Cape York 2024 Student Immersion

We continue to share the personal reflections and photos from the students who were on this year’s immersion to Traditional Homelands in Cape York. This week we hope you enjoy the reflection from Jessica Gallie (Year 9).

For the previous week’s reflections see here.

Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs

Reflections from the Cape York Immersion (Kalkajaka-Panamuunji)

The Cape York immersion to remote Indigenous communities in far North Queensland was a truly memorable experience that gave me a greater understanding of Indigenous culture. Learning about the deep connection Indigenous Australians have with the land, air, and waterways as well as each other through sacred stories left me awestruck, and I will forever be grateful for this rare experience.

After an early 4am flight we arrived at our first homeland, Kalkajaka. It was very different from Sydney being hot, dry, and surrounded by huge mountains. We were warmly welcomed by the Traditional owner, Ian, around the campfire. We learnt that being welcomed onto Country was to protect us and to acknowledge and that we are visitors on this sacred Indigenous land. This information was new to me and helped me recognise the enduring bonds between Elders and the land. Ian led us on a tour around the bush, where we explored the mountainous landscape, learnt about the uses for native bushtucker, and listened to ancient Dreamtime stories which explained how the land came to be. One of my favourite activities in this homeland was going for a late-night walk along a creek, where we spotted wildlife like eels, frogs, toads and lizards. I was amazed by the vast knowledge Ian had about each animal, which helped me learn not to fear wildlife but to embrace the uncomfortable.

On the final night, we had an amazing talent show, where groups sang, danced and performed some magic tricks that may or may not have gone to plan. There was a notable effort from the teachers who gave us a beautiful upside-down performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. This experience strengthened our relationships with each other as peers and group leaders.

It was sad to leave this beautiful homeland that made us reflect on how different our lives are in Sydney. That’s what made this new experience so special. The memories will stick with me forever because it gave me new insights into different ways of life, experiences which have shaped my perspective on embracing change.

After saying a sad goodbye to Ian, we all jumped onto the bus, leaving for our second homeland, Panamuunji. We arrived at a tiny town called Hopevale and did some sightseeing. All the facilities like the school, church, and supermarket were close together, so it was easy to see how interconnected the community must be. While we didn’t stay in the town, it was eye-opening to see how different the cultures are in busy Darlinghurst to quiet Hopevale. A short drive away were the Traditional Owners Tim and Elaine’s property where we would be staying. When we got to their home Tim performed a smoking ceremony as a formal Welcome to Country which made me feel very immersed in the experience. We explored the land surrounding our campsite where Tim shared with us knowledge of the land that had been passed down through generations. We discovered the medicinal benefits of bush tucker and other interesting uses for plants, like how the a seed from a tree which looked like a wooden bush peg can be used to hang up clothes, which became very useful after getting wet the next day! We went for a swim in the creek where we were shown a natural clay face mask which I thought was pretty cool. Tim reflected on his time at the creek as a young boy, how it was used for fishing, recreation and bathing. Hearing these stories, I realised how important it is to preserve Indigenous land so the rich connection First Nations Peoples have with Country can be preserved for future generations.

While at the Panamuunji homeland we helped build facilities so Tim and Elaine can continue to share their stories and experiences with future groups. We helped make a garden bed and finished work on a sewerage system. My job was to dig a trench outside the showers so the water could flow easily and to install plumbing for flushing toilets, which gave me a newfound respect for how difficult physical labour can be. While the tasks were challenging, it was rewarding seeing how collaborative work can create something that will benefit others. It was also a token of gratitude, from us, to thank Tim and Elaine for opening their hearts and homes.

While the Kalkajaka and Panamuunji homelands differed in many cultural aspects, both provided me with knowledge that has been passed down for thousands of years, which has inspired my everyday life. The immersion has motivated me to strive to be actively involved in reconciliation by sharing these stories and experiences with a wider community. It’s life-changing to hear traditional Elders share their culture and understanding and start conversations that will continue well beyond their Homelands.

Jessica Gallie
Year 9