Wednesday 8th June saw ten upstanding Central Australian Indigenous leaders visit our college during lunchtime for a Community Connection lunch with our boarding students.

We were very fortunate to have both local elders and young Indigenous men share their stories with our students and discuss the roadblocks that they have experienced and how they have turned their lives around. All of our Indigenous leaders also talked about the positive impact that their education, most at boarding school, had on their lives.

Organisations involved included; Right Tracks, Clontarf, Congress Men’s Shed, Territory Families Youth Program.

"To the men who made the time to see our young people was gold in my book.

We can only share our stories to show what we have done, and where we have failed. The failing bit is the most important one, because it’s what one does after they have failed to remedy their own state of mind and place.

I hope that the young men now set flight towards their dreams in life, by obtaining the important skills in reading and writing as the tool to hunt and gather in future!

The amazing men that shared their stories was gold in itself."

Kenneth Lechleitner

Men’s Shed Coordinator (Ingkintja : Wurra apa artwuka pmara)

"It was a pleasure to talk to and meet our future leaders .

I was actually blown away by the information connection session and left St Philip's on a high.

It was great to see the young lads listen and show the utmost respect towards all of us. Myself and Warren are looking forward to the next communication session."

Jason Bell

NT Families Youth Officer and Arrernte Boxing Academy Coord

"Thanks for the invite and thank you to all who spoke, some incredible stories, advice and knowledge shared and I am sure those young fellas took away a lot.

I would like to echo Belly and Ken, the timeline was an amazing visual and a great way to engage and inspire the lads to tackle their life ahead."

Charlie Lowson

Clontarf Employment Officer

A huge thank you to Ian McAdam from Right Tracks, for organising such a widely respected group of presenters, and to elder Kenneth Lechleitner from Congress Men’s Shed for his very informative sharing of the 4 quarters timeline.

All of our boarders enjoyed the lunch, making connections with community members and sharing some of their own stories.

We are hoping to offer similar sessions during Terms 3 and 4 and hoping that our boarding fellas use this as an opportunity to have their own community mentors.

Roxanne Egan

Head of McKay House

Year 11 Aspire