2 minute read
Me, My Grandfather and My Grandmother by Shemyliah Ahmat
Me, My Grandfather and My Grandmother
Shemyliah Ahmat | Year 11
My name is Shemyliah Ahmat Pearson. I am from Coconut and Hammond Islands in the Torres Straits. My grandfather is a proud Torres Strait Islander from a small, beautiful island called Coconut Island, which is also known as Poruma. I remember my grandfather as strong and intelligent; he was always positive and encouraging and loved to teach his grandchildren and great-grandchildren all about our culture so that we could pass it down to the next generation. My grandfather loved being outside hunting and loved island dancing. I loved spending all my time with my grandparents because whenever I’m with them I feel happy and I’m always smiling. I grew up with a lot of cousins, nieces and nephews.
My Aka is Anima Pearson. She was born on Darnley Island, and raised at Nepean Islands in the Torres Strait. Most her schooling was on Stephen Island from Grade 1 to 6.
Q. Who was Athe to you?
A. My dad was Anthony Dorante, also known as Togo to most of the people in the Islands.
Q. What was Athe known for?
A. I remember my dad was a working man who grew up on Darnley Island. He was very passionate about sea life, working the sea to provide for the family of 14 (nine girls and five boys).
Q. What did Athe encourage and tell you when you were younger?
A. My dad has always encouraged us to work hard to provide and help out because we were a very big family. I have always also been encouraged to go out in the boat to work for some income.
My Mother talks about my Athe (grandfather)
Q. Why was Athe well known in the Torres Strait?
A. My dad was a well-known person to the Torres Strait with a very huge family. He worked most of his time collecting sea cucumber and cone shell (Trocus shell), which was very popular and was sold for income for most of the family, before finding my mother and settling on Nepean Island. My name is Maria Pearson. I was born on Thursday Island and raised all my life on Hammond Island.
Q. Who was Athe (grandfather) to you?
A. He was my father. I’m the eighth child in the family. I have four brothers and seven sisters.
Q. How do you remember Athe (grandfather)?
A. My dad was a very hard-working man. We would work as a family to get maintenance done round the place. He was a man of the sea and would take us out at night spearing for crayfish. He loved fishing on the weekend and having my family together.
Q. Why was Athe well known in the Torres Strait?
A. My dad was well known in the Torres Strait for his cultural background, connecting with language, singing and dancing. He did projects in the community to keep it safe and clean.
Q. What did Athe encourage and tell you when you were younger?
A. My dad was very encouraging and respectful to whatever career I would accept in life. Whatever we were doing that was best for ourselves would make him proud.
