2007 Community Programs - Tour 4
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Tour song: People Tree (Milingimbi)
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Wadeye (Port Keats) is one of the largest remote indigenous communities in the country. It is located about 250 kms south-west of Darwin and is cut off from ground transport nearly half of the year due to swollen rivers during the wet season. The Wadeye community is home to over 2,500 people representing a number of language groups and more than 20 different clan groups. Our Red Dust team of sporting role models, artist and musicians found Wadeye a very welcoming place. The community leaders were keen to inform our team of the history and heritage that has formed the foundation for what Wadeye is today. The school was amazing, with a couple hundred students attending classes each day. There was a full contingent of teachers who were passionate about achieving positive educational outcomes for their students. The co-principals (Tobias and Anne) were supportive and led by example, opening opportunities for our team to participate in classroom sessions focusing on basic health education and sharing stories as diverse as family backgrounds and world travel. Some of the role models also reinforced positive messages around taking care of your family, saying no to violence and fighting and setting good examples for younger siblings. The students were generally attentive, yet it has to be admitted, were most enthusiastic about the music workshop, art sessions, softball, basketball, footy and soccer sessions being conducted by guest role models. We received a formal invitation to return to Wadeye later this year and Red Dust Role Models as an organisation is committed to strengthening the relationships we established during this first visit by getting back as often as possible. Milingimbi Team Mark Thomson – Basketball/Team Leader Steve Smith - Basketball Chris Hodge – Team Support/Music Nik Mirich – Basktetball/Team Leader David Scollon - Athletics/Team Support Helen Dransfield – Vodafone/Team Support Adam Thompson - Music Glenn Bidmead - Music Emily Pateras - Softball Wadeye Team Ray Minniecon – Cultural Advisor Sharon Minniecon – Cultural Advisor Ben McCalman – Macquarie Bank Sports Glenn Manton – AFL Football Katrina Manton - Art Wayne Glenn - Music Jason Ryan – Macquarie Bank Sports/Rugby, Cricket, Soccer Tim Maloney – Wheelchair Basketball David Callow - Photographer Kyle Vander Kuyp - Athletics John Van Groningen – Team Leader Stephan Jeager – Vodafone/Team Support Peter Holland - Team Support |
