07 5665 8688 F: 07 5665 8611 E: info@yalari.org W: www.yalari.org ABN: 66 113 794 148 ACN: 113 794 148 Yalari is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. © Yalari Limited

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The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the author only and may not reflect those of other identified parties. Every effort is made to ensure that information is accurate at time of printing.

COVER PHOTO: Raylene Smith from The Glennie School at Ormiston Gorge in Central Australia

Left to right: Scott Horwell (Go Vita CEO), Waverley Stanley and Peter MacDougall (Go Vita Consultant) at the Sydney Dinner in June

Waverley Stanley Founding Director 10 years is a long time to reflect on. I’ve been thinking about the people and organisations who were with us from the very early days and have been a part of Yalari ever since, many who are featured in this newsletter. Matt Plant and Lou Wilson are dear friends and incredibly loyal staff members to Yalari.

Both have taken on many roles over the years and are an integral part of our family. Mr Peter Hauser, Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School, and Mrs Wendy Ashley-Cooper, Head of School at The Glennie School, are the visionary leaders of our two foundation schools who offered the first places for our Yalari scholars in 2006. Ms Jocelyn Makin was the Head of Brown House at The Glennie School and nurtured and cared for our Glennie girls from the very beginning until her retirement this year.

Mr John Bolton has supported Yalari in Victoria for many years as the Chair of the Melbourne Dinner Committee and through the countless miles he drives to visit communities and spread the word about Yalari to the Indigenous families and children. I’m sharing a laugh in this photo (above) with Peter McDougal, former Company Secretary of Go Vita, and current CEO Scott Horwell, who have been sponsoring Yalari students for the last six years.

The seed for Yalari was planted in 1979 when my Grade 7 teacher at Murgon State School, Mrs Rosemary Bishop, organised a scholarship for me to attend

Toowoomba Grammar School for my secondary education. 26 years later, my wife Llew and I registered Yalari as a not-for-profit organisation as I was realising a dream of mine that I had held for decades was about to become a reality; to offer Indigenous children the opportunity for a scholarship to attend some of Australia’s leading boarding schools.

Ten years on, and Yalari has held its own as a legitimate and viable not-for-profit company. With Mary Boydell as our Chair, Bruce Davidson, Llew Mullins and myself as long standing board members, we’re excited about the recent appointments of two new directors, Karen Spiller, Principal of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School in Brisbane and Colin Roden, Managing Director of Westpac Treasury.

And in 10 more years, in the year 2025, I would like a Yalari alumni to be the CEO of Yalari. I’d also imagine that most of our Student Support Officers would be Yalari graduates, many of our future sponsors would have been blessed with a Yalari scholarship and would be doing very well for themselves in their professional lives, some of the teachers and Principals of our partnership schools would be Yalari graduates, and a solid network of around 350 Yalari alumni would be supporting each other and making tangible and lasting contributions throughout Australia.

YALARI NEWSROOM Welcome to the YALARI TEAM! We are pleased to welcome the following additions to the Yalari team and look forward to working with you all!

KAREN SPILLER Director Karen joins Yalari as a Director on the Board of Governance.

Karen has teaching and leadership experience in both girls’ and co-educational Anglican schools for over 30 years and she has been Principal at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School since 2000.

KAREN MCINTYRE Fundraising Manager Joining Yalari in the role of Fundraising Manager, Karen offers her skills and experience in developing and driving fundraising strategies and building long-term partnerships.

COLIN RODIN Director We welcome Colin to Yalari as a Director on the Board of Governance. Colin holds a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Economics and Accounting from Macquarie University and is a Managing Director at Group Treasury for Westpac Banking Corporation. He has over 35 years experience in financial markets in both Australia and internationally.

GREG HEHIR Student Support Manager Greg joins us in the role of Student Support Manager, offering his skills and expertise in social work and his experience working with Indigenous Youth.

