Gawura students thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Indigenous Homelands Immersion program to Kuku Yalanji Nation this year.
“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive in environments where they a have strong connection to culture and community.” – Minister Ken Wyatt, August 2019
In July 2022, First Nations students from Years 5 and 6 in Gawura and those in Years 7 to 12 at St Andrew’s Cathedral School flew, most for the first time, to participate in the Indigenous Homelands Immersion program in Cape York, visiting Kuku Yalanji Nation with Red Earth. They visited Wujal Wujal and learnt from the Elders and Traditional Owners about the culture and language of this very special part of Australia.
The seven days of learning included a painting class, a language class and helping to develop a community project, all while spending time with the local children and their families.
On Country Tours takes place in a different Nation each year, however the 2022 tour was the first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read here about our 2019 On Country Tour to Wandi Wandian (Yuin) Nation on the South Coast of NSW. The students also travelled to the Wiradjuri Nation in 2018.
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Below is the Itinerary and some photos from the 2022 On Country Tour:
Day 1
Fly Sydney to Cairns, 4WD bus to Wujal Wujal, set up tents at Wujal Oval, dinner and first night talk.
Day 2
Welcome to Country at Wujal Falls,visit art centre, police station, women’s centre, church, justice group etc, painting workshop with local Elder, play with local kids at the PCYC after school, 4WD bus to Bana homeland in the afternoon, welcome to Country, set up tents.
Day 3
Visit Trevathan Falls and Black Mountain in the morning, Kuku Yalanji classes in the afternoon, chats and stories around the campfire, reflection.
Day 4
Group splits up for activities, working on a community project (gardening or similar), preparation of kup murri ground oven dinner, swim at Gap Creek, dinner and reflection.
Day 5
Seasonal calendar and bush food workshop, 4WD bus departs for Port Douglas, set up camp, reflection on our time in community.
Day 6
Whole day snorkelling tour on the Great Barrier Reef, dinner, final reflection and debrief.
Day 7
Pack up camp, bus to Cairns, flight to Sydney, arrive home with lots of stories for our families!
