2007 Community Programs - Tour 4
Sunday, 3 June - Saturday, 9 June

Milingimbi & Wadeye

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Tour report:

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.
Participants:

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

Wow what an amazing week. After taking a day to fly up to the Top End we then drove for about 7 hours via Daly River (another community we visit) to Wadeye (pronounced Wadair). We had received a fantastic briefing from some of the local agency staff as well as lots of cautions about Wadeye which had been through a tough period a few months ago. However when we entered the community we found nothing but smiling faces and warm welcomes from everyone we met. Special thanks must go to the Council staff who made us so welcome and accommodated us really well and staff at the School, where the visit was based.

We had three days on the ground working with teachers and the amazing kids at the school. I found my element in the pool (it was tough but some one had to do it!) as well as having some magic moments in the art classes with my new friend Jason. The country is incredible with about 12 creek crossings (some with crocs residing!) needed to reach Wadeye. The community dates back to the 30s and has a very interesting history. There are a number of clans living in the town. English is a second or third language for many people. The town was well cared for.

We made the 10k trek down to the local beach a couple of nights (home to a 5 meter salty!). We met up with a bunch of local kids cooking up supper of shell fish gathered out the mangroves so I ate my first ‘bush tucker” bright green worms!!

I think I played more sport in the days we were there than in the preceding 10 years. The week culminated in a 3k fun run around town with a few hundred kids joining us and many of the schools staff. We even had the NT Chief Minister drop by!!

All in all a very successful trip. The feedback from kids and teachers was really encouraging and I look forwards to our being invited back for another tour.

Thanks to everyone who made this a Great Success!