Semester 2 – 2014
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The SEMESTER 2 2014 Marrma’ Rom Two Worlds Foundation Congratulations to Dion and Jerol Wunungmurra Semester Two 2014 was highlighted by the fantastic achievement of two of our students graduating from Year 12. Dion and Jerol have been part of the Foundation since 2012 and we are very proud of them and what they have accomplished during the last 3 years. We are also very proud of them for deciding to return to Geelong next year and continue their endeavors to become Aboriginal Health Workers. [ Below is a short article by Jerol about the St. Joseph’s College Graduation Mass, for which Dions and Jerols’ parents flew down to attend: On the 19th of October 2014, the second week of school in Term 4, Dion’s parents and my dad came down to Geelong. They drove to Gove from Gapuwiyak and stayed in town. The next day they went to Gove airport and they flew from Gove to Cairns and 2 hours later they flew to Melbourne. Dion and I woke up early morning and Cam drove us to Gull bus. We checked in then the bus driver drove us to Tullamarine. We only waited for about 5 minutes then we saw them arrive. We caught the Skybus to Southern Cross and waited for the others in the city. We were performing at the Melbourne Festival that day. After the festival finished we caught a train back to Geelong. Dad was staying with me and Dion and his mum and dad were staying at Narana Cultural Centre. On Monday we went to St. Joseph’s College to meet up with the teachers. They were really great to our parents and happy to see them. It was Celebration Day and all the boys were dressed up in costume as movie characters. We were at St. Joseph’s College all day. We had lunch at the cricket pavilion then we had to walk around the school where all the year level and teachers watched the parade. Then we all got changed into our school uniform for the Graduation mass that started at 7pm. We had the Welcome to Country and then my dad and I, Dion and his dad, Yirrmal, Raven and Cam did a traditional dance. After that Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys performed a song called ‘Mayangan’, which means “Hope for the future”. When my name was called up I went up to get my certificate. My dad was really proud of what I had achieved. Next year I am going to study again to be an Aboriginal Health worker. Written by Jerol SEMESTER 2 2014 Birregurra Art and Music Festival Melbourne Festival Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys were a hit at the The Melbourne Festival ran for a couple of weeks in Birregurra Music Festival in October this year. It different venues around the city. The lads were asked th was a beautiful day, which brought a big crowd to perform at the Foxtel Hub on October 19 . It was a along, and the lads did nothing less than impress lovely day and there were lots of people out and yet again. It was a great family weekend and about to see some great live music. Yirrmal and the organisers have already asked Yirrmal and the Yolngu boys played their hearts out, receiving a great Yolngu Boys to return in 2015. Write it in your reception from the audience. It was an extra special diaries and get along next year. event as Dion’s mum and dad and Jerol’s dad, who were down for their sons’ Graduation Ceremonies, were able to witness a fantastic performance. Certificate 2 – Conservation and Land Management Yirrmal’s first year of uni at NMIT Mid-way through this year the Marrma’ Rom Two Yirrmal took a grand step this year in completing his Worlds Foundation sat down with St. Joseph’s first year of tertiary education at NMIT, North College and discussed some pathways that needed Melbourne Institute of Technology. Yirrmal found to be established for the students’ coming down the practical subjects (Vocal Recital and Group and entering the program. One of these pathways Ensemble) in the Certificate 3 in Music relatively was a practical option for those students that were easy, however the Theory was ‘like learning a whole interested in the outdoors and possibly a career as a new language’. Steve Teakle, who tutored him every Ranger when they returned home to their Wednesday in theory and piano, generously communities. Elcho Island and Yirrkala both have supported Yirrmal. All the hard work paid off and great Ranger programs and potential for these lads Yirrmal is looking forward to the Diploma in Music to be employed in this area. With consultation with next year and has his sights set on the VCA in 2016. Raven and Mabo, it was decided that they volunteer to work each Wednesday with Greening Australia as an introduction to the Certificate 2 in Conservation