Cape York 2024 Student Immersion
We continue to share the personal reflections and photos from the students who were on last year’s immersion to Traditional Homelands in Cape York. This week we hope you enjoy the reflection from Bella Campbell (Year 10) and Meike Bannister (Year 10)
For the previous week’s reflections see here.
Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Bella Campbell (Year 10)
The first homeland we stayed on was Kalkajaka, we met Traditional Owner Ian, he was extremely kind, friendly and welcoming and made the start to the journey safe and comfortable. Learning about Ian’s upbringing, identity, daily life and his connection to the Land and culture was so interesting and the feeling of meeting someone with so much knowledge of things I would have no idea about was incredible and such a rare experience. I appreciated this deeply. We did cultural activities like visiting Black Mountain, hearing Dreamtime stories which I found completely immersive and incredible, an experience I will never forget. We did other cultural activities like visiting local locations like Quarantine Bay, Cooktown Museum, the bush surrounding the campsite, touring around the campsite learning about what different plants and trees can do for the body and so much more that I will take with me. Every morning at Kalkajaka once I had woken up, I would immediately grab my journal and go sit around the fire with Ian. We would talk and I appreciated these times, which were slow and calm. It was super sad leaving Kalkajaka but the experience was incredible and has really stuck with me.
The second homeland we were able to stay on was Panamunji, Tim and Elaine’s land. We were able to hear stories about their different traditions and laws, I found this so interesting as they are so different from my personal family’s traditions. Tim used to be a cattle farmer and learning about his stories on the farm, as well as once going overseas as part of a news campaign to inform people about the cattle issues happening, and now those problems have been resolved. It was so captivating to hear Tim’s connection with Country, specifically land, water and sky. We did cultural activities like Tim greeting us with a Welcome to Country Smoke Ceremony as well as going for walks around the land hearing firsthand from Tim the uses of the land for things like medicine and baby carriers. There was a beautiful stream running down the land, we walked down with Tim, and he showed us this face mask he grabbed from reaching into a specific rock. This was an incredible experience, I was amazed at Tim’s knowledge of the Land, just knowing that the facemask clay was in there, we were fascinated and asked Tim what a random tree was and he instantly knew that the tree can help your hair grow. Panamunji was very different to Kalkajaka, I thought Tim was stricter on more Traditional matters and Ian was more relaxed, but the homelands were quite similar with facilities and overall feeling.
The site I found most significant was Black Mountain on Kalkajaka land. The extraordinary mountain of black granite rocks, we learnt about 3 different dreamtime stories from Traditional Owner Ian and Garry, who leases the land for Red Earth, about the creation of Black Mountain, one about two brothers fighting over a woman and another about two different mobs on either side fighting over land. Another site I will cherish was the Cooktown Museum where we heard from a guide who told us about the first act of reconciliation in Australia, which happened right there in Cooktown and how some of the British Fleet got their boats stuck on the Great Barrier Reef on their way in. The first act of reconciliation occurred when an individual in a local Aboriginal group stood up on a rock, in front of Captain Cook and his fleet and held a broken spear, as a sign of peace and reconciliation. This really stuck out to me and I found it deeply interesting.
As a group by working hard making and selling scrunchies, tote bags, cookies and keychains to sell at Festival on Forbes (which was a huge success), individual fundraising from students, baking for a bake stall at lunch and donations from parents and staff, we raised a very successful total of $5972. The money raised help fund the community project we worked on. Our goal was to build two flushing toilets and a garden bed that self-waters through people using the sink and draining the water into the garden. As a group we all contributed in different ways, such as digging up dirt, collecting leaves and horse waste and so much more. This project was hugely successful and will be very useful for future Red Earth groups to come and use, so they can learn from Tim and Elaine just as much as we were able to.
Travelling to remote top end Australia was a memorable experience; the roads were not as harsh or rough as I expected but the 4WD bus made it very comfortable. Being a part of duty groups was actually more rewarding and enjoyable then I expected. It was exciting to contribute and especially cooking and being the leaders was actually so fun and I loved doing it. Packing up and putting tents back up was not bad, whilst it got repetitive was actually quite nice and working in our tent groups and all contributing made it quick and easy. Reflecting around the campfire at night was a time I appreciated deeply and even reading my journal while writing this is something I will keep with me forever and has definitely changed my perspective on a lot. The reflections were a perfect example of how slow paced and lovely the whole immersion was, which I loved.
The main tourism activity we did was swimming and snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef, this was an insanely special and certainly memorable experience for me that I am going to keep with me forever. It was a different type of experience than staying at the homelands but not for the better or worse. It was more alike with my own everyday life, but I also took a lot from it about myself and the cultural talks on the boat. We learnt about how Traditional Owners used to fish and eat animals from the sea. Something that stood out to me was how they would eat the turtle (which they would only take once a year and would only take an old turtle) so as to not waste anything. They would eat the meat from the turtle and use every other part as well, for example the shell as a bowl/ baby carrier.
This immersion 100% definitely deepened my understanding of Aboriginal culture, normally when I think of Indigenous culture I think of the overall picture and not specific peoples and their own connection, but this immersion has definitely changed that. Meeting Traditional Owners like Ian, Tim, and Elaine taught me how intertwined their customs and knowledge are with the environment, from using natural resources for medicine to sharing Dreamtime stories. I now better appreciate their sustainable practices and the challenges they face, like limited access to services. This experience has strengthened my respect for Aboriginal culture and my commitment to supporting their rights and protecting their lands. I am completely grateful and will continue to appreciate this experience which I was lucky enough to take part in.
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Meike Bannister (Year 10)
My time in Cape York began at Wurrey, a homeland where I stayed with Auntie Sheryll and Uncle Bernie. It was a nurturing and peaceful experience that felt very much like home. The land was calm, and I had the opportunity to explore the creek, connect with nature, and immerse myself in the traditional yet creative ways of life. I learned how to make damper, which was a delicious treat, and even participated in a spear-throwing competition. Uncle Bernie shared personal stories from his father, and we watched an enlightening film that provided important educational insights into the Stolen Generations. It was a deeply moving and educational experience, one that made me reflect on the significance of Stolen Generations and the impact it had on Indigenous communities. Living in this homeland was an immersive experience that gave me a deeper understanding. I also had the chance to try green ants, which added to my connection to the environment. The beauty of the homeland was evident everywhere, and the natural world around me became a source of reflection. I left with a renewed sense of respect for the land and its people.
Next, I visited the Melsonby homeland, where I stayed at the ranger base. It was an incredibly fast-paced and jam-packed experience that felt like being part of one big family. Our hosts here did things differently, and I was able to engage deeply with Dentra, one of the Traditional Owners. This connection was transformative, and I realised that this was exactly why I came. It has given me new perspectives and allowed me to truly appreciate the strength and power of Aboriginal culture. This real life experience does not compare to anything I had learnt at school. I learned about connection to their totem, the Eastern Brown Snake, and was struck by the power of their beliefs. Dentra shared a story about a man who had disrespected the land, and as a result, their totem killed him. This taught me how deeply their culture is tied to their environment and their values and how their beliefs protect them. The homeland was organised, but it also embodied the raw, red earth that characterized the dry and windy landscape. I learned practical survival skills, such as building a natural shelter and fishing without a hook, which were traditional practices still used by their wonderful community.
