David Whitcombe – HSIE Teacher

In Week 4 of Term 4, 17 students from Years 9 and 11 visited Jilkminggan, a remote community in the heart of the Northern Territory.

If you will be in Year 9 to Year 11 in 2017 and would like to go on the trip please email dwhitcombe@emanuelschool.nsw.edu.au to express interest.

Here are a few student reflections of the recent 2016 trip;

This Jilkminggan trip was a once in a lifetime experience. It opened my eyes to the real issues in the Aboriginal communities and it gave me a great insight into Aboriginal culture. My highlight of the trip was definitely being with the kids in the classroom and the bond we developed over only two days. The kids are all very down to earth and have very little resources but make the  most of it. There is so much we can learn from each other and being there made us realise how lucky we are. Jared Kleviansky, Year 9

This short trip left me with a lifetime of knowledge and involvement that many people will never know or experience. The highlight of the trip was meeting the children at the Jilkminggan school. We spent two days with these kids and relationships blossomed the more time we spent with them. I also learnt some astounding things about Aboriginal culture that I had no idea existed. It is extremely important that everyone knows the extent that these people have gone to to maintain the land and keep their traditions through generations. Nina Brown, Year 9

The Jilkminggan trip was such a life-changing experience which completely exceeded my expectations. The trip opened my eyes to the wonders that our country can bring us, how fortunate we are living in this society, but also, how much we need to change. Meeting the children from the Jilkminggan community was absolutely incredible, the smiles which were constantly on their faces and their bright and happy attitudes to their lives was so amazing to see. This trip has taught me so much, and even though it might sound tacky, the trip really taught me about myself as well. Jordan Blackman, Year 11

Jilkminggan 2016 was one of the most incredible, eye-opening and best experiences of my life. I loved everything we did each day. Going to Jilkminggan School was a highlight for me. Playing with the children, teaching them in the classroom and making connections with them was so special. As well as all the amazing activities that were arranged for us, we also were driven and guided by an incredible tour guide, Mike, who was unbelievably knowledgable. Tia Mallinick, Year 9

I would classify the five days in the Northern Territory as a wake up call. Visiting the small Aboriginal community of Jilkminggan in conjunction with various other cultural and fascinating activities we took part in throughout the week, opened my eyes to a new world and way of living. The lack of knowledge I had on the Indigenous people of Australia, the original owners of this land, was significant. The days we spent at Jilkminggan school inspired me to gain further knowledge on the Aboriginal people. The trip was fun and enjoyable but more than that it was a lesson and an encouragement for me to open my eyes and realise how fortunate I am and how much Australia still needs to strive to achieve equality. Isabella Kidman, Year 11

The trip was about learning about Aboriginal culture, the problems that Aboriginal communities face In Australia and some things we could do to improve and solve these issues. Our tour guide, Mike, explained these throughout the trip and encouraged us to find solutions to these problems. He also told us about environmental issues not only affecting Australia but the entire world. Daniel Van Sluys Erlich, Year 9

Jilkminggan was no doubt one of the most, if not the most, amazing thing I have ever experienced in my life. Never have I felt such a strong connection with such beautiful children. They would jump on top of us, play with our hair, make up little handshakes and hold our hands wherever we went and at the end of the day, they were some of the happiest kids I’ve ever met. The unforgettable experiences we had with our tour guide Mike, father and daughter, Graham and Celina, and many more Aboriginal people gave us an inside perspective that we never would have otherwise had. One week there gave me so many stories to tell, ones that I won’t only remember for the rest of my life but that I will tell to my family to make sure they know the truth about these amazing Aboriginal communities. Eden Sadra, Year 9

The trip to Jilkminggan was enlightening, captivating and a perfect example of cultural diversity. There were countless highlights along the way, however one that particularly stood out to me was the pure happiness the Jilkminggan kids shared with us, even in the most remote and uncomfortable living conditions. I strongly believe this should be a wake up call to all of society that relies upon the mundane for a moment of bliss. Rather go for a stroll within nature, share a story with your friends or travel the world and discover the fulfilment that’s bestowed upon you when other magical cultures share their stories with you. Karen Davids, Year 11

For me the trip was not only enjoyable but it was also incredibly inspiring. I was amazed at how the kids had so little but were still so happy and full of so much life. It goes to show that we don’t need all the materialistic items that we think we need to make us genuinely happy. Throughout the trip I began to realise how little we know about their culture but how much the Aboriginal people know about ours. I found this slightly confronting as we are technically living on their land that they have been living on for much longer than us. This inspired me to want to learn more, and for other people to learn more too. Chloe Ben-Mayor, Year 9

David Whitcomb, HSIE Teacher