Educating Indigenous Children
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Dreaming, believing inspiring and achieving
Yalari
NEWS
ISSUE NO. 47 | September 2020
Y E A R S
Welcome
Founding Director | Waverley Stanley AM Your generosity is making a sustainable difference As the end of September nears, another chapter comes to a close for our Yalari mob. Whether at the office or in the schools, Term 3 is finishing and our students will head home for their holidays. For our supporters, donors and friends of Yalari, thank you for another term knowing full well your generosity is making a sustainable difference in the lives of our children and our alumni. For some of our parents and care givers, it’s been another term with their children still at home; innovatively learning in this time of forced restrictions, but still a time of receiving an education for everyone. It’s a reminder to us all — there are no excuses about the continuation of life-long learning no matter whether it be in the classroom, at home, in our community or on the sporting field. I reflect constantly on the many blessings in my life and am so very grateful for the opportunity to be working collaboratively with so many wonderful and generous people, all working for a united purpose in delivering generational change for this generation and many more to come. I reflect on the many communities and towns I have visited over the years, the people I have met, the opportunities presented to me and the constant generous spirit of kindness, compassion, sincerity and action from Australians, united under this banner of Yalari. We are changing lives. We are adding value. We are making a genuine difference with one educated Indigenous Yalari student at a time. Waverley with Year 7 Scots PGC Warwick student, Anthony Proberts-Pitmann
I have one life and one chance to make it count for something. My faith demands that I do whatever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference. - Mr. Jimmy Carter, past American President
Acknowledgement
These holidays, we have three students staying with us due to the continued restrictions between states. I would never have met Anthony (pictured left, helping me in the garden) and his sister Meyah, or the many children we have been involved with since 2006. Llew, my business partner, wife and best friend — and I— are honoured to be working with you all in your capacity to help the continued empowerment and education of our Yalari children, young people and young adults.
Educating Indigenous Children
Yalari acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of this land. We recognise the culture, history, diversity and deep connection to land, waters and territorial seas of Australia.
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 pay our respects to the Elders, past and present and acknowledge the Yalari office is on Kombumerri country within the lands of the Yugambeh language group of the wider area. We also acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work Australia-wide, and recognise their culture, heritage and beliefs.
We believe education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for Indigenous Australians and for our nation as a whole.
Yalari Limited | PO BOX 1355, Oxenford QLD 4210 | Ph: 07 5665 8688 | F: 07 5665 8611 | E: info@yalari.org ABN: 66 113 794 148 ACN: 113 794 148 | Yalari is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Copyright © 2020 Yalari Limited. All rights reserved. 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.
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
Cover Image: Scots PGC Warwick Year 11 student, Beau Kendall
Yalari Newsroom
Student Stats
UPDATE...
90% Yalari students who have returned to boarding school following coronavirus restrictions.
Great Southern Grammar School students Faith, L’eja and Charlie are happy to be back at school!
HITTING THE OUTBACK! Long time Yalari supporter and Western Australia Regional Advisory Council Chair, Gillian Johnson and Yalari alumna Della Bedford have been helping out with our WA interviews for the 2021 student intake. Snapped here as they drove from South Hedland to Broome, on their way to Derby.
We look forward to supporting all students in their transition to full-time, on campus learning in Term 4.
CHANGE OF PLANS! Yalari Dinners and Corporate Golf Day Due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions, we have made the unfortunate decision to defer all Yalari events until 2021. This includes Yalari fundraising dinners due to be held in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and our Inaugural Golf Day scheduled for October. We are disappointed we won’t be seeing you this year, but... we have something very special and exciting planned instead.
ANOTHER ALUMNI SUCCESS!
Congratulations to Yalari alumna (2016 - Great Southern Grammar School), Rekisha Satour who earned her Bachelor of Psychological Science from Bond University.
Y E A R S
ildren Educating Indigenous Ch
#GIVINGBACK
Dreaming, believing inspiring and achieving
THE FIRST EVER YALARI GIVING DAY Thursday 26 November
Yalari alumni Adan Taat (2019 - St Peter’s College, Adelaide) and Grace Haslett (2018 - Scotch College, Adelaide) helped out with our Northern Territory leg of student interviews.
