Tiwi Tour Guides

Words: Daniel McNamee

Photos Daniel McNamee

Tiwi College hosted Narangba Valley High School for the second year in a row. A relationship between the two schools started in 2009 and continues to strengthen every year. In June, the Tiwi Students made their maiden voyage to Queensland as part of this relationship and were treated to an excellent experience from Teacher Greg McMahon. Greg showed the students around areas of Southern Queensland such as Cherbourg, Gympie and even ventured down to the Gold Coast. The Tiwi Students were keen to repay the favour and give Greg and the Narangba students a Tiwi Experience they would never forget.

Surprisingly the Brisbane school love Australian Football and have a school football program running. It is an obsession that the Tiwi Students can clearly understand as it is also the same on the Tiwi Islands. Australian Football has always been the way to break the ice between the groups of great cultural differences and a quick 30 minute skills session as a group served its purpose

Picture 01: Tiwi Clontarf and Narangba Valley Vipers get to know each other in the drills.

Picture 02: Adam Tipungwuti all smiles doing what he does best.

After a brief School Assembly the students played a game for the Cultural Exchange Shield which had been won twice by the Narangba Valley Vipers. The Tiwi Students were keen to make amends for previous year’s losses.

Picture 03: Both teams before the game.

The Game was played in excellent spirits. Pace and using the wings were the Tiwi trademarks where the Narangba Valley Vipers went straight through the corridor to make use of their taller and bigger bodies.

Picture 04: Opening Bounce at Tiwi College

The game was tightly contested for the first half. The second half was all Tiwi College as the run and home ground advantage paid off and the shield stayed on the Islands for the first time.

Picture 05: Adrian Mungatopi and Clancy Puruntatameri close in on their Viper opponent.

The game was only a fraction of the trip but served its purpose to find some common ground between the students. As part of the Tiwi Experience the Tiwi Clontarf students felt it would be best to take the Southern visitors ‘Out Bush’ and do some camping and fishing. An authentic Tiwi Experience.

Picture 06: Adam Tipungwuti and Narangba Valley Student about to go fishing.

The popular spot of Pretty Flower near Milikapati was the selected destination for the fishing. Tiwi Students showed the art of the throw net and the spear whilst the Narangba Valley students used handlines in order to try and catch something for the night’s dinner. Unfortunately the fish were not biting and the fisherman had to rely on pre-packed food for the dinner.

Picture 07: Stephen Stassi and Adam Tipungwuti show Narangba students how to set up their handlines.

Camp was set up at the historical Karslake. A popular place for visiting Clontarf Academies, the Tiwi Students listed it as the ‘Must Stay’ camping destination.

Picture 08: Shane Tippa and Narangba Valley set up fire for the night.

Picture 09: Tents and the shelter for camping

Once the camp was set up the students took control of the evening activities. Cricket, fishing and touch football were some of the activities as the sun went down at one of Australia’s most untouched locations.

Picture 10: Beach cricket

Picture 11: Fishing at sun set.

Picture 12: Beach Cricket

Picture 13: Shane Tippa and Teacher Aid John-Ross Pilakui set the camp BBQ for the Narangba Valley staff. Buffalo was one of the specialty meats for the dinner.

After a long day in the sun, the Narangba Students were all in their swags by 9pm and had experienced a true Tiwi Island adventure. Camping, fishing and stories from Mary-Elizabeth Moreen who is a traditional owner of the Karslake area made the Cultural exchange a raging success and something that will continue on the school schedule.

Picture 14: Tiwi and Narangba Valley students get ready for bed.

Picture 15: Sunrise at Karslake

Picture 16: Sunrise at Karslake

Picture 17: Camp at Sunrise

A special thanks has to go to the students that played the role as Tiwi Tour Guides for this trip. Fishing, camping, and their local knowledge set the scene for an unforgettable experience for the Narangba Valley students. Also an experience our Clontarf Students will remember as a positive school experience.

The "Tiwi Ashes 2011"

The Tiwi Education Board and Tiwi Land Council, on behalf of all Tiwi would like to thank Matthew Hayden, Allan Border, Matthew Burke, Guy Reynolds and his 'Macquarie Sports Team', Mike Baxter and the 'Melville Island Lodge,' John and the 'Red Dust Role Models', along with all the Corporate's who supported the event,
An incredible $250,000 was raised for the Tiwi College/Hayden Way Sustainable Agriculture Project.... amazing.

Special thanks go to all of the Tiwi College staff, who worked tirelessly on, and after the day, along with all those Tiwi and non Tiwi community members and schools who turned a good day...magical......
A special congratulations to the Tiwi College Role Models, the fantastic students of the Tiwi College , who showed their younger brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews that they are becoming the true role models and leaders of our Tiwi future.....

To you all we say

"THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!!!!!!

