Day in the life of a Dustie

You arrive into Darwin and you are immediately met by a welcoming member of the Red Dust Crew, in my case it was the CEO of Red Dust. No intimidation factor as with most CEO’s as this was just a good bloke getting to know you. Within 5 minutes of conversing you quickly realise how much this program means to him and others in the organisation.

We then caught up with the rest of the crew and had a briefing session that afternoon. This is when it really hits you as to what you can expect on this trip. Promote healthy living in a community is what I summarised the briefing to be. We were to go into schools, interact with students, teach them the importance of eating healthy and being active, whilst the whole time making a video to show the kids at the end of the week. So far this trip was sounding a breeze or so I thought.

The next morning we packed the 4 wheel drives whilst the second group (The B Team) prepared themselves for their flight. It was a 2 ½ to 3 hour drive to Daly River and there, nestled on the banks of the river was the Nauiyu Community. No messing about, we went straight to the school and immediately you could hear the kids whispering ‘Red Dust, Red Dust’ with beaming smiles on their faces. We sat around with the kids just getting to know them whilst sharing a bit about ourselves. You were asked the same three question from all the kids repeatedly, 1. What’s your name? 2. Where you from? 3. Whose your team? Before you know it, they all know your name and would remember it for the entire time you were there.

We spent the majority of our time in classes offering a helping hand to the teachers, getting involved in everything from reading, colouring, teaching computer skills, and just occupying their inquisitive little minds. We also spent a considerable amount of time playing sport which ranged from basketball, to soccer, to footy, to tunnel ball, you name it we played it. You noticed the talent immediately and some of these kids could easily be picked up by rep teams across the country.

This was my first trip in a community and my perception of a community was only what the media has portrayed of them; usually in a negative way but this is far from the truth. They forget to tell you about the beautiful kids that have so much love and kindness in their hearts; the welcoming elders that wave an great you every morning – the community that looks after each other. Yes, they have some serious issues but which society doesn’t?

My view about the Red Dust program is that they are not there to change the culture of the community but to ensure that there is a future for these communities for generations to come. They encourage you to go into this program with an open mind and park your idealistic views at the door.

They reiterate what is being taught in the school i.e. washing hands, brushing teach, eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and being active.

The team leaders of Red Dust and other members of the group were an exceptional bunch of people. They welcomed you and made you feel a part of the family. I guess when you share a 1 bedroom house with 5 other people you really get to know each other intimately. My bedroom/kitchen was know as the Slumberzone. For that week you did just about everything together and the bond that you have as a group  just grows stronger. These people are passionate, understanding, open minded, and committed to a cause.

They were a few scary moments throughout the trip as well.. well maybe I shouldn’t mention them; but we did get bogged in the middle of nowhere  and then attempted to dig us out with a few pieces of wood and bare hands. We ended up being rescued by two amused ladies in a 4 wheel drive (one happened to be the principal Jenny)

The one group that is often overlooked on these trips are the teachers. These fine individuals have got to be the hardest working people out there, and if anyone thinks teachers have it easy with the holidays  - you need to walk a mile in their shoes as they say. We experienced glimpses of what they go through and it’s not just physically draining but emotional as well and yet they get up the next day and the next, back to make a difference in young lives.

My belief is that everyone at Ansvar should do this trip at least once. It’s what our values are all about and it’s not just giving back to the community; but also a learning experience for one’s self. To often we are stuck in the corporate world and sometimes miss the opportunity to experience adventure, culture and differences – the reasons why we live. It would also put things in perspective and highlight what we sometimes take for granted.

After a night in Darwin, the whole Red Dust crew was ready for the beginning of what would become a life experience like no other before. While the two groups headed to their respective destinations of Milikapiti and Daly River, I flew to Tiwi College to spend the week helping out in the school garden. The garden, which is supported and funded by The Hayden Way Project and in coordination with Red Dust, is approximately a 2-acre area with a variety of rotating crops and about 40 chooks and ducks. With the capacity to grow a substantial amount of crops ranging from bananas, various varieties of citrus, cucumbers, and carrots – to name a select few. The garden has been a great example of what small scale agriculture can mean to local communities not only in remote Australia, but all over the world. Obviously apart from a food production system, a local garden is a marvellous and beneficial thing in that fresh and healthy food is provided to the people who need it. However, the garden acts as a tool to engage public involvement which ultimately promotes engagement across generations and offers everyone a sense of pride in their community.

