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 Lily Matison (Year 10), Adelaide Sewell (Year 10), Sophia Hanel (Year 10) and Sarah James (Year 11).
For the previous week’s reflections see here.
Cape York Reflection
Lily Matison (Year 10)
The 2024 Cape York Immersion to the traditional homelands of Kalkajaka and Panamuunji were lifechanging experiences which exposed us to parts of society so different from home in Sydney. We spent these nine days learning from and connecting with the Traditional Owners, land and one another and all came back with new perspectives and values.
Our first homeland, Kalkajaka was a site surrounded in trees, art and the Kalkajaka mountain, a towering structure made of granite with many dream time stories surrounding it. We were welcomed by Ian, the Traditional Owner of this homeland, and discussed the meanings and forms of Welcome to Country. During out time at this homeland, we hiked up a mountain, tried bush tucker including green ants and wild passionfruit, visited a museum, had a talent show, found and ate fresh coconuts as well as eating mangos from a tree in Cooktown. We visited different waterways, one particularly standing out from the rest. Here we spent my favourite night, talking under the stars, eating our coconuts, having a barbeque and then walking around once it was dark and learning from Ian about the wildlife. Our time at Kalkajaka bonded us as a group, pushed us out of our comfort zone and made us realise how vastly different life is here.
After leaving Kalkajaka we drove to Hopevale, a small community near the second homeland. Here we learnt about the prevalence of religion in the mission of Hopevale as well as visiting a supermarket. The supermarket was a shocking moment for all of us, revealing how vastly different life is in far north Queensland as opposed to inner Sydney. We then drove to Panamuunji where we met Tim and Elaine, the traditional owners of this homeland. Here we were welcomed to country through a smoking ceremony performed by Tim. That night Tim told us stories about his life, as well as ghost stories which resulted in a lot of screaming that night. We also spent time at the creek which Tim told us he had spent time in most days when he was younger, fishing and hunting. While at the creek we learnt about some traditional natural remedies which made me realise the amount of knowledge shared in this culture and how solutions that we have made were already thought of tens of thousands of years ago.
At Panamuunji we worked on our project, which for us was building a toilet, garden and fixing a few other small problems around the homeland. We spent hours under the scorching sun, shovelling gravel into a hole, digging trenches and installing pipes but it was all worth it when Lance, one of our immersion leaders, came to us and told us a flushing toilet was ready. Leaving Panamuunji was a sad experience. All of the memories we had made here will stick with us and we were glad to have been able to help them during our stay at their home.
The final day was spent in Cairns, where both groups met up. The energy when we all got together was truly unmatched, everybody rushing to tell stories about what they heard, did and learnt. Then getting to end the trip out on the Great Barrier Reef, relaxing and exploring was the perfect closing point to our adventure.
Cape York was an experience unlike anything I have ever done. You are pushed far out of your comfort zone into a world unfamiliar to you but one that will always stay in our hearts. I am so grateful to the traditional owners who allowed us to stay on the land and teach us about their rich culture, allowing us to tell others what we have learnt.
Adelaide Sewell (Year 10)
The nine days of the Cape York Immersion really changed my perspective on Indigenous Australia. My knowledge of Aboriginal culture was more limited prior to the trip but I now recognise the significance of the land and how they have lived on it for thousands of years. The stories from Traditional Owners like Ian and Tim were fascinating and they have a strong bond with the land. I became aware of how much they knew about the environment and nature when they showed us medicine bush tucker and Dreamtime stories.
Throughout the many experiences, the trip to Black Mountain was one of the most memorable for me. Our guide Gavin explained to us the mountains sacred status and the Dreamtime tale of two brothers who fought over a woman. This opened my eyes to the fact that these locations have much more significance than what is readily apparent. I had never considered the spiritual ties to the land before but now I see how significant they are to their culture.
Making connections with the locals and meeting new people that I might not have a chance to talk to at school was a significant aspect of this journey. Meeting people like Ian, Tim and Elaine was amazing and their tales of their love and understanding for the land demonstrated how much they cherish it and make use of it. We bonded in ways we hadn’t previously because we also spent a lot of time with our classmates. I had the opportunity to speak with people I didn’t know well at school and by the end of the trip we had all become much closer. We had the opportunity to establish new connections with one another while cooking together exploring the homelands and sitting around the campfire and doing everything together.
I also came away from the trip with a fresh understanding of how we can all live more simply. Without electronics we spent a lot of time outside which helped me realize how little we truly need to be happy. I felt much more connected with nature and the land around me, whether I was sitting by the fire, fishing or swimming in creeks. It served as a reminder to enjoy nature more and be grateful for what we have. My perspective has been changed overall by this experience, and I intend to carry these lessons with me moving forward.
My understanding of the value of establishing relationships, both with people and the land was greatly enhanced by this trip. As a result of these experiences, I will try to maintain a closer relationship with the natural world and those around me. This trip is something I will always remember and will always be grateful to be able to take part.
Sophia Hanel (Year 10)
For our first homeland we were welcomed onto ‘Wurrey,’ where we were met by the Traditional Owners, Uncle Bernie and Aunty Sheryl. They were extremely welcoming and kind, with positive attitudes towards interacting with us and teaching us about their incredible culture. They made settling in easy and within hours we already felt as if we had known them for ages! Aunty Sheryl was the principle at the local school in Hopevale, providing us with a new outlook on the education system in rural areas, and access to education within Indigenous communities and young people. We learnt about the land, such as bushtucker and bush medicine, and how it adapted into everyday life and relied on by their ancestors and is even on occasion used today. A highlight for me would definitely be the open conversations (yarns) around the campfire where we were able to gain knowledge and understandings, as well as express our own views, by asking many questions.