THANKS Herbert Smith Freehills

Website REFRESH! After months of preparation we are delighted to announce the launch of our newly designed website.

One of our goals in developing the new site was to provide our visitors with a user-friendly experience. Ease of navigation, greater functionality and greater information are just some of the features you can expect to find on our new site.

This is just the beginning! We plan to continue to improve our digital media platforms in order to keep in touch with everyone in the Yalari community.

For comments or suggestions, please email comms@yalari.org.

A special thank you to our friends at Herbert Smith Freehills (in particular the Brisbane branch) for providing funding for an internet connection upgrade at the Yalari Head Office. This new facility will enable us to better connect with our everyone in the Yalari community.

A NEW SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP As of 2016, Yalari will have 29 partner schools Australia-wide with the addition of MLC Claremont, Western Australia.

MLC is a vibrant all-girls’ boarding and day school that has been offering girl-centric education for more than a century. They are a community that celebrates diversity and achievement, and promotes excellence in all areas of life.

We look forward to working with MLC school in 2016 and beyond!

UPCOMING KEY DATES

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

28 AUG

YALARI YEAR 12 GRADUATION Duntroon Military Base, Canberra

18 SEP

COMMEMORATIVE WALK TO CHERBOURG

15 OCT

YALARI BRISBANE DINNER Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

31 OCT

YALARI ADELAIDE DINNER Memorial Hall St Peter’s College Hackney

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20 AUG

YALARI MELBOURNE DINNER Leonda by the Yarra Hawthorn Call us for tickets now!

(07) 5665 8688

YEAR 12 WORKSHOP 2015 PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH VALUABLE SKILLS The Year 12 Yalari students were recently treated to a two day workshop in either Brisbane or Melbourne, hosted and funded by Herbert Smith Freehills. Students were given the opportunity to learn vital skills including how to cope with university, study skills, interview techniques and how to manage financially.

The students described the setting of their workshop as “posh” but loved the law firm environment on the top floors of skyscrapers! This gave them a real ‘feel’ of what working life might be like. The students participated in a one-on-one mock interview with a solicitor and although everyone felt as though they were put on-the-spot, they all agreed the experience was amazing!

Following the workshops, it was pleasing to hear that the students felt more focused and sure about their plans moving forward. For this year group, it was the last time they will be together as Yalari scholars before their graduation ceremony in August.

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A big thank you to our friends at Herbert Smith Freehills for giving up their time and resources to assist the Year 12’s in their transition into tertiary study or employment.

PAY IT FORWARD

ti ve Ya la ri St ud en t Fu nd ra is in g In it ia FRIENDSHIP, FUN AND PAYING IT FORWARD! On 13 and 14 June the Year 10 cohort of 10 boys and 15 girls came together from across the country, along with seven of the Yalari team, to the property of ‘Woodstock’. Hidden in the Gold Coast Hinterland, it was the perfect location for a getaway with 300 secluded acres, two houses, a big fire pit to sit around at night with marshmallows and a real dose of natural beauty.

The theme for the camp was to reinforce the “Pay It Forward Initiative” where students are encouraged to think creatively in order to fundraise for a Yalari scholarship.

It was a busy schedule with workshops and activities keeping everyone focused and involved for the weekend. Fred Leone lead a workshop around Hip Hop, adding cultural ideals and understanding, while at the same time blending traditional dance and history into the mix as well. We saw leadership and team activities just challenging enough to add a bit of competition while at the same time, creating more and more laughter! During the course of the weekend, students were able to discuss their thoughts and share ideas on how to raise the funds needed for another student’s scholarship fees.

It was fantastic camp that really showed the way our Yalari students bond and grow together no matter what part of the country they had just flown in from. The highlight was the respect that was shown by all students, not only to each other but also to Yalari staff right from Waverley’s greeting speech in the late hours of Friday night through to the farewell after Matt Plant’s presentation on Sunday.