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2020
We can’t give too much away at this stage but stay tuned! The first ever Yalari Giving Day will be sure to bring our whole Yalari family together in support of the important work we are doing together, to educate and empower Indigenous children.
Save the date and watch this space!
Yalari News - September 2020
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Yalari Newsroom
YALARI HQ...
WARM WELCOMES
We are pleased to welcome Yalari’s new Pathways Manager, Steve Thompson. Steve has joined us with experience and qualifications in education and health, and is keen to help further develop the Pathways program for our current senior secondary students and importantly our growing Alumni. Having worked within Aboriginal and Torres Strait initiatives for many years, Steve recognises the work of Yalari to be game changing and is excited to see generational change become real through Yalari’s scholarship and pathways programs.
Leonie Crowe has joined us with experience and qualifications in education, health, case management and English as an additional language. She is keen to build and maintain relationships with the schools, the student support officers and the students while providing the best support and leadership in the quest for positive outcomes. We welcome Leonie to the Yalari team in the capacity of Student Support Manager - Queensland.
...AND SAD FAREWELLS
Michael Cedar, Yalari’s Student and Alumni Engagement Officer for the past two years, has accepted an exciting new position with Basketball Queensland.
Daniel Collins (middle), Yalari’s Brisbane Student Support Officer for Churchie has moved to Germany to take on a role at Aldi.
Yalari alumna and Sydney Student Support Officer, Hannah Ranby is leaving Yalari to focus on her personal trainer studies. Hannah has also been commissioned to create artwork for one of Yalari’s corporate partners.
Rekisha Satour (middle) Yalari’s Gold Coast Student Support Officer for St Hilda’s and Yalari alumna has accepted a position with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in Canberra.
SHARE THE LOVE! JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
#yalari #generationalchange #indigenous #educatingindigenouschildren Did you know that Yalari is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter? Follow us and keep up-to-date on what’s happening around the Yalari community.
@yalarimob
@yalarilimited
@yalari
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. 4
Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
Yalari Newsroom
The Eyes that Silently Watch Us by Llew Mullins | Managing Director | Yalari
P
eople give more during tough times. This was proven to me again with our exceptionally successful tax time appeal in June. Many thanks to the extremely generous community who helped us fund the extra resources needed to support our students with their education this year. Yes, we have made the decision to postpone our fundraising dinners for 2020, but we’re going to bring you more snippets and videos through to the end of the year about what our students, partner schools and the greater Yalari family are up to. At Yalari we began Term 3 confidently believing all students would be returning to school. That confidence was shortlived with the changes in Victoria happening during the first week of term. New coronavirus cases in New South Wales created restrictions effecting our Northern Territory and Far North Queensland students who attend schools down south, along with further restrictions by the Queensland government effecting students crossing over the border. The constant uncertainty for parents and children regarding the decision to be at boarding school and then the decision regarding if and when to bring students back home was both tiring and testing. ‘Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.’ - W.E.B. DuBois More than ever, this year has brought home to me the importance of our behaviour, our reactions, and our dogged resilience ……. and being aware of the eyes that silently watch us. They are the green eyes of an 11-year-old Yawuru Jabirr Jabirr girl who has travelled from the Kimberley to the very south of Western Australia to start at a new school thousands of kilometres from home. Everything she learnt at the Yalari Orientation Camp in January needs to be adjusted. Is she going back home to study online? Will her new school stay open for the term? Will she go fishing with her father for weeks on end? Will she fall behind in her schoolwork? Will the friends she made in Term 1 still be her friends in term 3 when she returns to school four months later? She looks to the teachers, Yalari staff, her parents and older sisters and brothers for security, answers and comfort. Then there are the darkest brown eyes of an 18-year-old Yolngu young woman in the final year of her secondary education. Year 12! She has made it ………. well nearly. With her younger sister, she left school in Brisbane suddenly before Term 1 ended, to return to her home in Arnhem Land before the state borders closed to outsiders and communities began to isolate themselves. Schooling for Term 2 was online at home. There were internet connection challenges, winter hunting, big packages in the mail from school, family and community sorry business ……… and her eyes stared hopefully at the large screen in the local state school, looking at the adults who were trying to support her and her family through this time. Do any of them have the answers for her? Will she have a school formal? Will she catch up academically when she returns to school in Term 3? What grades will she graduate with? What will she do next year?
