Our First Induction 

(since COVID)

Our first Induction from Melbourne, since COVID-19 had stopped all student trips from Victoria, was finally able to go ahead and it was a beauty indeed. A relatively large group (29 Melbourne Year 10 students with five staff members) travelled up to Yiramalay where they were joined by five Indigenous students to become Induction 45. 

The late rainy season had come to an end, the skies were clear and the Yiramalay students were excited to finally see the return of a noisy Induction mob with its energy, enthusiasm and the prospect of new friends. A final and important part of normality was returning to the Studio School’s program and everyone (except possibly the chef) was excited about it. 

Over the next three weeks, Induction 45 walked, ran, stumbled, rode, drove and laughed their way throughout the Kimberley on many different adventures. The interactions around waterholes consistently proved to be the perfect ice-breaker between the whole Induction group. With the waterholes full, everyone enjoyed their daily swims. A trip to Tunnel Creek with Jimmy 'Dillon' Andrews of Bungoolee Tours had to be rejigged to Jowie waterhole because the tunnel river level was still too high, but no one has ever been disappointed by Jowie. The 6-Mile swimming hole and cascades were running and delightful, while good old Yiramalay Spring was clear and became an almost daily after-school option. 

Every single moment reminded me of all the ways this school fosters deep reconciliation. 

Kym Adams, Induction 45 Leader