Red Dust has kicked off 2012 by sending a large and enthusiastic team to Warburton Community on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia

This was the first Red Dust trip of it’s kind in Warburton having previously participated in the Warburton Health Expo in the past . Coinciding with the end of school holidays, the kids were eager to get involved with all the activities on offer. After receiving funding from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to deliver programs on the dangers of Petrol Sniffing, Red Dust Role Models coordinated a tour which comprised of members from the Indigenous Hip Hop Projects performers, Muso Magic, Lara Davenport (Olympic Swimmer) and Patrick Bowden (AFL).

The team worked with Warburton Community on the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in Western Australia to develop a song, film a  DVD and  choreograph a dance routine which dealt with the sensitive issue of petrol sniffing amongst disengaged youth.  A fantastic song and film was produced, titled “Don’t be Rama Rama” (meaning “crazy” in Ngaanyatjarra language).

Thursday evening saw the screening of the production to the community as well as  a “deadly styles” performance which featured the Indigenous Hip Hop Performers and the Warburton youth dancing against each other in a  dance off battle! It was an awesome sight, the kids were so keen to show off their skills.

Enjoyed by over 200 community members and visitors to the community, this event highlighted the positive impact the Red Dust visit had made to the community.  With the young kids singing and performing the choreographed dance to the “Rama Rama” song until late into the evening, it was a fantastic experience to see smiles on the faces of both kids and parents in this very remote and sometimes challenging community.

During the week-long tour, the team also had the opportunity participate in a training session and then a game of AFL, with Patrick Bowden being a major draw-card to the enthusiastic Warburton community. Around 40 young men participated that evening; footy is always a popular activity in remote communities!

Lara Davenport also found herself “thrown in the deep end” of the local swimming pool, and shared her skills with the numerous kids who were delighted to engage with an Olympic gold medallist.

Thank you to all the team members who participated,  Warburton Community members, the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku youth team, Warburton Remote Community School and Department of Child Protection (Warburton) for your amazing support during the week.

Check out the ‘Don’t be Rama Rama’ video!