John Paul College students Ginaya Fernando (left), Laura McGrady (middle), Stephen Bush-Blanasi and Mia Nakata (back), with Llew Mullins (right)
Our main goal, and our only choice, was to support the parents, students and schools through the next stage of uncertainty, with calm, compassion and considered flexibility. One of the positives that I’ve noticed, and especially for me, is that adults have ‘caught-up’ with the way our students communicate online and on social media, therefore improving the support for our students. We’ve had tutoring and mentoring support online, Yalari student Instagram competitions, Teams and Zoom video calls, and thousands of messages back and forth using any means we can. Keeping our students engaged with Yalari, their schools and their education was, and is, our highest priority, regardless of whether they are on an island in the Torres Straits, sitting on the back porch of a house in Darwin, in front of their laptop in Wee Waa, rugged up in front of a loungeroom fire in Bairnsdale, or sitting in their classroom at school. Due to our mid-year camps being postponed this year, we have completed our 2021 interviews months ahead of schedule. Thank you to our alumni in Darwin; Joline Bouwer, Grace Haslett and Adan Taat who helped out with our interviews in the Territory at short notice. They were insightful and aware, and honestly who better for the job than those who have walked in the shoes of these young hopefuls not so long ago. And more thanks to Gillian Johnson, WA Yalari Regional Advisory Council Chair and another alumni Della Bedford for doing the Kimberley and Port Hedland interviews so capably and graciously. Pending successful school interviews, it looks like we are heading for another big year offering 46 new scholarship places in 2021. As winter fades and spring brings us back to life, our students have travelled home for their end of third term school holidays; many crossing state borders again, which brings with it the complexities of return travel across borders for the start of Term 4. Thank you to the school staff who have gone above and beyond this year with your teaching and care of our students. We notice you and are incredibly grateful. Again, thank you to the Yalari community for continuing to be there for our students. It really does take a whole community to educate a child and we are incredibly grateful.
Yalari News - September 2020
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Student Support and Development
S T U D ENT UP DA TES
AND ACHIEVEMENTS!
Yalari scholars continue to work hard, dream big... and achieve! Matao Bonney, Year 11 at Churchie, was awarded the CART Excellence Award for Outstanding Work (Year 11).
Caleb Laifoo, Year 10 student at The Southport School, was selected in the U16 Queensland Rugby Union team. He was also awarded ‘best forward’ in the school team.
Year 8 St Hilda’s School student, Jorja Rolfe received the QGSSSA Volleyball Award for Most Improved.
Year 9 Methodist Ladies College Perth student, Leilani Fuller received the Coach’s Award for netball.
Jay Campbell, Year 9 student at The Southport School won a surfing competition at Kingscliff beach, is a member of Cudgen surf lifesaving club and academically, achieved a full colours point score. Well done Jay!
Year 12 St Ignatius’ College Riverview student, Noah Allen received The Molly Gilhooley Prize for Indigenous Academic Achievement.
Clayfield College students, Sulcie Tamwoy (left), Puti Armstrong (middle) and Nevaeh Mills competed in the Eutopia Cheer and Dance Series in Brisbane. Well done to the girls who are now the GRAND CHAMPIONS!
Kiirra Bligh, Year 12 at The Southport School is well placed heading into his final exams. Kiirra is top of his Maths class in Term 3 and received an A grade on his final practice English test. He was also top of the class for his assessment in Accounting.
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
The Glennie School Year 11 student, Anna Dingley won Age Champion at the school athletics carnival.
Methodist Ladies College Perth student Annette Carter was awarded Montana Hookey, Year an Academic 7 student at St Hilda’s Achievement Award the most School, received while classmate valuable player award for Harmony Bellotti, QGSSSA Volleyball 2020 received the Year 7B. Citizenship Award.
Dominic Nagle, Year 7 Shore student, was stoked to receive 86% on his recent Latin task. Keep it up DJ!
Yalari Scholarships for Indigenous Children
Yalari is looking for students and families who believe that education is the key to providing a better future for Indigenous people in Australia. Boarding school scholarships are open to Indigenous children who live in regional, rural or remote areas of Australia and who will be starting Year 7 in 2022. Our scholarships are awarded to students who are willing to give 100%, try hard at everything they do, don’t give up when things get hard and are brave and determined enough to succeed at boarding school. We work closely with our students, families and partner schools to provide a high level of support in all aspects of student welfare.