During my week, I spent a lot of time working around the garden and school, as well as interacting directly with a number of the senior boys who are currently going for their VET certification in Horticulture. Located on the second largest island in Australia after Tasmania, all of the college’s supplies must be delivered on a barge from Darwin weekly. One of the days I went on a “barge-run” which required 2 pick-up trucks, a larger truck, and 2 trailers. The supplies consisted of all of the food for the week along with any postage, equipment orders, and fuel needed. Being on the island for a week, I began to truly understand the importance of planning ahead to ensure the school’s overall and continued success.

While spending time with the students and around the garden it became evident that aside from the many hardships that remote communities face today; there are a number  of systems in place that are actively engaging the youth of today to better prepare themselves for the future. The garden project at Tiwi College which is run by Jason Ryan is a prime example of this notion.

I look forward to heading out again soon!

- Ted Lawrence

Ted is currently working at Red Dust as Research Assistant as part of an internship whilst he completes his studies at the University of Oregon. 

Recently a brave man by the name of Adam Hill journeyed across the country from Byron Bay  to Steep Point in Western Australia unassisted on a motorbike all in the name of raising funds for Red Dust and for a great organisation called True Blue Dreaming. We thank Adam for his amazing effort and appreciate the fundraising he did along the way.

On May 1 this year an enthusiastic couple are embarking on an epic journey of a very unique nature. Jessica Ward and Vanig Krikorian wanted to make a difference and develop an idea along with Red Dust. They are travelling around Outback Australia in a Red Dust 4WD , that will be progressively painted on the way by Indigenous artists and school students. The objective is to engage communities in a fun and proactive way. As a tribute to Indigenous culture, the car will raise awareness for Red Dust and help us raise funds on the go. At the end of the trip the car will be sold and the proceeds will go directly to Red Dust.

Pass on their fundraising page link to everyone you know because the total raised will go directly to Red Dust Healthy Living Programs.

This is the official  site: https://dreamtimedrive.gofundraise.com.au 

We are sure that the trip will be an experience that Jess and Vanig will never forget. Jess and Vanig will be updating everyone via a blog including progress on where they are, stories along the way and videos and photos to capture the painting of the car and the artists contributing.

You can follow Jess and Vanig’s progress via their facebook page  here

John was the founder of Red Dust and passed away in late December, 2012.

For those of you who knew John and have a story to share please see the below instructions from the team putting together the book:

100 Stories

John Van Groningen Book Project

PLEASE NOTE: Closing date for submissions is early FEBRUARY, 2013

It is evident by the large numbers of people viewing John’s Service online that John really did touch so many people’s lives.

It seems that everyone has a great and favourite memory or story about John, whether it be as a father, husband, brother, friend or an acquaintance.

We are offering an opportunity for people to share these memories and to contribute to a book that will record these personal stories.

It could be an early memory of John as a child or as a recent experience in the past month or so. It could be a letter to John or his family or it could be a collection of artefacts, photographs or drawings. It can be whatever you’d like to share with everyone. It will be your personal and valued memory.

Our aim is to collate 100 stories and design a large hard cover book that can be bought and ordered online.

It is envisaged that each story will be a double page … text on one page and perhaps something ‘illustrative’ across another. It could be an essay (A4 page maximum), a paragraph, a sentence, quote or a single word.

Design your own page if you like…or send us your material.

We hope to produce a 200+ page book that will celebrate John’s life. And we feel that right now is the best time to to sit down and do this.

What to do:

Just start your story.

Collect all your accompanying material. If you have hand written the letter send it (along with a word document as well if you can). We’d love to give this project a personal look. Accompanying material could be anything to do with your memory – a ticket to a football game or something he sent you – a photograph or a postcard, or a child’s drawing about their Uncle. We’d like to show a breadth of experiences across his 52 years.

Let us know that you’re interested. It really would be great to get an idea of the numbers.

Scanning:

If you can’t post things to us, can you scan them?

If you can’t scan them can you find someone who can?

We would ask that all material is scanned to 600dpi.

This will help us later in the design stages of the book.

