Yiramalay staff reflections

On the same journey 

Having completed Year 12 at Yiramalay in 2019, I have returned and work as a mentor at the Studio School, which can only be described as a weird and cool experience, both at the same time. I now appreciate so much more what teachers and staff went through to support me during the few years I spent at Yiramalay as a student. This lived experience as a student makes me well placed to support others who are now at Yiramalay on the same journey. It has been the best wet season this year, with the rain bucketing down, the country is very green, and the Yiramalay spring and other waterholes are full and flowing, I have never seen it like this before. The highlights for me this term has been participating in afternoon and evening activities which has been interactive and fun and a great way to build relationships and connections with students and other staff. Getting bogged is the only challenging event that I can think of in a term that was filled with many learning and mentoring experiences for me. I am looking forward to another great term and the next group of students who join us at Yiramalay. 

Maxie Coppin (OW2019), Mentor

Live my passion 

My name is Rhett McGill, and in January of this year I joined the Yiramalay team as the new Activities Coordinator. I’m a WA local from the Wheatbelt region and, well, I don’t know at which point you’re allowed to call yourself a Broome local, but I have lived and worked in the Kimberley region for six years. I have a great passion for everything outdoors, and what a better place to be than here to live my passion. I have worked as a career tour guide showing tourists this beautiful part of the country and have collected some amazing stories and experiences. 

I am a lover of all things sport (go the Eagles!) and am well known amongst my friends as always planning activities, so the new role is fitting for me! I have joined the Yiramalay team to pursue my other passion which is working with youth and am building on my teaching and mentoring skills for my career in the future. 

I am proud to be a part of the students experience of reconnecting with country and the longstanding impact the time at Yiramalay will have on all of them. I hope I can share my skillset and experiences and provide them with the foundations to pursue their passions too. 

Rhett McGill, Activities Coordinator

Cook up a storm 

Rain… lots and lots of rain…It seemed like it wouldn’t stop for a while there. But it did, and what became clear was the absolute stunning beauty of the location I find myself working at. Rhett and I arrived to camp a few weeks before most of the staff and students came back and during that time, we spent many an evening sitting on the deck of our accommodation discussing the new adventure we had embarked upon. Little did we know how unique an experience we now find ourselves in. 

It’s been an absolute pleasure cooking for the wonderful staff and students of Yiramalay and the experience of learning about local ingredients from the Bunuba TO’s Kaylene and Marilyn has been nothing short of amazing! 

Moving forward, I can’t wait to see some of the kids back in the kitchen and helping to cook up a storm! 

Ray de Sales, Chef (extraordinaire