Outback Adventure!

I have just got back from what I would classify an experience of a lifetime. A friend and I were fortunate enough to travel to Daly River, South West of Darwin in the Northern Territory to visit a community and help out with students at St Francis Xavier School. The reason we are so fortunate is that this opportunity is not presented to everyone – it was only that my brother is teaching students aged between 9-14 at this school that we were able to attend and appreciate and learn so much from these children.

Upon arriving in Daly River you understand the challenge that teachers heading out into these communities immediately face. The small community of Nauiyu has a population of 510 people 86% of which being indigenous. In the wet season the Daly River floods – leaving it’s residence no choice but to boat to their homes leaving their car 5-10km’s out of town. The medical centre has a doctor fly in once a week and has a small convenience store (only supplying the essentials). 33 degrees all year round and no escape from the heat to swimming spots like you can in Victoria as the waters of Daly River are infested with Crocodiles. I remember one day when I was there I finally felt comfortable with the weather and the same day some of the children turned up at school with jumpers and jeans. It’s something that you apparently eventually get used to. It is a dry community and the local pub out of town consists of a cabin at the caravan park and picnic tables. The residents speak their own tribal languages and whilst English is not the prominent language spoken, their English is quite good. What these teachers face is the residents of Nauiyu’s way of life.

The first day in class I was trying to get Jarrod (my brother’s attention). I was helping a young boy at the time with his school work when he intervened and said you don’t call him Jarrod, you call him brother. Later Melissa one of the teachers aid explained to me that it’s part of their culture that you don’t call your brothers, sisters or cousins by their first name or if I also knew someone by the name of Jarrod I was not able to speak his name also. My response was how do you then get their attention? Melissa said you come up with a nickname for them. I then understood that one of the boys in the class name was Chris however most of the children called him Toomba (I wondered if this was the reason why).

On the second day at the school, gifts were given out to the students that Priceline and Sportspower in Echuca had kindly donated. The boy’s receiving footy socks and the girls receiving make up. Two local chemists also donated beauty cases for the girls make up.  They were extremely grateful. What impressed me the most is the majority of the boys remembered their footy socks to play against their rival school Woolianna on the Friday.

The kids loved Art, Sport, Computer’s and Dancing and were also outstanding at these things. One of the boys from Jarrod’s class at the age of 11 has paintings in the Merripen arts festival coming up on the first weekend in June. One of the girls added me on Skype in her IT class and they would play their favourite song off Take40: Baby by Justin Bieber – by the end of the week I was singing it in my sleep.

The kids were so happy go lucky and full of confidence and reiterated to me that even though they were less fortunate in my mind they were still extremely happy. I thought of how many people back home that have everything they ever wanted but still can’t be satisfied and I have even been a culprit of this. The children’s spirit and survival skills are something I will continue to carry on with me as I eagerly await my return to visit these young kids again in August.

Finally I would also like to commend all teachers who leave their families to go teach these children in remote areas to offer them the same education that we had when growing up. For something that is extremely challenging they all do an amazing job.

Ps. If you have anything you wish to donate please contact me on 0400 106 663.