Uploading material:

Drop Box is a free online service that you can join to send all your material to us.

Files scanned at 600dpi will be large files – too large for email delivery.

Google Drop box

Simply download the Drop box app on your computer and follow the instructions.

Eventually it will ask you for an email address to send your material to.

It will notify me of your intention to send material and I will accept it at this end.

Only then will it send through your material.

It may take some hours so leave it your computer on overnight for the transfer.

We realise that this may be difficult for some to do so we ask that you find help or email us for further help.

The most important thing is that the story writing begins because we will always find a way to get your material.

Send material to:

We ask that you send all material to:

David Callow

Address: 11 Belgrave Gembrook Road Belgrave. Vic. 3160.

Email: david@davidcallow.com

Mobile: +61 438 724 451

Please use registered post/courier and email us with all the details ahead of the delivery date so we can keep an eye out for it.

Non profit venture:

No-one will be paid to work on this book. Time and expertise is being offered by those amongst us.

The price for the book will be determined simply by the publishing costs to produce the book.

We had hoped to add a small margin to the price with all profit going to John’s family however the family has graciously declined this offer.

They would just love to see the Project completed

We really believe that this could be a wonderful memoir for everyone.

It really could be something quite special.

David Callow and Brett Wheeler

Thank you Ray for capturing what everyone at Red Dust would like others to know about John and providing an insight to the man we knew and loved…

Let me first acknowledge that we meet today on the sacred lands of Woiwurrung and Dja Dja Wurung, part of the Kulin nation, I pay my respect to their ancestors, who preserved this land. I also pay my respect to those elders both past and present.

John Van Groningen was not my mate. He was more than that. He was my spirit brother who taught me the deeper values in the art of true friendship. Our friendship meant that he was closer to me than a mate or a brother.

I was working at World Vision Australia when JVG burst onto the Aboriginal scene in Australia. At the time, Aboriginal affairs was still gridlocked in philosophical, social and political debates and theories on our social and political development;  especially in remote Australia. Within this complex and challenging history, JVG exploded onto the scene to offer himself.

All he had to offer was an intense passion, an enormous heart and a persistent determination to support our Aboriginal children in remote Australia through Role Modelling.

John was like a fierce storm that needed to happen among my people, especially among children and youth in remote Aboriginal communities. He brought welcome relief to drought stricken community life; looking desperately for new signs of hope for their children. JVG knew their situation intimately. He had lived among their despair and their dreams when he spent a brief period of his life as a pilot in the small desert community of Lajamanu.

People like JVG enter into our personal stories once in a lifetime. Once we are attracted to the JVG character and personality, we are given a choice. Go with him on this wild journey or walk away. Back in 1997, I chose to go along for the ride of my life with my best friend.

What I soon discovered was that JVG had this natural ability and instinct to break into corporate doors, cut through all types of bureaucratic red tape, pass through cultural barriers, by-pass political and social pessimism and make things happen that we all thought could not happen. He produced results in record time, with very little resources and even fewer funds.

From sports chaplain to the founder of Athletes as Role Models, formed here in Geelong, then to the building of Red Dust Role Models. From Wadeye to India. From Kintore to Fiji. His passion drove us down some very dusty and rugged paths to find communities whose children would be enriched when we connected them with their sporting heroes and a diversity of other professional Role Models.

And along the way, our musical Role Models taught and inspired those young children how to write, and how to sing about their dreams, their frustrations and their aspirations for all to hear.

Wow! What a journey it has been in such a short space of time!

The desert and its people had captured JVG. In quiet moments, JVG and I would share our desert experiences. He confided in me about those lonely desert nights in Lajamanu when, on the airstrip, he would cry out to God on behalf of our children, our families and our youth. He would ask why no one was listening to them. In such a rich and fortunate country, why was there such poverty and suffering? Why was there all this talk and little or no action? Why all these funds and no practical, long lasting results? In the end JVG would offer himself to God in the desert, on that airstrip, to serve the desert people in his own extraordinary way.

Jen asked me to speak a little today on behalf of my people, especially our people from the desert. On reflection Jen, I realised that I didn’t need to talk about the desert people and JVG.

