Term Two at Yirara College

Well, we've been home for a very quick holiday which was crammed full with appointments, visits to family and of course a trip down to Wolumla/Tathra to visit Faye and the boys. It was over Easter so Tim was there as well which was an added bonus. We arrived in time to meet Cameron getting off his school bus which was lovely! He just loves his trip to and from school on the bus and is really enjoying school!

Since returning to 'Alice' we've been involved in some really interesting Professional Development, which included a trip out to Hermmansberg and a talk from one of the women who is a well-respected elder in her community. That was very interesting and encouraging! Walking around the Historic Precinct once again made us marvel at the fortitude, faith and will-power of the first German missionaries who came to Hermannsberg in the 1870s. To say nothing of the poor girls who came out to marry them - I'm sure they had little idea of what they were coming to! We also had another couple come to speak to us and that also was extremely informative and challenging. The husband is a white fella and he and his aboriginal wife have been married for 30 years and have some very interesting insights into aboriginal issues in Central Australia. We are just soaking it all up and continue to try and get our heads around it all . We feel privileged to be part of the 'Yirara' organisation which does such a wonderful job of helping the younger generation grapple with living in two such different worlds - that of their tradional family and that of the white fella. It would be hard to get two cultures more diametrically opposed.

Warwick helping to cook the staff breakfast at the end of term 1

The weekend before last we plus one of the younger female house parents travelled down to Uluru to meet up with the Fusion group who were making their annual pilgrimage. We knew a couple of team members from back home (Libby and Emily Sorrel) and it was great to see them and get a taste of a Fusion Festival. The team has built up a relationship with some of the people from Mutijulu over the last nine years and a lot of them were bussed to Yulara for the Festival, Sausage Sizzle and Concert. A few fellas from Yirara were there and it was great to see them joining in the fun!!

Admiring one of the beautiful babies!

Yirara fellas on the left joining in

Last week the students came trickling back and of course there's not much idea of who's coming until they turn up! There are a lot of new ones and many of those who were here last term have not returned. As they say here at Yirara, a term is like a year!

Last Saturday was Anzac Day and I accompanied one of the male house parents and his fellas to the Dawn Service up on 'Anzac Hill'. Tim dropped me off with the fellas to start walking up whilst he parked the bus - we didn't see him again until after it was all over! There were hundreds there and we couldn't see or hear much so I was somewhat concerned at how restless the fellas would get. Thankfully they were remarkably good! Just a bit of quiet giggling and fidgeting which I could stop quickly. We did get up near the Cenotaph after the service and I think they understood what it was all about!

With Tim and his fellas at the Cenotaph 25.4.09

I am now working in the girls' dormitory on Saturday afternoon and evening, so I go to the movies now instead of going shopping. I am learning a lot of new names again after knowing all the girls by the end of last term!

I think that's about all for now............

Well, as I said, I'd be updating our Blog again fairly soon as there has been a bit happening over the last couple of weeks. Firstly, there was a pretty exciting pre-season AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the West Coast Eagles, which the Eagles won by about 10 points but it was a good game with the score see-sawing all the way through. I'm not really into AFL but chose to support the Eagles because they wore Parramatta colours! All the students went (except those who were on detention) and about a third of the girls were really into it!! The other two thirds were more interested in watching the crowd up behind us and trying to get the staff to agree to them going to the toilet 10 minutes after we got there!! It was an interesting experience and I'm really glad that I went! I actually even got paid for it in the end as they needed more supervisors!

Also in the last few weeks we have had the opening of the new 'Footy Academy' here at Yirara. The Clontarf Organisation, which came out of AFL in Perth, do a great job in involving the fellas in daily training and there are all sorts of incentives used to encourage them to stay at school. Every morning at 6.30 most of the fellas are out on the 'paddock' kicking the ball around. The Clontarf guys do a great job and now they have a great club house in which to engage the fellas in other activities like games and story-telling. Their input certainly makes a difference to school attendance.

Following that we had the school swimming carnival which was a lot of fun for everyone. The participation level was up on previous years so the staff were particularly happy as they put a lot of effort into everything that happens here! The girls have to work especially hard as they wear fairly long shorts and sports shirt over the top of their swimmers!! They are too shy to just wear swimmers in front of the fellas.

