Taicee's NAIDOC speech & Traineeship

Taicee Pearson who is a leading art student in the school has been offered a traineeship with Djumbunji Press and is to be congratulated on her offer. Taicee will soon be going to this two days per week and learning about life as a full time artist. Taicee recently delivered an excellent speech at the gathering for NAIDOC week which is an example of her skills and talent.

APPRECIATING THE OPPORTUNITIES AT DJARRAGUN COLLEGE

Good morning invited guests, staff and students
My name is Taicee Pearson and I am in Yr 11. I am originally from Port Headland, but now living on Yam Island. I have been at Djarragun College for nearly 3 years. Today I am going to speak about what being a student at Djarragun College has done for me. In my past here at Djarragun College, I haven’t always been the best student. My time here has made me see that there are other opportunities and choices in life. I have seen a lot of drugs and alcohol abuse in the communities and islands. Me- as an indigenous person- I hope to inspire other indigenous people to take the opportunities that are out there in life.
I want to be an indigenous artist and my artwork reflects my pride in my culture. Being at this College I have had many teachers help me and make me feel proud of who I am. They give me support and the opportunity to do something with my life. They have helped me believe that I can do it. I hear stories about kids who have had a hard life and I want to say to them there are people out there who can help you and I also want to be one of those people in the future. Being here today I feel proud to be an indigenous student and artist. Each and every one of us can make a difference in our life and other people’s lives.

Now I will read you a poem I wrote in English about how my life has changed by being at Djarragun College.

Taicee - Free Verse

Life is so hard
but
I just push on
I push on
I won’t forget
the life that's
long gone
it’s gone

see I go home and
back
yet I’m still here
standing

I’ve worked so hard now look at me
laughing
I think to myself
WHO WAS THE PERSON THAT I WAS?
I won’t go back I know that for sure

and now I have hopes and dreams
that I know will take me far

with a little help and support
it will be no trouble at all

Hairdressing News about star students Tonya & James

Tonya Ludwick starts a 2 week trial on 9th of August and will be signed on after that. James Patterson signs his papers on 18th August. It was so rewarding to see him at work in the salon today. He was so happy to see us and couldnt wait to tell us what he had been doing. He looked extremely professional, relaxed ,healthy and happy. His whole appearance was glowing. Victoria and Chris are so happy with him and it was so inspiring to see a salon with only Indigenous stylists (apart from the owners). When we arrived he was shampooing a client and she looked like she was really enjoying it.



Tonya did us proud wanting to be interviewed without me, and coming out to tell me she had a job and could I please come in to see Victoria and Chris to settle things with start dates etc. Her attitude was as always impeccable. Tonya told us today it was her time to go and feels good with the outcome of our visit. we decided on a week before beginning to give us time to organise living arrangements for her, to get her job search number and to register her with ITEC. This is different to James QITE, but they wanted to be fair to the companies they have advertised with.



I am so impressed with this couple and feel comfortable with our placements there. They have the same goals as us, to see Indigenous youth making a place for themselves in the workforce . They would like Tonya to finish her final assessments at the college over a couple of days at the end of the year. We all agreed this would be in her best interests. They would like James to begin his training next year and also said they would like to send their other apprentice to us instead of Townsville. All in all this sounds very promising for Djarragun's hairdressing department.

ESTELLE NEILSON

Hairdressing Tutor
Djarragun College
Gordonvale Qld

Taicee wins Art Prize

Congratulations go to Taicee Pearson for winning first prize in the Gab Titui Torres Strait Art Awards in the Senior Secondary Category. Taicee is one of the leading Art students in the school and continues to excel in her field.


My name is Taicee Pearson I’m a 15 year old student studying ATSI art and am working towards my QCE at Djarragun College in Cairns. I'm from Yam Island and this year I have worked on another print in my “Wongai Tree” series (Wonga & Stonefish, 2009). My print is a representation of the feeling of freedom I get when I am at home on Iama island surrounded by the Wongai trees and listening to the birds chatter as they feed on the Wongai fruit.

Patrick Atu’s Good Form

Patrick Atu has turned his behavior and attendance around in one term. Having a rocky first term, not sure where he was headed, he went home and thought about his schooling. Returning to his Furnishing class with a complete transformation in behavior, attitude and running a perfect attendance record for the second term. Patrick has completed 3 of his competencies and shows a keen interest in the workshop projects, often coming up with new ideas over night and coming to the workshop early the next morning to discuss and plan the assembly steps. Patrick has completed many projects this term, including a coffee table, a small draw unit, football boot storage box and large cupboards for the school. He has also made several gifts for his family, taking great pride in his work. Patrick is half way to completing his certificate I in Furnishing and asks constantly about his progress and what he has to do to complete this course. It has been good to see this change in Patrick and we look forward to seeing his progress in the future.

Fame & Fortune

Kaisiana's Journey is a book that encapsulates her life in the Torres Strait. She recently spent a week in Canberra at the National Museum as part of her story, gaining valuable insight and experience in the nation's capital. It is incredible that a book has already been written about Kaisiana and is an indication of future success for one of our most likeable and able students. More power to you!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's SUPERMAN!

Here is super athlete Christopher Lei Baragud in full flight playing touch against St Mary's. Chris has been selected for the Regional Touch team to play against teams from around Australia. Chris also plays Oz Tag and represented FNQ and QLD as well as regular stints in AFL and plays rugby league for the under 18s Cairns Kangaroos. He may well be the superstar of the future!

Chris also likes DJ'ing R&B and pop. He comes from a remote island in the Torres Straits called Yam island (IAMA). He is a sporty type person and never runs out of energy and he loves his job at PVS Workfind formally IPA. He attends Tafe and is in the process of completing Certificate III Business and Administration and attends school in a regular basis.