yalari newsletter - issue 28 - march 2015

ISSUE 28 | MARCH 2015Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS11 CELEBRATING 10 YEARSE d u c a t i n g I n d i g e n o u s C h i l d r e n02005 - 201511

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS11 CELEBRATING 10 YEARSE d u c a t i n g I n d i g e n o u s C h i l d r e n02005 - 201511

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Waverley Stanley Founding Director

YALARI NEWSROOM

SAVE THE DATEfor our first fundraising dinner of 2015 - 3 June at The Ivy, Sydney. For enquiries or ticket sales, please contact Pam Boavida at [email protected]

Yalari is a not-for-profit organisation that offers quality, secondary education scholarships at leading Australian boarding schools for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities.

We believe education is the key to generational change and a brighter future, and we are deeply committed to the ongoing success of our national program of scholarships and post-school opportunities.

Our vision is to provide trusted, quality educational opportunities for Indigenous children to achieve positive outcomes for themselves and their families and make valuable contributions as Australians.

Our mission is to educate and empower Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote communities to bring about generational change.

Core Values: Respect, Compassion, Resilience, Openness.

It takes a whole community to educate a child.

YALARI LIMITEDPO BOX 1355 Oxenford QLD 4210P: 07 5665 8688 F: 07 5665 8611 E: [email protected]: www.yalari.orgABN: 66 113 794 148 ACN: 113 794 148Yalari is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee.

E d u c a t i n g I n d i g e n o u s C h i l d r e n‘You’ve got to get your education so you can say certain things… and people will listen’ - Dr Charles Nelson Perrurle Perkins AO, the first Indigenous Australian to graduate from university.

The Freedom Ride of 1965 was lead by the late Charlie Perkins as he was then known, a third year university student and President of the Student Action for Aborigines (SAFA), at the University of Sydney. The students travelled in a bus through the NSW towns of Walgett, Gulargambone, Kempsey, Bowraville and Moree, in a fact finding trip so they could see for themselves the conditions of life for Aboriginal people.

2015 marks the 50 year anniversary of that ride. Yalari graduate Kyol Blakeney, the second Indigenous President of Sydney University’s Student Representative Council, led a group of 29 students in a recreation of the Freedom Ride of 1965. They travelled to many of the same towns, with new challenges and old histories.

Tyson Holloway-Clarke is a third year student at the University of Melbourne and the Indigenous Student Council Representative of the Student Union.

Larissa Woosup is in Year 12 at Canberra Girls Grammar School and is the School Vice-Captain.

Yalari turns 10 this year. Already we are seeing the changes to Australian society that our Yalari scholars and graduates are making. They are leaders, they contribute, they try, they help each other, they inspire, they have courage, they do their best, and Australia is a better place because of them.

Yalari has not altered its focus or goals since it began. With the support of our donors and sponsors, we offer boarding scholarships for Indigenous children from regional, rural and remote areas to attend some of Australia’s highest achieving boarding schools for their secondary education. With over a hundred graduates, we continue to support these young adults in varying ways.

As we celebrate our 10th birthday on Monday 13th April, I’m filled with pride for the Yalari community that I’m a part of; the scholars, the teachers, the volunteers, the sponsors, the supporters, the families, the staff and everyone who believes that we can make a change in every moment, day by day, and year by year.

© Yalari LimitedThe information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. The opinions and interpretations expressed within are those of the author only and may not reflect those of other identified parties. Every effort is made to ensure that information is accurate at time of printing.

13 Apr Yalari’s 10th Anniversary

30 Apr 2016 Scholarships Close

3 Jun Yalari Sydney Dinner

20 Aug Yalari Melbourne Dinner

18-24 Sep Commemorative Walk to

Cherbourg

15 Oct Yalari Brisbane Dinner

14 Nov Yalari Adelaide Dinner

2015 KEY DATES

COVER PHOTO: Yalari Alumni Trip to Antarctica (article page 10)

www.yalari.org

RenikkaGreat Southern

Grammar School, Albany

KiirraThe Southport School

AlaGreat Southern

Grammar School, Albany

IndiraSt Margaret’s Anglican Girls

School, Brisbane

Tyrese Kinross Wolaroi School, Orange

KaylaSt Catherine’s School, Melbourne

Welcome to the 35 new Yalari scholars who have started their first year of high school.

CONGRATULATIONS & GOOD LUCK!

ON THE BLOCK!NEW KIDS

Our new Yalari scholars come from all over Australia. From Charleville to Cherbourg, Boulder to Broome, Moree to Mt Isa and Torquay to Tennant Creek!

