Comments for Hughes Kimberley Calling http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org Another excellent Edublogs.org weblog Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:39:42 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on 12th October by hugheskimberleycalling http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/11/08/12th-october/comment-page-1/#comment-77 hugheskimberleycalling Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:39:42 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=327#comment-77 The Galapagos sounds so much more exotic. We have had 90 consecutive days over 35 degress and the last 16 have been over 40. Bring on the rainy season as tomorrow is a predicted 46. Enjoy. The Galapagos sounds so much more exotic. We have had 90 consecutive days over 35 degress and the last 16 have been over 40. Bring on the rainy season as tomorrow is a predicted 46.
Enjoy.

]]> Comment on 12th October by Zoe Fleming http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/11/08/12th-october/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Zoe Fleming Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:15:19 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=327#comment-76 Just checked how you are all getting on out there. We are so impressed by your experiences and your blogs about them too. We hope that the wound clears up properly soon. We are off to the Galapagos in 2 weeks time so just 63 tasks to do before then. However we send love and best wishes to all in Oz from west coast Scotland, cool but sunny today. Z&A Just checked how you are all getting on out there. We are so impressed by your experiences and your blogs about them too. We hope that the wound clears up properly soon. We are off to the Galapagos in 2 weeks time so just 63 tasks to do before then.
However we send love and best wishes to all in Oz from west coast Scotland, cool but sunny today.
Z&A

]]> Comment on 4th October by Chris http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/10/14/4th-october/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Chris Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:42:45 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=315#comment-75 Great effort, Beck, when you weren't feeling so hot. It's so hard when you are up against such entrenched disadvantage: you feel like you can't win. But every step is a win, even when you feel like you are going backward – or beckward! We are so looking forward to seeing you when you get home, but the blog has been wonderful and such an education for us. I went down to Chev for the day on Thursday: I'm getting to know and like people there, including many who would be familiar to Mike (Steve the Deputy seems a very good guy). There was a map in the Admin foyer with the locations of the 1979 year group on it and there was the Kimberley connection! Take care Great effort, Beck, when you weren’t feeling so hot. It’s so hard when you are up against such entrenched disadvantage: you feel like you can’t win. But every step is a win, even when you feel like you are going backward – or beckward! We are so looking forward to seeing you when you get home, but the blog has been wonderful and such an education for us.

I went down to Chev for the day on Thursday: I’m getting to know and like people there, including many who would be familiar to Mike (Steve the Deputy seems a very good guy). There was a map in the Admin foyer with the locations of the 1979 year group on it and there was the Kimberley connection!

Take care

]]> Comment on 4th October by Paula Bounds http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/10/14/4th-october/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Paula Bounds Sun, 25 Oct 2009 08:37:07 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=315#comment-74 What a wonderful thing you did for these girls Beck; they will probably never have an opportunity like this again. Don't be put off by their apparent lack of gratitude; I feel your pain and disappointment in your writing but it was probably so foreign and overwhelming for then that they didn't know how to respond! What a wonderful thing you did for these girls Beck; they will probably never have an opportunity like this again. Don’t be put off by their apparent lack of gratitude; I feel your pain and disappointment in your writing but it was probably so foreign and overwhelming for then that they didn’t know how to respond!

]]> Comment on August 30th by Rosanna Coffen http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/09/18/august-30th/comment-page-1/#comment-73 Rosanna Coffen Mon, 12 Oct 2009 09:36:37 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=285#comment-73 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 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

]]> Comment on August 30th by hugheskimberleycalling http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/09/18/august-30th/comment-page-1/#comment-72 hugheskimberleycalling Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:43:34 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=285#comment-72 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 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

]]> Comment on September 20 by Paula Bounds http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/10/01/september-20/comment-page-1/#comment-71 Paula Bounds Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:30:57 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=295#comment-71 Hi guys, It is almost the second week of the school holidays here and I have finally found the time to read your latest blog entry. Beck, I hope that you are recovering since the last time I spoke to you when you were in hospital. I must say, that image of your wound was rather yucky. I love reading the blog entries; it's a pity I haven't always made the time to read all of them. They are beautifully written and Chris and I reckon that you should write a book about your experiences. They are incredibly unique and they are written with such honesty and passion. We had Helen over to dinner last night- she runs the indigenous program at Joeys- and she too has found her role incredibly challenging. We asked her to keep her eyes and hears open for any jobs in the area that might be coming up for you Beck. We have also been keeping an eye on the newspapers. Chris thinks that you should write letters to each of the schools offering an indigenous program and ask them to keep you in mind for anything that might arise. Your experiences would be invaluable to any future employee. Hi guys,
It is almost the second week of the school holidays here and I have finally found the time to read your latest blog entry. Beck, I hope that you are recovering since the last time I spoke to you when you were in hospital. I must say, that image of your wound was rather yucky.

I love reading the blog entries; it’s a pity I haven’t always made the time to read all of them. They are beautifully written and Chris and I reckon that you should write a book about your experiences. They are incredibly unique and they are written with such honesty and passion.

We had Helen over to dinner last night- she runs the indigenous program at Joeys- and she too has found her role incredibly challenging. We asked her to keep her eyes and hears open for any jobs in the area that might be coming up for you Beck. We have also been keeping an eye on the newspapers. Chris thinks that you should write letters to each of the schools offering an indigenous program and ask them to keep you in mind for anything that might arise. Your experiences would be invaluable to any future employee.

]]> Comment on August 30th by Rosanna Coffen http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/09/18/august-30th/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Rosanna Coffen Sun, 04 Oct 2009 08:10:29 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=285#comment-70 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 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

]]> Comment on August 30th by hugheskimberleycalling http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/09/18/august-30th/comment-page-1/#comment-69 hugheskimberleycalling Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:32:58 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=285#comment-69 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 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

]]> Comment on August 30th by hugheskimberleycalling http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/2009/09/18/august-30th/comment-page-1/#comment-68 hugheskimberleycalling Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:19:06 +0000 http://hugheskimberleycalling.edublogs.org/?p=285#comment-68 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 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

]]>