CAMPUS MINISTRY

Exploring Gujarat Top L-R: Matthew Bottega (12.2), Sri Dharmapuri (12.4), Josh Crevola (12.3), Kinta Pinchin-Yamada (12.2) and Alex Bradley (12.1) Bottom L-R: Fr Jean Paul, Mrs Marya Stewart, Mrs Rosa West, Libero Piffaretti (12.3), Ethan Hardy (12.5) and Sam O'Connell (’09)

For 30 years, Trinity has been privileged to have an ongoing relationship with schools and organisations in Mithra in Chennai, Jagruti High School in Mandal and the Christian Brothers charitable works in Kolkata. The College community has financially supported these groups and every two years a group of students and staff make a pilgrimage to India to help in a more tangible and personal way. Our fundraising has contributed to school buildings, including classrooms, dining room and accommodation blocks, providing food and clothing for students, classroom resources, physiotherapy equipment and blankets and food for the homeless in Kolkata. It is amazing to see and be part of the fantastic work that the organisations we support, continue to do with people in great need. We are always so welcomed by each place we visit and helping, in whatever way we can, is such a joyous and humbling experience.

We have so many other great experiences like visiting the Taj Mahal and the ancient town of Fatepur Sikri, touring the spice markets of old Delhi and singing and dancing with students at Mithra and Mandal. But what stands out most for our pilgrims is the people that we meet, with whom we spend time and build relationships. Stories of people who we share our lives with while on pilgrimage are the memories which last. This is the very reason that we continue raising funds to support organisations in India. We know that wonderful people, who struggle to overcome what sometimes seems like insurmountable odds, have so much to teach us and that their lives matter greatly to us. The 2019 pilgrims were; Mrs Marya Stewart, Mrs Rosa West, Mr Sam O’Connell (’09), Matthew Bottega (12.2), Alex Bradley (12.1), Josh Crevola (12.3), Sri Dharmapuri (12.4), Ethan Hardy (12.5), Luke Kelly (12.5), Libero Piffaretti (12.3), Kinta Pinchin-Yamada (12.2) and Daniel Rees (12.4). The pilgrims wrote reflections on some of the people they came to know and we share a few of these here.

MY PROJECT INDIA BY KINTA PINCHIN-YAMADA BITTU

As Jim McGinnis was unable to stay in Kolkata during our time there, we were assigned two past students from St Mary’s Orphanage, Bittu and Amar. The two showed us all around the bustling city and developed a deep bond with us. I grew especially close to Bittu, who was funny, kind and cheerful character. However, Bittu had originally come from an incredibly poor family. His family did not own a fridge nor television when he was accepted at St Mary’s Orphanage. Although the hardship, Bittu is now studying hotel management and has been assigned to various places from across the world and hopes to move to America to work in their hotels as well as travel to Australia to meet us again. Bittu’s connection to me and the other pilgrims was made easier through our mutual enjoyment of internet culture which we had missed out on during the pilgrimage, such as Tik Tok, memes and a slightly juvenile sense of humour. Our relationship grew stronger over our time in Kolkata as the pair would frequently return to St Mary’s to check up on us and talk with the pilgrims. I remain in contact with Bittu. Although Kolkata was our final destination in India, which was inherently sad, Bittu and Amar made it one of the most memorable experiences of the pilgrimage and the bond I created with Bittu made the ending to our India pilgrimage a truly special experience.

PANDI

During my time at Mithra, I became good friends with Pandi, a 20-year-old resident of the institute. Since the first day we arrived, Pandi and I instantly became close, which would last through to my departure from Chennai; although, he was a little bossy. Pandi’s disability rendered his left arm immobile as well as causing him to struggle to walk with ease. Despite the challenges, Pandi always showed up to every activity with a smile on his face, which was both beautiful to see, but also inspiring to know that his daily hardships would never hold him back from living. This was most evident during the classes, where I spent two of the days in his Year Four classroom helping him with his English and Tamil spelling and in the playground where he would find the greatest joy in the most simple of toys, namely bubbles. Pandi also enjoyed the television show that the Sisters put on in the afternoon. Communication was hard between us as Pandi struggled to speak, often resorting to pointing and differently pitched sounds; however, Pandi was extremely clear in his directions. Pandi has also begun his vocational training in cleaning services. Even with the challenges Pandi faced and our difficulty communicating, the relationship we formed over our brief period of time was a great start to the pilgrimage, allowing me to become involved in Indian culture as well as being able to better help others.

