Yalari Newsletter - Issue 28 - March 2015

10 20

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

5

1

05 - 201

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS

Educating Indigenous Children QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 28 | MARCH 2015

YALARI NEWSROOM Waverley Stanley Founding Director ‘You’ve got to get your education so you can say certain things… and people will listen’ Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins AO, the first Indigenous Australian to graduate from university.

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.

The Freedom Ride of 1965 was lead by the late Charlie Perkins as he was then known, a third year university student and President of the Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA), at the University of Sydney. The students travelled in a bus through the NSW towns of Walgett, Gulargambone, Kempsey, Bowraville and Moree, in a fact finding trip so they could see for themselves the conditions of life for Aboriginal people.

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.

2015 marks the 50 year anniversary of that ride. Yalari graduate Kyol Blakeney, the second Indigenous President of Sydney University’s Student Representative Council, led a group of 29 students in a recreation of the Freedom Ride of 1965. They travelled to many of the same towns, with new challenges and old histories.

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.

Tyson Holloway-Clarke is a third year student at the University of Melbourne and the Indigenous Student Council Representative of the Student Union.

It takes a whole community to educate a child.

www.yalari.org

© Yalari Limited

Page 2

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: Yalari Alumni Trip to Antarctica (article page 10)

ES

As we celebrate our 10th birthday on Monday 13th April, I’m filled with pride for the Yalari community that I’m a part of; the scholars, the teachers, the volunteers, the sponsors, the supporters, the families, the staff and everyone who believes that we can make a change in every moment, day by day, and year by year.

10 20

1

2015 KEY DAT

Yalari has not altered its focus or goals since it began. With the support of our donors and sponsors, we offer boarding scholarships for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote areas to attend some of Australia’s highest achieving boarding schools for their secondary education. With over a hundred graduates, we continue to support these young adults in varying ways.

05 - 201

5

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.

Larissa Woosup is in Year 12 at Canberra Girls Grammar School and is the School Vice-Captain.

Yalari turns 10 this year. Already we are seeing the changes to Australian society that our Yalari scholars and graduates are making.

They are leaders, they contribute, they try, they help each other, they inspire, they have courage, they do their best, and Australia is a better place because of them.

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS CELEBRATING 10 YEARS ry a rs e iv E d u c a t i n g I n d igenous Children n n A Yalari’s 10th e s lo 13 Apr C ips 016 Scholarsh r 30 Apr 2 Sydney Dinne ri la a Y ner 3 Jun Melbourne Din ri la a Y SAVE THE DATE g u to 20 A orative Walk m e m m o C for our first fundraising dinner of 2015 18-24 Sep Cherbourg r e n in D e n 3 June at The Ivy, Sydney.

Yalari Brisba 15 Oct inner D e id la e d A ri Yala For enquiries or ticket sales, please contact 14 Nov

Pam Boavida at pboavida@yalari.org

NEW KIDS

ON THE BLOCK!

Welcome to the 35 new Yalari scholars who have started their first year of high school.

CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK!

Our new Yalari scholars come from all over Australia. From Charleville to Cherbourg, Boulder to Broome, Moree to Mt Isa and Torquay to Tennant Creek!

Tekishea & Kiara

Kambala, Sydney

Indira

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Brisbane

Ala

Great Southern Grammar School, Albany

Kiirra

The Southport School

Tyrese

Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange

Renikka

Great Southern Grammar School, Albany

Kayla

New South Wales Queensland

Victoria Northern Territory Western Australia

Holly, Georgia, Tyrese, Jade, Norah, Noah, Jalu, Hunter Toby, Noah, Darcie, Indira, Sophia, Tyeena, Nadia, Clarissa, Kiirra, Liam Aidan, Jaycee, Kayla Faith, Haley, Tekishea, Kiara, Imani, Cheyanne, Ricky, Levi Darcy, Ala, Lakotta, Renekka-Pearl, Khyanne, Nina

St Catherine’s School, Melbourne

This year, we don’t have any Yalari students from South Australia or Tasmania. If you live South Australia or Tasmania we would love for you to spread the word about Yalari’s work so that maybe next year, we can have a few more stars on the map!!

