Our Story

Pastor Ray Minniecon

Currently, Pastor Ray is the Director of Bunji Consultancies, a production company that supports the development of Aboriginal film and documentaries and leadership and business initiatives with various public and corporate clients. Ray has worked with the Anglican Diocese of Sydney as Pastor and Director of Crossroads Aboriginal Ministries. He is the inaugural Chairperson of the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples Committee and a Council member of St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

“To me personally, Gawura represents one of the most positive futures for our Aboriginal community in Sydney. These children are eager to learn, excelling in academic abilities, showing us that they want to achieve some big goals in their lives. They are my pride and joy.”

Pastor Ray is a descendant of the Kabi Kabi nation and the Gurang Gurang nation of South-East Queensland. He is also a descendant of the South Sea Islander people with connections to the people of Ambrym Island.

Professor Larissa Behrendt

Prof. Larissa Behrendt is the Professor of Indigenous Research and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a regular columnist for The Guardian. She also runs a radio program, Speaking Out, each Sunday on ABC local radio.

She has published numerous textbooks on Indigenous legal issues. She is a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and a founding member of the Australian Academy of Law.

She was awarded the 2009 NAIDOC Person of the Year award and 2011 NSW Australian of the Year.

“I became involved with Gawura because I was interested in a model of education that focused on academic excellence within elite educational institutions but did not involve removing Indigenous children from their communities. The Gawura model has not only afforded Indigenous children the opportunity for a high quality education, it has fostered a relationship with the local Indigenous community through the families of those children.”

Professor Larissa Behrendt is a Eualeyai and Kamillaroi woman.

Ms Deborah Cheetham, AO

Deborah is one of Australia’s foremost Indigenous sopranos and founded Short Black Opera Company. She composed Australia’s first Indigenous opera, Pecan Summer, which premiered in October 2010 and played at the Sydney Opera House in 2016, featuring three of our past and present Gawura students. Deborah has created many opportunities for Indigenous singers and musicians, actors, writers and technicians. She has opened doors for many Indigenous artists and is an inspiration for all Australians.

“Look at all this achievement. It’s not unusual for Aboriginal people to achieve and to be successful – and that’s the message that I want to put out there… let’s promote it so that the next generation of kids are seeing the balance.”

Cheetham is a member of the Stolen Generations; she was taken from her mother when she was three weeks old.

Mr Peter Warne

Peter Warne is an active member of the school community, being a former parent of the school and Chairman of the St Andrew’s Cathedral School Foundation. He is currently the chairman of Macquarie Group and is also chairman of ALE Property Group and OzForex Group and has one more term as an ASX director. He is a director of NSW Treasury Corp, a patron of the Macquarie University Foundation, and is on the Australian Office of Financial Management’s advisory board.