Yalari News March 2016

NEWS

Issue 31 | March 2016

Educating Indigenous Children

E D U C AT I N G A N D E M P O W E R I N G I N D I G E N O U S C H I L D R E N

YALARI NEWSROOM

Back (L to R): Karen Harvey, Shanelle Smith, Monique Laurie, Waverley Stanley, Taleyah Hippi, Elyssia Rosas Front (L to R): Kayla Baker, Kiara Sutton, Tekishea Murrungun, Megan Reynolds

FOUNDING DIRECTOR 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.

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

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.

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

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 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.

Welcome to our first newsletter for 2016. Thank you sincerely for your contributions in providing educational opportunities and making the lives of our children more enriched each day.

I have said it many times, but I’ll say it again; our continued success at Yalari is because we are united in the one common goal of empowering young people with unlimited possibilities.

Australia is a very interesting country.

For the most part we are considered a developed nation. Yet if you leave the east coast, or any of our coastal cities and towns, you only need to travel a few hundred kilometres to find towns and communities that would not be considered ‘developed’. The truth is, the health, housing and educational standards for some Indigenous Australians are lower than that in third world countries, or developing nations.

However, at Yalari, we are readdressing these issues in an empowering and positive way, and the only way we know how. By educating our Indigenous children, and with the commitment and support of many people, Australia can succeed.

To our 168 Yalari students enrolled at our 30 partnership schools, our 137 Yalari graduates, and to all the Yalari Alumni who have been on our scholarships for part of their secondary education, we are so very proud of you. We believe in you, we recognise your courage to be the change in your schools, your families, your communities and this world.

‘No country can succeed if the children are not educated’ - Madiba (Nelson Mandela).

I’m honoured to be working alongside a team that is passionate and determined about improving the educational opportunities for Indigenous children.

I’d like to acknowledge the incredible contribution Megan Reynolds has given Yalari over the last five years.

Her support and care of the Yalari girls, and their families, is second to none.

I recently enjoyed a night out with the Kambala girls as we farewelled Megan, and welcomed Jessica Calo to the role of Sydney female Student Support Officer.

Jessica was Head Girl at Abbotsleigh a few years ago, and is currently studying law having already graduated a Bachelor of Arts degree last year.

Karen Harvey has also joined our team as the Student Support Manager.

Karen brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with her from years of working in the community and not-forprofit sectors managing remote teams.

Currently we have 24 staff, 13 in our Head Office and 11 Student Support Officers working in the cities and towns where our students are at school.

Our committed and dedicated staff are our lifeblood, their energy is humbling, and in turn I can see they become role models for our children.

As my wife Llew says, ‘I pray with my feet’.

Cover Image: Year 10 students at Trinity Camp (L to R): Quilon Councillor (St Peter’s College Adelaide), Ryan See Kee (St Augustine’s College Cairns), Geoffry Swan (The Southport School), Koby Sellings (Geelong Grammar School), Zainel Bin Busu (Great Southern Grammar School) and Isaac Burgoyne (Toowoomba Grammar School).

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T

his year, we are pleased to welcome 137 Yalari scholars back to school and a further 30 new students who have started their first year of high school.

We have a total of 30 partner schools across six Australian states and territories.

It was great to see everyone in their school uniforms heading off for what is sure to be an eventful and exciting year.

Congratulations to all our students and good luck!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

2016 Yalari Captains Announced!

Congratulations to the 16 Yalari scholars who have been named as 2016 Yalari Captains.

Yalari Captains are chosen based on qualities such as leadership, responsible behaviour, involvement with

school and Yalari activities and being a good role model for other students. Captains must also exhibit the Yalari core values of respect, compassion, resilience, openness and inclusiveness.

act as a mentor to younger students and as ambassadors for Yalari.

Well done to all our new Captains. We are sure you will do a great job!