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015

Page 3

Can you help?

N O I T A T N E I OR CAMP 2015

Winanggaay Nguurrang ‘the camp of thinkin g and understandin g’

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ADVENTURE! On Monday 12 January, 35 excited yet nervous children were

Volunteers, Junior Leaders and staff ensured the children were

welcomed to The Southport School on the Gold Coast for Yalari’s

made to feel welcome and relaxed. The Yalari Junior Leaders

9th Annual Orientation Camp. Many had travelled for most of

(senior Yalari students) spent time sharing their experiences on

the day from regional, remote and rural communities across

living away from home and offering very helpful coping strategies.

Australia and for some, it was the first time they had been away

Students were also able to get to know their Student Support

from home.

Officer, who will be working closely with the school and student,

The new scholars, joined by 28 returning students and 11 Junior

supporting their needs pastorally and academically.

Leaders were eager to get started at the ‘Winanggaay Nguurrang’

On the first day, new and returning students were divided into

camp which is designed to introduce new students to what they

‘house’ groups with each group being named after a prominent

can expect from boarding school life and marks the beginning of

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Leader. These house groups

their Yalari journey.

determined the schedule for activities, where students would

Page 4

sleep and the workshops they would be involved in. By Tuesday

morning (after a quiet night and sound sleep) the students were ready for the ‘getting to know you’ activities. One activity involved the students working together in a group to create the word ‘Yalari’ spelled out with canned spaghetti.

Following the mid-morning activities, the students headed to Metricon Stadium where they met the Gold Coast Suns who not only took them for a tour of the stadium but also ran them through a football clinic. The gloomy and overcast weather did not deter the students from having a ball!

By the time the students arrived in Surfers Paradise, the sun had begun to appear. They hurriedly headed up the 77 floors of the Q1 tower to enjoy panoramic views from the observation deck. After taking a breather and appreciating their surroundings, it was time for the ‘Race Around the Gold Coast’, a fast-paced, fun activity with their house groups, followed by a swim at the beach.

On Wednesday, students attended classes which focused on

“I feel extremely privilaged to be part of the Yalari Orientation Camps; watching the students transform from quiet, nervous children into their unique individual selves. I enjoy seeing them form friendships that will last the course of the journey, offering support through the ups and downs. I am confident the Yalari camps equip students with the skills necessary to give them the best chance of success at boarding school.”

- Jordon Keipert (Student Support Officer)

boarding school life, what to expect and how to make the most of the experience. The classes encouraged students to make new friends, be organised, support one another and be proud of themselves, knowing they have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and in their communities.

These classes included special guests who spent time with the students and shared their skills and experiences. Guests included youth worker and Hip-Hop artist, Fred Leone who along with fellow artists Kaylah Tyson, James Williams and photographer Ant Broese worked with students in developing their skills in using digital media and music to express themselves. Greg Gebhart, a leading cyber safety expert from Cybersmart Australia also shared his wealth of knowledge about how to stay safe online.

A highlight for many students was visiting Dreamworld and White Water World on Thursday followed by a certificate ceremony and a disco organised by the Junior Leaders on Thursday evening. The prospect of an early morning wakeup for departure didn’t stop our students from enjoying their final night dancing away with new friends.

35 28

YALARI CAMP FACTS! NEW STUDENTS RETURNING STUDENTS

11

JUNIOR LEADERS

15 VOLUNTEERS

9

STAFF

Nine years of running orientation camps has taught us a few things. Helping children to become prepared for their journey to boarding school is imperative if we are to see success in our quest to affect generational change through education.

Yalari’s orientation camps are only made possible through the generous funding of our sponsors and donors, the countless hours of work by our staff and volunteers, and the willingness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to trust Yalari to educate their children Page 5

the future leaders of this country.

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015

PAGE 5

Yalari highly values the contributions of all our sponsors and supporters. In this edition, we ‘shout-out’ to four of our sponsors who are continuing to help us realise our vision.