Montana Hookey, Year 7 student at St Hilda’s School, received the most valuable player award for QGSSSA Volleyball 2020 Year 7B.
Year 10 Scotch College Adelaide student Keenan Kennedy (left) has been selected to play for the West Adelaide Football Club. Year 9 student at St Peter’s College Adelaide, Nathan Spry (right) has been selected to play for the North Adelaide Football Club.
Scholarship information including the application pack for scholarships commencing in 2022 will be available online at www.yalari.org from 1 January 2021. Applications close Wednesday 30 April 2021.
Not sure what to do or have some questions? Please call Kylie Bennett on (07) 5665 8688 and she will be happy to guide you through the application process.
Yalari News - September 2020
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Student Support and Development
Maayu murrun yaadha “We Live on” (In my traditional Gamilaraay Language) by Noah Allen | Year 12 | St Ignatius’ College, Riverview 1st Place - Student Writing
There is enough self-doubt, lost identity and despair in the average black fulla That not everyone knows who they are, where they come from or Who their mob is Everyone lost their land Everyone lost their language Everyone lost their lore They took the trees They took the soil They took the shores They brought diseases, that killed us But We should be grateful Grateful for the houses they built As though we had no way to find shelter Grateful for the fences they built As though we had no boundaries Grateful for their ideas As though we had none of our own But most of all they brought a new hatred, one we had not earned A hatred for simply being something they were not Not understanding the value of the land They displaced us and tried to destroy it Not understanding the wisdom of our speech They put us on missions and reserves to silence us Not understanding our inextricable connection to our culture They stole our children and forbid the practices of our old people
Equal 1st Place - Student Art Chloe King | Year 7 | Geelong Grammar School
THE DREAMING, THE CREATION, THE STORIES During June and July, we held a creative writing and art competition for our students and alumni. We were looking for original work sharing culture, ceremony and spiritual belonging to country... and our entrants did not disappoint. Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to our winners featured here.
Equal 1st Place Student Art Holly Coffison Year 10 St Hilda’s School
They tried. They tried to silence us But our voices were too strong They tried to separate our people But could never break our kinship bonds They tried to destroy our culture But those ancient spirits live on There is enough determination, courage and strength in the average black fulla To rise above the silence And find their voice Our feet still walk this land Our tongues still speak Our hearts still follow lore We will plant new trees We will nourish the soil We will dance along the shores the deserts, the hills, the plains And so today we stand tall in defiance As the proud descendants of those who would not be silenced.
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
1st Place - Alumni Art Kane Brunjes Yalari Alumnus - 2016
Equal 2nd Place - Student Art Summer Lowe | Year 9 Methodist Ladies College, Perth
Native Title Determination by Shanice Flemming | Yalari Alumna 1st Place - Alumni Writing
As I woke to the morning tunes of the Yulukuku (birds) singing, the malyimalyi (breeze) flowing through the tent, all I could think about was the special day ahead. As I lay in my swag all snuggled up with the two blankets to keep me warm, I could hear the rustles of the leaves, the snoring from my brothers and uncles and the whispers and laughters of the children the wind carried. As I peeped out of the tent screen, The small children layered in jumpers and track pants Who calls each other brother and sister, aunty, and uncle Sitting on the cold Piju (riverbed) around a small lit fire from the night before laughing amongst each other. Only they knew what was funny.
The men went to prepare the shades and the women stayed back at camp to clean up, whilst the children ran around enjoying their freedom. As I observed my surroundings, The men gathered, not to be disturbed behind a makeshift stage made of branches and leaves, preparing themselves with yarti and bartu (charcoal and red ochre), While the women and children got dressed at camp. As I, and many others waited for the Federal Court Judge to arrive, I looked around in awe to find my grandmothers, aunties, nieces and sisters sitting beside me dressed with their Yakarti in their hairs, waiting for the celebrations to begin.
As I paused to give the children some time to themselves, The sound of each tent unzipping and family members emerging one by one began. I knew it was time to move.
As I stood, Our elders began singing ‘Yinma’ - the songs of celebrations My grandmothers and grandfathers, aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews began dancing alongside me. The feeling was mesmerising.
As I walked out, there was no time to waste.
