OSCA
FRED AND JIMMY ' S UNFORGETTABLE TIWI ISLAND EXPERIENCE
FRED STRONG , JIMMY GADSDEN AND MAURICE RIOLI JUNIOR ( ALL ‘ 20 ) ENJOYING THEMSELVES AT TIWI COLLEGE .
Having already experienced the magic of the Tiwi islands twice before – in 2018 on the footy trip , and in 2019 with the Indigenous Partnership Program – the week up at Pickataramoor in 2019 really impacted me . Having discussions with the three boys from the Class of 2018 up there at the time – Hugo Nash , Josh Smith and Oscar Kyriacou – really embedded the concept of taking on the experience at Tiwi College . They couldn ’ t have presented it any better , and were the greatest ambassadors for the experience .
The Tiwi experience was an event I had locked in my calendar since the end of 2019 , throughout isolation and the disappointing and challenging year of 2020 . Having this in the back of my mind allowed positivity to remain flowing amid heartache .
The six months that were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity were so very good to me . The environmental phenomena were regular , yet never ceased to amaze me , and the simple , pure beauty of the islands and the bright , happy and smiling work environment made me feel at home from the moment I set foot in Tiwi College , and started connecting with a new ‘ family ’.
All the staff and family group home parents made it so easy to feel as if we belonged , and when there were struggles , everyone came together to persevere and overcome it all . The kids are a handful – I won ’ t lie – and it does take time to break through with them . But once you do , it ’ s just so rewarding to spend time with them . To be there helping them and allowing them to grow and learn is so fulfilling , and knowing that I could make a difference was just purely sensational . For boys like myself not wanting to dive into university after finishing Year 12 , this is definitely the way to go .
To have Jimmy Gadsden (’ 20 ) and Maurice Rioli Junior (’ 20 ) – who was visiting family – up there with me just made the experience more remarkable . I don ’ t think Jimmy realised how spectacular it was to have him there by my side and to become even closer with a mate I can now firmly call a brother .
FRED STRONG (’ 20 )
72 Great Scot Issue 163 – September 2021