ATSI Partnerships ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER GARDEN PROJECT 2013 saw a number of significant steps forward for the garden project. Excitingly, Alice Condon, landscape architect, has been appointed to develop plans for the garden. She is using the designs completed by Ad Alta students last year under the guidance of Uncle David and Simon Cahir, to develop a professional plan for the garden.
a crocodile farm. The experience was fantastic and everyone learnt a lot about reconciliation which will never be forgotten. Will Paatsch - Year 9
A TRUE IMMERSION I was privileged to travel to Queensland as part of the St Joseph’s Year 9 Immersion program.Twelve students, Mrs Linda Bentley and I stayed at St Brendan’s College To the project team we welcomed our new Koori boarding school in Yeppoon for the whole week. Education Officer, Susan Collins, who since coming to Our boys attended some classes with their host St Joseph’s has been a font of ideas and support for students and every day there was an excursion to a the project.We also welcomed new project members, local attraction including the Capricorn Caves, Great Adam Morrisey and Amy Young, from Science and Keppell Island, the Rockhampton Dreamtime Centre Humanities Domains, to assist with the curriculum and a crocodile farm. At the school, we were treated planning for the garden. to a “Cup Marie” which is a kind of local traditional Throughout this project we work in partnership with meal as well as some traditional dancing from Torres Uncle David of the Wathaurong Cooperative and Strait Islander students. with the assistance of Peter Antanasovski, our NAB Overall though, the word Immersion was the key Mentor as part of the School’s First Program. to our stay. As the days went on our boys totally The garden will be on the Zampatti oval side of the immersed themselves in the routines of boarding B-Block between the C-block and cricket pavilion school life.They did homework together, played sport with the beautiful eucalypt shading the meeting place together and swam in the school pool. Their parents back home would have marvelled to see them stop area. talking and go to sleep when lights were turned out The project group are feeling very excited now at 9.15pm every night! Our boys interacted easily that plans have been developed. The garden will be with Aboriginal boys from all over Queensland and constructed next year with ongoing development in the Torres Strait Islands. On our last night there were further years. hugs and exchanges of sports shirts, demonstrating Jo Hart - On behalf of ATSI Garden Project Team the strength of the bonds that had been formed in a few short days. YEPPOON TRIP In October this year, twelve Year 9 boys along with All our students hopefully learn a lot at St Joseph’s Mrs Bentley and Mr Harmon, were lucky enough to about Reconciliation, but the boys on the Yeppoon trip travel to Yeppoon, Northern Queensland, as part of have been lucky enough to experience Reconciliation the St Brendan’s College’s immersion program. We all in action. They came to a school where students and stayed within the St Brendan’s boarding house with staff of indigenous and non-indigenous backgrounds students from their school who had previously come simply get on with the job, and they very quickly and stayed in Geelong - boarding was a completely slotted into the lifestyle themselves. The more they different experience! We attended classes with the share their stories with family and friends back home, host students every day as well as excursions to local the more the work of Reconciliation continues in our attractions including the Capricorn Caves, Great own backyard. Keppel Island, the Rockhampton Cultural Centre and John Harmon - Chaplaincy & Liturgy Coordinator Yeppoon immersion
“A large number of families supported the Marrma’ Rom Foundation. This program supports boys from North East Arnhem Land to live in Geelong, attend St Joseph’s, and learn to live assuredly in the western world. The intention is for these boys to “walk confidently in two worlds” and help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Two current participants, Dion and Jerol, are working on a Certificate in Indigenous Health which will enable them to assist their community to improve health outcomes.” Jo Hart - Director of Mission
Uncle David visits the site of the ATSI Garden
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