As I took each stomp on the Piju, Left, right, left, left, right, right,
Equal 2nd Place - Student Art Chelsea Edwards | Year 11 Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange
The grains of sand beneath my feet and between my toes, I could feel the connection to my country and The presence of all my ancestors dancing beside me. I felt right at home. As I sat to hear the words, “The High Court has granted the lands back to the rightful owners. The Nyamal people” Families came together, hugging and cheering, laughing and crying. There were photos being taken, videos being recorded, and speeches being made. It was a moment of mixed emotions of happiness and sadness for us all. As I remember that beautiful day and how privileged I feel, I reflect on the long journey my Kundul (great- grandmother) fought to have our land returned to the Nyamal people. Sadly, she passed nine days before she could witness this significant event. I know she was with us, I could feel her in spirit and that of our ancestors – They heard, they came, they celebrated, they rest. I will always remember what she did. That is what I call Determination!
3rd Place - Student Art Anna Robinson | Year 10 Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange
4th Place - Student Art Cheree Whymann | Year 11 Scotch College, Adelaide
Yalari News - September 2020
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Yalari Partner Partner Schools Schools
A RICH FABRIC OF DIVERSITY By Kyle Tompson, Principal Scots PGC
I have worked in boarding schools for 21 years. One of my personal highlights was when a Year 12 student from my previous school moved in with my wife and my two daughters to complete the last two months of his schooling. It was absolutely delightful for my family to sit with a boy from Yarrabah, listening to stories about his family, where he lived, swimming on crocodile traps and his holidays in the bush. My youngest daughter, in particular, would hang off every word he said, and my family connected and became better educated because of this. We may also have taught him a thing or two. This reinforced my commitment to indigenous education. Not to mention our food bill……. I tell that story because I now work at SCOTS PGC College, and I am proud to say our school partners with Yalari in providing an outstanding education for our students. We are a co-educational boarding school, located 2 hours west of Brisbane in the rural setting of Warwick. As a relatively small school, as well as being situated in a
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
regional centre, there is an overriding sense of community with our students, staff, families and the town itself. This, I believe, is a natural ‘fit’ with our partnership with Yalari and our indigenous students. Our school attracts students from remote areas of Queensland and New South Wales, as well as from the city of Brisbane and overseas from Japan and Papua New Guinea. The make-up of our student population, our location and sense of community, makes for a unique school where the differences of each student, whether that be where they come from, what they aspire to do, and their interests outside of the classroom (sport, music etc.), are all celebrated equally and add to the rich fabric of the education being offered to all students at our school. Our Yalari boys and girls add significantly to our school’s vibrant tapestry. They bring infectious smiles, unfettered curiosity, a sense of joy and wonder and experiences that are needed to be understood and
shared with all students. They also bring ability across many areas. This is truly at the heart of education and at the heart of what Yalari does – it provides immense opportunities for students they are in partnership with, as well as enhancing the educational experience of all of the students at SCOTS PGC through becoming part of our school’s community. I have been fortunate enough to host many of our Yalari students for dinner, along with other boarding students. To hear the stories of where they come from and who their families are is quite inspiring. During these dinners, the girls or boys work with me in preparing, cooking and serving the meal we share. Just as they share their own unique experiences, for me, sharing and extending their experiences with food is both satisfying and just plain good fun even when the tea towel ends up alight when removing pots from the cooktop! Even though not all Yalari students come from remote areas, I have been fortunate
ABOUT SCOTS PGC
Y E A R S
Educating Indigenous Children
®
Dreaming, believing inspiring and achieving
Working together since 2016 to educate and empower Indigenous children
8 Yalari Alumni
Current Yalari Scholars
New students in 2021
Partnership formed Left to Right: Bryoni Marshall, Jekeira Major, Neitayah Prince, Myiesha Marshall, Jorgi Owers, Summer Jacks | Back: Meyah Proberts-Pittman
to see and experience many remote communities. The natural beauty, the connection with the land and especially family is something that we hear about. Still, I believe you can’t truly be understood until you’ve experienced it in person. I would encourage any and every educator to take the opportunity to do this should they be able to. This is another example of learning from each other. Next year we have our first Yalari Year 12 student, Beau Kendall, who will graduate from the College. Beau is just one of the thirteen Yalari students here at the College. He is also the brother of our first indigenous Boarding Captain, T’shinta Kendall, who graduated two years ago. We are now focussed on seeing all of our Yalari students not only move towards graduation but lead their peers in our College environment. Our goal is to continue to harness the energy, the talents, and the knowledge of our Yalari students and combine that with our energy, our programs, and our knowledge to produce Yalari alumni who take their place leading in
Always aiming higher... The Scots PGC College is an independent, co-educational, Uniting Church, day and boarding school, located in Warwick, Queensland, Australia. The college currently caters for approximately 450 international and Australian students from Prep to Year 12, including 180 boarders. Starting with two scholarship students in 2016, Yalari’s partnership with Scots PGC has grown, through mutual values and understanding, to one that now supports 13 scholarship recipients from Year 7 to Year 11. We look forward to many more years of helping Indigenous children learn, dream, achieve and succeed through education.