The role of the Captain is to

2016 CAPTAINS Reggie Madden - Scotch College Adelaide Calvin Hunter - St Peter’s College, Adelaide Trey Peterson - St Ignatius’ College, Riverview Nathan Geno - St Augustine’s College, Cairns Yarryn Lewington - Toowoomba Grammar School Samuel Jackson-Bolton - The Armidale School Jayde Marshall - Geelong Grammar School Kelsey Sexton - St Hilda’s School, Southport

Jondayah Martin - St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Brisbane Lena Cochrane - Abbotsleigh, Sydney Giorgia Bayles - Rockhampton Grammar School Khiaecia Milgate - PLC Armidale Keely Cain - Calrossy Anglican School, Tamworth Shanelle Smith - Kambala, Sydney Michelle Berrigan - Great Southern Grammar School, Albany Mia Hodges - Canberra Girls’ Grammar School

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YALARI NEWSROOM

UPCOMING EVENTS

HEAD OF THE RIVER!

Upcoming Yalari events and student activites.

APRIL

01 14 22 30

Herbert Smith Freehills Year 12 Pathways Workshop - Sydney Toowoomba Grammar School, The Glennie School & Yalari 10 Year Celebration Herbert Smith Freehills Year 12 Pathways Workshop - Brisbane Applications for 2017 scholarships close

MAY

09

International Volunteer Week

JUNE

02 24

Yalari Sydney Dinner Doltone House, Hyde Park Sydney

Yalari scholar and The Armidale School student, Samuel JacksonBolton took to the water on 12 March at what many consider to be the pinnacle of schoolboy rowing, the NSW GPS Head of the River Regatta in Sydney.

Samuel, in Year 12, is a member of The Armidale School’s Third IV crew and competed at the regatta for the third time, having been the coxswain for the First IV in 2013 and then taking to the oars with the Third IV two years ago.

Year 9 Girls Central Australia Camp

After a year away from the sport, he was excited to return to the event, which attracts around 10,000 students from the nine NSW GPS schools and their families to the Sydney International Regatta Centre, built for the 2000 Olympic Games.

Year 9 Boys Central Australia Camp

“It’s been good to get back into it after having a year off. The Head of the River is an amazing event and hard to describe. You can start hearing the crowd roaring from the

JULY

03

Rowing for The Armidale School, Year 12 student Samuel Jackson-Bolton half way mark and it just gets more intense – it gets you going, and the adrenalin really kicks in,” he said.

This year, Samuel’s First IV crew clocked the 2000-metre race in 7:37.35. Although they did not win the Father Gartlan Trophy, Sam summed it up by saying, “It’s a real team sport and everyone just has to pull together. It’s very challenging, once you finish such a long race you feel really good about yourself and your crew.”

Samuel is a proud Yualaroi man and a School Prefect, Yalari Captain and Boarding House Vice Captain, whose time at TAS has been made possible thanks to Yalari.

“I’m proud to be one of the first Aboriginal boys to row in the Head of the River. A few years ago at a Yalari dinner in Sydney I met Denzel Tighe from Moree who had coxed for (St Ignatius College) Riverview, and that was really special and inspiring,” Sam said.

2017 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! Do you know someone that would benefit from a boarding school education? Scholarships for 2017 are closing on 30 April 2016. Don’t miss out! Contact us today to find out more. Visit our website or call (07) 5665 8688.

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TWO NEW

PARTNER SCHOOLS Yalari is pleased to welcome two new partner schools to the program with the addition of Methodist Ladies College, Perth and SCOTS PGC Warwick.

Jacob Burgoyne with Independent Schools Qld Director, David Robertson

STRENGTHENING INDIGENOUS EDUCATION Year 10 Toowoomba Boys Grammar School student Jacob Burgoyne recently attended the launch of the Cross Sectoral Collaboration Charter for the Darling Downs and South West Cross-Sector.

The Collaboration Charter will underpin the joint commitment of schools in the region to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. School readiness, attendance, literacy and numeracy, and post-school pathways have been marked as priority areas.

The Charter has been signed by Independent Schools Queensland Executive Director David Robertson, the Bishop of Toowoomba, the Most Rev Robert McGuckin and Department of Education and Training Regional Director Greg Dickman.

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

SCOTS PGC College is a leading independent co-educational day and boarding school catering for over 450 students from Prep to Year 12. SCOTS PGC strives to provide an education where country values inspire excellence and students will be prepared fully for their future.

We are delighted to have four new Year 7 Yalari scholars beginning their journey at these two remarkable schools.

The launch was attended by representatives from each of the schooling sectors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and local students. Jacob shared with the audience what education means to him as an Indigenous student.