THANKS

BOH Dental

A huge thank you to BOH Dental who have provided eight of our Brisbane Yalari students with dental treatment over the past year, valued at $6,600. We are very appreciative and sincerely thank you! We look forward to continuing our relationship in 2015. www.bohdental.com.au

PARTNER!

The Leroy and Joy Brauer Perpetual Charitable Trust

Alliance Airlines

Special thanks to The Leroy and Joy Brauer Perpetual Charitable Trust for generously funding the Yalari Orientation Camp for the seventh year. Their generous backing provided the much needed funds for the camp to go ahead. A camp of this magnitude requires a myriad of logistics to be funded with the major expenses being air travel, food and accommodation.

Yalari is grateful to have been selected as one of three organisations who will benefit from the Alliance Airlines new Workplace Giving Program. Workplace giving is a program that lets employees donate money to a charity on a regular basis with donations being deductible for taxation purposes. Thank you for including Yalari in your new giving program! www.allianceairlines.com.au

Greyhound Australia Yalari is grateful for its long-standing partnership with Greyhound Australia, a relationship that commenced in 2008. Since then, Greyhound has transported over 700 Yalari students around the country free of charge and has extended its generosity to include interstate freight for Yalari parcels and bags.

More recently, Greyhound supplied $7,000 worth of charter for the

annual Yalari Orientation Camp on the Gold Coast. This not only allowed our Yalari students to travel to and from camp, but also transportation during the camp.

It is very exciting that Greyhound will be featuring the Yalari logo and photos on the back of five buses across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra. Greyhound carries 5 million passengers over 38

million kilometres each year, so Yalari is sure to get noticed!

We would like to thank Greyhound for their dedicated support over the years and look forward to continuing our wonderful partnership in the years to come. www.greyhound.com.au

Sophia & Indira

Page 6

St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School

Yalari students at the Orientation Camp in January

SCHOOLS This year, Yalari is pleased to welcome two new partnership schools to the Yalari Scholarship Program.

John Paul College, Daisy Hill John Paul College (JPC) is a coeducational, ecumenical school in Daisy Hill, Queensland. From Childcare to Year 12, the college offers an environment where Christian values are embraced and all faiths and cultures are welcomed.

In 2015, Yalari scholars Faith and Hayley from Arnhem Land, will be two of only 48 boarders at the newly opened boarding facility. The unique style of accommodation offers six villas with their own shared lounge and kitchenette.

JPC has a growing Indigenous program which aims to enhance cultural understanding and the mutual learning between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The two girls are already impressing their teachers and fellow

Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), North Sydney

students with their willingness to get involved and their recently discovered basketball prowess! They have settled well into the boarding family, making new friends and learning some new skills, whilst developing their independence.

Through the alignment of vision, values and philosophy, Yalari is honoured to have JPC on-board as a partner school and we wish Faith and Hayley the very best for the year ahead.

Including our two new schools, Yalari now offers boarding school scholarships at 28 schools across Australia!

This year, Yalari boys Levi and Hunter commenced Year 7 as boarders at Shore School, North Sydney. Shore has welcomed Indigenous students on educational scholarships over the past eight years with many being referred to the school by family or friends living in regional areas on New South Wales.

During 2014 Waverley Stanley introduced Yalari to the Headmaster of Shore, Dr Tim Wright. Dr Wright was impressed with the aims and objectives of the program and the continuing support offered by Yalari to the boys during their education.

Levi and Hunter join twenty-eight other junior boarders and although it is still only early days in their school career, they have settled into the classroom and boarding house remarkably well. They have already represented the School in cricket and basketball.

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015

Left to right: Mr Kyle Fifield (Assistant Housemaster) Levi, Hunter and Mr Huw Blood (Housemaster)

Page 7

Yalari is looking forward to a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Shore this year, and in years to come.

OU TB AC KTO ICECAP YALARI ALUMNI EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME...

“If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.” – Andrew Denton …and it was with the highest of expectations that our five Yalari Alumni (Allira, Shauna, Brandon, Brody and Tyson) arrived in South America on the first leg of their “Outback to Icecap” adventure; a journey that would take them from the vibrant and bustling civilisation of Argentina to the majestic solitude of Antarctica.