Then we had Nathaniel's 13th birthday in Warwick's dorm, when the decibels go up even higher than normal!! The only time there's a modicom of quietness in the dorm is when the boys are in bed and asleep or when they are out of the dorm! The noise has to be heard to be believed, so you can imagine what a birthday party means!! Nathaniel has difficulty doing what's expected of him at any time but he was the quietest one at his party! If the level of noise has anything to do with it, everyone had a great time!! The birthday boy is the only one without a hat!

Another group that is doing a lot to improve the health of indigenous kids and encouraging them to stay at school is 'Hoops for Health'. I don't know where they originated but Anthony Mundine was here last week with the group and they visited several schools in Alice Springs motivating kids to get active and healthy and to stay at school. Last Friday night there was a big Basket Ball game on in town and all the fellas and about half the girls went to it. Anthony Mundine made a very short speech and I think played a bit too. Two students (one girl and one fella) from Yirara were given awards for not missing one day of school in the past 5 terms.

Well, that's about it for now. We have 2 more weeks before the end of term and I must say that I am looking forward to a bit of a holiday. We hope to accompany some of the students home to their communities before flying home on 4th April. Until next I write.............

One of our beautiful outback sunsets - taken from our verandah!

Well, It's been so long since I updated our Blog that I had trouble finding it!! I was finally successful however, so now to try and re-cap the last 3 months! Looking back, the overwhelming impression is, that it has been really hectic. We flew back home on 12 December and on the 15th headed south for our first of two trips to Merimbula. We returned home for Christmas and on 27th were Merimbula bound once more. We had a great time with Tim, Cameron and Noah and then on 10 January, we drove north to my brother's farm near Forster, to have a few days with Debbie and her boyfriend Steve and his family. My Mum was there too and it was a great time of 'chilling out' and enjoyng one another's company. On the way north we caught up with Luna and her family just south of Bateman's Bay. Luna is from Denmark and was a Rotary Exchange student in 1992 and we were one of her host families. It was lovely to see her and her husband and to meet their children.

Cameron starts school

Warwick had about a week back home before returning to 'Alice' and I had another quick trip to Merimbula to spend time with Cameron and Noah whilst Tim did some more work on his house. I was lucky to be there for Cameron's first day at school and it was just lovely to see him go off so happily!! I flew back to Sydney from Merimbula and straight on to Alice Springs the same day.

So, it's back into life at Yirara College and for me, it means spending more time here, as they offered me the job of 'Library Assistant'. I was happy to accept the position, so now I work 8am - 1.30pm Monday-Friday in the Library and Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings in the Girls' Dorm. Saturday mornings involves getting anywhere between 30 and 38 girls up and ready to go shopping at 9.15. The girls and boys all go shopping, so you can imagine the scene when around 160 aboriginal teenagers hit the shops!! They can meet up with family and sometimes they run away, as 2 girls did yesterday. They usually return within a day or so but if it happens repeatedly, they will probably be returned home

We have plenty of students at present - more than usual apparently which is good! We have over 100 in the girls' dorm and there are about 90 fellas, with a few more expected. I am seeing it all from a different perspective now as I see the students during the day in the library. The staff here are very dedicated and they all put an enormous amount of love, energy and resources into these kids, whether it be academic and administrative staff or boarding staff.

Warwick has 17 fellas at the moment and has one of the senior boys staying in his dorm as an assistant. He's coping pretty well on the whole but it is a very tiring and challenging .

My increased work load here at Yirara means that I don't really have time for any shifts at Old Timers which I am missing a bit but I think I would be worn out if I tried to do that too!

Well, that's about it for now ......... Until next time..............

Cheers from Yvonne and Warwick

Christmas at Yirara

It's hard to believe but yes, it's almost Christmas and at Yirara it comes early as the students leave for home tomorrow (5th December). Tonight was the big final dinner when the boys and girls plus staff join together in the dining room - quite a crowd!! That was followed by a concert which was excellent and quite hilarious. One of the funniest items was a short movie made by staff and students where the teacers played the parts of students and vice versa. It was really funny seeing some of the naughtiest students trying to keep staff in line!!! Warwick and most of the boys boarding staff did a funny skit where they played the part of the boys on a bus 'cruise' around town - the students loved it, especially the boys!! Hope you all have a happy and relaxed Christmas - we'll be back in 2009!