Tekishea & KiaraKambala, Sydney

New South Wales Holly, Georgia, Tyrese, Jade, Norah, Noah, Jalu, HunterQueensland Toby, Noah, Darcie, Indira, Sophia, Tyeena, Nadia, Clarissa, Kiirra, LiamVictoria Aidan, Jaycee, KaylaNorthern Territory Faith, Haley, Tekishea, Kiara, Imani, Cheyanne, Ricky, LeviWestern Australia Darcy, Ala, Lakotta, Renekka-Pearl, Khyanne, Nina

This year, we don’t have any Yalari students from South Australia or Tasmania. If you live South Australia or Tasmania we would love for you to spread the word about Yalari’s work so that maybe next year, we can have a few more stars on the map!!

Yalari Quarterly Newsletter - March 2015

Can you help?

On Monday 12 January, 35 excited yet nervous children were welcomed to The Southport School on the Gold Coast for Yalari’s 9th Annual Orientation Camp. Many had travelled for most of the day from regional, remote and rural communities across Australia and for some, it was the first time they had been away from home.

The new scholars, joined by 28 returning students and 11 Junior Leaders were eager to get started at the ‘Winanggaay Nguurrang’ camp which is designed to introduce new students to what they can expect from boarding school life and marks the beginning of their Yalari journey.

Volunteers, Junior Leaders and staff ensured the children were made to feel welcome and relaxed. The Yalari Junior Leaders (senior Yalari students) spent time sharing their experiences on living away from home and offering very helpful coping strategies. Students were also able to get to know their Student Support Officer, who will be working closely with the school and student, supporting their needs pastorally and academically.

On the first day, new and returning students were divided into ‘house’ groups with each group being named after a prominent Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Leader. These house groups determined the schedule for activities, where students would sleep and the workshops they would be involved in. By Tuesday

A NEW YEAR, A NEW ADVENTURE!

C A M P 2 0 1 5ORIENTATION

‘the camp of thinking and understanding’

Winanggaay Nguurrang

morning (after a quiet night and sound sleep) the students were ready for the ‘getting to know you’ activities. One activity involved the students working together in a group to create the word ‘Yalari’ spelled out with canned spaghetti.

Following the mid-morning activities, the students headed to Metricon Stadium where they met the Gold Coast Suns who not only took them for a tour of the stadium but also ran them through a football clinic. The gloomy and overcast weather did not deter the students from having a ball!

By the time the students arrived in Surfers Paradise, the sun had begun to appear. They hurriedly headed up the 77 floors of the Q1 tower to enjoy panoramic views from the observation deck. After taking a breather and appreciating their surroundings, it was time for the ‘Race Around the Gold Coast’, a fast-paced, fun activity with their house groups, followed by a swim at the beach.

On Wednesday, students attended classes which focused on boarding school life, what to expect and how to make the most of the experience. The classes encouraged students to make new friends, be organised, support one another and be proud of themselves, knowing they have the opportunity to make a difference in their lives and in their communities. These classes included special guests who spent time with the students and shared their skills and experiences. Guests included youth worker and Hip-Hop artist, Fred Leone who along with fellow artists Kaylah Tyson, James Williams and photographer Ant Broese worked with students in developing their skills in using digital media and music to express themselves. Greg Gebhart, a leading cyber safety expert from Cybersmart Australia also shared his wealth of knowledge about how to stay safe online.

A highlight for many students was visiting Dreamworld and White Water World on Thursday followed by a certificate ceremony and a disco organised by the Junior Leaders on Thursday evening. The prospect of an early morning wake-up for departure didn’t stop our students from enjoying their final night dancing away with new friends.

Nine years of running orientation camps has taught us a few things. Helping children to become prepared for their journey to boarding school is imperative if we are to see success in our quest to affect generational change through education.

Yalari’s orientation camps are only made possible through the generous funding of our sponsors and donors, the countless hours of work by our staff and volunteers, and the willingness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to trust Yalari to educate their children - the future leaders of this country.

PAGE 5

YALARI CAMP FACTS!35 NEW

STUDENTS

28 RETURNING STUDENTS

11 JUNIOR LEADERS

15 VOLUNTEERS

9 STAFF


“I feel extremely privilaged to be part of the Yalari Orientation Camps; watching the students transform from quiet, nervous children into their unique individual selves. I enjoy seeing them form friendships that will last the course of the journey, offering support through the ups and downs. I am confident the Yalari camps equip students with the skills necessary to give them the best chance of success at boarding school.” - Jordon Keipert (Student Support Officer)

Yalari is grateful for its long-standing partnership with Greyhound Australia, a relationship that commenced in 2008. Since then, Greyhound has transported over 700 Yalari students around the country free of charge and has extended its generosity to include interstate freight for Yalari parcels and bags.

