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 Jaime Currell (Year 10) and Juliette Clark (Year 11).
For the previous week’s reflections see here.
Carol Bloomfield
Head of Student Wellbeing Programs
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Jaime Currell (Year 10)
This Immersion has deepened my understanding of Indigenous Australia, allowing me to experience the rich cultural heritage, connection to the Land, and community-centred values firsthand. It moved beyond theoretical knowledge, enabling me to hear stories from Elders like Ian, Tim, and Elaine, who shared their wisdom and traditions with us. The Immersion revealed how deeply interwoven Indigenous culture is with the Land, and the profound respect they hold for the environment. Through listening to stories, witnessing cultural practices, and engaging in community projects, I gained a richer appreciation for the complexity and depth of Indigenous knowledge and history.
After nine days, I feel both enriched and humbled. The experience was transformative, leaving me with a sense of connection to the Land and respect for the resilience of Indigenous communities. I feel grateful for the opportunity to learn directly from the Traditional Owners and be welcomed onto their Land. The experience taught me to slow down, listen deeply, and appreciate the wisdom that comes from spending time in nature and learning from those who have been its caretakers for generations.
One of the most impactful discoveries was the concept of Dadirri, or deep listening. It’s a practice that emphasises being present and truly absorbing the sounds, stories, and essence of the surroundings. This practice taught me that there is so much more to learn when we approach the world with openness and respect. I also discovered the significance of reconciliation through the story of the broken spear at Cooktown, which marked a historic gesture of peace between the local Indigenous people and Captain Cook. This story highlighted the importance of symbolic actions and the enduring need for understanding and healing between cultures.
One key experience was our time at Kalkajaka (Black Mountain), where we learned about the sacred significance of the site and its Dreamtime stories. Listening to Gavin and Ian explain the spiritual meaning behind the land taught me how places hold stories and memory for Indigenous peoples, far beyond their physical features. Another unforgettable moment was the smoking ceremony with Tim at Panamuunji, which symbolised our welcome to Country. It was a deeply moving experience that made me feel part of something larger, a shared history and responsibility. Finally, our group reflections, guided by symbols like a rock, leaf, and stick, helped me understand the personal impact of the trip and solidified the lessons I’ll carry forward.
I intend to act on what I’ve learned by being a more active advocate for Indigenous voices and stories, especially in discussions about history, land rights, and cultural preservation. I will continue practicing Dadirri, encouraging myself and others to listen more deeply to the world around us. Additionally, I want to support Indigenous-led initiatives and educate others about the importance of acknowledging and respecting the Traditional Custodians of the land. It’s crucial to amplify the stories and perspectives I was privileged to hear.
Moving forward, I can contribute to reconciliation by fostering spaces for dialogue and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. This includes educating myself and others, supporting Indigenous-led businesses and projects, and acknowledging Country in my daily life. I can also advocate for policies and practices that prioritise Indigenous rights and perspectives, ensuring that the respect and recognition I witnessed on immersion continue beyond our time on Country. Ultimately, I want to be part of the effort to heal and build a future where all Australians can celebrate the richness of this land’s oldest cultures.
Red Earth Cape York Immersion Reflection by Juliette Clark (Year 11)
45 SCEGGS girls. 8 teachers. The Cape York Peninsula. Blazing heat and too many flies. Nothing less than the most valuable experience I’ve ever had. My recent Immersion trip to the Cape York Peninsula was a deeply enriching and transformative experience. Spending time with the Traditional Owners of the Land allowed me to connect not only with the breathtaking natural environment but also with the profound cultural heritage that has shaped the region for thousands of years.
One of the most impactful aspects of the trip was listening to the stories shared by Elders. Their oral histories, rich with wisdom and resilience, revealed a deep connection to the land that transcends generations. It was humbling to learn how these stories guide their communities in caring for Country, passing down practices that ensure sustainability and balance.
