End of Term 2, 2007

Tiwi kids have been at Downlands now for twelve months. They are to be congratulated because it is a massive act of faith to exchange a tropical island for a bleak Toowoomba Winter. There are still five, the photo of the girls is with Lynette who runs the boarding house.

Other kids go to school so they can have a future as visioned by their parent's lives. Aboriginal kids hope for a future for which their parent's lives offer no pointers. Yet these Aussie Rules kids pack down in a Rugby Scrum and so much of their life at Downlands cannot be shared with those at home - how could they possibly understand.

The Tiwi kids live with others who smell different, for each race emits from their distinct bowel fauna. You don't smell yourself - you only smell the kid who is different. So inevitably you live with a kind of prejudice, which comes from 'not knowing' rather than from malevolence: "Gee they smell bad in the toilet!"

It is frustrating trying to help aborigine kids across this massive cultural divide. You often think: "What the hell and I doing this for!!" My plans fall apart because they do not cooperate.

But then, Frustration is the Currency because it is liaison between a plan imposed rather than a plan negotiated, and you only discover the need for negotiation when there is failure.

I am heartened by a statement of St Vincent de Paul: "It is only because of your love that the poor will forgive you your bread!" Of its nature, altruism is patronizing and you need the humiliation of defeat for it to be cleaned.

If you are free to help, go to https://www.vinnies.org.au/show_appeal.cfm?table=appeals&parentid=0&id=43