JVG brought the desert and its people into your life. Into your home. Into you’re your family.…..Just like he did to all our lives. His Warlpiri skin name is Jungarrayi. Through his Aboriginal skin name came Belonging. Connection. Responsibility. Respect.  JVG took this skin name seriously enough to become the bridge between our desert people and all of us. Especially the children of the desert.  Like JVG, the desert and its beautiful people have now captured us. And we are so thankful that they in return, have taken us into their lives. Into their homes. Into their families. They made us feel like we belong. Now our lives are so inextricably entwined with our desert children that we are appreciating more and more with each visit what it is like to be fully reconciled with our First Australians and to connect with this land we all now love and share.

And Jennifer and John’s family, on behalf of all the children and communities that JVG visited and influenced, and all the corporate and government sponsors. And all the sports role models, and all the music role models and all the artists. We want you to know that we also feel your great loss and we all offer our deepest friendship, condolences to all John’s family.

Before I conclude, I must make a personal confession. Perhaps a personal observation. There were times when I wondered when I visited with our Role Models in these communities, who was Role Modelling whom?  For in our own desert experiences with these children and their people, like JVG, we found a deeper meaning in our own lives. We discovered what it truly means to be a Role Model. More deeply, we became more aware within ourselves the importance of just being human. And even more deeply, we discovered what it is like to be really connected to this land, spiritually.

So, what do I personally think is my friend JVG’s life and legacy?

It will be many things to each of us. Personally, he is saying as a true friend to all of us that our identity as a nation will one day be found in our desert experiences with our desert people, with our land and with each other.

Perhaps this is the lesson that JVG wanted us to learn. Perhaps this is his legacy to all of us.

This lesson can only be forged through the gift of true friendship.

I pray that we will all continue his legacy.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the very sad news that Red Dust founder and board member, John Van Groningen passed away on Sunday the 23^rd of December due to complications associated with his recent battle with cancer.

We are shocked and truly saddened with this loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Jennifer and the family during this difficult time.
We remember JVG most by his energy and passion for investing in the lives of others. John’s  genuine love of Australia’s Indigenous people and his affinity with sportspeople, community members and role models were the cornerstones of the Red Dust vision that he developed.

Where others dream of doing something; John did it and brought us all along for the exciting ride. An inspiration to all who were lucky enough to have met him. He will be dearly missed.

The memorial service will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday, January 2^nd at Braemar College (Heyward Hall), Mt Macedon Rd, Woodend.

Rest In Peace JVG.

Red Dust board and staff.

Hosted at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Red Dust held a golf day fundraising event. Enlisting the support from sporting and media  golf  aficionados 11 teams hit the course for a full 18 holes of four-ball. Allan Border, Dean Jones, Damien Fleming, Robert Dipierdimenico, Merv Hughes, Andrew Gaze, Mick Molloy, Brad Johnson, Glenn Robins, Matthew Boyd, Lindsay Gilbee, Tim Callan and Santo Cilauro  were all the celebrity players (one on each team)

The aim of the day was not only to raise funds for Red Dust’s Healthy Living Program; but also to fund research in 2013 around the aspirations of Indigenous youth in remote communities. This research will be carried out by Red Dust Founder and Director, John Van Groningen and will be his PhD.

Participants were from a range of industries from corporate Australia. It was a chance for a wide stream of people to understand a little more about Red Dust and have some fun at the same time. The day raised a total of nearly $60,000 for Red Dust programs and for the research project.

The winning team on the day was Doggies Captain Matthew Boyd and his team mates Andrew Potter, Mark Brownfield and Alex McKay. This team now has the opportunity to attend a Red Dust trip in 2013.

A huge thanks goes to all participants. Extra special thanks goes to Jessica Yore and Peter Anderson from McGrathNicol for organising the day.

Medibank Private leadership team employees  recently had the opportunity to attend a leadership program coordinated by Red Dust in the remote community of Wadeye (Port Keats). The concept behind the trip was to provide an insight into remote community life, enhance leadership skills and more specifically learn about remote health delivery.

Leadership facilitators, Mark Yettica-Paulson and Robbie Macpherson, along with Justin Crawley (Strong Men’s Program Director), Jason Gindidis and Melissa Wong (Medibank Leadership Development) and Red Dust CEO, Darren Smith met with 16 leaders from Medibank Private to embark  on the community residential component of the Elevate Leadership Program. The group travelled to Darwin before jumping into seven 4WD vehicles and driving 5 hours south-west to Wadeye.

