PJ's Celebration Evening Speech

Hello everyone, my name is PJ, though most of you know me as Peggy. I am a proud Tiwi/Rembarranga woman, and it’s a real honour to stand here tonight and share these incredible moments with you all.

Firstly, I want to thank the Tudors for creating MITS. It has been an incredible, safe place for students like me, and I hope you truly know the impact you’ve had. Ed, you’ve created something special—a kind of weaving that holds all of us together. Through MITS we’ve gained strength, connection and a sense of family that keeps growing while staying strong.

To the MITS staff and my fellow MITS mob—the most of every opportunity to make up for it. some of you might be shocked to see me up here, considering the way I behaved when I first arrived in Year 7. I’ll be honest: there were moments I was not brilliantly behaved…and I did come pretty close to being expelled. Whoops! I’m grateful you saw potential in me and didn’t give up on me. Now that I’m older, I realise how challenging I must have been, so I want to apologise for giving you all a bit of hell back then. I promise to make And to my little brother Junior, who’s coming next year—don’t be like me. Be like Jamelia.

Towards the end of Year 7, I began to understand what a big achievement it was to finish MITS and move on to Firbank. I’ll never forget the support I got from Mr Michael and Ms Bella—thank you both for putting up with me. When I moved to Firbank, I felt more comfortable because I had Sherry with me, and two of my oldest friends, Jodie and Jenae. Then came Ms Norton in Year 8 and Ms Crawford in Year 9 as our coordinators, helping us settle into a completely new world.

From the start, things became easier because I had Aunty Sally as my school counsellor. She helped me deal with anger issues and stayed with us every step of the way. Don’t cry, Sal! Our connection with you has been strong because you actually made the effort to understand our culture and meet our families—flying out to our country, sitting with our mob. That meant everything to us. I hope the younger MITS kids find someone like that at their partner schools too—a person who becomes like family.

One of my earliest and favourite memories at MITS was meeting my now best friend, Sherry. We shared a room from the start—right up until Year 10 at Firbank BH. I still remember the night before our first day of school, when she turned around and said, “Goodnight, Peggy.” I didn’t know then that she’d become the person I’d feel inseparable from.

My fondest Firbank memory was joining football with the Vampires and making new friends. And a big shout-out to Wendy, who became such a big part of our lives. She got us to games and training, always picking us up, always supporting us. Without her—and my coaches—I wouldn’t be where I am with my footy today.

I didn’t realise when I first started that MITS connections would lead to so many opportunities. Because of the relationship with A.G. Coombs, I now have a future here in Melbourne. Just last month, I was offered a job servicing air conditioning and refrigeration. And I want to thank Annie for helping me get there. Annie, you always care so much for us. You and Sally are officially my emergency contacts at Coombs now, so you’re stuck with me forever!

To my amazing parents—thank you for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. Your encouragement, patience and support are the reason I kept pushing forward. You always reminded me to stay focused on my goals and the importance of education. I’m grateful for every sacrifice and every push in the right direction. I hope I’m making you proud. I love you both so much—but if you call me early on a weekend and I don’t answer, don’t panic. I’m just asleep. You should know that by now!

What MITS and Firbank have given me is choice. I can choose to go home. I can choose to stay. I can succeed in the dominant culture here in Melbourne, and I can succeed back in my home community. To the younger MITS students: I hope that five years from now, you’re all standing here graduating together. There will be days when every part of you wants to quit and go home. But please push through. Home will always be there, but this opportunity—this moment in your life—is short and precious. Take it from someone finishing Year 12: it goes by in the blink of an eye.

And finally, to my Year 12 MITS family—Lesharnie, Nickiesha, Ciara, Sherry, Leah, and of course our one and only MITS brother, Kendyn (who decided schoolies was more important than being here—don’t worry, I’ll deal with him later)—thank you for being a huge part of my journey. We’ve grown together, survived tough days, and celebrated the good ones side by side. You’ve each shaped my Year 12 in ways I’ll never forget. Even though we’re heading in different directions now, the memories—the laughs, the chaos, the late nights, the moments that brought us together—will stay with me forever. I’m proud of every one of you, and I’m grateful we got to share this chapter together. No matter where life takes us, I hope we carry this bond with us.