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A big thanks go to Waverley and Llew, Greg, Gary, Liz, Deb (our new SSO for Geelong), Matt and all of the team who helped to make this camp so successful. And an extra special thanks to Youth Enterprise Trust, for allowing us to use their beautiful property ‘Woodstock’.

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! 25 new students receive Yalari scholarships.

While beginning his scholarship at Toowoomba Grammar School in 1980, Waverley Stanley first has the idea for starting Yalari.

Our first three students start boarding school at Toowoomba Grammar School and The Glennie School

First Year 9 Girls Outback Camp

Yalari’s Inaugural fundraising dinner in Sydney raises in excess of $300,000.

2007

2005 1980!

Vincent Fairfax Foundation become Yalari’s first major partner

2006 Yalari was established on 13 April 2005 by Waverley Stanley, his wife Llew Mullins and a group of like minded and generous others.

Yalari was assisted with start-up funding supplied by AVCAL (Australian Venutre Capital Association Limited) and DEEWR (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)

2009 2008

13 new scholarship recipients start at six different boarding schools around Australia. Yalari raises in excess of $1 million through partnerships, private and corporate donations.

Yalari offer scholarship schools.

Her Excelle Governor-G Commonw the patrona our annual Dinner.

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Yalari, from the Birra Gubba Indigenous language group, means “child”.

Waverley was given permission to use the name by the late Grandfather “Blokey” Wilson, an elder from Waverley’s mother’s family in North Queensland.

The Inaugural Yalari Orientation Camp was held at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast.

Waverley is Young’s So Year (Nth R

Yalari celebrates its fifth birthday!

The Federal Government awards part of its Indigenous Youth Leadership Program to Yalari, adding 66 transitioning students and a further nine schools to our program.

Relocated to Siganto Drive, Helensvale Waverley travels to South Africa for his Winston Churchill Fellowship.

Powderfinger, Australia’s most successful rock band, supports Yalari throughout their ‘Sunsets’ farewell tour of Australia in late 2010.

17 Yalari students graduate Year 12.

Waverley Stanley is a finalist in the Australian of the Year, Queensland nominees.

Yalari Alumni Outback to Icecap - Antarctica adventure.

Yalari’s Head Office is devastated by fire. The Gold Coast Titans NRL Club generously donate office space at their headquarters in Robina.

The Yalari community rallies to get us back on our feet!

2013

2011

2010

rs a further 34 students ps through our partner

ency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, General of the wealth of Australia, accepts age of Yalari and attends l Brisbane Fundraising

2012 Yalari offers 50 students scholarships including students from Western Australia for the first time.

2015 2014

25 students graduate Year 12.

Pay It Forward Initiative begins.

Yalari celebrates its tenth birthday!

Yalari currently has 175 scholars and 109 alumni.

28 partner schools

Inaugural Commemorative Walk to Cherbourg.

Educating Indigenous Children

s named as Ernst & ocial Entrepreneur of the Region).

PBI (Public Benevolent Institution) endorsement by the Australian Tax Office

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

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es

Educating & Empowering Indigenous Children

C E L E B R A T I N G 1 0 Y EEAd Ru Sc !a

from the ground up!

OUR FIRST PEOPLE Lou Wilson Volunteer turned Employee

Our current Development Coordinator, Lou Wilson has been heavily involved in Yalari since she started volunteering back in 2007.

After working as a pharmacist for 20 years, Lou had taken time off as a result of falling ill. A chance introduction to Waverley through her brother Tim, offered Lou the opportunity to volunteer part-time.

One of Lou’s first roles was on the Brisbane Dinner Committee seeking Indigenous Art Donations which saw her travel to Central Australia. She has since been involved in the organisation of over 20 successful fundraising dinners.

When the time came for Lou to re-enter the workforce as a paid employee, Llew and Waverley did not want to see her leave! They promptly offered her a position as National Volunteer Coordinator, to which she accepted.

