During the July vacation period, The Head of Service Learning, Mr Mick Madden and Chaplain Michael Bennett, led a group of 17 Year 11 boys who were invited to camp in an Aboriginal Homeland called Buru, located in the Daintree region of Far North Queensland. This is a rare privilege that very few white Australians ever get the opportunity to experience, yet it was Newington’s second visit to Buru, cementing the relationship that has now been established between Newington and the people of the Buru Homeland.

Whilst up in the hills of Buru, our boys worked hard on a wire fencing project at the request of the local Elders. This fencing was designed to control the movements of wild unbranded cattle that graze unrestrained in the wildness, often causing problems for the local Indigenous landowners. Our boys worked alongside local Buru residents Eddie, “PJ” and Lyjous, fascinating and talented bushmen who are, by necessity, the ‘Jacks of all Trades’. They were also treated and held mesmerized by the tales and insights of Aboriginal culture, bush medicine and spirituality from “CJ”, who is an Elder in the community.

This year we were also fortunate to meet Eddie’s brother Brian, who lives in an isolated pocket of Rainforest surrounded by his herb and native vegetable gardens. Brian is a craftsman of Aboriginal artifacts and a former musician who was so inspired by our boys’ visit, that he set up an exclusive mini concert for us, complete with amplifiers and acoustic guitar in his little pocket of paradise. He then followed up with a hands-on lesson in spear making.

The final days fishing with the men and ladies of the Walker family from Wujal Wujal was another highlight, resulting in very few fish but two speared stingrays, one sea turtle, several mud crabs and all the fresh coconuts we could eat. (and thankfully no crocs!)

This tour surpassed all our expectations and shall remain on our College calendar as an annual opportunity for future Year 11 boys. It is our hope that through these opportunities for shared dialogue and experience, that these young Newington men, Australia’s next generation of leaders, will develop greater empathy and understanding of the problems and history of Indigenous Australians and be then better placed and motivated to develop long term solutions in the future.

To see the full photo gallery, please visit our SPACES page.

Mr Mick Madden
Head of Service Learning