Congratulations to the MITS Class of 2025—we did it!

Sherry's Celebration Evening Speech

I stand here tonight as a proud and grateful Western Mudburra, Ngarinjman, Gurindji and Billinara woman. My roots run deep through the community of Yarralin—about 380 kilometres southwest of Katherine. Yarralin shaped me, grounded me, and gave me the values I carry today. I also grew up in Kalkarindji with my beautiful mum, Tereena, and her side of the family, but I spent so much of my childhood with my father’s mothers and siblings that both sides of my family became one big source of strength, guidance and love.

I’m incredibly blessed to have both my mobs behind me—cheering me on, giving advice, keeping me on track and celebrating every achievement. And when I moved to Melbourne, I was lucky enough to gain another family here too. My Melbourne family and the friends I’ve made have become just as important in my life as my NT mob.

One of the biggest challenges in my journey was learning to navigate a place that felt so much bigger and, at first, unfamiliar. Coming from remote communities in the NT to a city full of crowds, trams, trains and noise was overwhelming. I missed home deeply. I missed family, community and the routines that had always been part of my life. Most of all, I struggled with staying true to who I am while learning how to exist in this new world.

What helped me overcome those challenges was staying connected—to culture, to family and to the stories that shaped me. Sharing where I come from helped keep me grounded, and learning about other people’s backgrounds helped me understand my new environment. Over time, I realised I didn’t have to choose between worlds—I could belong to both. Embracing that helped me grow into someone confident enough to move between them with pride rather than fear.

When I first started at MITS, I know the staff and my friends saw a shy kid who barely spoke above a whisper. But with their support, encouragement and patience, I slowly came out of my shell. They nudged me to try new things, to trust myself, and to see potential I didn’t even know I had. Being at MITS taught me that confidence isn’t something you just have—it’s something you build over time.

Now, standing here tonight, speaking on a stage, is proof of that growth. I can talk to people without panicking, take on challenges, and step into new spaces like working at MITS and Fancy Films. That confidence is something I’ll always carry with gratitude.

Words can’t fully express how appreciative I am of MITS. Without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I especially want to thank Annie. You’ve played such a huge role in helping plan my future—setting up dinners for us Year 12s, checking in, giving us space to yarn and reconnect when things felt heavy. You’re the best, and yes, I will keep hassling you forever.

In 2021, I came to Firbank with PJ. From the moment I met her, I knew she was someone special—supportive, funny, outgoing, and exactly the kind of person you want beside you when you’re navigating something completely new. She became my closest friend, almost like a sister, and I honestly don’t think I could’ve done this journey without her.

At Firbank we were also lucky to have the support of our Aunty Sally. It still feels funny calling her Aunty, but she earned the title. She took care of us from day one and stayed by our side through every challenge and success. I never expected to gain a white Aunty when I came to Melbourne—but here I am, grateful for her love and support.

One of the most memorable experiences of my life was interviewing Cathy Freeman. I asked her how she manages living in two worlds—her home and culture, and the public world she moves through every day. She told me: “There’s power in mixing stories and sharing perspectives. You’re better off being free in who you are and not worrying about other people’s reactions. There’s strength in being proud of who you are.” Her words have stayed with me and helped me understand that the strength we carry from home can guide us anywhere.

To the younger MITS students here tonight, I want to speak directly to you. You might not realise your strength yet, but it’s already there. Keep pushing toward the end of your schooling journey—you won’t regret it. Chase the dreams that feel too big, ask for help when you need it, and try new things even when you feel unsure. If I have one regret, it’s that I wish I’d tried even more new experiences while I had the chance. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until you step outside your comfort zone.

Cathy also said to me, “There’s a lot of power in the story of your life. When you can walk confidently in Melbourne and confidently when you go back home, you’re being a role model.” Those words remind me that I carry not just my own story, but the stories of my family, my mob and my communities.

I hope I can live up to that. I hope I can make my families proud, my community proud, and I hope I can make all of you proud too.

Thank you.

Canberra Camp