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 Year 10 Ava Woo and Ruby Sunman-Peters.
For the previous week’s reflections see here.
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Ava Woo (Year 10)
The nine days I spent on the Cape York immersion trip deeply transformed my understanding of Indigenous Australia. Before this journey, my knowledge of Aboriginal culture was limited, but now I truly appreciate the significance of the Land and how Aboriginal people have lived harmoniously on it for thousands of years. Listening to Traditional Owners like Ian and Tim was an incredible experience, they shared stories and showed us their connection to Land. Their knowledge of the environment, from medicinal plants and bush tucker to Dreamtime stories, was both inspiring and eye-opening.
Our first destination, Kalkajaka homeland, was amazing. Meeting and connecting with Ian, the Traditional Owner, was an experience that made a lasting impression on me. It wasn’t just about learning from him; it was about understanding the bond he has with the Land and how it shapes his identity and life. Engaging with Ian helped me develop respect for the importance of these connections and the sense of guardianship felt by Aboriginal people. One of the standout moments of the trip for me was visiting Black Mountain. Our guide, Gavin, explained the mountain’s sacred status and shared the Dreamtime story of two brothers who fought over a woman. This story made me realise that places like this hold deep spiritual significance, something I hadn’t fully understood before. I’ve come to see how much meaning these sites carry for Indigenous Australians and the role they play in their culture and identity.
Our journey continued to Punamunji, where we helped to build amenities and a garden bed for Tim and Elaine, the Traditional Owners. It felt appropriate to give our time and physical labour to Tim and Elaine who so generously shared knowledge and traditions with us. One of the most impactful moments of the trip was learning the local language from Elaine. Language holds such immense cultural value, carrying stories, histories, and identities across generations. Being taught these words was an honour and something I now realise is a powerful means of connection and preservation.
Through this journey, my understanding of and appreciation for Aboriginal culture has expanded immensely. Witnessing firsthand the strength, knowledge, and hospitality of these communities has opened my eyes to the depth of their traditions and the challenges they face. It’s a reminder of the importance of preserving these cultures and respecting the wisdom they hold. This experience has inspired me to seek further opportunities to learn about and support Aboriginal communities and to celebrate the richness that of Aboriginal heritage.
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Ruby Sunman-Peters (Year 10)
Waking up at 3am probably wasn’t my ideal start to the holidays, but if I had known about the incredible experiences to come, I would never have complained. Stepping off the plane at Cairns, the first thing that hit me was the immediate heat, completely unlike Sydney. After I had changed into some much-needed shorts, we were off to our first homeland: Wurrey. Before getting there, we travelled through some of the most beautiful and different scenery I had ever seen. We arrived at Wurrey in the afternoon and hopped off our 4-wheel drive bus. Immediately, we were welcomed by Aunty Cheryll and Uncle Bernie. After an initial discussion, we started to set up the tents. While it was challenging, we all worked together to set them up and we eventually had our tents, stretchers, and sleeping bags set up. Thankfully, as the trip progressed, we got much faster at setting them up. In the evening, we sat around the fire with Uncle Bernie and participated in some discussion. Everyone was slightly hesitant at the start but by the end, many of us had asked some really interesting questions and Uncle Bernie’s responses were extremely insightful. Some things that stuck with me from the first discussion was the importance of family and how it impacts other aspects of life, and how critical education is. The next morning, Aunty Cheryll taught us some language and showed us some different plants and their uses. During this, she told us stories of her experiences as principal of the local school. Both Uncle Bernie’s and Aunty Cheryll’s commitment to education is inspiring, especially Aunty Cheryll’s dedication to continuing the Guugu Yimithirr language. In the afternoon, we went down to a nearby creek and played some games, did some reflection, and cooled off in the water. All around us the landscape was so beautiful. During our stay at Wurrey, Uncle Bernie showed us a film about the region. It had so many stories about the hardships that his community had faced, including the Stolen Generation. It was enormously moving and heartbreaking. My time at Wurrey was educational, inspiring, and beautiful. There were so many amazing moments, such as eating green ants, talking with the Traditional Owners, and so many more.
After we left Wurrey, we headed onwards to Melsonby. This homeland was located in a national park and was very different to Wurrey. When we first arrived at Melsonby, the Traditional Owners performed a Welcome to Country then we set up our tents again. At Melsonby we participated in many different activities such as weaving, fishing, bushwalks, learning about bush tucker, painting, building a humpy, cooking and more. One of my favourite moments at Melsonby was when we went on an evening bushwalk. We looked out over 32000 acres of national park and watched the sunset. The Traditional Owners talked with us about some stories and showed us some of the different mountain ranges. After this, we walked back down and sat around the fire. That night, we talked with Aunty Denta. She talked with us about her experiences in the foster system and about her childhood. It amazed me how open she was. The next day, we visited some ancient rock art sites. Each one was so interesting and different. The Traditional Owners told us about the stories behind the art, like the Medicine Women. It was really amazing to be able to see them in real life and hear all about it from people who were incredibly knowledgeable.
Eventually, we had to leave Melsonby. As the bus departed, we were all sang, and some people started tearing up. After a long drive along the coast past the rainforest and seemingly infinite games of Uno, we arrived at our final campsite. Our trip to the Great Barrier Reef was the perfect way to end the trip. It allowed us to connect with the other group, share stories, reflect, and see some more beautiful parts of Queensland.
While Wurrey and Melsonby were extremely different, both taught me so much. My trip to both homelands was a once in a lifetime experience that changed my perspective and taught me so many new things. Each minute was special, and I will always treasure the memories and friendships I made there.
