From the August 23 to 29, eight Year 10 students had the privilege of travelling to the community of Santa Teresa on Arrente country for an immersion experience. Although the Northern Territory isn’t far from home, the trip gave us a deeper appreciation for the opportunities we have in Geelong and opened our eyes to the differences in which fellow Australians live. Indigenous culture is something that we celebrate here at Clonard but to live in a community where everyone is so connected to the land changed our lives!

Throughout the week we took part in three main volunteering activities. At the school, we helped in the canteen serving breakfast and worked in classrooms where we had an incredible time interacting with the energetic and bubbly students. At the aged care centre, we created breakfast packs, helped with making lunches for the older residents and had the chance to drive around town delivering them, giving us the chance to both learn about our surroundings but also the residents who live there. At the Spirituality Centre, we spent time with elders, shared meals, admired their art and even took part in a healing ceremony that bid us farewell from our time in Santa Teresa.

When we weren’t volunteering, we bonded with the local students through basketball at the local club and getting highly competitive in their footy clinic. We got to make cookies, garden and learn with the students of the Ltyentye Apurte Catholic Primary School.

Some of the most special moments to us however weren’t just in loud footy matches or talkative classrooms but they were the quiet ones. When we watched the sun set not once but twice from beautiful views or waited for the sun to rise on what was our final day in Santa Teresa. Sitting under the endless sky filled with stars, spotting the Milky Way and learning constellations. Eating dinner and roasting marshmallows in the middle of the bush surrounded by endless landscapes. Listening to the silence of country, and reflecting together as a group on our learning and understanding after each day.

This immersion left a lasting mark on all of us. Many tears were shed upon our departure, but it has only made us more sure that we will be back to visit the beautiful community again. We are grateful to Ms Taylor, Ms Broekman and Mr Scanlan for their guidance and support for us throughout the trip. We are so indebted to Marcus, Kellie, Olivia and Phoebe who were the first ones to greet us when we arrived and treated us with kindness and hospitality. We will never forget the Santa Teresa community for welcoming us with generosity and spirit and though we were devastated to leave, we hope to keep strengthening the partnership between Clonard and the Santa Teresa community for many years to come.

Talarah O, Year 10