August 30th
- Our school age champions in athletics
Juliette and her flame who was the boys age champion
Here it is- Friday the 18th September and the only reason I have time to catch up on my blog is because I am in hospital. The joys of living in the Kimberley in remote communities: a high staph load. We got Juliette over her many boils after 10 weeks and worrying if we would have to return to Sydney. I have now come down with my second carbuncle. These are like a massive head of boils but they do not come to a head that drains easily and have to be surgically lanced. Before they reach this stage your limb swells with the infection. It looked yesterday morning as if one arm had been doing lots of weightlifting as it was swollen from my shoulder to elbow. The clinic sisters at Warmun decided that with my history of heart valve problem that I needed to get to hospital and get IV antibiotics.
Sister Barbara receiving her water blessing from the boys
On arrival here they gave me happy gas which only made me dopey while they lanced it. I do remember hearing the doctor say to the trainee nurse that I had a grape sized hole in my arm. It looks like a very nasty gunshot wound. I will be fasting from midnight tonight just in case they need to go in again under anaesthetic tomorrow. I maintain my stance about the Kimberley in that it is where nature likes to remind you that it has the upper hand. The weather, the animals, the remoteness and the diseases all serve to remind us city slickers that we may think we are in control, but we live in a delusion.
It has been an eventful time of late. Juliette had her first overnight excursion, with the pre-primary class given free tickets to the Moscow circus that was performing in Kununurra. We were so worried how she would go as she has only ever been overnight with close family before. She had to have a sleep before she left and when I had to wake her up and dress her she was so grumpy and horrible. As soon as the school bus pulled up she was out the door like a flash with the biggest smile on her face, all sweetness and innocence. They were so excited. Three teachers were taking 6 kids and they were staying at the All Seasons Hotel. They felt very flash.
Juliette of course was worried about a past scary clown experience and when the performance began with overly loud music that was it, she was out the door terrified. The circus manager came and put her on a seat where she could still see the show and gave her free fairy floss. She promised that nothing scary would happen to her and she managed to sit inside for the second half. They had a wonderful time but all returned exhausted.
Our athletics carnival was held in August. It is usually cooler but this year was unseasonably hot and on the day of the carnival we topped the state for the highest temperature 39 degrees. Juliette was so excited to be with her mum and dad in the red team. I had no chance of pronouncing the team’s name in the local Gidga language. Unlike their city counterparts, these kids are naturally very competitive and incredibly athletic. Juliette and the only other non-indigenous kid both came last in their races. There was no way they could compete against such natural athletes. Juliette was very excited that her young flame Treston won the age champion and the red house won the day.
Juliette co-celebrating mass with Father Martin
Someone once said he had seen many kids as talented as Cathy Freeman, but they were never given a chance. After watching the kids on this day I can see what he means. This is why the AFL scouts visit remote communities and why they have a disproportionally high number of Aboriginal players. Football is like religion for these communities. It is unfortunate that the girls play basketball here, which does not have a strong national base from which funds and sponsorship or even interest can flow. This is just another way that the girls are given the message that they are not of value.
I was very lucky to have my principal from Sydney, Sister Barbara visit us. She is a Josephite sister, like the founding sisters of the school here. More to the point, 4 of the staff at Ngalangangpum had taught at MSJ and so when the school board suggested she take a sabbatical, she requested time to see what her staff were doing up here. I had jokingly teased her during all of our conversations organizing her visit that she was to spend 2 weeks with Mike in the High School Boys’ class. She had experience at Walgett in rural NSW in an Aboriginal community and informed me she was not fazed by being called an MF!
Juliette heading off for her school excursion to the circus
Mike had received no classroom support all year and he had a very challenging group. He sometimes had as many as 15 students turn up, never had they had such large numbers and this was a great testimony to the respect they felt for him. Let me tell you though, they were extremely challenging as I also taught them for 1 hour a week, some of which I felt physically endangered. These are mostly angry boys with no aspirations. They range in age from 12 to 15 and in intellect from kindergarten level of brain function to bright boys who had been expelled from boarding school.
God bless Sister Barbara as she insisted on working with Michael. It was the best 2 weeks teaching he had as she spent her time working one on one with Mike’s foetal alcohol affected student and with 2 teachers there was more attention to go around which is what these students so desperately crave. This boy absolutely blossomed with her guidance and she sat with the patience of Job while he did his Mathletics on the internet, and she was determined that he would reach enough points to gain a certificate. Nothing phased her and she was a great calming influence in the class. Her years of experience showed as she knew exactly when to discipline and encourage.
Towards the end of the time the boys and Mike took her to Winiper Springs for a bush trip. This is sacred country and the boys gave her a solemn blessing and welcome to country. They went on to a thermal pool that involved trudging through knee deep mud. Sister elected to stay in the car and it was only five minutes before the boy she had worked extensively with told Mike he was returning to Sister as he was worried there was a cheeky bull about. It was beautiful to see this boy who was usually derided in his community for his brain deficit, grow into the role of a young man taking responsibility for the care of another.
Juliette adored having Barbara here and each afternoon they would spend together, allowing me to have some quiet time. She had Juliette for a sleep over one night and learnt the hard way that children, though small are not the easiest of bed mates. We loved having her visit and it was great the way she affirmed what we were attempting to do with these kids.
