feature story FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING Words // TAFE QUEENSLAND SKILLSTECH Distance isn’t a barrier for this Indigenous father and son duo.

he next time you complain about getting up to go to work, school or TAFE on a Monday morning, spare Ta thought for a dynamic father and son duo who travel more than 2625km to receive training at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech. Robert ‘Rocky’ Tamwoy and his son Rodney live in Bamaga Far North Queensland, and for the past three years they have been making the trek to TAFE Queensland SkillsTech’s Bracken Ridge Training Centre to study Certificate III in Outdoor Power Equipment. Their decision to study at TAFE Queensland SkillsTech was simple: An active Australian Army Reservist “It means I’m in transit for at least two, and I are going to be able to go back it’s the only training organisation in since the 1970s, Rocky has also worked sometimes three days,” he says. to our community with skills to help school commute Queensland which offers the qualification. as a stunt driver with a specific passion Familiar with big city life from stints the community – no one there has For Rocky, his journey from Bamaga for motorbikes. In the 1980s, however, experience fixing things like chainsaws or in Far North Queensland to TAFE // “The way I see it, he was involved in a serious motorbike // “It’s certainly small engines. Queensland SkillsTech’s Bracken my son Rodney and accident that left him without the use of his a journey, but life “I’ve been encouraging my son Ridge Training Centre can easily take lower limbs, but he didn’t let this stop him. Rodney to start his own repair and in excess of 24 hours. Able-bodied I are going to be “It didn’t kill me so why stop when is a journey, and when service business which I can help him people can fly direct from Bamaga able to go back to there’s still so much life left,” he says. you get a calling you with when he gets established. At the to Cairns, but because the light At home in Bamaga, Rocky doesn’t moment he’s working for the Northern aircraft servicing the route doesn’t our community with have much need for mobility devices just have to follow Peninsula Area Regional Council, but cater for the wheelchair bound, it can skills to help the like wheelchairs. it and see where it that’s our plan,” says Rocky. sometimes take Rocky two or three “They’re not real good in sand,” Australian continent is one of the most TAFE Queensland SkillsTech teacher days travel time. community.” // explains Rocky. “Because I live in a hut takes you.” // sparsely populated areas in the country. John O’Shea says Rocky and his son that’s less than 20m from the edge of the “SkillsTech is good, and they have Rodney are inspirational. “They’re both so Day 1: Ferry from Bamaga to “It’s certainly a journey, but life is a ocean, I manage to get by with my arms, in Sydney and Brisbane during his made it easy for me in many ways, so I passionate about their apprenticeships. Thursday Island (sometimes requiring journey, and when you get a calling you pulling myself along the beach when I youth, especially when he was an Army thank them for that, but I really can’t wait The fact they travel more than 5000km an overnight stay on Thursday Island, just have to follow it and see where it want to fish at the water’s edge. You have Reservist, the contrast between his to get home,” says Rocky. return to receive training twice a year is depending on ferry schedule). About the only downside of life in takes you,” says Rocky. to keep your eyes open for crocodiles home and his place of study couldn’t be amazing in itself, but their passion for Day 2: Ferry from Thursday Island to “Normally my son Rodney makes this though,” he chuckles. more marked. The Northern Peninsula Far North Queensland, according to learning is truly awesome,” says John. Rocky, is the fact there aren’t many Horne Island. QantasLink flight from trip with me but he’s already finished his The fact that Rocky is wheelchair- Area Regional Council occupies an “Rocky and Rodney’s will to overcome Horne Island to Cairns (sometimes training and gone back home to Bamaga bound makes the trip from Bamaga to area of 1071.9 km² and incorporates the people around to fix things if they break, life’s challenges and keep moving especially mechanical things like motors requiring overnight stay in Cairns to work for the Northern Peninsula Area Brisbane very difficult. Indigenous communities of Bamaga, forward has inspired many around them, depending on flight availability). Regional Council.” “Rodney can fly direct from Bamaga Injinoo, Umagico, New Mapoon and on outboard boats and chainsaws. including me. It’s a privilege and honour Rocky’s story is remarkable, with life to Cairns, but I can’t access those flights Seisia. Considered the gateway to the “If something breaks down it can be to have known and taught these men. Day 3: Commercial flight from Cairns experiences and career choices that read like because the light aircrafts used to service Torres Strait islands, its location at the hard to replace, let alone fix or repair. They’ve actually taught me more than I to Brisbane. Taxi to motel. something lifted directly from a film script. the route are not wheelchair friendly. very northern tip of Queensland and the The way I see it, my son Rodney think I’ve taught them.” OED

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