More recently, Greyhound supplied $7,000 worth of charter for the

annual Yalari Orientation Camp on the Gold Coast. This not only allowed our Yalari students to travel to and from camp, but also transportation during the camp.

It is very exciting that Greyhound will be featuring the Yalari logo and photos on the back of five buses across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra. Greyhound carries 5 million passengers over 38

million kilometres each year, so Yalari is sure to get noticed!

We would like to thank Greyhound for their dedicated support over the years and look forward to continuing our wonderful partnership in the years to come.

www.greyhound.com.au

Sophia & IndiraSt Margaret’s Anglican

Girls School

PARTNER!THANKS

Greyhound Australia

Alliance AirlinesYalari is grateful to have been selected as one of three organisations who will benefit from the Alliance Airlines new Workplace Giving Program. Workplace giving is a program that lets employees donate money to a charity on a regular basis with donations being deductible for taxation purposes. Thank you for including Yalari in your new giving program! www.allianceairlines.com.au

Yalari students at the Orientation Camp in January

Special thanks to The Leroy and Joy Brauer Perpetual Charitable Trust for generously funding the Yalari Orientation Camp for the seventh year. Their generous backing provided the much needed funds for the camp to go ahead. A camp of this magnitude requires a myriad of logistics to be funded with the major expenses being air travel, food and accommodation.

The Leroy and Joy Brauer Perpetual Charitable Trust

BOH DentalA huge thank you to BOH Dental who have provided eight of our Brisbane Yalari students with dental treatment over the past year, valued at $6,600. We are very appreciative and sincerely thank you! We look forward to continuing our relationship in 2015. www.bohdental.com.au

Yalari highly values the contributions of all our sponsors and supporters. In this edition, we ‘shout-out’ to four of our sponsors who are continuing to help us realise our vision.

John Paul College (JPC) is a coeducational, ecumenical school in Daisy Hill, Queensland. From Childcare to Year 12, the college offers an environment where Christian values are embraced and all faiths and cultures are welcomed.

In 2015, Yalari scholars Faith and Hayley from Arnhem Land, will be two of only 48 boarders at the newly opened boarding facility. The unique style of accommodation offers six villas with their own shared lounge and kitchenette.

JPC has a growing Indigenous program which aims to enhance cultural understanding and the mutual learning between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

The two girls are already impressing their teachers and fellow

students with their willingness to get involved and their recently discovered basketball prowess! They have settled well into the boarding family, making new friends and learning some new skills, whilst developing their independence.

Through the alignment of vision, values and philosophy, Yalari is honoured to have JPC on-board as a partner school and we wish Faith and Hayley the very best for the year ahead.

This year, Yalari boys Levi and Hunter commenced Year 7 as boarders at Shore School, North Sydney. Shore has welcomed Indigenous students on educational scholarships over the past eight years with many being referred to the school by family or friends living in regional areas on New South Wales.

During 2014 Waverley Stanley introduced Yalari to the Headmaster of Shore, Dr Tim Wright. Dr Wright was impressed with the aims and objectives of the program and the continuing support offered by Yalari to the boys during their education.

Levi and Hunter join twenty-eight other junior boarders and although it is still only early days in their school career, they have settled into the classroom and boarding house remarkably well. They have already represented the School in cricket and basketball.

Yalari is looking forward to a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with Shore this year, and in years to come.

Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore), North Sydney

Left to right: Mr Kyle Fifield (Assistant Housemaster) Levi, Hunter and Mr Huw Blood (Housemaster)

Including our two new schools, Yalari now offers boarding school scholarships at 28 schools across Australia!

John Paul College, Daisy Hill

This year, Yalari is pleased to welcome two new partnership schools to the Yalari Scholarship Program.


SCHOOLS

YALARI ALUMNI EMBARK ON THE JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME...

ICECAPO U T B A C KTO

“If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it.” – Andrew Denton

…and it was with the highest of expectations that our five Yalari Alumni (Allira, Shauna, Brandon, Brody and Tyson) arrived in South America on the first leg of their “Outback to Icecap” adventure; a journey that would take them from the vibrant and bustling civilisation of Argentina to the majestic solitude of Antarctica.

Everyone was rapturous with excitement as the travelling troop strolled the colourful and historical streets of Buenos Aires, being immersed in the spanish culture and sampling the local cuisine. Yalari’s ‘famous five' were accompanied by 20 travelling mentors, organised as

part of the “Outback to Icecap” Indigenous Leadership Initiative by Australian Adventurer, Peter Bland.

