Living at Michael Long Learning and Leadership Centre!

November 6th 2020 marks exactly 100 days since our Darwin Hub began on July 29th after the staff, families and students from Victoria finished quarantine! So in total, some staff, families and students have now been away from their homes, friends and families for around 116 days.

The courage, commitment, resilience and positive attitude demonstrated by the whole MITS community over the past 116 days is phenomenal and something those involved will look back on in the years to come as a monumental achievement.

Whilst living at MLLLC in Darwin the students and staff have enjoyed many wonderful experiences. The routines and study habits have been great and all the Year 7s are now ready to venture on to a new school for 2021 and beyond.

One highlight I would like to make a special comment on is the trip to Uluru taken by my family and four MITS students. With Victoria still in lockdown at the end of Term 3 and quarantining the only way to re-enter the NT, Ciara, James and Hurrikane with the support of their families made the courageous decision to stay in Darwin.

The Uluru trip ensured the students were able to stay in the Northern Territory and can now look forward to finishing their MITS year with all of their friends here in Darwin.

My wife Sarah and sons Toby and Levi hosted Hurrikane, James and Ciara from Victoria and Kianna (from Darwin and to support Ciara) on the trip of a lifetime to Uluru. Our 12 night and 13 day trip was made possible with the support of a very generous donor and some accommodation support from St Philip’s in Alice Springs.

Some highlights included walking the 11 kilometre base of Uluru and then witnessing rain on it two days later, watching the Ernabella Choir at Ayres Rock Resort, a guided tour down the Katherine Gorge, the Field of Lights in Yulara, mountain bike riding in Alice Springs and climbing to the peak of Kings Canyon.

All of the students and my family were in awe of the power and wonder of Uluru and took our time to read all the signs and understand the cultural significance of Uluru and the meaning of each section including the artwork, caves, water holes and cultural teaching spaces.

With now 28 days or so until the students conclude their educational journey in 2020 the final countdown is on. We will continue to enjoy all Darwin has to offer and many have now joined a local footy team to play a few games.

We hope everyone in Victoria is staying stay safe and we look forward to MITS returning its classroom operations to RFC and boarding houses on Richmond Hill next year.

Brad Carmody

MITS Student Page