DIRECTOR OF BOARDING

I recently found this beautiful painting by Helen McCarthy Tyalmuty (shown below). Helen is a proud Bulgul woman. The artwork depicts her ancestors and the plentiful billabongs, waterways and land used for hunting and survival. In reference to this painting, Helen says, “the old people looked after our country. They say don’t be greedy. Only get enough for family and always share”.

The painting also writes a story of my first year at St Patrick’s College Townsville. The green depicts the country which we are blessed to walk on. The ocean stretching across to Magnetic Island and refreshing Jourama and Crystal Creek falls in which we swim are found in the blue. The orange and red circles are memorable explosions of community and culture through Sunday suppers, family meetups and NAIDOC. The touches of black are the journeys we walked in understanding each other as a boarding family and the tiny rocks are the moments spent being together, sharing together, yarning together. My challenge for all of us moving into 2022 echoes Ms McCarthy’s words above … Look after your country (and home). Don’t be greedy. Do only what is kind and always share.

Ms Katie De Carteret

DIRECTOR OF BOARDING