- Sister Barbara receiving her water blessing and welcome to country
September 27th, 2009 at 2:38 am
Hi Rebecca! Attended our 25th reunion today. I asked about you and was directed to your message in our booklet. Have read part of your blog and am amazed! Hope you are better after your trip to hospital. Read that you are always in search of prizes for the children at your school. Let me know what you need ie ages of children etc as I would love to send you a pack this Christmas. I organise a KK with a group of friends every year and started the tradition a few years back to provide presents for others in need instead of buying presents for each other. This year it is my turn again to organise the presents and if you are interested I would love to do this for your community. rosanna.marsella@stpatskogarah.catholic.edu.au Hope to hear from you. Rosanna Marsella (Coffen)
September 29th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Dear Rebecca,
Sorry you couldn’t come to the Cerdon reunion. Life in the Kimberley suits you by the look of the photos. You’re family are beautiful. God Bless, Elizabeth Graham (nee Flynn)
October 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Lizzy
I cannot believe that you have read some of my blog. Cyberspace does provide for some interesting connections. Last I heard you were running a vineyard around Orange. Is this still the case? We cannot believe that we are on the last term of our stay up here. It certainly has been a life changing experience! I feel that all I have learnt about the whole Indigenous situation is that the problems are so intractable that I cannot see a way forward. The negalect of children is just staggering, yet at the same time their love of family is heart warming. Alcohol is the big problem here. To the extent that parents just go and leave there kids for years on end. Murder, suicide and jail are standard fare here.
Juliette has loved the experience as the kids just adore her. She despairs that school in Sydney is just going to be too boring.
How is your mum??? I hope she is still around but they are reaching that age.
Take care
Beck
October 1st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Rosanna,
How great to hear from you. We are sweating it out here at the moment, I think we had 3 Dry Season days where it stayed below 30, but almost every day since February has been above 35 degrees, now heading toward 40.
Thankyou so much for your offer of Christmas presents. I will speak to my deputy when she comes back from holidays. I am beginning to despair somewhat here, as although they live in abject poverty, it is not from a lack of money. Some of our community between welfare, art and royalties from the Argyle Diamond mine are probably better off than you and I. Unfortunately most of this goes on card games and alcohol. Some have absolutely nothing because their carers gamble away all the welfare they receive. I am struggling with their attitude of expectation. The welfare system has destroyed their sense of personal responsibility and work ethic. It is very easy for us to feel a great deal of guilt, but it comes a point where they have to take control for their own destiny. I am trying to keep girls at school as long as I can so they avoid the fate of teenage pregnancy and then a downwards spiral into alcohol abuse. I have not been very successful as 6 of my students only came for about 3 days last term, and then just told me to F off as soon as we had to do something that was not to their liking. Watching girls just wander around all day aimlessly and being 14 and completely illiterate is heartbreaking.
It is not that this community is not deserving as some of the most beautiful people I have met are here, it is just that it is up to them to take control as the system of handouts had been their downfall. If you see the movie Sampson and Delilah it is spot on. That is how bleak it is at times.
Our community is full of broken toys as no one cares for things. Material possessions are insignificant and if a gift is given to a small child, a bigger one just stands over them and takes it.
Is St Pats at Kogarah a primary or high school??? What does life hold for you now??? Obviously by your married name you married a good Italian boy.
Beck
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
Dear Beck,
St Pat’s is a primary school. I teach Music and Drama 2 and a half days. I have had a great career in teaching for over 20 years. Have been assistant principal in 2 schools and worked in 5 catholic systemic schools. I have a beautiful daughter Ilaria who is 7 years old and am married to Joe, yes a good italian! Living near Sydney airport and enjoying life.
Did you feature in a documentary on life in the Kimberely’s? Was watching something a while a go about a couple with a young blonde daughter amidst all the aboriginal children. When I read your blog, I though it might have been your family?
Hope to keep in contact and possibly have a reunion when you get back to Sydney.
Regards Rosanna
October 11th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Dear Rosanna,
We did not feature in a documentary but were in the August edition of Wondertime magazine (a parenting magazine).
We are counting down for our last term here. The time has certainly flown. Juliette has some of my high school girls here to play this afternoon. Between the 2 girls they have eaten a whole loaf of bread.
I am now in the position of looking for a job next year from way up here. Hoping to move into Indigenous education in some form.
Enjoy the writing, though I am very slack of late. My body struggles to get out of bed early enough to write any more.
Beck
October 11th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Dear Beck,
will you come back to Sydney and look for work? Yes, the year has certainly flown for me too! The next term is only 9 weeks long and last week of school for us is shortened as well..so we will be on holidays again soon. Where do you plan to live when you come back to Sydney. Would love to meet up with you and hear of your adventures when you return. We are enjoying our break with lots of activities to various museums, parks, aquarium, cooking classes, sleepovers etc etc. I love holidays but find I am exhausted at the end. I think I try to do too much..even though I always say I won’t!! Am about to go and paint fingernails and toe nails as a special treat with Ilaria. Had better go as it is getting late.
Rosanna