GIRLS @ THE CENTRE REFLECTION

From 2011 to 2015, Ruyton girls and their families were involved in a programme with The Smith Family that supported disadvantaged girls in Alice Springs. With the aim of keeping at-risk girls at school, the Girls @ the Centre programme was based at Centralian Middle School, and managed by Girl Coaches who kept track of the girls’ education, attendance and wellbeing. Breakfasts and lunches were provided, careers mentors engaged, and a special Homeroom was created to give the girls a safe space that they could go to throughout the school day. Ruyton’s involvement was two-fold. Each year, ten of the girls from Alice Springs would fly to Melbourne for a week of adventures. Five Ruyton families each hosted two Alice Springs girls, including them in their daily lives. The girls attended activities at Ruyton, or participated in excursions. These excursions were often a highlight because they were usually places the girls had never visited before: the Melbourne Zoo; the beach; Melbourne University; the NGV and the city’s laneways. Each October, during the Year 10 Central Australia Tours, the Ruyton girls would visit Centralian Middle School, and spend time with the Girls @ the Centre again. The Girl Coaches arranged wonderful activities for all of the girls. One year, we visited Stanley Chasm and learnt about the Dreamtime from some of the local elders. Another year, we all went to the Telegraph Station where the Alice Springs girls cooked kangaroo tail in the river bed, and we learnt about Skin and Kin from Deanella Mack. Other activities were grinding native herbs to make bush medicine, and a hugely popular trip to the town pool with the Alice Springs girls. Many friendships were forged, and greater understanding and connections between young women were the result.

Unfortunately, due to issues with funding and other school programmes at Centralian Middle School, The Smith Family wound up the Girls @ the Centre programme in Alice Springs at the end of 2015. It was a very sad time for the girls at Ruyton, and most particularly in Alice Springs. Since then, some of the friendships formed have continued and it has been wonderful to hear news of one of the graduates of the Girls @ the Centre programme. Christine Lawson was hosted by Aisling Moten when she first visited Ruyton in 2013. About eighteen months after visiting Ruyton, Christine was fostered by one of the Girl Coaches, Shelly Bestman. For her last two years of school, while Shelly was battling breast cancer, Christine attended boarding school at Alexandra and Hamilton College in Victoria. During this time, she often stayed with Julie Hoskins and popped in to visit Ruyton. Christine’s goal was to become a police officer, so it has been wonderful news to hear that she graduated in October 2020 as an Indigenous Liaison Officer for the Northern Territory Police and Emergency Services. Christine is one of the first people to hold this role, and was the youngest member of the graduating class. Christine delighted the Year 10 girls in December by connecting with them for a Teams meeting during the End of Year Programme. She told the girls that she is loving her job, and finds the challenges of working with the indigenous community in Alice Springs to be very rewarding. She still aims to be a police officer, and her particular goal is to join the Mounted Forces. For now, the Girl Coaches, the Smith Family, the Moten family, and Ruyton can take pride in having a small part in this young woman’s journey. Christine is hoping that there will be many more opportunities to connect with the Ruyton community in future. She has always been a person with a big heart and a wonderful sense of humour. She has become someone who has achieved one step on the road to her dream,and is an inspiration for many. Julie Hoskins Coordinator of Community Services (Senior School)