Year 7 student Beau Kendall with his father, Gavin Kendall

INDIGENOUS ALL GIRLS FOOTY EXPERIENCE Thank you to the Gold Coast Suns who invited some of our Yalari scholars to attend an Indigenous all girls football experience. The girls had a wonderful time, particularly Haley and Faith, who joined forces in a kicking competition to each win a signed Indigenous jersey! They were very happy and immediately called their families to relay the good news.

The Yalari girls then watched the NAB Cup game between Port Adelaide and the Gold Coast Suns. They are already asking when they can come back again!

Tawnee & Rio

Faith, Shauna, Haley

Haley & Faith

Locker Room Fun!

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ORIENTATION CAMP 2016 - THE GOLD COAST

Students participating in team work activities.

Yalari volunteers Taneale, Shauna, Brody, Doug, Chris, Izzy and Claire with Llew and Waverley

Year 8 students Jalu & Darcie

ORIENTATION CAMP “WINANGGAAY NGUURRANG” THE CAMP OF THINKING AND UNDERSTANDING The Southport School, Gold Coast 11-15 January 2016

Beautiful grounds, excellent facilities and supportive staff are only a few of the fantastic features on offer at The Southport School, the venue once again for Yalari’s 10th Annual Orientation Camp.

With a total of 75 Yalari students arriving for camp this year, our staff and volunteers needed to be prepared! The logistics for arranging travel from every remote corner of the country to the same place and back again can be tricky.

Not to mention the organisation of workshops, transport, guest speakers and recreational activities; it is important that everything goes smoothly as the success of the camp is vital for our students.

The Orientation Camp is designed to introduce new scholars to boarding school life in a way that is supportive while equipping them with necessary coping skills and homesickness strategies. They learn about the rules of a boarding house, how to use timetables, live closely with other students, and other important issues such as bullying and racism. Most importantly, the camp offers students the chance to meet their peers, make friends and develop support networks.

This year we had ten Junior Leaders (senior Yalari scholars) whose role was

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Student Support Officer, Tawnee with Year 7 student Shauna

Years 7, 8 & 9 scholars, Junior Leaders, Volunteers and Staff enjoy a dip at the beach following the ‘Race Around the Gold Coast’

Group 1 in the Race Around the Gold Coast

to lead, mentor and assist the younger students. It was particularly encouraging to see the Junior leaders rally around those who found the new environment challenging. The leaders helped with workshops, boarding house duty and with the general running of the camp.

Students were treated to a trip to Metricon Stadium for a morning with the Gold Coast Suns, including a behind the scenes stadium tour and AFL clinic. This was followed by an afternoon ‘Race Around the Gold Coast’, an activity that required students to solve clues and think on their feet. Other activities throughout the week included workshops run by Students Support Officers, volunteers and guests, a day at Dream World and a farewell disco. Students found the dental hygiene workshop particularly

Junior Leaders Kobi, Yarryn and Calvin

interesting. Thank you to Griffith University and Rotoract for a providing fun and interesting look at dental health.

The annual Orientation Camp is both exciting and challenging for new students. Our expectation is that after attending the orientation camp children starting on the Yalari program will be better informed, more confident, have made a friend or two, and be really excited to start their journeys at boarding school. For those students returning for their second year our expectation is that they form solid relationships with others in their cohort and be supportive to the new students starting in their schools.

Assisting Yalari children to become prepared for their journey to boarding school is imperative if we

Renekka and Cheyanne

Alanah and Sopheena at the Student Dental Workshop

are to see success in our quest to affect generational change through education. We are excited to build on the experience of previous years in running the camps.

We are currently gathering feedback on this year’s camp that will equip us to start planning for next year’s camp in January 2017.

A special thank you to The Leroy and Joy Brauer Perpetual Charitable Trust for continuing to provide the major funding for the camp. Yalari’s camps are only possible through the generous funding of our sponsors, the countless hours of work by volunteers, and the willingness of Indigenous families and communities to trust Yalari to educate their children – the future leaders of Australia.

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YALARI VOLUNTEERS

A VERY

SPECIAL FAMILY

Yalari Dinner 2008

CHRIS FARNSWORTH AND MEGAN REYNOLDS

Cherbourg Walk 2011 - Megan with Yalari students Rhianna Pitt and Hannah Ranby

Father and daughter team Chris and Megan talk about their experiences with Yalari and what keeps them motivated.