their chosen pathways. I thank and congratulate Yalari, not only for what they do for their students, but what they do for our school and all schools involved in a partnership with them. Their exceptional support, advice, mentoring, whilst allowing the school to do what they expect us to do – teach our kids, is without peer. I often say that our students teach us as much as we teach them. I could honestly say that our Yalari students often teach us more. I look forward to continuing our educational journey and observing the ongoing success of our Yalari students and our partnership. Our tapestry is not yet finished in this regard. I especially look forward to seeing our children lead and change the world.
Left to Right: Antho Kenny Jacks, Scottny Proberts-Pittman, Taat, Beau Kendall
Thank you for giving me a great opportunity to go to a good school like Scots PGC. I am very thankful for that, and for you. - Jekeira Major
Yalari News - September 2020
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Partners, Donors and Sponsors
The Musgraves: (left to right) Stuart, Dr. Robb, Robb, Fred, David, Erin and Tyeena Pang.
Donor Spotlight:
The Musgrave Family
Yalari supporter, Stuart Musgrave shares the meaning behind his family’s commitment to education, equality and giving back.
What inspires you to be involved with Yalari? Our family foundation, the Judith Musgrave Family Foundation, was created to honour the life and values of our mother. She believed in the importance of education, family, and giving back. Yalari seemed a great fit — the work it does corresponds with those values and takes direct action to change people’s lives and provide greater opportunities for Indigenous children. Why is Indigenous education in Australia important to you? For myself, I benefited greatly from a quality education and the paths that opened to me as a result. I felt that offering the same opportunities for Indigenous students, and particularly ones from remote areas, would provide them with opportunities that they may not have in regional and remote communities. Having more Indigenous kids in these schools can also have a massive impact on changing perceptions of Indigenous Australians and breaking down barriers.
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
Do you have a personal connection to Yalari’s mission?
the difference one person like Waverley can make.
After having found Yalari several years ago and making smaller contributions, we were invited to sponsor a student through high school in 2015. I heard Waverley’s story and it was this direct connection to changing one person’s future that attracted us to contributing more to Yalari and we are so pleased to have gone with Tyeena on her journey.
What are your long-term hopes for the future of Indigenous Australia? I would love to see a greater embracing of Indigenous culture and history in Australia, to see it as a source of pride on the global stage that we have the oldest cultures in the world. More generally for Indigenous people, I can’t wait to see former Yalari students and other Indigenous Australians be the leaders of tomorrow, whatever their vocation. Through our meeting with Tyeena, I feel so proud to have had a small involvement in what she has achieved, the results speak for themselves.
What do you like (love!) most about Yalari? Donating money is the easy part; it is all the hard work that the Yalari team, it’s volunteers and most importantly the students do that makes Yalari so impressive. I also love seeing the alumni staying involved in Yalari and giving back, it’s so great to see! What does your family hope to achieve through its philanthropy? The Judith Musgrave Family Foundation was created to bring our family together to remember our mother and to perpetuate her values in the community. Yalari helps us to achieve this goal and is a great reminder of
In what ways do you involve your friends and family in our cause? At different points along our association with Yalari our family was scattered across the globe, meaning that we were not as personally involved as we would have liked. Now we meet every month for Musgrave Breakfast and more formally to discuss the work of the foundation annually. It gives us a chance to discuss the good work Yalari is doing. We discuss the feedback Yalari
OUR VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE
WHY I GIVE
Tyeena Pang Year 12 at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School Sponsored by The Musgrave Family Foundation
It has been a long journey from Year 7 to where I am now. I am proud of how far I have come, both in my schooling and as a person. Although I have found Maths quite hard it has been the most character-building subject for me. It has taught me to be patient, trust in my abilities and ask for help. Being a Yalari recipient has not only taught me to see the full potential of my abilities but Yalari has allowed me to meet some incredible people along the way. These people have included my Yalari and St Margaret’s family who have helped me shape the person I am today. I am grateful to all of those who have given me their time and resources to help me thrive. Thank you so much for all your support and believing in me for the past six years and for giving me this amazing opportunity for the brightest world ahead.