After making their way to Ushuaia, the southernmost town on the planet and locally known as “the end of the world”, the Alumni boarded the MV Plancius, a decommissioned Russian icebreaker, and bunkered down in their cabins. It was now the real adventure would begin!

Although being warned about 10 metre waves and severe sea-sickness, Mother Nature was having a siesta as the ship sailed calmly for three days towards the continent of Antarctica. This gave the travellers time to learn about mountaineering, arctic geology and survival skills. It also offered time for leadership learning opportunities, a chance to talk about their backgrounds and cultures and learn about the mentors’ life experience, successes and defeats.

It was a still and quiet morning as everyone awoke and peered out from their portholes. Before them was a magical scene of the most amazing white mountainous

Top L to R: Allira, Shauna, BrandonBottom L to R: Tyson, Matt (Alumni & Pathways Manager), Brody

“For sure, this trip has changed me.... I’ve been challenged; I’ve learned so much from the mentors about how to approach new situations and tackle problems. I absolutely think this will help me at the AFP.” - Allira

landscape. After much scurrying to the deck, there it was; the great, silent, frozen continent of Antarctic; breathtakingly beautiful, vast, clean and uninhabited.

In a whirl-wind of thrill-seeking activity, the next seven days were action packed with ice climbing, camping, kayaking and wildlife surveying. Not for the faint-hearted, the Alumni took part in the traditional ‘polar plunge’, diving into minus degree water as a matter of initiation for first time visitors.

Although Christmas Day was spent amongst the fear of crevasses and shivering through -15 degree wind chill, the Alumni realised that at no other point in their lives would they be standing atop a mountain in Antarctica, posing for photos in Yalari hoodies with teeth chattering! With the Aboriginal and Australian flags unfurled, they claimed the territory and renamed it ‘Mt Yalari’!

After an extraordinary expedition, the ship pulled anchor and sailed due north back to the mainland of South America. Another incredible day was had horse-riding in the Andes and dancing in the Streets of Buenos Aires on New Year’s Eve before the weary travellers boarded a plane on New Year’s Day to return home.

Yalari and the Alumni are extremely grateful to the organisers of the expedition, Peter Bland and Beatrice Umbert and the incredible mentors whose generosity made it possible. This experience allowed the Alumni to realise there is as much learning and opportunity in both success and failure and take with them valuable life skills in communication, leadership and self-awareness. The remarkable journey was a beautiful, transforming experience for everyone.

“The trip to Argentina and Antarctica was the trip of a lifetime! The highlights for me were horse riding in the Andes Mountains, making life-long friends and the countless unforgettable memories. This trip was an incredible experience.” - Brody


Above: Shauna standing proudly on an Antarctic mountain with the Aboriginal flag, signed by elders, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who are important to her.

Isabelle, also known as ‘Izzy’ is a remarkable young lady who first came to Yalari as a volunteer in January 2011. She was inspired by stories she heard from her father who had volunteered at the Orientation Camp in 2010. Izzy couldn’t wait to start so as soon as she turned 18, she eagerly signed up!

“I have a passion for healthcare and believe education is vital in achieving the best health outcomes for individuals and communities. This is why I wanted to be a part of Yalari - an organisation that supports opportunities for those that don’t have the same options I am lucky enough to have”, Izzy explains. “I also went to boarding school during my senior years and loved every minute of it (well not the start!) so I enjoy sharing my experiences with others.

Izzy, who is currently studying Paramedic Science at the University of Queensland, has enjoyed volunteering across many areas of Yalari. She worked with our students at the Orientation Camps offering first aid and female health talks,

assisted with the set-up of the Brisbane gala dinners and is currently mentoring an Alumni student who is also studying paramedics.

When asked what has been the most rewarding experience as a volunteer with Yalari, Izzy reflects “I was lucky enough to travel with the female Year 9 students on the Outback Camp in the Northern Territory. I had first met the girls at their Orientation Camp; it was fantastic to meet them again at a different stage of their journey and see what great, strong and independent young women they had become. I found this experience incredibly rewarding. The camp was also a great experience in learning about one of the world’s oldest, richest and diverse cultures”.

It is only through the incredible passion and dedication of volunteers like Izzy, that Yalari is able to continue it’s important work. We are grateful that Izzy joined Yalari - her contribution and commitment have been truly invaluable. Thanks Izzy!

A R E Y O U I N T E R E S T E D I N V O L U N T E E R I N G ?