In more recent times Lou has worked as our Development Coordinator, maintaining relationships with our sponsors and generating new partnership opportunities. Lou is an adored, hard-working, happy and kind person who is a greatly appreciated member of the Yalari team.

“I feel as though I am doing my small part in something much bigger” Lou says.

Matt Plant Employee Matt’s affiliation with Yalari started in 2005 when he was approached by Llew and Waverley to produce a promotional video. A filmmaker by trade, Matt’s first Yalari project was a huge success and he was quickly commissioned to produce a second video.

Matt’s versatility and a passion for making a difference saw him become a permanent member of the Yalari team, offering his skills in the student support and communications areas. Matt is currently our Alumni Manager, offering support and guidance to Yalari graduates, helping them in their transition to higher education or employment.

Matt has a engaging and personable nature with a great sense of humour, but most importantly his natural connection with the children shines through. This has seen him organise and attend over 50 Yalari workshops and camps, provide student support, conduct talks and presentations and be a friend to the students.

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“I have loved every minute of my involvement with Yalari”, Matt remarks.

t i n gE d u& c aEtmi npg o&wEemrpionwge rI i nn dg i I gn de ing oe nuosu sC Chhi ill dd rr eenn John Bolton Volunteer As Yalari’s longest serving volunteer, John Bolton continues to share his skills, experience and generosity with the Yalari community in many ways.

Starting back in 2006, it was through a chance viewing of a TV documentary regarding Indigenous boarding school scholarships that John came to learn about Yalari. After contacting Waverley and listening to his story, John immediately offered his support - and so started a very special and genuine relationship.

As past President of the Melbourne Grammar Foundation and a retired successful businessman, John’s skills and contributions have been invaluable. He is the current Chair of the Melbourne Fundraising Dinner Committee and also an ambassador for Yalari, liaising with prospective sponsors and organising corporate lunches.

The success in Yalari’s Victorian community is largely attributable to John’s drive, determination and work ethic. He is a wonderful man and we truly value the time, effort and hard-work John has done, and continues to do.

“I have been very fortunate indeed in my activities with Yalari to have the opportunity to meet with many of the families of the students. Wonderful parents who have recognised the true value of education and have given their children their complete support to enable them to enjoy the experience of education.

My association with Yalari means a great deal to me and rarely is it far from my mind. Waverley and Llew, thank you for having me in your team” - John Bolton.

Jocelyn Makin Teacher & Volunteer Jocelyn Makin is one of those women that wraps you up completely in her embrace, with her arms, her eyes and her laugh that comes from deep down in her stomach.

When Yalari enrolled our first girls into The Glennie School in 2006, 'Ms Makin' was the head of Brown House, the boarding house for the Year 7, 8 and 9 girls. Without her genuine support, care, guidance, and maternal love, we doubt our Yalari girls would have felt such a feeling of belonging at the Glennie.

Jocelyn was a home economics teacher for most of her working life until she took on the position of boarding house mistress which many believe she was born to do. With the aroma of her home made cookies filling the boarding house hallways, the repairs of uniforms and even the occasional formal dress, and her trusty dog Zen ever ready for attention, Jocelyn had a way of bringing 'home' to the boarding house.

A couple of years ago Jocelyn decided it was time to step back from full time work but felt she wasn't ready to retire, so she took on the role of looking after the Indigenous girls at The Glennie School in a part time capacity. In actual fact, this role kept her busier than ever. She even traveled to Central Australia in 2013 with the Yalari Year 9 girls for their leadership camp. Cooking, cleaning, setting up camp, comforting the girls, and looking after the rescued dingo pup Tjupi, was all part of a long days work. After six days, Jocelyn flew to Maningrida in Arnhem land escorting the girls home and finally getting the chance to visit their home communities.

Jocelyn has also been a regular volunteer at our Orientation Camps over the years as she values getting to know the girls, and them getting to know her, before they actually arrive at school for the first time.