Everyone was rapturous with excitement as the travelling troop strolled the colourful and historical streets of Buenos Aires, being immersed in the spanish culture and sampling the local cuisine. Yalari’s ‘famous five' were accompanied by 20 travelling mentors, organised as

Page 8

“For sure, this trip has changed me.... I’ve been challenged; I’ve learned so much from the mentors about how to approach new situations and tackle problems. I absolutely think this will help me at the AFP.” - Allira

Top L to R: Allira, Shauna, Brandon Bottom L to R: Tyson, Matt (Alumni & Pathways Manager), Brody

part of the “Outback to Icecap” Indigenous Leadership Initiative by Australian Adventurer, Peter Bland.

After making their way to Ushuaia, the southernmost town on the planet and locally known as “the end of the world”, the Alumni boarded the MV Plancius, a decommissioned Russian icebreaker, and bunkered down in their cabins. It was now the real adventure would begin!

Although being warned about 10 metre waves and severe sea-sickness, Mother Nature was having a siesta as the ship sailed calmly for three days towards the continent of Antarctica. This gave the travellers time to learn about mountaineering, arctic geology and survival skills. It also offered time for leadership learning opportunities, a chance to talk about their backgrounds and cultures and learn about the mentors’ life experience, successes and defeats.

It was a still and quiet morning as everyone awoke and peered out from their portholes. Before them was a magical scene of the most amazing white mountainous

Above: Shauna standing proudly on an Antarctic mountain with the Aboriginal flag, signed by elders, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who are important to her.

In a whirl-wind of thrill-seeking activity, the next seven days were action packed with ice climbing, camping, kayaking and wildlife surveying. Not for the faint-hearted, the Alumni took part in the traditional ‘polar plunge’, diving into minus degree water as a matter of initiation for first time visitors.

Although Christmas Day was spent amongst the fear of crevasses and shivering through -15 degree wind chill, the Alumni realised that at no other point in their lives would they be standing atop a mountain in Antarctica, posing for photos in Yalari hoodies with teeth chattering! With the Aboriginal and Australian flags unfurled, they claimed the territory and renamed it ‘Mt Yalari’!

After an extraordinary expedition, the ship pulled anchor and sailed due north back to the mainland of South America.

Another incredible day was had horse-riding in the Andes and dancing in the Streets of Buenos Aires on New Year’s Eve before the weary travellers boarded a plane on New Year’s Day to return home.

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015

Yalari and the Alumni are extremely grateful to the organisers of the expedition, Peter Bland and Beatrice Umbert and the incredible mentors whose generosity made it possible. This experience allowed the Alumni to realise there is as much learning and opportunity in both success and failure and take with them valuable life skills in communication, leadership and self-awareness. The remarkable journey was a beautiful, transforming experience for everyone.

“The trip to Argentina and Antarctica was the trip of a lifetime! The highlights for me were horse riding in the Andes Mountains, making life-long friends and the countless unforgettable memories.

This trip was an incredible experience.” - Brody

Page 9

landscape. After much scurrying to the deck, there it was; the great, silent, frozen continent of Antarctic; breathtakingly beautiful, vast, clean and uninhabited.

OUR V.I.V.

Very Important Volunteer!

Isabelle, also known as ‘Izzy’ is a

assisted with the set-up of the Brisbane

remarkable young lady who first came to

gala dinners and is currently mentoring

Yalari as a volunteer in January 2011. She

an Alumni student who is also studying

was inspired by stories she heard from

paramedics.

her father who had volunteered at the Orientation Camp in 2010. Izzy couldn’t wait to start so as soon as she turned 18, she eagerly signed up!

