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Issues from 1998
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Cultural amazement

A coming together of cultures – for tolerance and harmony.

Words: Rick Berry Photography: Rick Berry

A young fellow walked into the Scotch assembly in the Memorial Hall. The golden morning light lit up the whites of his eyes as he walked in amazement to his seat.

Tyrone is from Yeundumu, up on the Tanami Track in the Northern Territory. That’s Walpiri country with Walpiri traditions. It’s hot. It’s dry. It’s dusty, and it’s 2.5 hours north-west of Alice Springs. Michael Achurch led a geography trip up there in the 1970s and we were in awe of the country then – just as Tyrone is in awe now, in Scotch’s Memorial Hall.

 

As the hymns echoed around the hall you could hear across the cultural divide a didgeridoo wafting through the trees at dusk in the Yarra Valley at Worawa Aboriginal College in Healesville. This is Australia, and it was time for Reconciliation. A coming together of cultures. For tolerance and harmony.

A contingent of Aboriginal students from Worawa Aboriginal College visited Scotch as part of Reconciliation Week. They came from far and wide, representing Walpiri country (NT), Banggarla/Narangga country (SA), Yorta Yorta country (Victoria/NSW, in the Echuca/Moama area), and the Kunai/Gunai country (Gippsland).

Mr Rob Cavalin organised activities, including games of soccer and footy, to help the Worawa and Scotch students to mix. After pottery with Mr Mark Mason, Mr Andrew Argent gave the Worawa students a hands-on tour of the weight room. With a little help from Mr Norm Bain, the Worawa contingent ventured down to the Yarra, where they were regaled with Mr Bob Lachal’s stories.

Lunch was amazing in the Boarding House Dining Hall, where the Worawa students were eager to launch into seconds, and to try the drink dispenser. Mr Doug Galbraith welcomed them and introduced Stewart and Junior Rioli to them. That’s when that ‘young fella’, Tyrone, piped up with ‘they’re cousins!’.

Later that week it was Scotch’s turn to enjoy Worawa’s hospitality at a ‘camp out’ beside the upper reaches of the Yarra River, which included more than 60 students from various schools. Michael Docker, Tom Auty, Jackson Strangward, Will Gordon, Hugh Theobald and Charlie Houghton were escorted by Mr Julian Collins and Ms Jessica deCampo to Worawa College in Healesville. There was a strong link, as Jessica had taught at Worawa the previous year.

Like Scotch, Worawa College has its traditions, and a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony was performed to welcome the visitors to traditional Aboriginal lands, and to warn off any evil spirits.

That night, discussions centred on Aboriginal ways, kinship, skin names, totems, and Dreamtime stories. The didgeridoo was even brought out, with some students giving it a go. Students from Melbourne Grammar, Aquinas College, and Little Yarra Steiner School joined in the marshmallow and ‘beat boxing’ activities, as well as the chats around the fire.

With Scotch College’s excellent work with the Kapumfi Project and the Tiwi Islands, it is exciting to experience cultures coming together in cooperation and understanding. Whether it’s a traditional Scotch assembly or an Aboriginal Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, all students and staff njoyed sharing their culture and life experiences in the week of Reconciliation. GS

Updated: Monday 24 June 2013