In June this year, Jocelyn announced her retirement from The Glennie School. Of the hundreds of Glennie girls she has supported, there are 28 Indigenous girls that have been privileged to feel her compassion, care and guidance over the years.

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Thank you 'Ms Makin' for the commitment you have made to caring for the Yalari girls at The Glennie School over the years. We couldn't have done it without you.

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015 Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS!

Mrs Rosemary Bishop

THE POWER OF ONE TEACHER

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 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 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'. 33 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 believe in Waverley that he was subsequently offered the boarding school scholarship.

Many years later, in 2005, and well into her retirement living on Tamborine Mountain, Rosemary was lamenting with her daughter, who is also a teacher, and wondering if she had really been effective as a teacher.

A week later, Waverley rang ‘Mrs Bishop’ (as he still 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 Year 7 teacher that he had established a charity that was going to offer scholarships for Indigenous children to attend good boarding schools throughout Australia, and to honour the scholarship that she had set up for him as a 12 year old boy, he was asking her permission to name it, 'The Rosemary Bishop Indigenous Education Scholarship Program'. Uncharacteristically lost for words, and overcome with emotion, Rosemary hesitated and tried to compose herself before answering.

On the first January 2015, friends and family gathered in Hervey Bay to celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary of Ron and Rosemary Bishop.

The adoration between 'Mrs Bishop' and Waverley is palpable.

Rosemary asked Waverley with pride, 'how many little kids have scholarships now?'

'175 currently and 109 have graduated', he tells all the guests.

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Rosemary nods and smiles. Perhaps she now can be sure of just how effective she was as a teacher.

Waverley Stanley (top left) & Rosemary Bishop (centre)

! Educating & Empowering Indigenous Children

Our First

PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS In 2005, not long after Yalari was formally established, Waverley Stanley was determined to partner with the school that gave him the life changing scholarship in 1980 - Toowoomba Grammar School. For a school this prestigious, there was always a waiting list for students wishing to enrol, particularly for Year 8 which was the first year of high school.

The Headmaster, Peter Hauser made the decision during the first meeting with Waverley. His school would offer two places for Yalari scholarship recipients starting in 2006.

Waverley then made an appointment to meet with Wendy Ashley-Cooper, the Head of School at The Glennie School in Toowoomba. She was as supportive and as enthusiastic as Peter and also offered two places for Yalari scholars enrolling in 2006.

The first Yalari selected scholar to graduate Year 12 from The Glennie School was Nellie Bond in 2010.

Since then, another nine Yalari girls have graduated from the school.

Nellie has completed a Diploma in Hospitality and is now working at Yulara Resort at Uluru. Other Glennie graduates are studying media, accounting and nursing, and others are working for the Australian Defence Force and The Australian Federal Police.

“Toowoomba Grammar School, Queensland, is extremely proud of its association with Yalari for many reasons. First the School is honoured to have Mr Waverley Stanley as an 'Old Boy'. Secondly Toowoomba Grammar School is the co- founding school of Yalari with its first Yalari students commencing in 2006. In addition, the School is proud of its Yalari students who seek to maximise the educational and social opportunities presented to them.

As Headmaster of Toowoomba Grammar School I wish the Yalari organisation continued success in its life-changing vision.”

Peter B. Hauser Headmaster Toowoomba Grammar School

Since 2006, nine Yalari scholars have attended Toowoomba Grammar School. Four of them have since graduated Year 12 and are studying Exercise and Sports Science, a Bachelor of Science, training with the Titans development squad and working in the mines.

“It has been a privilege to partner with Yalari during these past ten years” Wendy remarks, “we have seen many girls thrive and grow as both Yalari students and Glennie girls. I admire the girls’ resilience in making the most of their opportunities in a new and challenging environment. Many of them have formed great friendships with other Glennie girls and the mutual exchange has been beneficial to all. Yalari girls bring a new dimension to The School and help us all to increase our cultural awareness and understanding of indigenous Australia”.