MY PROJECT INDIA BY MATTHEW BOTTEGA DURGA

Throughout the majority of my time at Mithra, I worked with a 15-yearold girl named Durga. Durga was diagnosed with a severe seizure disorder as well as being hyperreactive. She lived at the campus in Chennai and mainly speaks Tamil, with a little English. Durga’s mum, Lata Bhavana, was also mentally disabled and passed away when she was only a young child. Her father, Munasamy, a carpenter assistant was not able to look after his kids. Durga is mentally challenged and suffers from speech delay, malnutrition and fits, for which she must take medication. She enjoys play time, watching TV, bubbles and spelling; however, can get very aggressive and aggravated when someone annoys her during these times.

SUMAN

Suman is a 10-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. He stays at Daya Dan, a disability school in Kolkata to be looked after by the Missionaries of Charity Sisters and their assistants. Suman is unable to walk or talk and only has very minimal body movement. He would enjoy it when we sang to him or played instruments with him. During most lunchtimes I would feed Suman. He was one of the harder children to feed as he struggles to fit much into his mouth and swallow. According to one of the Sisters, Suman had only recently arrived at Daya Dan but was making fast, noticeable changes.

Q&A with some of our pilgrims

1. WHY DID YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE INDIA PILGRIMAGE?

Throughout school, we're given many opportunities to serve others. We are drilled with the mantra to be a Man for Others and sometimes it drives us to better ourselves. Having the opportunity to go on the India pilgrimage was something I always wanted to take part in. It promised an adventure that would forever shape who you are as a person, allow you to immerse yourself into a culture that is completely foreign, to try and experience new things and, ultimately, to serve others somewhere where you couldn't run home to – a place that would challenge you as a person to test your character. I wanted every part of it and a big decider for me was hearing from the previous pilgrims about their experiences. The group of them talking to our year group about this amazing time they all had which they shared with each other – the stories and people that would never be forgotten and some of the uncomfortable things they had to witness and overcome. Libero Piffaretti I wanted to take part in the India pilgrimage because over the years at Trinity I was told on many different occasions by the past students and teachers that went that the this is one of the most amazing experiences at the College. I also loved the idea of travelling around India as my mum was actually born there and the idea of being there with my mates while helping others that were less fortunate than me along with experiencing the culture of India seemed like great fun, which it was. Ethan Hardy I always genuinely wanted to go on the pilgrimage. When some past pilgrims told us of their experiences, I knew I had to be part of this experience. I couldn’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to get out of my comfort zone. Because I always wanted to experience new things and learn more about myself, but also to help people, I feel like it gives me meaning, as helping others and not just yourself is very important, to become the best you. In retrospect, it’s honestly the best thing I’ve done at Trinity and one of the best experiences I’ve had in my life. Daniel Rees

2. WHAT DID YOU DO MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TO PREPARE?

Mental preparation was more important than the physical preparation for me as I was extremely nervous to be away from my family for a whole month and I was nervous to be put in some confronting situations in India. I mentally prepared for India by first stepping out of my comfort zone in Perth through volunteering at a school for disabled children. This made me more confident and ready for India as I felt like I had a better idea of what India was going to be like. Ethan Hardy To prepare for the pilgrimage, the pilgrims would attend a weekly lunchtime meeting about 18 months prior to our departure from Perth. In these meetings we talked about the change in culture, the history of the country, learned about the places we will be visiting and all three of the teachers coming with us shared knowledge of their past experiences on the pilgrimage. Luke Kelly To mentally prepare for the pilgrimage, I attended Castlereagh School, a special needs school for a week. There, I was able to get an insight into what I could expect in India. The physical preparation for the trip was to get lots of sleep before the trip. Alex Bradley

3. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY OF YOUR TIME IN INDIA?

My favourite memory cannot be narrowed down to one day or moment. But I did really enjoy my week at Mithra in Chennai, working with disabled children at that school and building relationships with them, inside the classroom and outside on their make shift cricket pitch, made it really emotional to leave. Even with a language barrier the kids were able to communicate so well – how thankful they were that we were spending time with them. It was incredible to see how people with so little were so happy and grateful. Luke Kelly I don’t really have a specific favourite memory. I just really loved the whole general experience, the many relationships I made. I loved meeting and being with the lovely people, mainly at Mithra, also at Jagruti High School and at the Mother House in Kolkata. They were my favourite places, as I felt interacting with the people was worth more than seeing places like the Taj Mahal. Of course, it was great to see it but the people I met and interacted with was definitely a hundred times more meaningful than seeing a tourist attraction, because at the end of the day we weren’t tourists, we were pilgrims after all. I just loved hanging out with the people, either in the classes, playing sport, or just getting to know new people and their stories. Daniel Rees My most favourite memory of the trip was when we arrived in Mandal and attended Jugruti High School. My memories here were sensational and I’m sure that they will stay with me for a long time. While we were in Jugruti we attended the students’ classes and even had the opportunity to teach the class, which was very challenging because only couple of them spoke English and we struggled to teach them. Another memory that occurred at Jugruti was the cricket game between TC vs Jugruti. This game was fun because it allowed all the other pilgrims to show their cricket skills. Alex Bradley My favourite memory was during our time in Kolkata where I was placed at Daya Dan, an orphanage for some of the poorest children in the area. Here I met Sister Sophia who took a liking to me and placed me with Utso – a child who couldn't leave his bed due to hydrocephalus. I read him books every day and even though he had very little response and couldn't speak, whenever I was with him, he would stop crying and this made me happy. Also, the long train trips, spending hours and hours, sleeping on trains was a really great experience as we were all doing it together and we had to be aware of everything. We even got into a bit of trouble over a miscommunication of our food on one train trip, resulting in one of the funniest arguments I've heard. Libero Piffaretti

4. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WEREN’T EXPECTING TO?

That you don't need money and items to be happy, as cliché as that sounds it's something that I could see. This was especially evident at Jagrutti High School where the students there just thrived with everything they were given. They were happy. They might not have had all the modern things that we have but it wasn’t important. Libero Piffaretti During the experience, I saw first-hand how materials and money do not equal happiness. In every place we stayed we were welcomed with open arms and were made to feel right at home. The people we met would provide us with laughs and love were just so happy to have met us. Most of the time we would walk away from a destination and think we are so lucky to have met these incredible people. Luke Kelly I learnt a lot from the experience including the fact that travelling is one of the greatest things you can do. I used to always think that I didn’t want to travel when I am older but now, I can’t wait to experience different cultures and see the world. I also learnt how helping people can be one of the most enjoyable things you can do and how fulfilling it is to give someone a hand when they are in need. Ethan Hardy I learnt that I am capable and can do some of the toughest challenges out there. I have also learnt how other cultures live. One key skill that I have learnt while attending the India pilgrimage is that by contributing to one small deed, you may have a big impact in the future. Alex Bradley I learnt what to value, and more about myself and how I could become a better person. I felt I learnt how to be more present daily and how you don’t have to value possessions in life, as they mean nothing. It’s a pretty cliché saying, but money can’t buy happiness. My experience in India has changed my perspective of values and attitudes. Daniel Rees

Slow boats, Mekong River, Laos

(L-R) Taylor Hannah and Harley Jennings

River Crossing

After eighteen months of planning, preparation and fundraising, two excited teams of Year 10 students headed off to Northern Thailand and Laos in December for three weeks on the College’s biennial Service Expedition.

Each student involved had committed to fundraising $300 to contribute to the volunteer project that would take place in a Karen Hill tribe village in Northern Thailand – Ban Bon Na. Both groups helped build and install three water tanks in the village. These water tanks help provide basic, clean running water for the village and some surrounding villages. Working together with local tradespeople, it was wonderful to see all the students get ‘stuck in’ and help with the manual labour required to build these water tanks. This experience gave every student a chance to be a Man for Others in the most direct way possible. Part of the expedition also included a trek in the mountainous jungle area of Luang Namh Tha in Laos. This three night, fourday trek involved challenging uphill climbs, difficult descents and river crossings. The groups stayed overnight in village homestays and river camps where they experienced local life at its most traditional. Our local guides were knowledgeable and helpful and cooked all our meals on an open fire using traditional Laos techniques. To prepare himself for the intense expedition, Harley Jennings (11.5) went on runs to improve his fitness and a few walks to break in his trekking boots. Concerned about being away from his family for three weeks, Harley prepared himself mentally by reminding himself that while he would miss his family, the trip would be a once in a lifetime experience. It was a trip that would allow him to come home with some great stories. As part of the leadership element of the expedition, the students were responsible for securing accommodation, organising transport, deciding on cultural activities, managing the group budget and, most importantly, choosing breakfast, lunch and dinner venues as we went along. There was a tight budget which had to be adhered to, yet both groups were able to see lots and eat lots. For Josh Kirkaldy (11.2), it was initially daunting thinking about organising accommodation, dinner and the plans for the day for the entire group and wanting to satisfy everyone. Josh says, “once we were on the trip, we realised that you couldn’t satisfy everyone and just had to do what the majority of the group wanted”. These students have memories that will last a lifetime, developing new skills as well as a newfound self-confidence. Memories included the community project and for some students, the last day of the trip. Josh remembers, “we had a warm welcome from the village we were staying in, with them being amazingly kind people and cooking us incredible food. The experience of going swimming in the waterfalls with the nicest colour of water brought a smile to everyone’s face on that last day”. While Ben Shah (11.6) learnt about being moneywise, “I was already expecting to learn to be more money smart, but having to keep track of the different currencies as well as what was a good price for something was challenging”. A huge thank you goes to College staff members; Mr Mark Dodd, Ms Su-Fen Chung and Mr Nick Kros who accompanied the students.

Ms Alison Mackenzie

Expedition Coordinator