Breaking barriers, forging bonds

Deep in the Gibson Desert, where the space between the stars is barely discernible and the bush turkeys and potholes make the road disappear, lays Kiwirrkurra and the destination for 10 Year 11 students last October.

The visit to one of the most remote communities in Australia is part of the College’s Immersion programme and involved a flight and two days’ travel by four wheel drive to reach the welcoming collection of buidings that are home to little more than 250 people.

The travellers were based at the school, and it wasn’t long after their arrival that the locals introduced themselves, forging friendships that grew throughout their stay.

During the week, they took every opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture and learn as much as possible about life in the desert. The key message for the visitors was that they were not there to help the community; rather, they were there to learn from people who are incredibly self-sufficient and knowledgeable, and extraordinarily rich in tradition and relationships.

The CBC boys spent their days visiting classrooms to work with the children, running sports sessions and training with the local football team. They visited the arts precinct and gained a real appreciation for the skills of the local artisans, and cooked meals for the sick and elderly in the Women’s Centre. They were also taken to culturally significant places and went hunting with the elders where they tasted witchetty grubs, kangaroo and goanna.

When it came time to leave, there was not a dry eye amongst all of the children. By opening their hearts and minds, the CBC students had created strong bonds even in such a short period of time, and many will stay friends forever.