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............