Walking through the Northern Queensland landscape alongside Traditional Owners, I began to see the land through their eyes. What I initially saw as simply stunning scenery became a living history, marked by sacred sites, ancient rock art, and ecosystems carefully managed over millennia. At Wurrey Homeland and Melsonby Ranger Base, we were shown bush tucker and taught the unique ways every single plant is used. What makes this knowledge so amazing is that it can change even from family to family and is passed down and used in such a sustainable way. And the knowledge that was shared to us at Melsonby about rock art depictions of spirits such as Medicine Man and Woman, the ways that artists would mark their paintings and teach their sons, and even the ships of the First Fleet, showed me how important it is to conserve this living, breathing history. This connection reminded me of the responsibility we all share to respect and protect the environment for our own future generations.
We also were lucky enough to participate in activities such as spear throwing, making damper, and fishing. These moments were invaluable for helping us connect with the cultures that surrounded us, and to form relationships with Traditional Owners. And in everything we did, we would talk. Conversations would form whilst we painted a sign for Wurrey, or while we wove pandanus bracelets, and I think this unfiltered, genuine desire to share their stories was the most beautiful thing I learnt from the Traditional Owners. I have so much respect for all of them – Uncle Bernie, Auntie Cheryl, Uncle Bula, Lazza, Auntie Julie, Ginger, Denta – and everyone else who showed us so much love.
During the immersion trip, I not only formed connections with the Traditional Owners, but also with the range of girls in both mine and the overall group. Yellow Group – Wurrey and Melsonby – was the kindest, most respectful, diverse group of people, and I am so glad I was able to experience this trip with them. Whether we were swimming together in a creek or a waterfall, or being taught about ancient rock art, we were constantly forming new friendships that are very special to me. The atmosphere was a perfect catalyst for these bonds to develop and thrive. But most importantly, the trip made me reflect on my own role in reconciliation. I realised the importance of being an active ally—advocating for Indigenous rights, educating others, and supporting efforts to preserve and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
The final day on the remarkable Great Barrier Reef was the perfect way to end the trip of a lifetime. It provided space for a reflection of how far we’d come – physically, emotionally, and spiritually – and an incredibly grounding experience that displayed Australia’s natural beauty in a way I’d never seen. I also learnt how the reef was used, and how the different life interacts in such a biodiverse location.
Ultimately, this journey was more than an educational experience; it was a call to action. I left Cape York with a deeper understanding of the resilience and strength of its Traditional Owners and a commitment to honour their stories, culture, and connection to Country in my own life.
Below is an excerpt from my Cape York Journal, after a yarn around the fire with Uncle Bernie and Auntie Cheryl on Day 2:
Uncle Bernie talked to us about the concept of time. He said that in nature, and in the Indigenous community, everything is on time. They know they need to harvest honey, get food, make a humpy and they don’t sit around doing nothing. “Time and tide waits for no man”. Then we talked about culture, and he said, “You have to look at yourself and say ‘This is how I want to be, and this is how I will carry on’”.
I feel as if I have been constantly learning – not just when asking questions and listening to the Traditional Owners, but also just being in this beautiful landscape with Elders, and also so many incredible students and teachers. Every minute has been something new, something exciting, and something so valuable. Uncle Bernie said Old Man Wurrey will always be with us, keeping us safe back in Sydney, and that if we see fog rolling in over the ocean, we know he is watching us. (Wurrey = fog in Guuguyimithirr language).
This is a poem I wrote on the plane back from Cairns about the trip as a whole:
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Red earth coats my dusty legs
Seeping into my every thought
It lingers there
Subtle changes in perception
Everything is brighter
Meaningful
Surreal
Braids are no longer just hair
But a symbol
Of trust, friendship
And learning
Each interwoven strand
May represent the very people who are now
Family
The paint under my fingernails
Is the paint on a water tank
On a homeland
Of the reddest earth
The sand
In my book
Is the same sand from a beach
Where the warmest hearts have walked
I miss the stars
The vast expanse of earth, bush, and sky
I miss knowing I am walking on land
That their ancestors walked on too
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Cape York
A liminal destination
A constant collide of past and future
Trauma and love
Tradition and progress
Yet it is all
It is all these things and so much more
A classroom
A battleground
A home
We sing, dance, share stories, and paint
We ask questions
And we listen
We grow into ourselves
Blossoming like the yellow wattle
In a world where everything is connected
Green ant to reef shark
Ironwood to ancient rock
It is hard to belong
But if we try
We may find a purpose, happiness, friendship
A piece of me will remain
On the peninsula
And the dust of red earth
Will be with me forever.
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