Back in 'Alice'

Some of the boys enjoying a flooded road near the dorm

Near Heavitree Gap

Enjoying a watery view instead of a sandy one

Well, I have been back in Alice Springs for 2 weeks and at last we have seen the mighty Todd River flow!! This is something we have been dying to see but have missed on our previous visits here. It is quite a spectacle when it happens but it doesn't last for long! The rain really only started in earnest last Friday afternoon and by this morning it was all but dried up except for some very large puddles. It did rain through Thursday night I think but the main deluge was during a storm which started about 4.30 pm last Friday. A road here at the school near the boys' dorm flooded and did the boys make the most of that - they had a ball!! We set off after the rain had stopped to see what we could see in town and by then all the low-lying causeways had water over them but by 10 pm the river was a raging torrent! We watched a brave-hearted young fellow set off to ride his bicycle across one of the widest of these only to struggle to pull his bike back to safety after about 20 metres. We tried to tell him!!

Saturday morning we went in again - you have to make the most of these occurrences as they don't happen all that often, especially when you aren't a local. It is about 2 years since it flowed last. There were lots of people doing the same as us of course - there was quite a party atmosphere really. I have walked along the dry Todd so many times thinking how good it would be to see the water flowing down and now it has happened!!

My first week back was very liesurely, but this past week has seen me back into some work. I am currently doing 2 days at 'Old Timers' and getting a bit of orientation in the girls' dorm here at the college. Yesterday I joined the girls and Houseparents on a trip out to Glen Helen Gorge, a beautiful spot 130 ks west of here. It's a bit far to go really but the girls don't seem to mind. After dinner we all enjoyed 2 games of Bingo and then it was off to the dorms for showers and relaxing activities. In the dorm I was in they just watched a movie.

There have been two other major things in the past 2 weeks. One was a big Confirmation Service here at Yirara, when 10 girls and 2 boys were confirmed and lots of family came from far and wide. Many camped here in the grounds and the school fed about 400 people afterwards. The other event was for me a wonderful bonus, when Asante Sana regrouped to sing at an outdoor dinner which was part of the Desert Knowledge Symposiusm which has been on this past week. It was a beautiful balmy night and the audience of about 200 were very receptive!!

That's about it from me for now until next time...............

A Very Overdue Update!

Warwick and the Tracker boys in the Dorm The towering cliffs of Ruby Gorge - East Macdonnell Ranges

A small group from Asante Sana who sang at launch of NT Young Achiever's Award

I'm sure that those of you who had been reading our Blog would have given up a long time ago. I am sorry for the long silence from Alice Springs but I am about to rectify the situation. My main problem is the age of the computer which I have to use and the fact that we are on the school system and there are often internet access problems, especially on weekends. Then, of course, there is the age of the operator!!

Another factor is that life really became quite busy for me and I was either struggling to find the time to do it or if I had the time, the internet would be down. Anyway, enough of that and on to some more interesting stuff. My time has continued to be divided between working at the nursing home, doing some tutoring at the college (this means helping with reading during homework in the evening), choir practices and performances, helping Warwick in the Dorm and volunteering at 'Adelaide House'. The Asante Sana choir has been the highlight of the term for me and our final concert in Trephina Gorge the day before we returned home for the holidays was just amazing!! Also on the program was a beautiful String Quartet, a Bass Baritone, a school group and an Aboriginal Women's Choir. It was an incredible sight to see a full concert Harp being carried down the gorge. Warwick was able to use one of Yirara's coaches to help transport choir members and friends on the day. As part of the Alice Spring's Desert Festival, the choir also sang at a special Choir Event the weekend before. There were about 10 choirs who took part under the banner 'Many Roads, One Voice' and we each sang 2 or 3 items separately and then joined together to sing special arrangements of 'My Island Home' and 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'. Rachel Hoare from the Blue Mts came up to conduct the combined items and she was fantastic!! Apparently there were about 200 voices so you can imagine the sound we made. The other experience that will remain with me for a long time is going with a small group from the choir, into the jail and singing for half an hour or so to the fellas there.