Throughout the week long stay the group, once broken up into small teams, visited a range of community stake holders involved in the area of remote health delivery. These stake holders included: the community store, health clinic, women’s centre, alcohol and other drug support workers, Wadeye Rangers, high school and local police. The teams also had the privilege of heading out bush with some local people to learn how traditional foods and medicine are collected today using methods handed down over the generations.

This experience challenged each participant to think outside of their comfort zone and to consider some complex health focused scenarios. These challenges withing the community require strong leadership and one of the most difficult things to realise is that solutions will take time and will need to be comprehensive – there is no quick fix.

Red Dust was able to expose the group to some fantastic people and introduce many of the participants to a new environment and a different set of values to what these leaders probably see from day to day. Wadeye is a diverse community with several different clans each with its own language, and belonging to a particular land and dreaming. Wadeye is also the largest remote Indigenous community in the NT. This makes Wadeye a well serviced community with a population of around 2000 people. However, there are still health challenges that need to be addressed in order to close the gap on life expectancy.

Overall it was a fantastic week with many of the Medibank team remarking it was one of the best experiences they had ever had.

A big thank you to Justin Crawley and local leader, Leon from the Strong Men Program for all their assistance during the week.

Launched in July 2012, the Telco Together Foundation is a registered charity that brings together the telecommunications industry in support of disadvantaged communities.

Members of the Foundation include Optus, Vodafone, NBN Co, Dodo, M2, AAPT, Alcatel, Community Telco, Eftel, Telcoinabox, Vocus Communications, Smart Business Telco and Globe Telecom.

“I am delighted with the high calibre of charities we have secured as community partners. All four organisations have adopted a unique approach to addressing challenges within their respective areas. This innovative and thought-leading approach to supporting disadvantaged communities on a national scale, while maintaining high levels of integrity and management, resonates well with the Foundation’s vision and was fundamental to our decision to align support.” said Renee Bowker, CEO of the Telco Together Foundation.

For more information please go to www.telcotogether.org

Red Dust looks forward to a long and beneficial relationship with the foundation that will help us to continue to work towards our goal of healthy remote Indigenous communities.

The program, which ran over two weeks, started with a group of five Abigroup construction workers travelling to Areyonga, approximately 240km south-west of Alice Springs where they spent a week working with the community to build a grandstand and other facilities around the local sports fields.

Following completion of the project, five of the local Areyonga men returned to Sydney with the Abigroup team and spent a week on the company’s Hunter Expressway project near Newcastle where they had an opportunity to experience life on a large-scale construction project.

Red Dust Role Models Board Member and Cultural Advisor, Raymond Minniecon said of the project, ” I am still on a high after spending a week in Areyonga with Abigroup employees Keith, Sarah, Steve, Wayne, Robby – now affectionately called Tjilpi, meaning wise old man – working with the local men from the community to build important infrastructure for the local football and softball grounds.”

“Sport is one of the most important activities in remote Aboriginal communities, bringing people together just like ancient gatherings where information and cultures are exchanged and good social and political relationships between different nation and tribal groups are established and maintained.”

“The Areyonga community has warmed to Abigroup and is so appreciative that Abigroup in partnership with Red Dust Role Models would give their time and support to their community with this very important project.” Raymond said.

Abigroup’s National Sustainability Manager Sarah Marshall, who led the initiative for Abigroup, said that from the inception of the project about a year ago the focus was on building something that the community had planned themselves, to ensure they felt a sense of ownership and pride in what was left behind.

“Abigroup has worked in partnership with Red Dust for more than three years now and have had a number of our employees visit Areyonga as well as other remote indigenous communities on Red Dust Role Models trips in that time.”

“This project provided us with the opportunity to take our participation with Red Dust and the community of Areyonga a step further and was as much about giving our employees the opportunity to learn more about the indigenous culture and the community of Areyonga as it was about helping to build important sports infrastructure for the community.”

“We also hope that Wilbur, Abraham, Ricky, Phillip and Terrence who spent a week on our Hunter Expressway project got as much from their experience as the Abigroup team got from our time in Areyonga.” Sarah said.