CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE 

Australian Indigenous Education Foundation  Graduation Trip 

By Jyrett David - Year 12

Last month, Mr Carswell, Mr Toombs, Kibbim Titasey and I travelled to Sydney. After arriving from our 4:00 am wake up in Cairns, we had a few hours to do our own thing. Kibbim and I went for a walk to check out the streets and shops. This was exciting as this was my first visit to Sydney. 

For the graduation ceremony we went to the Sydney Opera House where most AIEF students who had graduated in 2019-2020 and current students graduating in 2022 received an AIEF graduation certificate. The certificates were presented by Mr Andrew Penfold, the Executive Direct of AIEF. Seeing the harbour bridge, the harbour and the opera house at night was a spectacular sight. 

After receiving our certificates, we met a few alumni and people that sponsor and support AIEF. We also met students from other schools. On the second day, Kibbim, the other students and I went on a cruise  around the islands near the harbour bridge and the opera house. It was with a little tour company operated by the traditional owners of the area who got us involved in some traditional dancing. 

After the cruise, the other students flew back to their boarding schools, towns and cities. The four of us, however, stayed for an extra day (sincere thanks to Mr Toombs and Mr Glen Seivers for their generosity in allowing this), eating and trying delicious Japanese food that Mrs Michelle Penfold, from AIEF, had recommended. 

On Wednesday, we walked around the Haymarket Shopping Complex and Chinatown. Mr Toombs suggested we visit AIEF head office, and we all agreed. Unfortunately, with Mr Toombs relying on Google maps, we got lost. Luckily, Kibbim and I saved the adults from getting us even more lost in the big city.

The AIEF staff were pleased to see us. We thanked them for a great two days and for the opportunity to benefit from their scholarship by attending a college like St Augustine’s to receive a great education.

Combined St Augustine’s & St Monica’s Gathering Dinner

"Presence and Celebration" was the theme of our annual Gathering Dinner at St Augustine’s College on Thursday evening 25 August. 

The event began with Year 12 student Caelan Busbridge-Mamarika from Groote Eylandt playing his traditionally made didgeridoo beside the statue of Marcellin on the grass under the flags in the Champagnat Quad calling everyone to awareness for the night ahead. As special guests, teachers and students gathered, Uncle Henry Fourmile, Yarrabah Elder and descendant of the Gimoy Walluburra Yidinji people, began a smoking ceremony. Uncle Henry explained that this ceremony wards off unwelcome notions, cleanses the area and welcomes in positive feelings and good, like-minded  people.

We moved to Lennon Hall for speeches and an amazing performance by Year 8 St Monica’s student Melileucah Drahm-Butler. Meli performed the Seed of Destiny, the newest dance from the Cairns-based First Nations dance company, Miriki Performing Arts.

Both principals addressed the gathering, and each delivered a message of making the most of the outstanding cultural, social, sporting and, most importantly, academic opportunities offered to students at both colleges.

Our first guest speaker was Ms Libby Cook-Black, AIEF scholarship alumna from 2011. She is a gifted speaker, athlete and Queensland Rugby 7s player and is studying business at QUT. Her message stressed persistence and growing as an individual while nurturing and learning about cultural identity, which she suggested should keep students focused and strong.

The second speaker was our own Mr Paul See Kee, Saints alumnus and now Japanese language and PE teacher. Paul emphasised resilience, persistence, having a dream and moving closer to it. He also mentioned having gratitude for what you have be it family, your schooling or your culture. Paul and his brother, from Thursday Island, were full-time boarding student at the College.

In Tolle's we enjoyed a tasty meal cooked by our kitchen staff and chefs. Thanks to Mrs Filewood, grandmother to St Monica’s Jemma Mosby and  to Saints alumnus Tayshaun Mosby for making a traditional sweet potato and taro in coconut milk dish.

During dinner, Year 12 students Mace Arnold and Karla Mills went from table to table, with a microphone, talking to guests and students. As they coaxed answers from an exercise everyone was asked to do there was a lot of laughter and some red faces. 

An important aspect of the occasion was presenting a gratitude award to one staff member from each college. We renamed the St Augustine’s Order of Indigenous Australia Award the First Nations Gratitude Award which was won by Mr John Brimstone. Lab assistant Ms Hohoi won the St Monica's award. Both are highly deserving recipients.

Many people must be thanked for their contribution to such an enjoyable and successful night: guest speaker Ms Libby Cook-Black, special guest Ms Angelica Castillejos from the AIEF and St Augustine's teacher Paul See Kee; Year 12 students from both colleges who helped plan and organise the event, especially our hosts Kibbim Titasey and Ebbony Mountford; Anthony Yellub, Jyrett David, Kaelen Marr, Oskar Sabatino, Christian Butler, Mark Hamilton, Xavier David and JJ Parsgaard for playing the drum, singing and assisting the St Monica’s students with the cultural dance performance; and student leaders Karla Mills, Amelya See Kee and Lillian Toogood from St Monica’s. 

Sincere thanks must also go to Saints staff who assisted in the Lennon Hall bio-box. Mr Tim Watson for doing the lights and the hall set-up and Mr Michael Erbes, from the College’s IT team, who assisted in the slide show and worked the projector.

 It was an excellent night, truly one of celebration enhanced by the presence of so many like-minded people, and the feedback was insightful, intelligent and positive.