Faith and Mission

Indigenous Immersion Program 

Broome & Derby

On 5 June, our delegation of Year 10 students and staff travelled from Melbourne to Broome, Beagle Bay and to the coastal community of Derby, in north-west Western Australia. 

The program aimed to help our students grow in their awareness, understanding and appreciation of Australia’s First Nations Peoples, their culture and relationship with the Land. It was also intended - and achieved - that our students would experience the vastness, grandeur and diversity of the Australian natural environment.

Our group first spent time in Broome to explore its history, culture and nearby communities, particularly the Catholic Church’s contribution to health and education in this region. We even took time to volunteer with gardening, as the Cathedral Parish prepared for its upcoming NAIDOC Week celebration. Encounters with Indigenous elders and leaders, both in Broome and Beagle Bay, gave particular insights in the history and contemporary reality of our First Nations brother and sisters. 

In Derby, we were hosted at Holy Rosary Primary School, where our students worked as volunteers, assisting teachers with their students, often working one-on-one. They also took on gardening tasks and ran an after-school AFL clinic.

Holy Rosary Primary School was run by the De La Salle Brothers from 1989 to 1993, so it was wonderful to connect with a school that had a Lasallian heritage and presence. Our students were delighted to see familiar Lasallian images that linked our schools across the 4000 kilometres distance.

Our students were wonderful ambassadors for St Bede's College. Across so many settings - in galleries, Churches, airport lounges - they engaged with members of the public who were curious about them and their presence in The Kimberley. Of particular note was their engagement with students and staff at Holy Rosary Primary School - in a short period of time, they were akin to older brothers to the students and like brothers to one another. 

I'm pleased to share some reflections from our students Angus, Lachlan, Tom and Finn on their experiences. 

"My time in Broome and Derby had a huge impact on the way that I look at my everyday life. Seeing the children not having a lot, but still being happy made me realise that I take things for granted. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to help at the school, in classrooms and on projects in the school’s garden. This was my highlight, as I felt accomplished on the last day when the students thanked us for all our hard work. I have walked away from this experience wanting to continue to help people in need." Angus L

 

“This trip was one of the greatest decisions I've made so far. The experience has given me so much insight into what Aboriginal Communities go through. The time we spent at Holy Rosary School was a massive highlight. After spending a week with the students, none of us could imagine how much we would connect with each of them. With some of the students having such hard times at home it was heart-warming to see how each of them looked up to us and how happy they were to see us in their classrooms.” Lachlan D

 

"I would recommend this program to everyone, because it lets you see with your own eyes the issues spoken in the media and at school. It gives us perspective on our own lives, where we live and enlightens you as to how lucky we are to have what we have. One of the big things I noticed throughout the experience was how happy all the kids were to have us at their school and how welcoming they were of us." Tom G

 

"This trip is one of the greatest opportunities offered at St Bede’s! We spent four days sightseeing in Broome and at places like Cable Beach and Sisters of Saint John of God Heritage Centre. On our last day in Broome, we also did some volunteer gardening work for the grounds of Saint Vincent Palloti Op Shop. From Broome, we drove to Derby and set up our living quarters at Holy Rosary Primary School. We spent the week working in the classrooms with different year levels and playing with them during their breaks. We drove back to Broome at the end of the week for one last night before flying home." Finn Mc

Winter Donation Drive

Lots of people are doing it very tough at the moment, none more so than those who rely on the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Vinnies for basic essentials and support. 

We are inviting donations from our College Community of non-perishable goods to help these people in need. This may include biscuits, tinned veggies and soup, spices, instant coffee, noodles, dried legumes, rice, long-life milk and laundry detergent. 

Donations will be received until Friday 26 July. Thank you for your support!