provides on how Tyeena’s study is going. We regularly talk about the work Yalari does and I speak about Yalari as a success story when discussing good things that are happening in Australia and the difference that can be made in an individual’s life. What type of legacy would you like to leave? For myself, I am not so Tyeena with Waver ley being awarded a concerned, but through the Yalari Captaincy for St Margaret’s studen ts foundation which should last several generations and was set up by my father who studied “How to create a living legacy” as his doctoral thesis. I am pleased that we can remind ourselves of the values of our mother and try to do some good in the world. Any final words? Make sure you follow Yalari on Instagram! It’s a great way of seeing the good work being done, hearing what past students are up to now in their life and is a welcome distraction from today’s doom and gloom that makes up a lot of online media.
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Yalari donor and volunteer, Annie Chapple explains how her desire to give to Yalari was born. was such a self-centred teenage girl. Preoccupied with finding my place in social groups, figuring out what my young adult tastes were in fashion and music, working hard studying — I rarely stopped to realise how lucky I was to be getting a great education.
From Year 8 to Year 12, I was a weekly boarder at The Glennie School in Toowoomba. I had comfortable accommodation, good sporting and music facilities, exposure to French Immersion and so many other opportunities that I took all in my stride. Until the day a senior teacher sat the boarders down to tell us about some new students who’d be joining us. They were a group of girls hand-picked from remote corners of the country to come to our cold and blustery little town for schooling. The teacher asked us to be mindful of how different this private boarding school experience would be for them and to understand they would also be under immense pressure from their families and friends to succeed. This was the first group of female Yalari students that founders Waverley Stanley and Llew Mullins had chosen for full boarding school scholarships. Glennie was the pilot school and test case for the future of what we now know to be an incredible organisation. For my adolescent self, it was also the moment I took notice of my privilege and when I stopped taking for granted the opportunities I had at my fingertips. My grandparents Cliff and Leslyn Ashdown had worked hard in their youth to be able to give back and always emphasised to my siblings and me the importance of a good education. They believed in it so much they had donated money to support kids through schooling at both Glennie and Churchie in Brisbane. It is why I believe Yalari to be one of the single most impactful charities currently operating in Australia. I loved my boarding school experience, I relished the opportunities given to me at a private all girls school and it makes me so happy to know that through small or large donations, more and more indigenous kids get to have these experiences too. I give to Yalari because I know the funds go directly towards the education of kids who deserve to be given the chance to leap to their future.
To learn more about how you can contribute to Yalari’s endowment fund, please visit www.yalari.org/MBEF.
Yalari News - September 2020
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Yalari Alumni
Catching up
with our inspiring Alumni
Yalari Alumni Leading, connecting, giving
Ali Crawshaw-Tomlins Class of 2018 | St Ignatius’ College, Riverview Yalari alumnus Ali Crawshaw-Tomlins joined the participants of The Youth Mill - Beats of Culture program to film a virtual Welcome to Country on the beach at East Point reserve Fannie Bay, Darwin. Ali played didgeridoo for the performance, which is for a two-day conference with guests tuning in from all over the globe.
Trey Petterson Class of 2016 | St Ignatius’ College, Riverview I have been studying since February and have completed the first year of my university course (Social and Political Sciences), so I have been very excited as well as trying to focus! These times have been very confusing and tough, especially with face-to-face classes being pushed online. So for a couple of months, I have been back in Darwin with my family and have been getting some decent meals for the first time since I have started uni if you can’t tell by the picture, I have been very comfortable and relaxed. I have been out camping and spending all of my time catching up with friends and family. I have been trying to find the silver lining in this pandemic; and that is being able to reconnect with my family again. It is so important to stay connected with those who matter and not let anyone feel isolated or disconnected.