and Land Management. Throughout Term 3 they worked at various sites and this has now lead Raven to continue next year and complete the Certificate as part of his Year 12 studies. He will do the theory aspect every Monday afternoon at the Gordon Tafe and every Wednesday will be out in the field. The other 3 students starting the program in 2015 will Right: Yirrmal with Barry Morgan also take part in this school based traineeship. (Steve Teakle) SEMESTER 2 2014 Other Performances in Semester 2 - 2014 Millenium Chorus – Hamer Hall, MONA – Hobart, City of Yarra – Town Hall, Yirrkala We planned to limit the number of performances for Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys in 2014 as things got pretty hectic last year. This was to allow Yirrmal to concentrate on his tertiary studies in Melbourne. It was such a big challenge for him, one that had its ups and downs, and he did very well to complete the course as well as juggle a number of performances throughout the semester. We also didn’t want to overload the other lads as they were busy at school and their weekends were generally booked up with footy. In saying that there are a few performances that are worth mentioning: • In August they performed with the Millenium Chorus at Hamer Hall in the Arts Centre in Melbourne. • In September Yirrmal travelled back to Yirrkala to perform as a support act to East Journey in front of his family and community for NAIDOC week. • In November they performed at a special event for City of Yarra at the Richmond Town Hall. This event was on Yirrmal’s 21st birthday and his mum and dad were present. • Finally, Yirrmal travelled to Hobart with his mum and dad and performed at an event for Tourism Australia at MONA. Yirrmal’s father, Witiyana, joined him around a campfire and entertained important guests in the food and wine industry for an hour and a half. Witiyana, being the charismatic singer and dancer from Yothu Yindi, regaled the crowd with stories about culture and joined Yirrmal in dancing and performing songs of the land. Click on this promotional clip to see more about the event. Witiyana and Yirrmal star briefly. https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152495093923450&set=vb.266724958449&type=2&theater Footy at Newtown Written by Raven Marika I had a great time playing football in Geelong for Newtown and Chilwell Under 18’s with the other 3 boys from Arnhem Land. I didn’t play all the games because in holidays I went back home for 2 weeks. I also missed a game and was grounded for a weekend because of smoking (Raven and Mabo were grounded for one week for continuing to break the strict ‘No Smoking’ policy of the MRF). My teammates were disappointed in me. I played in Grand Final at Simonds Stadium against St. Mary’s but we lost by 41 points. I played well in the 3rd quarter. I kicked 5 goals and I missed 1. The boys felt sad but it was really great game. SEMESTER 2 2014 Shearwater Festival (Phillip Island) & Queenscliff Music Festival The third Shearwater Festival held on Phillip Island on November 22nd and 23rd brought the community together in a creative, cultural and environmental celebration of the short tailed shearwaters that are presently nesting on the island before flying to Canada. Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys were invited to take part in the Sunday Concert at the Cowes Cultural Centre and come between kutcha Edwards and Archie Roach. The small venue was filled to capaciy and the audience were thrilled by a powerful performance, calling for an encore and giving the lads a standing ovation. The Shearwater Festival was our second last festival for the year and proved to be a good warm up for the Queenscliff Music Festival, as shown by this excerpt from a review ‘Queenscliff Music Festival blurs line between young blood and old-timers’ which appeared in The Age newspaper: “Arnhem Land's Yirrmal and The Yolngu Boys' set included original Young Blood (inspired by a conversation with Archie Roach). QMF favourites, Yirrmal and his cousins look set to be role models for young men across the country” Chris Lambie December 01, 2014 Yirrmal and the Yolngu boys gave arguably their finest performance at the 2014 Queenscliff Music Festival. This was the final show for the year and followed a busy couple of months so the band were honed and tight and delivered a seamless 45 minute set of mostly original songs, capped off with a couple of Yothu Yindi covers. The audience was right behind the lads, clapping and cheering to Yirrmal’s explanation of ‘Young Blood’ (which he wrote with Neil Murray) and his summary of all their fantastic achievements at school and university this year.