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? To find out more please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Pam Boavida at pboavida@yalari.org. We ! would love to hear from you

When asked what has been the most rewarding experience as a volunteer with Yalari, Izzy reflects “I was lucky enough to travel with the female Year 9 students

“I have a passion for healthcare and

on the Outback Camp in the Northern

believe education is vital in achieving

Territory. I had first met the girls at their

the best health outcomes for individuals

Orientation Camp;

and communities. This is why I wanted

meet them again at a different stage of

to be a part of Yalari - an organisation

their journey and see what great, strong

that supports opportunities for those

and independent young women they

that don’t have the same options I am

had become.

lucky enough to have”, Izzy explains. “I

incredibly rewarding. The camp was also

also went to boarding school during my

a great experience in learning about one

senior years and loved every minute of it

of the world’s oldest, richest and diverse

(well not the start!) so I enjoy sharing my

cultures”.

experiences with others.

it was fantastic to

I found this experience

It is only through the incredible passion

Izzy, who is currently studying Paramedic

and dedication of volunteers like Izzy, that

Science at the University of Queensland,

Yalari is able to continue it’s important

has enjoyed volunteering across many

work.

areas of Yalari.

Yalari - her contribution and commitment

students

at

the

She worked with our Orientation

Camps

We are grateful that Izzy joined

have been truly invaluable. Thanks Izzy!

offering first aid and female health talks,

They’re making their dreams come true...

APPLICATIONS FOR 2016 YALARI SCHOLARSHIPS CLOSE ON 30 APRIL 2015 If you know anyone that deserves the chance of a first class education at a leading Australian boarding school, encourage them to apply.

Applications are open to Indigenous children who will be beginning their first year of high school in 2016.

Page 10

Application packs can be mailed to you or they can be downloaded from the Yalari website - www.yalari.org For more information, call the Yalari office on (07) 5665 8688 or email us at info@yalari.org

PICK OF THE P I C S! Tackling Romeo: Waverley and some of the Abbotsleigh girls

Th an k Yo u!

Tackling Romeo: Llew, Steve & Fiona Ricky, Jalu & Noah giving us a “Yala ri 10”

in Antarctica! n is chilling out

ne wh o at ten de d Th an ks to ever yo o sc re en ing in ou r Ta ck lin g Ro me e even t wa s Th ly. nt ce Sy dn ey re gr ea t nig ht a d we ll at ten de d an . all by ed joy wa s en yo u to th os e A sp ec ial th an k en t po ss ibl e ev e th th at ma de re cto r Steve Di Ta ck lin g Ro me o Ly nd a Heys ; r cto re Di & ll Tu rn bu & Fio na . m Pa an d to Ya lar i’s

The girls at Or

ientation Camp

ee mni Brandon Sk

Yalari Alu

The students at Orientation Camp model shirts from the past 8 camps!

Dame Quentin Bryce, AD CVO with Johanna & Jondah at the Brisbane Zonta Club International Women’s Day Breakfast.

Do you have a story you would like to share?

Page 11

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 - March 2015

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

Did you know?

$

In 1788, there were about 250 separate Aboriginal languages (and over 600 dialects) spoken in Australia. Today, only two thirds of these languages survive and only 20 of them (eight per cent of the original 250) are still strong enough to have a chance of surviving into the next century.

$

The largest language in terms of number of speakers is called the Western Desert language, spoken by several thousand Aboriginal people in the Western Desert region of the continent.

OR...

Indigenous Australian languages involve the use of reduplication, often used as an intensifier. For example, Wagga Wagga means ‘the place of many crows’ and Tilba Tilba meaning ’many waters’.

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

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!!

In recent years, there has been an increase in the teaching of Indigenous languages in government, Catholic & independent schools. In 2005, when 133 languages were taught in schools, 45 were Indigenous languages. A listing of most of these can be found from the research study into The State and Nature of Languages in Australian Schools

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 first dinner of 2015 is on Wednesday 3 June at The Ivy, Sydney.

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

Ref: Wikipedia, My Interesting Facts

YES!

Donations of money, goods or services

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 12

CREDIT CARD:

VISA

MASTERCARD

NAME ON CARD: _____________________________________________________________________________________ EXPIRY DATE: _________________

CARDHOLDER’S SIGNATURE: _________________________________________

CARD NUMBER: ________________________________________________________ CVV NUMBER: _______________________