Chris Farnsworth and Megan Reyonds are not your average father and daughter duo. Over the past ten years, both have made invaluable contributions to Yalari; Chris through his dedication to volunteering and Megan, through her passion for supporting Yalari students.

Chris, a retired boarding house master, first met Waverley while running the Indigenous programme at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview.

Orientation Camp 2013 - Chris with Yalari student Tenika Roe

boarding house master I volunteered for the Orientation Camp at ‘Churchie’ in Brisbane. The camp has now been a part of my summer every year for the last decade. I have also been a volunteer for several Year 10 camps at Trinity College in Melbourne as well as the Year 11 camps at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.”

Chris concedes that the camps can be very tiring and it is not long before you feel sleep deprived!

“The first Yalari dinner was at Riverview and it seemed natural that I help Yalari in some way” Chris explains.

“Many kids on camps are excited and energised from early morning until late at night” says Chris.

“With my many years experience as a

However it is through his own

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philosophy on life that ‘education changes lives’ which gives him the passion to keep returning for more camps.

“I am always inspired by the Junior Leaders who give up their holidays to help the younger boys and girls in Years 7 and 8. I recall them as ‘lost little kids’, often away from home for the first time, when they were in Year 7 and now they have returned full of poise and confidence. It is also inspiring to see the Yalari Alumni return to lead sessions at the Year 10 and 11 camps.”

Chris reveals that working with his daughter Megan has been very

Megan Reynolds & Chris Farnsworth enjoyable and personally rewarding as he has ‘watched her in action’ as she provided support and mentoring to the Yalari girls.

It is no surprise that Megan heard about Waverley and the inspiring story behind Yalari during one of her ‘big chats’ with Chris.

“Dad was a quiet achiever during his career, but when he spoke about the Indigenous program at Riverview, he spoke with such insight and enthusiasm” Megan said.

“Dad was volunteering for the Yalari Orientation Camp in 2010 and I asked how I could get involved. He gave me Llew’s details which led to me

volunteering at the next Orientation Camp. I have been involved with Yalari ever since.”

Megan was excited when a Yalari Student Support Officer position became available in Sydney in 2011.

She subsequently applied and was successful.

“It was such a fabulous role to have at Yalari as it is predominantly working with the students and they are what it is all about” Megan remarks.

When asked to describe a major highlight of her experience with Yalari, Megan finds it hard to pick just one.

“The first Cherbourg walk was amazing, the Sydney dinners were always a fun

night and meeting other volunteers was also great. The Bondi Beach Days we had with all the Sydney kids and Yalari staff were filled with massive cook-ups, hilarity, water fights and lots and lots of sun; but the highlight for me during my 5 years at Yalari was meeting 26 smart, strong, beautiful and inspiring young women on their boarding school journey in Sydney. I feel absolutely privileged to have been their SSO and I look forward to hearing about their future achievements, which will be many and varied.”

Both Chris and Megan agree, anyone who wants to volunteer or become involved with Yalari should just ‘jumpin’ and be ready for anything!

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YALARI PARTNERSHIPS

LONG-STANDING COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT AND EMPLOYMENT Yalari student Tathra Lowe at the Central Australia Camp in 2015

GETTING ‘PROGRAMMED’ Programmed are committed to supporting Indigenous education through their partnership with Yalari.

P

rogrammed is a leading provider of staffing, maintenance and facility management services, without injury. The company provides a wide range of services to over 10,000 customers across a network of 100 locations across various industries and markets – from painting, grounds maintenance and landscaping, electrical and audio visual installation, nursing and aged care, asset management and maintenance of facilities, marine services and staffing solutions.

Programmed has a long-standing commitment to Indigenous engagement and employment. Under their 10-Year Strategy, they aim to: create real and sustainable employment; support Indigenous businesses through their supply chain; demonstrate cultural respect and understanding; partner with communities and encourage other companies to take action to close the gap.

To signify Programmed’s commitment, they signed the Australian Employment Covenant. Since then, almost 4000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have joined Programmed through their Skilled Workforce Division.

In addition to their great team, the communities where they operate are an important part of their business, which is why they are proud to support Yalari. The company is passionate about education and are pleased to support

empowerment of Indigenous children to bring about generational change.

