Girl Academy Celebrates - Four More Graduates

Four More Reasons to Celebrate 2021 Graduates

Four young Indigenous women have graduated from high school on Thursday 17 November 2021 in Cairns. The four women graduated from a special assistance independent school that caters for Indigenous girls and mothers who need a second chance at education.

The event took place at Palm Cove Surf Club at 6pm. Staff, students and families all attended this special event. The graduates arrived in a vintage limousine as the students awaited and applauded the class of 2021. The driver laid the red carpet onto the pathway as they strutted and greeted the crowd. Everyone looked stunning and was dressed up for this very special occasion. The four graduates everyone celebrated were Bon’Naia, a young Kuku Yalanji/Merium Mer woman along with Aaliyah, a Djabugay/ PNG/Fiji woman, Estherlita, an Alawa/Rambarrnga woman and Bianca Ganambarr, a strong Maung woman and a wonderful Mum to Deledio. Unfortunately Bianca was unable to attend the graduation ceremony, however her academic achievements whilst being a young Mum, were acknowledged, celebrated, and provide inspiration for future students. Each of these students spent two to three years showing resilience and determination to complete their schooling. Their achievement is one to celebrate.

Bon’Naia Hinton delivered a heart-warming and emotional speech as tears of joy were shed among the students. She spoke about her journey and experiences at this school. Aaliyah Brim was second to speak and she spoke about the happy moments during school and boarding. Her speech made everyone laugh and cry at the same time. Estherlita Forbes was the final speaker as she thanked and gave special mention to all the people who helped her during her time at school.

The night ended with enjoyment in dancing, taking photos and singing. Staff and students expressed that the four graduating students and Deledio will be sorely missed.

AUTHORS: A collaboration of Girl Academy students: Verona, Calista, Naydia, Ada, Edwina, Irene, Olivia, and Thaarah.

Aaliyah Brim (left), Estherlita Forbes (middle) and Bon'Naia Hinton (right) getting ready for their graduation night

AALIYAH’S SPEECH

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, staff and students.

Thank you all for coming and celebrating this graduation with us tonight. My name is Aaliyah Brim and I’d like to share some thoughts with you tonight. I have been at this school for four years which means I have seen girls come and go, most of the girls that have left I was quite close with. Each of those girls graduated and I’m glad to say one of those girls is my sister Esther Brim who encouraged me to stay at this school. Those girls have helped me see the benefit of this school, when I felt like leaving. They showed me what a good role model is and should be for future younger girls who come here seeking education. Because of them I’ve tried being a role model for the younger girls by going to class on time and participating in most activities. I have shared experiences with others and I have found my journey along the way. Throughout my journey I have met these three lovely ladies, who stand beside me Bon’Naia, Bianca and Estherlita. They’ve successfully finished the second step to life, which is graduating. You could guess what the first step was. When I first met these girls I knew they were strong, connected to their culture, sporty and confident but the difference is two of them are way taller than I am and the other one is only 4 inches taller than me. They all are very nice and polite but they scare me, especially Estherlita, I mean I’m not the only one that’s for sure. Bon’Naia only scares me because I’ve seen her mad before even though she wouldn’t get mad at me but I’d be wary of my surroundings. As for Bianca, I know she has an angry side, she just knows how to control it. Together we’ve grown and they have helped me be more resilient. I will always cherish the memories of the years we’ve shared.

Also, I just want to say that I am very grateful for every girl in this school and I hope you at least try your best at everything you do and don’t give up. I am also grateful for the staff that have come and gone, especially, you know who you are. Finally, I want to thank my family for being here tonight and for supporting me on this educational journey. Thank you and goodnight Love Aaliyah BON'NAIA'S SPEECH Good evening staff, students and guests. For the families that don’t know me, my name is Bon’Naia Hinton, I’ve been a student at Girl Academy for the last three years and have taken on the roll of being the big sister that all these girls can rely on for anything. Also a warning I tend to be very emotional when I give speeches at graduations so I will most likely cry. As we all know we are here tonight to celebrate Aaliyah, Bianca, Estherlita and I’s graduation and I just want to say thanks to all these important people. First off, I want to thank my big sister Giambra for introducing me to Girl Academy back in 2019 and for encouraging me to finish my schooling. If you hadn’t put life into perspective for me and showed me the good and bad paths that I could fall into I may not have wanted to keep going but you helped me see what I needed to achieve to become the person I am. A massive thank you to all four of my principals, the six of my teachers, the boarding staff and wellbeing team for supporting me these last three years especially through those times I wanted to give up and go home. And to the most amazing, caring girls I’ve ever lived with, thank youse for being the best sisters anyone could ever ask for. I know I’ve only known a few of you for a short time and some I’ve known longer but you girls have become my go to people for yarns and laughs, and even for hugs and cries. I appreciate every single one of you for being a part of my journey and making my final years at school well worth it. Also a thank you to the CYP staff for welcoming me to the team this year through my traineeship and I look forward to coming back to work next year. The entire office has been so warm and welcoming but my biggest thank you is to my amazing front desk crew Amanda and Vanessa and of course the woman that gave me names for each day I was at work, Mahala. My final thanks is to my beautiful mother who has been nothing my supportive and encouraging with all my decisions in school. You’ve always been my rock, my shoulder to lean on and my best friend from the day I was born. Now for these stunning Year 12s: Aaliyah, you and I are so much alike that even our teachers mix us up. You always put a smile on my face when I feel down and I always try to do the same for you. We’ve always had each other’s backs over the years and we’ve even made plans for our future together. I think we both know we can prove all the haters wrong and can do anything we put our minds to. Thank you so much Aaliyah for being the sister I never had. Bianca, even though you’re not here, you are an amazing mother that Deledio is blessed to have and even though you were introduced to motherhood at an early age you are doing so well and I admire your

hard work in the classroom and in the dorms. I wish you all the best sis and hopefully I’ll run into you again sometime soon. Estherlita, my deadly roomie, you are an amazing athlete and I know that you can make it in anything you put your mind to. I will never forget our karaoke sesh’s after youth group and hearing you jamming in the room. Good luck for your future sissy and I hope you achieve all your dreams. Thank you all so much and I love you all heaps xx

ESTHERLITA'S SPEECH Good evening CYP staff, Girl Academy staff and students, parents and friends, and guests attending our Year 12 graduation. First I would like to thank the Girl Academy for having me in this school, I appreciate everything you have done for me. To my parents, thank you for not giving up on me and sending me back to college and thanks for being there for me, I love you both. Thank you to Wellbeing for supporting me when I’m in my sad mood or when I’m struggling. Thank you to boarding staff for keeping me safe. Thanks to the teachers that taught me and helped me learn and for always pushing me through my work. Thank you to Gemma and the kitchen staff who always took care of my health and gave us fresh vegetables. Yummy! Thank you to the Principals who accepted me into this school. To the girls in CYGA, I have learnt a lot from you all. Please don’t give up on your school work, it doesn’t matter if your work is hard, just push through and don’t let yourself down. Keep your head up and be strong. To my Year 12 classmates, Bon’Naia and Aaliyah, thanks for being there for me, even when I was quiet, you both kept on cheering me up. Bon’Naia, every morning in the boarding you’re very noisy with the speaker, but I love listening to you when you’re singing, you have an amazing voice. Aaliyah, when I first came here, I thought that you were the loud person, but then I realised you were the very quiet, confident, strong independent woman. I have good memories of this school with the girls and staff. I won’t forget that we all played sports together and every laugh we had made my day. I can’t forget how happy everyone was here. I’m thankful to be in Girl Academy and I’m proud of myself for not giving up on my schooling.