Tiwi Art

Austalian cricketer, Mathew Hayden is presented with a cricket bat painted by Timothy Cook of Jilamara Designs. Students from Tiwi College also painted cricket bats as gifts for visitors who attended the Tiwi Ashes day 8^th August.

Taste It, Do It, Live It

Taste It, Do It, Live It campaign is under way with Chef Adam Clarke training all secondary students at Tiwi College. This program will continue for the next two years. The Morris Corporation will be responsible for the training in industry standard Food Preparation and Hospitality, and takes place in the Family Group Homes every two or three weeks.

Conservation and Land Management

"Briliant"..."Fantastic"..."Awesome"....Execellent".....Words to describe the attitude of the CLM students who have all passed 3 of the modules of the 6 set out for the course. The students were assessed on basic work place practices on their code of conduct, car checks, machinery / hand tools check and identifying environmental issues on work places. Head lecturer, Adrian Hendry who normally comes out for 3 days from Charles Darwin University was also impressed with the level of commitment of the students to attend class on time and also answer questions for discussion in class. The students have participated in all activities set by Adrian and myself and were all enthused on knowing more about safety work practices.
The course has also involved the students to participate in activities / exercises set by CSIRO who were also impressed by the positive attitude of the students. Students in this case went out on numerous field trips out to various parts of Melville Island in Pickataramoor and Taracumbi to collect data, measure statistics, lead the group with GPS and take part in back burning and also be part of a DVD  to be shown as an educational documentary to the people of the Tiwi Islands.  Very proud of the students to have a go and work as part of a team.

Senior/Middle School Young Women

It's an exciting term ahead in Senior and Middle School English. The students are working hard preparing Multimedia Presentations. It is the first oral presentation for many students and we will learn about strategies to overcome nerves when speaking in public. The class also studied different text types and comprehension strategies. They have written Explanation Texts about various topics like ‘How Day Becomes Night’, ‘The Human Life Cycle’ and ‘How the Pyramids were Built’. The Middle School Women have read and performed One Act Plays. There are some future STARS in this group!

Academically, many gains have been made in these classes and we have lots to be proud about. Also this week, ten students are attending a Melbourne trip hosted by Tintern College. We wish them all the best and look forward to lots of photos and news when they return to Tiwi Island.

The Senior and Middle School Young Women

Deputy Principal's Message



Mr James Russell



At Tiwi College we recently had a meeting with all boys who are currently enrolled. At this meeting the Chairman of the Tiwi Education Board Pirrawayingi, spoke to the boys about the importance of 'swimming against the tide'....of standing strong in doing what is right and is best for their future. Tides are amazing things. They come in and go out every day and sweep much of what is in the ocean along with them. I think one of the best examples of this is the raging current of water that gushes up and down the Apsley Strait. To swim against such force must take an enormous amount of effort and determination.

The tides of life can often be very similar to the tides that move our oceans. There are often tides where a group of people choose to do the wrong thing and others get swept along with them. Many people go with the tide of those around them, even if it is headed towards a future of troubles and disappointments. It is always much easier to follow the crowd and join in with what other people are doing than it is to stand against friends and family and do what is right.

I have always been very impressed by people who show the strength and determination to make good decisions even when their family and friends around them are not. There are times at school where the tide of student behaviour is not very good. It is heading in the wrong direction and a group of students are all doing the wrong thing. Thankfully we always have some students who are doing there best to swim against the tide and do the right thing. It is far from easy to do this and it takes a lot of courage, strength and determination to go against the crowd. I want to take this opportunity to say WELL DONE and THANK YOU to these students. The tides of life will continue to push, often in the wrong direction. You have shown that you are the leaders able to stand against such tides and do the right thing and make a difference. Keep up the great work!

Principal's Message

Mr Ian Smith

Awuna,

What a great start to the term! Many students choosing to come to Tiwi College; a great day had by all with our friends Matthew Hayden and Allan Border during the Tiwi Ashes; Clontarf participation in the State u/14 championships and taking students and our visitors to Karslake camping and finally Morris Corporation beginning training in hospitality at our Family Group Homes. We also have ten young women leaving for Melbourne this week, due to their fantastic attendance and behaviour. We wish them well and hope they return safely with lots of exciting stories to pass on to family and friends.

All of these in the first few weeks of school – it’s hard to believe.

All of these programs are available to students as we have friends who believe in our College and our way. We have students here who are making the most of these types of extra programs. We as teachers and family group home parents are also helping others who can find it hard – because we all care.

Our staff know that the young Tiwi are the future and will help ensure that our community is a happy and safe one. This is our duty. All Tiwi families should feel comfort in knowing this. Our Tiwi staff advise me in any decision making which may impact on a student’s time here at Tiwi College.

We will continue to offer our students a program that helps them into Tiwi jobs in the future  –  one which concentrates on Literacy, Numeracy and targeted VET courses. We welcome exciting initiatives like those stated at the start, to widen Tiwi horizons for the future.

Ours is a Tiwi College for all Tiwi students.

Mana