CELEBRATING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE 

Welcoming those who Help our First Nations Students Achieve their Dreams 

St Augustine’s College gave a warm welcome to members of one of our Indigenous scholarship partner foundations last week. Dropping in on Wednesday for a quick hello and a cup of tea with scones was Mrs Michelle Penfold, Founder and Director of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) and Ms Jane Simmons, Manager of the foundation's pathways program. 

Also dropping in on Thursday, to have a look around, was Mr Warren Mundine, Chair of the AIEF Board of Directors, Ms Renee Coffey, Deputy CEO, some AIEF alumni and a group of AIEF sponsors and delegates. 

Acting Principal Mr Glen Seivers welcomed everyone to the College with a great speech and thanked them for visiting. The Acknowledgement of Country ( text below) was read by boarder JJ Parsgaard, and speaking for St Monica’s College was Year 9 student Aliyah Fujii. Our AIEF 2021 graduate Jack Mishmiah Barnes (who is doing a carpentry apprenticeship and just happened to be in Cairns) played the didgeridoo while it was being spoken. Some additional wording was added to personalise the special occasion. Sincere thanks to St Monica’s for those words. Mr Mundine complimented Jack on his didgeridoo playing too.

Acknowledgement of Country

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gimoy Walluburra Yidinji people, and pay our respects to the Elders both past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and hopes of Indigenous Australia.

As young scholarship recipients standing here today, we value the support from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, its supporters and our colleges. We are committed to shaping a strong future for ourselves, our families and our communities.

Both parties were on the way to the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory.

All AIEF scholarship students from both colleges were present for the visit to hear Mr Mundine talk about the great opportunities that the scholarship offers students. Students from both colleges then gave the delegates a quick tour of the college.

Kibbim Titasey and Amelya See Kee were interviewed by The Australian afterwards and the story on the visit is available below.

Mr Mundine was interviewed the next day by Mr Gavin King on 4CA’s King Report. Click HERE to hear the interview.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the visit and was very impressed with Saints. Many thanks must be extended to Mr Glen Seivers, Ms Megan Henriksen and the Tolle's staff for organising the visit at a drop of a hat, and also the Gildas staff for welcoming us.