I was able to enjoy the fun of the 'Henley-on-Todd' event this year which was a great day of silliness and mayhem. Having said that, it was extremely well organised and provided a lot of hilarious fun for many, especially those taking part in the events I think. Warwick, unfortunately had to work.

The other interesting thing that I did was go on a Spiritual Desert Journey with 11 other people for a week . We travelled in 3 4x4 vehicles out beyond the east MacDonnel Ranges and south-east towards the Simpson Desert. What made it a very special time was having as our guide, an aboriginal man who was a traditional owner of the country that we were travelling through. To see it all through his eyes was remarkable. It made the week with no toilets and no showers well worth it!! I will long remember my first night in a swag, as I lay down and looked heaven-wards!!! I couldn't close my eyes for a long time.

Life at Yirara continues to be interesting and challenging. I enjoyed spending a couple of hours with Edith and the girls from her Dorm who were having a campout one night. Edith is about 24 and from Germany and absolutely loves the job of caring for the girls in her dorm. It was a beautiful starry evening and I will never forget sitting with these girls and singing song after song with them. They were all Christian songs and sometimes they would sing in language which was lovely to listen to! I really feel for these kids from remote communities as they struggle with the difficulties of living in two cultures. It's not easy for them.

We flew home on 22nd September and a few days later travelled down to Merimbula for Cameron's 5th birthday which had a Spiderman theme. Debbie and I enjoyed creating a Spiderman birthday cake for him which he loved. We were able to bring him and Noah back with us for a few days which is always a privilege. We had a wonderful time doing things with them at valley Heights. Warwick flew back to 'Alice' last Monday 6 October. I will be at home until 27 October catching up with family and friends, so until my next effort................

It's all happening in 'Alice'

Well, a few things have happened since last I wrote and that includes the opening of the Beijing Olympics. How amazing was that!! That aside there is plenty happening here in Alice Springs. One of the things that Warwick has been doing on his one day off per week is volunteering at 'Adelaide House'. This building was the first hospital in 'Alice' and was built by the Rev. John Flynn who began the work of the Australian Inland Mission and went on to be the brains behind the beginnings of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Adelaide House is now a museum and is looked after by the JohnFlynn congregation and a faithful band of volunteers. I am now helping with that as well and when we were there last Monday week we were very surprised to meet up with an old aquaintance from our days in Fiji, Rev Chris Meneilly from Melbourne. It was great to catch up with him and he was very keen to come and have a look at the college, which he did and he also gave devotions to the boys.

I started my tutoring last Thursday night and that went ok. The girls were sweet and VERY shy but the boys kept sniffing loudly and making other horrible noises and used about half a box of tissues in 10 minutes!!! I guess I'll get used to that! Warwick now has 18 boys under his wing and I can tell you it's a mad scramble at shower time!! Most of them are loveable rascals but there are always a few in any group who really try your patience. There was a BBQ breakfast a week ago as it was a long weekend here - the boarding staff were warn out by the end of the weekend. Warwick had 3 of his boys run off after the movies over that weekend. They were apprehended by the police in no time and all had their own clothes confiscated for the rest of the week. All they were allowed to wear was their school uniform so they'd stand out as having done the wrong thing!

I joined a small group of the Acapella choir that I am singing with at a launch for the Alice Springs Desert Festival last Friday. We sang 2 things and that was my first performance with the group. It went well and we also sang at the Old Timers Fete yesterday which was fun. The crowd seemed to love our music! This fete is a real institution here in 'Alice'. Thousands come and many thousands are raised - $63,000 actually!! I worked on the Babywear stall and we made $1,500. Warwick helped on the Satay Stall which the church runs and they made $1,200. Not bad!! 'Old Timers' is the Nursing Home at which I work and it is operated by Frontier Services of the Uniting Church.

It's Warwick's 65th birthday on Thursday and I'm taking him to the Australian Ballet on Thursday night. Yes, even the Australian Ballet makes it to 'Alice' - well actually it's not the main company but it's still great that the people up here can experience ballet of that standard.

That's it for now........................