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ATSI Partnerships ___________________________Page

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER GARDEN PROJECT

2013 saw a number of signifi cant 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. To the project team we welcomed our new Koori Education Offi cer, Susan Collins, who since coming to St Joseph’s has been a font of ideas and support for the project. We also welcomed new project members, Adam Morrisey and Amy Young, from Science and Humanities Domains, to assist with the curriculum planning for the garden. Throughout this project we work in partnership with Uncle David of the Wathaurong Cooperative and with the assistance of Peter Antanasovski, our NAB Mentor as part of the School’s First Program. The garden will be on the Zampatti oval side of the B-Block between the C-block and cricket pavilion with the beautiful eucalypt shading the meeting place area.

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The project group are feeling very excited now that plans have been developed. The garden will be constructed next year with ongoing development in further years.

Jo Hart - On behalf of ATSI Garden Project Team YEPPOON TRIP

In October this year, twelve Year 9 boys along with Mrs Bentley and Mr Harmon, were lucky enough to travel to Yeppoon, Northern Queensland, as part of the St Brendan’s College’s immersion program. We all stayed within the St Brendan’s boarding house with students from their school who had previously come and stayed in Geelong - boarding was a completely different experience! We attended classes with the host students every day as well as excursions to local attractions including the Capricorn Caves, Great Keppel Island, the Rockhampton Cultural Centre and

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 boarding school in Yeppoon for the whole week. Our boys attended some classes with their host students and every day there was an excursion to a local attraction including the Capricorn Caves, Great Keppell Island, the Rockhampton Dreamtime Centre and a crocodile farm. At the school, we were treated to a “Cup Marie” which is a kind of local traditional meal as well as some traditional dancing from Torres Strait Islander students.

Overall though, the word Immersion was the key to our stay. As the days went on our boys totally immersed themselves in the routines of boarding school life. They did homework together, played sport together and swam in the school pool. Their parents back home would have marvelled to see them stop talking and go to sleep when lights were turned out at 9.15pm every night! Our boys interacted easily with Aboriginal boys from all over Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands. On our last night there were hugs and exchanges of sports shirts, demonstrating the strength of the bonds that had been formed in a few short days. All our students hopefully learn a lot at St Joseph’s about Reconciliation, but the boys on the Yeppoon trip have been lucky enough to experience Reconciliation in action. They came to a school where students and staff of indigenous and non-indigenous backgrounds simply get on with the job, and they very quickly slotted into the lifestyle themselves. The more they share their stories with family and friends back home, the more the work of Reconciliation continues in our own backyard.

John Harmon - Chaplaincy & Liturgy Coordinator

a crocodile farm. The experience was fantastic and everyone learnt a lot about reconciliation which will never be forgotten.

Will Paatsch - Year 9

Yeppoon immersion Yeppoon immersion Uncle David visits the site of the ATSI Garden of the ATSI Garden

“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 confi dently in two worlds” and help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Two current participants, Dion and Jerol, are working on a Certifi cate in Indigenous Health which will enable them to assist their community to improve health outcomes.” Jo Hart - Director of Mission

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