The Kiwirrkurra Immersion took place over the recent term break, marking a significant milestone for CBC Fremantle as 13 students, staff and alumni made the unforgettable journey to the remote community for the first time since 2019.
The Kiwirrkurra Immersion took place over the recent term break, marking a significant milestone for CBC Fremantle as 13 students, staff and alumni made the unforgettable journey to the remote community for the first time since 2019.Located on Ngaanyatjarra Lands in the sandhill country of the Gibson Desert, 1200 km east of Port Hedland and 700 km west of Alice Springs, Kiwirrkurra is called home by about 120 Pintupi people and holds the distinction of being Australia's most remote community.
The Kiwirrkurra Immersion was an opportunity to provide students with a unique experience, immersing them in the rich culture and traditions of the local community. Throughout the eight-day visit, boys focussed on building meaningful relationships with the community while exploring the local culture and were encouraged to reflect on and challenge their own social norms.
The experience brought about numerous highlights that left a lasting impact on all involved. Boys spent their days at the Kiwirrkurra Remote Community School, supporting teachers in the classroom and helping to prepare breakfast and lunch for the students.
Some students also had the opportunity to spend time in the Women's Centre, a central hub that assists with preparing meals for the elderly members of the community.
A highlight of the week was helping run a barbecue at the school's open day, with most of the Kiwirrkurra community joining students and teachers for a review of the term's work.
Cultural engagement formed a significant part of the experience, with the group accompanying the community for a day out on country, visiting several of their sacred sites and learning stories of the eagle and snake dreaming from elders.
The group had the privilege of visiting the Papunya Tula Artist Centre, watching the locals in action as they painted in the distinctly unique style that has earned them international acclaim.
A particularly fascinating revelation came to light when the group learned that two of the community members they had been spending time with, Yalti and Warlimpirrnga, were members of the colloquially known Pintubi Nine. They are understood to have been one of the last groups of indigenous Australians to walk off the land into the community, and who were, up until 1984, still living a traditional nomadic life.
The week concluded with an immensely successful Sports Day, including sack races and a whole school tug-o-war, creating cherished memories for everyone involved.
As each day came to a close, the evenings were spent with the boys taking part in a reflection of the day's activities and experiences, discussing highlights as well as challenges faced. A special part of the boy's evening was working with Old Boy Riley Faulds (2016) to write poems inspired by the week's events, some of which can be read below.
The Kiwirrkurra Immersion has undeniably left an impression on the hearts and minds of everyone involved. It provided a unique opportunity for genuine connection, cultural exchange, and personal growth, forever enriching the lives of our students and staff alike.
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A timeless place for my mindless mind
A true artist runs off packet pizza,
Still dotting lines as we began to meet her,
Yet chasing robbers was the place to be,
And a simple bribe could set you free.
The days mushed together with snags and gravy,
Which day is which, each time a maybe,
Kiwikurra time moves faster with every rhyme,
A timeless place for my mindless mind.
A smile not enough to keep him warm
A shivering child was just the norm.
One friendly smile, a single shoe,
His lie was rough all thick and through.
And as the sun transcends into day 10,
He fades into a memory until we meet again.
The experience of a lifetime
The experience of a lifetime
A chapter came to a close.
Someday I will reminisce
From this journey not so long ago.
When reflecting on this trip,
I feel like a person anew
Footy, softball, community, dreamtime and Waku.
It helped me come to realise the people we hold dear
May not be as close, as close as people here.
A place full of sight sand sounds,
A place of people and sacred grounds,
A place so moving and powerful,
It can turn one's life around.
As the story reaches its conclusion,
I pray only for their good health
This shall be one of my favourite stories, from the many upon myself.
I can explain this trip in allusions,
I can try to explain it in rhyme,
None though, could fully capture,
The experience of a lifetime.
Kiwikurra
As the sun goes down, the chill of the breezy night air bits my skin.
The birds chip and sing, as we all sit gathered in a ring.
Kiwikurra is like no other, this place has been to me like a mother.
This knowledge we now know allows us to grow looking to the future with a new sense of hope.
As we leave a cloud of smoke trails us home, the sun sinks and light fades.