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Wendy Ashley-Cooper Head of School The Glennie School

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

YALARI SYDNEY DINNER A night of inspiration and celebration The scene was set for a memorable evening as over 400 guests gathered at the Ivy in Sydney for Yalari’s 10th Anniversary Sydney Fundraising Dinner. In attendance were guests including His Excellency The Honourable David Hurley and Mrs Linda Hurley, AFL Sydney Swans players Adam Goodes and Michael O’Loughlin, and 50 excited Yalari scholars.

The evening kicked off with a demonstration of a traditional Indigenous ‘smoking ceremony’, greeting guests as they arrived at the venue. Attendees were then invited to mix and mingle until the doors officially opened and, in a flurry of excitement and anticipation, the evening officially got underway.

Yalari students, Shanelle Smith and Trey Petterson, hosted the evening as Masters of Ceremonies demonstrating their confidence and professionalism as they welcomed everyone.

The ever inspiring Yalari Founding Director, Waverley Stanley was as positive and passionate as ever as he recalled the events of the past ten years and beyond, that led to this point in Yalari’s journey.

Attendees were first treated to a traditional dance by the St Ignatius’ College Riverview Dance Troop where the boys weren't afraid to show their moves! This was followed by Yalari student, Lorrae Kennedy’s “Acknowledgement to Country”.

The evening was topped off with some fun and frivolity of the live and silent auctions and raffle results. We would like to thank everyone who participated in our auctions and raffles your generosity is truly appreciated.

Indigenous entertainer Casey Donovan tantilised the crowd with her powerful and moving vocal performance. Despite having a hiccup with the backing track, Casey went on to perform the song ‘acapella’ and brought the house down! It was wonderful having Casey back to perform given she was one of the first entertainers at Yalari’s fundraising dinner ten years ago.

Designed to highlight resilience among the Yalari scholars, it was an exciting moment as Levi Nichaloff was called to stage to receive the Lend Lease Junior Resilience Award presented by Michael O’Louglin. Larissa Woosup was then honoured to receive the Lend Lease Senior Leadership Award presented by Adam Goodes, who said “leadership is about being a role model. Stay true to yourself, true to where you come from and true to your people”.

MC’s Shanelle Smith & Trey Petterson

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Yalari student guest Singer, Casey Donovan speaker for the evening was Lyric Hearn, who delivered a moving and heart-felt story about her experiences so far through life and how the opportunity to study at boarding school has changed her, “Canberra Girls Grammar School is a place where I can thrive, not simply exist” Lyric explained, “when I graduate I want to study to become someone who puts an end to generational trauma amongst Indigenous Australians”. There was a lot of emotion in the room as Lyric received a rousing applause as she exited the stage.

We would like to thank Lend Lease for being our event major partner again this year. Yalari’s relationship with Lend Lease continues to provide long term and practical benefits for our scholars.

So, with the first of our four fundraising dinners for 2015 being over, we now set our sights on Melbourne and we are sure that it is going to be another fabulous event.

The Yalari Melbourne Dinner is being held on Thursday 20 August 2015 at Leonda by the Yarra. To purchase tickets, please call our office on (07) 5665 8688.

Lend Lease Award winner Levi Nichaloff

Tom Roach (SSO), Michael O’Loughlin , Adam Goodes with the boys from Riverview

Lend Lease Award winner Larissa Woosup with Michael O’Laughin (left) & Adam Goodes (right)

Lyric’s M ESSAGE The following is an excerpt from Lyric’s speech on the night, a message for her fellow Yalari scholars.

‘Yalari, as an organisation, has given me a world of opportunities and experiences I wouldn't have if my application was unsuccessful and showing my gratitude would be by graduating at Canberra Girls Grammar School and going to university to become whatever it is I want to be.

But Yalari as a family has given me so much more than a secondary educational scholarship at Canberra Girls Grammar School.

