Today we visited the fourth of the Tiwi communities, Pirlangimpi. This was the basis for "Mission Island" where the stolen generations were taken from the desert in the 1940s. One of these children was the grandmother of Senator elect Nova Peris.
The Roma mob gave their time in the morning doing more literacy testing. Everything is about perspective. The group was quite confronted by the low level of literacy in some students. In the evening we caught up with Austin Wonaeamirri (former Melbourne Demons player and deputy captain for Tiwi Bombers). This articulate and passionate young man told us with pride that at the beginning of this year one of the boys tested could only recognise 80 words. This week he recognised 220! However slow it may seem it is progress and something worth celebrating. I am inspired that the Captain and Vice Captain of the Tiwi Bombers Team give their time in the learning and growing of strong Tiwi women and men at Tiwi College.
After a swim in the school waterfall the group kicked around a football and tried a few moves with local Tiwi on the trampolines. Michael left a small piece of his rear ankle on the Tiwi College oval.
We took in the art and amazing views of Pirlangimpi. The picture above depicts Melville Island on the right and Bathurst on the left. Last night when I asked Darcy to hand over his incredible photos he sheepishly admitted that he had taken in the night air and played with the camera at the local waterfall. The results were stunning.
We're on the home stretch now. I am typing this from the porch of Bernard and Lynette's house in Wurrumiyanga (Bathurst Island). This afternoon we get the boat back to Darwin and then take in the sights, smells and tastes of Mindel Beach.
Until then.
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