Keeping The Fire Burning

Kempsey High students Tanayah Vale, Ruby Hoskins-Gould, and Beau Smith represented their Junior AECG at the recent Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) AGM in Sydney. They were accompanied by Uncle Fred Kelly and HSIE staff Lara Wasilewski & Jesse Kerfoot. 

Through impassioned speeches, they shared the successes of their group and their vision for the future, offering a testament to the power of student-led advocacy in Aboriginal Education. 

Tanayah Vale, a proud Dunghutti woman and President of the Junior AECG, opened her speech with a heartfelt Acknowledgment of Country and spoke of the importance of cultural pride in leadership, reflecting on the inspiration drawn from the Aunties and Uncles who paved the way for current generations. Tanayah reflected on the growth of Kempsey High’s Junior AECG since its inception in 2015, from what began as four members, blossoming into a thriving group of 20+ active students. 

Tanayah also highlighted the group’s success in maintaining an ongoing relationship with hosting surviving Uncles from the Kinchela Boys’ Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) on Sorry Day every year, and creating culturally safe protocols and procedures for welcoming elders to the school.

Ruby Hoskins-Gould, a proud Dunghutti woman and the Vice-President of the Junior AECG, followed with a powerful speech on the importance of honouring elders and carrying forward their legacies through activism and cultural celebration. 

Ruby spoke about drawing inspiration from her grandmother, Aunty Mary-Lou Buck, who played a pivotal role in securing the first mainland native title claim for the Dunghutti people. She went on to highlight further achievements of the Junior AECG, including the creation of a short film recording elders' stories for NAIDOC assemblies. Ruby spoke of the Junior AECG’s role in establishing a tradition of commemorating Black Diggers during school ANZAC ceremonies, ensuring their legacy is never forgotten, and the group’s ongoing collaboration with the HSIE staff to integrate local Dunghutti histories into curriculum.

Beau Smith, a proud Dunghutti and Aniwan man, shared the journey behind the Junior AECG’s creation of ‘Dunghutti Rhythms’, the song/video clip that honoured the spirit of activism for the Freedom Rides 60th anniversary celebrations. Beau described how the creation process was much more than writing lyrics, emphasising the collaborative nature of the project. Sarah Donnelly from the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation arranged for the Junior AECG to work with award-winning Gumbaynggirr artist Tasman Keith, to develop the song and its accompanying video, which was filmed in locations that were symbolic of the Freedom Rides. Chicago-based rapper, Moses and Uncle Fred Kelly provided guidance through the process. 

Beau reflected on the significance of the song as a means of celebrating history and culture, while also creating something uniquely their own. The production process, he noted, was a journey of learning, respect, and coming together as a community. Beau’s speech highlighted the importance of art, music, and dance in preserving and sharing Indigenous culture.

The students also had the privilege of speaking directly with influential leaders in education, ensuring their voices were heard at the highest levels.

Tanayah concluded the address by outlining the Junior AECG’s intention to continue working with KBHAC to recover school archives of Kinchela boys who had attended Kempsey High. She communicated the Junior AECG’s commitment to refining their leadership model, revealing plans to assist other schools to establish Junior AECGs by hosting a state-wide Junior AECG Summit in Kempsey. These student-led initiatives received strong encouragement and support from President of the NSW AECG, Raymond Ingrey.

Tanayah and Ruby spoke at length with Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Education, Prue Car, sharing their belief that Kempsey High’s Junior AECG is a shining example of the Connected Communities Strategy in action. Secretary of the Department of Education Murat Dizdar congratulated students on the work of Kempsey High School’s AECG and spoke of the inspiration generated across the state by ‘Dunghutti Rhythms’. 

Following the AGM, students visited the headquarters of Bangarra Dance Theatre at Dawes Point, where they toured the costuming, music, and video studios. Students then met with the Bangarra dancers and artistic director Frances Rings in their rehearsal studio. Students each spoke to the Bangarra dancers of the Junior AECG’s achievements and visions for the future -  their heartfelt words met with a standing ovation.

The visit continued with a preview of rehearsals for Bangarra’s upcoming performance ‘Illume, and lots of yarning, where the dancers shared their personal journeys to becoming world-class performers. Many spoke about the immense pride and weighty responsibility they feel when telling the stories of First Nations people through dance. Some dancers spoke of their Dunghutti family connections, linking the experience to our students' own heritage. These rich interactions resulted in a commitment by Bangarra Dance Theatre to further build relationship of support with Kempsey High School students. 

To show their appreciation for Tanayah, Ruby, and Beau’s efforts, the AECG arranged for the students to attend a concert at the Enmore Theatre by King Stingray, an award-winning rock band from Northeast Arnhem Land known for blending Yolŋu culture with contemporary rock music.

The speeches delivered by Tanayah, Ruby, and Beau on behalf of the Junior AECG were a powerful reminder of the leadership and vision of students at Kempsey High School.  As we look to the future, the work of these students will no doubt continue to inspire and shape the path for young Aboriginal leaders across the country.