Yalari Abbotsleigh girls

As a person with anxiety, I have let too many opportunities fly past me, regret is a common feeling I get when I think about what I could have done. Some days, I can't even ask a simple question because I feel too trapped by my own thoughts to even find the right words to say. The moment I read that e-mail from Llew inviting me to speak here, I knew I had to do it. I've let anxiety take so much away from me over the years and I wasn't going to let this moment fade into another missed opportunity.

Before I end I would like to address the 50 odd Yalari students here with us tonight. When I felt undeserving of this scholarship, I kept on comparing myself to my Yalari peers. I couldn't ignore the fact that I'm not a natural born leader like Larissa, not as athletically gifted as Mia and I'm definitely nowhere near to the standard of Kyol Blakeney.

Michael O’Loughlin, Adam Goodes with the Yalari boys from Shore and TAS

L to R: Jacqueline Harvey, Waverley Stanley, Henry Jaschke & Ian Harvey

The Kambala girls

All I need to tell you is something I learnt in Year 7 Drama class when I had to pretend a scarf on top of a water bottle was Mount Everest. Everything has potential and this is most definitely true for people as well. Every person who applied for this scholarship had the potential to have this privilege you have been given; the only true advancement you have over them is that you were given this opportunity. I sound a little bit like Waverley at the moment but it's true.

The best you could do for yourself and Yalari is to realise that you didn't get this scholarship because you're meant to compete against Larissa, Mia or Kyol; that is not why you're here and it's not why they're here either.

We all have a different drive, different passions and we'll all go on to making achievements of our own at our own pace, leaving our impact in the forms of becoming Canberra Girls Grammar School's first Indigenous vice-captain, excelling at basically every sport you play, tirelessly fighting for Indigenous rights, or simply delivering a speech tonight in front of 400 people, even though it completely terrifies you to talk about your personal experience and how you plan to help create a different future for our children and every other Aboriginal and The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) Governor of NSW Torres Strait Islander child.’ and Mrs Linda Hurley with Lyric Hearn

A special thank you...

Yalari gratefully acknowledges the dedication of everyone who has contributed to the Sydney Dinner: the volunteers, speakers and entertainers, event partners and those who have generously donated to our auctions and raffle prizes.

Marshall Rosen with Sydney Dinner Committee members Sue Rosen (front) & Jeanie Auty Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June March2015 2015

Heart-felt gratitude and thanks go to our Sydney Dinner Committee for organising a wonderful event: Sue Rosen (Chair), Jeannie Auty, Edwina Campbell, Victoria Nichol, Natalie Berents, Denise Slocombe and Catherine Rothery.

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Thanks also to Narrative Post for their photography services and auctioneer, Matthew Nicastri from Cooley Auctions.

OUR VALUED PARTNERS THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED OUR JOURNEY! Yalari would not be possible without the support of its partners. Since 2005, we are extremely grateful that others have shared in our vision and mission and have given generously of their time, resources and money in order to see Yalari succeed.

A huge and heart-felt thank you to all our supporters. We look forward to our continued relationship bringing educational opportunities to the Indigenous youth of Australia.

A special thank you goes to our long-standing partners, who have shared in our journey since the early days, and are still with us today.

Australian Government

Langports

Herbert Smith Freehills

ACN

Commercial Eyes

Caroline McDonald Memorial Scholarship Fund

Deloitte Foundation Newsboys Foundation Steve & Jane Wilson McCullough Robertson Lawyers English Family Foundation Indigenous Youth Leadership Program Greyhound Australia Grosvenor Foundation Go Vita Perpetual Leroy & Joy Bauer Trust Fiona & Richard East Steve & Di McCready

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RSL (Queensland Branch)

Stan & Maureen Duke Foundation Australian Community Foundation Win Schubent Colin & Lena Roden Mia Foundation Santos Arthur Earle Foundation Thyne Reid Foundation Podmore Foundation Sue & Ian Mackie Trevor & Jan Olsen Paul & Judy Williams Reuben Pellerman

PICK OF THE P I C S! Llew, Waverley, Jocelyn Makin and the Glennie Girls at her farewell dinner

Se pt em be r Ed it io n

ed itio n wi ll Ou r Se ptem be r citem en t an d ex e th all e inc lud ra l Au str ali a nt Ce m sto rie s fro rls an d Boys wi th th e Ye ar 9 Gi at th e en d of mp ca eir th go ing on St ay po ste d ly.