To find out more please

contact our Volunteer

Coordinator Pam Boavida

at [email protected]. We

would love to hear from you!

their dreams come true...They’re making

APPLICATIONS FOR 2016 YALARI SCHOLARSHIPS CLOSE ON 30 APRIL 2015

If you know anyone that deserves the chance of a first class education at a leading Australian boarding school, encourage them to apply.

Applications are open to Indigenous children who will be beginning their first year of high school in 2016.

Application packs can be mailed to you or they can be downloaded from the Yalari website - www.yalari.org

For more information, call the Yalari office on (07) 5665 8688 or email us at [email protected]

Very Important Volunteer!OUR V.I.V.


PICS!PICK OF THE

SHARING THE LOVE!Like us on Facebook and follow up on Twitter! We will keep you up-to-date on everything that’s happening within the

Yalari community!

Do you have a story you would like to share?If you would like to submit a story, provide feedback, share some photos or have any questions regarding our publication, please contact our Communications Team - [email protected]

The girls at Orientation Camp

Ricky, Jalu & Noah giving us a “Yalari 10”

Yalari Alumni Brandon Skeen is chilling out in Antarctica!

Dame Quentin Bryce, AD CVO with Johanna & Jondah at the Brisbane Zonta Club International Women’s Day Breakfast.

Tackling Romeo: Llew, Steve & Fiona

Tackling Romeo: Waverley and some of the Abbotsleigh girls

Thank You!Thanks to everyone who attended

our Tackling Romeo screening in

Sydney recently. The event was

well attended and a great night

was enjoyed by all.

A special thank you to those

that made the event possible -

Tackling Romeo Director Steve

Turnbull & Director Lynda Heys;

and to Yalari’s Pam & Fiona.

The students at Orientation Camp model shirts from the past 8 camps!

NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________________________ (FIRST NAME) (FAMILY NAME)

ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

STATE: ____________ POST CODE: ____________ COMPANY: ___________________________________________________

PHONE: _______________________ EMAIL: __________________________________________________________________

DATE: ________________________ DONATION AMOUNT: ______________________________________________________

METHOD OF PAYMENT (CIRCLE ONE)

CHEQUE: Please make cheque payable to Yalari Limited.

CREDIT CARD: VISA MASTERCARD

NAME ON CARD: ________________________________________________________________________________________

EXPIRY DATE: _________________ CARDHOLDER’S SIGNATURE: ______________________________________________

CARD NUMBER: ________________________________________________________ CVV NUMBER: ______________________________

To make a donation please complete the form below. To discuss your ideas about how you could help Yalari or to make a bequest, please contact us on (07) 5665 8688. Gifts over $2 are tax deductible.

DONATION OPTIONS ARE:

YES!

$1,000 per year for textbooks

$1,000 per year for laptop hire

$1,500 per year for school uniforms

$20,000 per year for BOARDING AND TUITION FEES

Surprise us!

HOW YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT YALARIThere are many different ways you can show your support for Yalari.

$ $Donations of money, goods or services

Volunteer

Workplace Giving

Fundraise on our behalf

Leave a bequest in your Will

Work for usBecome a partner or sponsor

Connect with us on social media

If you would l ike to find out more about supporting Yalari or to register for one of our dinners, please contact us today!

I would like to donate...

you could attend one of our upcoming fundraising dinners!OR... The Yalari fundraising dinners are a celebration of the whole Yalari community. They bring together our students, sponsors, partners, schools, staff and supporters for a fun and inspiring night. The food, wine and entertainment aren’t bad either!!

Funds raised from our dinners are vital to the ongoing mission of Yalari. If you would like to purchase a table (or just one ticket), please email Pam Boavida at [email protected]. We are also seeking donations for our silent auctions, so if you are able to assist in any way, we would love to hear from you.The first dinner of 2015 is on Wednesday 3 June at The Ivy, Sydney.

D i d y o u k n o w ?In 1788, there were about 250 separate Aboriginal languages (and over 600 dialects) spoken in Australia. Today, only two thirds of these languages survive and only 20 of them (eight per cent of the original 250) are still strong enough to have a chance of surviving into the next century.

The largest language in terms of number of speakers is called the Western Desert language, spoken by several thousand Aboriginal people in the Western Desert region of the continent.

Indigenous Australian languages involve the use of reduplication, often used as an intensifier. For example, Wagga Wagga means ‘the place of many crows’ and Tilba Tilba meaning ’many waters’.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the teaching of Indigenous languages in government, Catholic & independent schools. In 2005, when 133 languages were taught in schools, 45 were Indigenous languages. A listing of most of these can be found from the research study into The State and Nature of Languages in Australian Schools

Ref: Wikipedia, My Interesting Facts

yalari newsletter - issue 28 - march 2015

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