Kane Brunjes Class of 2016 | Toowoomba Grammar School I’m a proud Gunggari, Kabi Kabi man from Murgon. I practice as an artist and have recently started work as a trainee for a Certificate III in Land Management and Conservation. I’ve been loving being on country and learning about the area of my old people and surrounding families. My travels in the art world include connections with Birrunga Gallery, Digi Youth arts, and Barambah Pottery where I work with others in the development of my practice and the sharing of story. Currently, I’m in the process of creating a few commission pieces, so the next few days will be spent in my Aunties shed painting while on Wakka Wakka country where the beauty seems endless.
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Yalari - Celebrating 15 Years
Zac Collins-Widders
Class of 2014 | The MacDonald College Since graduating from the University of Melbourne in 2017, I have been working for the Victorian Government. I entered the Victorian Public Service on the Indigenous Cadetship program where I was eventually employed as a Policy Officer for the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) working in Aboriginal Affairs. During my time at DPC we worked on passing Australia’s first ever treaty legislation, reparations for Stolen Generations and whole-ofgovernment self-determination reforms.
Taneale Lawton Class of 2014 St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School
While I have been completing my HR degree at QUT, I’ve had the fortunate pleasure of working at Davidson in the People & Culture sector. This work experience has given me a glimpse into what my future career could look like in a couple of years and I’m very much looking forward to it. Not only has Davidson enabled me to gain real world experience, they have also taught me some valuable lessons about team work, culture and purpose. I strive to be a lifelong learner and I embrace all learning opportunities. I now embrace failures as my greatest opportunity to learn and improve. One of my favourite things about Davidson follows a quote from the book legends by James Kerr, ‘Don’t be too big to do the small things.’ Everyone regardless if you’re the CEO or a casual like me, is held accountable for themselves, their teammates and Davidson as an organisation. I’m forever grateful to the Davidson team, particularly P&C who assist me in my studies as well as challenge me to go above and beyond in work and life.
In January 2020 I took a new role with Emergency Management Victoria, during the peak of some of the worst bushfires the country has seen, to advise government on emergency management in relation to natural disasters, terrorism, cyber security and health crises (like COVID-19).
Lyric Hearn Class of 2016 | Canberra Girls’ Grammar School I’ve recently moved into a unit with my Yalari sister, Sarah-Cait, and it’s been the most grounding experience, especially in these times, having a place to truly make and call home these last couple of months.
I definitely recommend to any Yalari mob out there interested in working in government to apply through pathway entry programs to really kick start your career.
I’ve also completed my six month internship with Yalari, continuing study for my Cert IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention with TAFE QLD. Earlier this year, I was accepted into the Sparks Program, which is a playwright development program for emerging Indigenous writers, and in the process of producing a complete playscript by the end of the year. Some days are busier than others and there’s a lot of things that aren’t certain but I’m grateful for the journey I’m on and for the people I get to share it with.
Sadiar Foster
Class of 2011 | St Patrick’s College
I embarked on a career change a few years ago after leaving my legal studies and career behind. I am now residing my with my partner in the Northern Beaches of Sydney and am in my third year of a new bachelor degree. I am studying to be a naturopath (which is a health science degree) and will be entering my clinic year very soon! I discovered a keen interest and passion for natural medicine during a time of healing and nursing myself back to strong health. It has been the most wonderful academic journey of discovery, growth, empowerment and of course, trials & tribulations. I study at the Endeavour College of Natural Health in Sydney and am in the process of a new business start up, specialising in Native Australian Superfoods. My studies focus heavily on Indigenous traditional medicinal and nutritional healing and is one of the main driving factors behind my new entrepreneurial venture. It has been a busy, overwhelming but rewarding time. I haven’t had the opportunity to attend a Yalari event in a while, but nonetheless I want to say thank you once again to all the support and assistance Yalari provided me many years ago. I don’t know what my academic career would have looked like had I not been offered the foundational support of having others believe in me and give me a foot in the door.
Yalari News - September 2020
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THE FIRST EVER YALARI GIVING DAY
Thursday
26 NOVEMBER 2020 WWW.C HARIDY.COM /YALARI
Y E A R S
Educating Indigenous Children www.yalari.org
SEPT20YALANEWS
®
Dreaming, believing inspiring and achieving