Ju Ju ne an d ea rly for th at on e!

Gr ad ua tio n Wi th ou r Ye ar 12 st an d th e gu Au in ing ha pp en Se ptem be r, it in lk Ch er bo ur g Wa mo nt hs for th e wi ll be a bu sy few ! tiy un Ya lar i co mm

Year 10 Camp with Lena, Tayla and Makka Brooke, Kobi & Khiaecia at Year 10 Camp

rson erview, Trey Pette i Captain for Riv

Year 12 stude

nts from NSW

ulating Yalar Waverley congrat

at the Sydney

Dinner

for them!

Our Yalari girls on the back of a Greyhound bus. Keep your eyes peeled

Herbert Smith Freehills workshop in Melbourne for Yalari Year 12’s

Do you have a story you would like to share?

Page 15

If you would like to submit a story, provide feedback, share some photos or have any questions regarding our publication, please contact our Communications Team - comms@yalari.org

SHARING THE LOVE! Like us on Facebook and follow up on Twitter! We will keep you up-to-date on everything that’s happening within the Yalari community!

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - June 2015

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT YALARI There are many different ways you can show your support for Yalari.

Did you know?

$

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and

Islanders

Day

$

Donations of money, goods or services

Workplace Giving

Become a partner or sponsor

Work for us

Leave a bequest in your Will

Volunteer

Fundraise on our behalf

Connect with us on social media

Observance

Committee. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920′s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July. It is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements

OR...

and is an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and

you could attend one of our upcoming fundraising dinners!

The Yalari fundraising dinners are a celebration of the whole Yalari community. They bring together our students, sponsors, partners, schools, staff and supporters for a fun and inspiring night. The food, wine and entertainment aren’t bad either!!

our society.

We encourage all Australians to participate in the celebrations and

Funds raised from our dinners are vital to the ongoing mission of Yalari. If you would like to purchase a table (or just one ticket), please email Pam Boavida at pboavida@yalari.org. We are also seeking donations for our silent auctions, so if you are able to assist in any way, we would love to hear from you. The next dinner of 2015 is on Thursday 20 August at Leonda on the Yarra, Hawthorn.

activities that take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week.

For more information visit www. naidoc.org.au

If you would like to find out more about supporting Yalari or to register for one of our dinners, please contact us today!

YES!

To make a donation please complete the form below. To discuss your ideas about how you could help Yalari or to make a bequest, please contact us on (07) 5665 8688. Gifts over $2 are tax deductible.

I would like to donate...

DONATION OPTIONS ARE: $1,000 per year for textbooks

NAME: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

(FIRST NAME) (FAMILY NAME)

ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________________

$1,000 per year for laptop hire $1,500 per year for school uniforms

STATE: ____________ POST CODE: ____________ COMPANY: ________________________________________________

$20,000 per year for BOARDING AND TUITION FEES

PHONE: _______________________ EMAIL: _______________________________________________________________

Surprise us!

DATE: ________________________ DONATION AMOUNT: ___________________________________________________ METHOD OF PAYMENT (CIRCLE ONE) CHEQUE:

Please make cheque payable to Yalari Limited.

Page 16

CREDIT CARD:

VISA

MASTERCARD

NAME ON CARD: _____________________________________________________________________________________ EXPIRY DATE: _________________

CARDHOLDER’S SIGNATURE: _________________________________________

CARD NUMBER: ________________________________________________________ CVV NUMBER: _______________________