2024 School Magazine

Northern Territory Cultural Immersion Tour

Throughout the first week of the June-July holidays, 14 students from Brisbane Girls Grammar School (BGGS) and one from Moreton Bay College (MBC) embarked on a cultural immersion trip to the Northern Territory. After successfully reaching our fundraising target of $1200, we eagerly anticipated our early morning flight to Darwin. Our adventure began at Berry Springs. On the second day, we travelled to our first homeland, Banatjarl (Strongbala Wimun Grup), where we were welcomed by the Traditional Owners and local children and honoured with a water ceremony. In Banatjarl, we immersed ourselves in traditional activities: learning to weave; making bush medicine; and fishing in the freshwater creek. In the evenings, we gathered around the campfire, where the Elders shared stories and taught us about the cultural importance of skin names. We were thrilled to receive our own skin names and learn about our new family connections with both our peers and the Indigenous community. Each skin name was linked to a totem, either a white or black cockatoo for the women. This experience deepened our appreciation of the importance of family in Indigenous cultures. Our second homeland visit was to Barrapunta, a community without permanent residents—with visitors commuting from the nearby town of Bulman. It was in this homeland that we

learned how to cook in a traditional ground oven and make damper, and completed a community project repairing the bathroom facilities, clearing the nearby swimming hole, and adding a gabion step. During the final two days of our trip, we visited Nitmiluk National Park; took a boat ride through the gorge; hiked up to the lookout; and visited the Visitors Centre. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience this incredible immersion in Arnhem Land and are eager to apply

what we’ve learned to our future endeavours. Brooke Fewster (12W) and Orla Hourigan (11G)

BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 2024 | 089