One of the students who has been awarded a Yalari scholarship is Tathra Lowe. Hailing from a small town approximately four hours from Melbourne, Tathra was awarded a Yalari scholarship and commenced Year 7 at Methodist Ladies’ College in Melbourne in 2013.

Identifying with the Gunditijmara Indigenous group, Tathra, aged 15, says she is determined to do well at school by applying herself diligently during class and in her assignments and homework.

Tathra’s determination, enthusiasm and hard work is resulting in strong academic results. She is also showing great leadership potential which may well see her take on a leadership role at school in the years to come. Tathra has also demonstrated a real love for sport and is actively involved in the school rowing and basketball teams.

Tathra says she feels extremely fortunate to be awarded a Yalari scholarship and she believes that the education she is receiving will provide many opportunities for her.

“I believe my education will give me the chance

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to be a leader through education and sport,” she says. “I have thought about being the first female Aboriginal Prime Minister, and I’m focused on preventing racism by changing how people think about Aboriginal people.

“I love being a Yalari scholar because I get to receive a great education and feel I can help to close the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

I’m also enjoying the opportunity to make life-long friends and I love the fact that I spend a week of my holidays on amazing camps with other scholars from different schools and different parts of Australia.”

“I would like to thank my sponsors Programmed for giving me this amazing opportunity.”

After high school Tathra hopes to go to the University of Melbourne and live in residence at Trinity College. The Programmed team wish Tathra all the best and they look forward to following her progress.

Educating Indigenous Children Proud partners of Indigenous education

YALARI GRADUATE UPDATE

LIFE AFTER Camp fun with Jaz De Busch (top)

JAZ DE BUSCH, Class of 2015: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School graduate Jaz De Busch is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne. Jaz also recently attended the Yalari Year 10 Trinity Camp as a mentor.

JADALYN DE BUSCH, Class of 2015: St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School graduate Jadalyn De Busch is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

DEAN BLUNDEN, Class of 2012: Dean is a Geelong Grammar School graduate who is currently undertaking his final year of his motor technician’s apprenticeship.

SCHOOL

Yalari graduates leading by example and forging the way for other students.

ZAC COLLINS-WIDDERS, Class of 2014: Zac graduated from The McDonald College in 2014 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne. Most recently, Zac completed an Internship with Macquarie Bank. He also lead a team that fundraised more than $5,500 for Yalari to which Macquarie Bank matched dollar-for-dollar. Well done Zac! TARENA BUCKLE, Class of 2015: Geelong Grammar School Graduate Tarena Buckle is commencing a Bachelor of Nursing at Victoria University.

Zac Collins-Widders

CORI SUMMERS, Class of 2013: St Hilda’s graduate Cori Summers is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts at Bond University. Cori also works part-time at the Yalari Head Office and recently participated in the Orientation Camp.

BRODY LELIEVRE, Class of 2012: Anglican Church Grammar School graduate Brody Lelievre is currently is his final year studying a Bachelor of Paramedic Science at the Queensland University of Technology. Brody recently volunteered at the Yalari Orientation Camp on the Gold Coast.

TYUS ARNDT, Class of 2014: Anglican Church Grammar School graduate Tyus is currently studying at the Australian Centre for Performing Arts in Brisbane.

TOBY SAUNDERS, Class of 2015: Toby graduated from St Ignatius’ College Riverview last year and has just commenced a Bachelor of Education at University of Technology Sydney.

TANEALE LAWTON, Class of 2014: St Margaret’s graduate Taneale Lawton is currently studying at the Australian Centre of Performing Arts in Brisbane.

Dean Blunden

LORI CLEVENS: Ex The Glennie School student Lori Clevens is working fulltime at the Yalari Head Office while studying Business Administration.

AMBER PHINEASA, Class of 2011: The Glennie School graduate Amber is enlisted in the Navy Corps of the Australian Defence Force. She is currently on a 7 month deployment in the Middle East.

Amber Phineasa

Yalari Alumni: Lori Clevens, Taneale Lawton, Cori Summers, Brody Lelievre

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TRINITY CAMP - UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

TRINITY CAMP YEAR 10

Yalari’s Year 10 students get together to experience university life and to ‘Pay-It-Forward’!