The land we were invited onto was so incredible. There was a creek in which a green frog had declared his home, unique plants that we have never encountered (some which had been grown by Uncle Bernie himself), animals such as cows, beautiful stars at night that in the city would never be visible and so much more. We learnt about the Guugu Yimithirr language and even how to say some common words and phrases. Auntie Cheryl’s lessons introduced us to the words “Wantharra” and “Nhamagarra,” revealing the beauty of a culture where ‘goodbye’ means ‘see you later.’ It’s a lesson that will stay with us forever, relationships with land and community are never fully severed but are ongoing. We were then exposed to the dreamtime through Uncle Bernie reciting them to us. One of the stories he shared with us was particularly powerful, named “Old Man Fog,” It showed us that the spiritual connection between people and land is continuous and intertwined with everyday activities. Leaving Wurrey was challenging especially after the strong connections we had formed, but we were the excitement to explore our second homeland.
On the second homeland, we were lucky enough to be welcomed with a Smoking Ceremony. The homeland was called ‘Melsonby’, and we were met by Bulla and his family. We undertook many cultural experiences while we were there, with very packed days. The activities included making traditional shelters, an underground oven, fishing with handlines, art, weaving bracelets, cooking (damper making) and more. The earth was extremely red and beautiful, adding character to the land and making it different to anything I’ve seen before. The incredible rock art was a significant part of the experience. Seeing the old turtle, ship, and human figures painted on rocks was humbling. These were the very marks of human presence and cultural significance from times long past but still deeply relevant today.
The mural we created in Melsonby was a great way to give back to the community. We painted the Rainbow serpent, a symbol of creation, as per Aunty Julies request. It reflecting the beauty of both the land and the relationships we had formed. Weaving bracelets was definitely one of my highlights as we used mainly leaves, and the fire to create them, which was really special and gave us a memento to bring home with us and cherish forever.
The food we ate, while on Melsonby homeland was tremendous with damper being included In a few of the dinners and even learning to make it, as well as the feast of vegetables and meats that we cooked in the underground oven. It was put into the ground on a massive tray and put in a hole that had previously been dug and was then covered for several hours. Departing Melsonby was also equally as challenging and knowing it was the last time on homeland for the rest of the trip was upsetting, but we were also very excited for our days in Cairns and time on the reef!
The visit to the Great Barrier Reef was incredible, with being surrounded by the vibrant coral, aquatic animals and our peers, creating such a lovely environment. We went to two different locations on the reef and got our flippers on to snorkel! Between the two spots we were able to listen to a cultural talk about the knowledge and the resources the reef provided to the traditional owners which was very insightful.
Overall, this trip was such an incredible experience that allowed us to connect with Country on a level none of us had experienced before and it gave us knowledge we would not have ever known without being there to experience it first hand and we learnt so much from the Traditional Owners. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity and could not be more appreciative for the staff and peers that assisted me on this journey of growth. It gave me the opportunity to make friends with so many new people, across year groups as well as strengthening previously formed connections. This immersion has taught me so much about reconciliation and how we still have a long way to go but are heading in the right direction. Additionally, I was able to hear the perspectives of the Traditional Owners and hear their opinions on what they think needs to be done as well as what is being done well, and this knowledge will help me on this shared path to reconciliation. I hope that I am able to act on this and share this knowledge within the school and general community to encourage movement and help people to acknowledge that this is a group effort and sovereignty was never ceded.
Sarah James (Year 11)
My immersion experience to Cape York and Cairns, visiting Aboriginal homelands, was deeply insightful and transformative. It allowed me to learn more about the rich culture of the First Nations people in a way that was both personal and educational.
One of the most profound lessons I took away from the trip was a quote from Uncle Bernie: “Aboriginal Dreaming is just like Christianity.” This statement opened my eyes to the way Aboriginal spirituality, like Christianity, provides a different understanding of how the world was created. It deepened my respect for their beliefs and traditions.
Our time spent with Uncle Bernie and Auntie Cheryl in the first homeland, Wurrey, was especially meaningful. I loved learning about Auntie Cheryl’s school, where all students learn the Guugu Yimithirr language. The school operates on a “90% old, 10% new” system, which really resonated with me, as it reflects a unique approach to education that values cultural heritage while still embracing new ideas. Being a student myself, I found this method of learning very relatable and inspiring.
In our second homeland, Melsonby, the rock art was captivating. The traditional practice of using ochre in the mouth to spray handprints on the rock, creating a signature, really fascinated me. The variety of ochre colours, some mixed with honey for richness, and the significance behind the artwork, gave me a new appreciation for Aboriginal art.
One of the most powerful stories I heard during this immersion was that of the Normanby Lady. The story tells of an English baby found by Aboriginal people who raised her as their own. By the time she was 15, she had been fully integrated into the Aboriginal way of life, her skin covered with charcoal to conceal her identity. However, her blue eyes gave her away, and she was taken back to Cooktown by the police. Unable to speak English or adapt to their food, she sadly passed away due to illness. The story left a profound impact on me, as it speaks to themes of identity, belonging, and the harsh consequences of cultural clash. It highlighted for me the resilience of Aboriginal people and the deep connections they forge, even across different cultures.
This immersion was a powerful reminder of the importance of learning and respecting the traditions, stories, and lives of the Aboriginal people. It was an experience that I will carry with me for a long time.
The thing I will remember and carry on with me the most is the saying “Numagara” — see you again, rather than saying goodbye, because it captures the enduring connection we have with the people and places we encounter. It reminds me that our journeys aren’t about endings but about maintaining the bond and the hope of meeting again.