TRINITY COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

O

n the 5th, 6th and 7th of February our Year 10 students met at Trinity College in Melbourne for an intense few days of workshops and activities.

It was the first time since Year 8 that the 19 girls and 16 boys had come together as a group.

Trinity College was a beautiful setting for the camp, with students experiencing a taste of university life, working, eating and sleeping on campus. Students attended workshops run by the Indigenous Hip Hop Project, Trinity College and Yalari staff and enjoyed a formal dinner together on Saturday night.

the students and shared their own experience as Yalari scholars, as well as their lives since they have finished high school. A definite highlight of the camp was Nadia teaching the group two ‘sit-down’ dances. The dances were written and choreographed by Dennis Newie, who taught them to Nadia as her Cultural Tutor from Moa Island while she was at NAISDA Dance College.

We would like to extend an enormous thank you to Susie Hunter, for all her hard work and organisation leading up to camp and also to Chris Farnsworth, v o l u n t e e r extraordinaire, for his care and quick thinking under pressure.

This year, we were fortunate to have Jaz De Busch, graduate To Tyson, Allira, of St Margaret’s Nadia and Jaz, we Anglican Girls School thank you for your Brisbane, talk to invaluable insight, the Year 10 cohort your enthusiasm, Back (L to R): Tex Garstone, Koby Sellings, Lekeycha Farnham, Tathra Lowe Front (L to R): Jaz De Busch (Alumni), Tyson Holloway-Clarke (Alumni), Marcus Peterson about the “Pay it and your time and Forward Initiative”. for making the This initiative challenges the Year 10s, as a group, to raise camp fun for everyone! Thanks also to Lisa and Mel, and enough money to pay for one Yalari Scholarship for one all of the Trinity College team, Waverley, Llew, Karen, Gary, year. Jaz talked about her experience with Pay it Forward Laura, Deb and the Yalari crew who helped behind the and how her group ‘thought outside the box’ and raised scenes to make this camp such a success. over $5,000. Jaz encouraged the group to think big and Congratulations to the Year 10 students for making the start early in order to raise as much money as possible. most of the opportunities at this camp and we encourage We were also joined by Yalari Alumni, Nadia Martich, Tyson Holloway-Clarke and Allira Searle who ran workshops with

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you all to stay connected and to continue supporting and motivating each other.

Year 10 students, Yalari staff, Alumni & Volunteers

Ryan See Kee, Ryan O’Callaghan, Ryan Brown

Reece Eades

Group Activity

Indigneous Hip Hop Project

Grace Haslett & Lekeycha Farnham

Koby Sellings & Zainel Bin Busu

Alana Sharpley, Tathra Lowe and SSO Liz Hayes

“I liked how all the Year 10s connected

“My favourite thing about camp

right away and even though the camp

was that we got to bond with

is over, we are still like a tight family.

everyone. And the best part

I really liked the activity where we

was learning more about ‘Pay

were blindfolded and we had to

it Forward’ because it is great

find the mask by following what our

to see that we can help and

teammates were calling out. I loved

support one of our own and

that activity because it showed us

help and support our friends.”

Molly Trindall

- Molly Trindall

how much trust we have in each Sarah-Cait Kirkland

other.” - Sarah-Cait Kirkland

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YALARI PARTNER SCHOOL The first three Yalari Abbotsleig h scholars

Hannah, Tegan & Emma

Front (L to R):

Back (L to R): Georgia, Brooke, Jayda, Kiara, Tyesha, Alana Mrs Wiley, Sheldon, Jessicah, Holly, Lena, Alyssa, Mrs Poole

OUR ABBOTSLEIGH GIRLS YALARI AND ABBOTSLEIGH LEAD THE WAY AS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION

Mrs Judith Poole is the Head Mistress of Abbotleigh, an Independent girls school nestled in the leafy suburb of Wahroonga on Sydney’s upper North Shore. The school is well known for encouraging its girls to develop their potential by fostering a pursuit of personal and academic excellence. Each girl is empowered to be a courageous, constructive and compassionate world citizen, who embraces diversity and has a will to serve others.

“Our partnership with Yalari has enriched Abbotsleigh and our Indigenous scholars in unexpected ways. As a school, our awareness of Aboriginal people and the social issues around Aboriginal people has been heightened,” Mrs Poole explains.

Abbotsleigh’s connection to Yalari started back in 2006, when the then Deputy Head of Junior School, Jacqueline Harvey learnt about Yalari and started putting the wheels in motion. It took 18

months of preparation but finally, in the school year commencing 2008, three Yalari scholars embarked on their boarding school journey at Abbotsleigh.

“We have been walking along side our students as we grow in understanding together. Our students are proud of their background and readily share at assemblies and formal occasions. Our girls acknowledge country, dance, share stories of their culture and their language at various times” says Mrs Poole.

Over the years the relationship between Yalari and the school has steadily progressed and today, 12 Yalari scholars are attending Abbotsleigh.

“Our Director of Boarding, Mrs Rochelle Wiley, has been an integral part of our program,” Mrs Poole reveals.

“All the girls are boarders and we place our relationship with the families of our Yalari girls as a priority in supporting our students. We have an Indigenous

Educating Indigenous Children

Working together since 2008 to educate and empower Indigenous children 14 • Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2016 • www.yalari.org

Reference Group made up of interested teachers who meet regularly to learn, discuss issues and raise awareness in our school community. Relationships are the key to building a strong program.”

It is this commitment to maintaining and supporting relationships with its partners, families and students that has seen the graduation of seven Yalari scholars from Abbotsleigh. These young Indigenous Australians have gone on to pursue further education at university or enter the workforce.

“I am pleased to say that our Yalari girls work hard at their academic studies and all have been involved in co-curricular activities. We have had outstanding sportswomen, dancers, public speakers and leaders. Academically our students have received art honours with their Visual Artwork for HSC while others have found a love of writing and drama performances” describes Mrs Poole.

“Their diverse gifts that we have seen developed are exciting and bring great hope for a better future. It is with excitement that our graduates take the stage to build a stronger Australia.”

PICK OF THE P I C S! Kiara Sutton and Waverley Stanley

SA VE TH E DA TE !

Waverley photobombs the staff photo at Trinity Camp Year 10 Student Zainel Bin Busu

e Zoo a at the Melbourn

ve th e Do n’ t fo rg et to sa in g m co up da te fo r ou r g in is ra Sy dn ey Fu nd Di nn er.

2016 W he n: 2n d Ju ne Ho us e, W he re : D ol to ne Hy de Pa rk

Sy dn ey

The Calrossy Ya

lari Girls

a, Ardu and Tathr

Kayla, Nin

The Kambala Yalari girls

(L to R): Braydon, Isaac, Matao, Tyran and Noah at the Orientation Camp Disco

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

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Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2016 • www.yalari.org • 15

Educating Indigenous Children

This tax-time, give a gift that will last

A LIFETIME...

There is no greater gift than providing a child with an education that will last a life time.

This end of financial year, make a tax deductible donation to Yalari and know that you are empowering Indigenous children through education and helping bring about generational change.

To make a donation please complete the form below. Completed forms can be emailed to info@yalari.org or posted to PO Box 1355, Oxenford Qld 4210. To discuss ideas about how you could help Yalari or to make a bequest, please contact us on (07) 5665 8688.

1

YES!

I w o u l d l i ke to donate Amount: Gifts over $2 are tax deductible.

4

MY DETAILS ARE:

Mr

Mrs

Post Code:

Mobile:

Home Ph: Email:

STAY CONNECTED

Email

CHOOSE A METHOD OF PAYMENT OPTION A: CREDIT CARD

Visa

To d ay ’ s d a t e : Cardholder’s Name:

Post

None

OPTION B: DIRECT DEPOSIT MasterCard

Ya l a r i L i m i t e d We s t p a c B a n k BSB: 034-154 Acc: 2 0174 0 Ref: Ta x t i m e

OPTION C: CHEQUE

Signature:

Card No.:

Ms

Address:

I w o u l d l i ke t o r e c e i v e r e g u l a r u p d a t e s b y :

Expir y Date:

Miss

Surname:

First Name:

State:

$

3

2

16 0 3 YA LN E WS

C V V:

Please make cheques payable t o Ya l a r i L i m i t e d Cheques can be posted to: PO Box 1355 OX E N F O R D Q L D 4 210