Mother and Father visit Downlands

Rosabelle and Matthew met today with Fr John Rector of Downlands and Gillian Smith the Studies Deputy. They want this program to work, and it cost $30.000 to come down for the visit -but as any parent would say: a child's happiness is priceless.

Selina is going so well, it becomes important for parents and home to work closely together, because since Captain Cook arrived, no 'traditional aboriginal' kid has ever made it through school to university - and Captain Cook and every captain that came after him thought such was impossible.

Ellenora and Caitlyn left home yesterday at 4.30pm, arrived in Darwin at 5.30pm, waited in airport lounge for the 1.10am flight, arrived in Brisbane at 5.30am, for the the 2.5 hour drive to Toowoomba.

It is more difficult for an Tiwi kid to get to school, and then to face Toowoomba cold and a very different culture.

Rosabelle is the one who keeps the program going and every time the kids travel she flies over to Darwin because she does not want young girls to be alone waiting in the lounge at Darwin Airport - it all costs her $400.

Rosabelle and Matthew look after their own daughter and they look after the other kids too - this is normal in an aboriginal community, for the strong look after their own and many others too.

One of the kids told me that she did not want to go home for term holidays, because it was too hard leaving home after the holidays.

Homesickness is a dreadful ache.

Downlands is doing a great job, a true Sacred Heart school! It is in the persisting and enduring accompaniment, continuing despite disappointment, that has made this program work - and is'nt this the definition of Love!

We have our problems. Two kids missed the flight today. When we enquired, we found that they did not want to come down without money.

The parents and the relatives are talking with them. We can't waste $600 in fares like that. But neither can we push 'tough love', because StVdeP tradition does not judge, StVdeP is a shut up and serve organization. It is difficult to be wise!

We are leaving it to Rosabelle and Matthew to sort out what should be done here! They went home tonight and will chat with others in the community.

When we commenced this program, we decided to target one tribal group, the Tiwi people and to persist despite whatever for ten years. Wasted fares is a despite whatever! It drives us mad to waste good fares!!!

But when we commenced this, we figured that if we could get a 'Bush Aborigines' through school to Higher Education, they would breaking the Glass Ceiling, and then point the way so other tribal groups can follow.

It is the conclusion of every Missionary, that the native aborigines possess above-average skills in just about everything. But being Nomads, they are just so different. When European met Aborigines, it was like a Elephant screeching and a Whale squirting - expression was powerful, but there was no communication!

I sometimes think we are locked into the Marxist scenario: Aborigines are in trouble because we have done them wrong. So it a question of Justice, that we redress past wrongs!

I don't think this scenario is right. For years people have failed trying to help Aborigines. Often, you hear They are Hopeless, when a particular strategy fails. More than likely a flawed strategy.

StVdeP Society founder had the focus on Love. Justice does not fix problems. Love fixes problems.

And what is love, well St Paul (Corinthians) said Love is: patient, kind. it rejoices in goodness, it bears, it believes, it hopes, it endures, and when all else fails, it continues

So we are going to press on, but we are failing less, and we are making progress! We don't expect First Round Knock Outs. We are going to persist.

We are going to need $30,000 this year to keep this program going. Since the 'Great Recession', St Vincent de Paul back-up resources are eroded. We are going to ask people to help! If you can help, go to the Vinnies appeal page and pull down the Tiwi Education Project menu. http://vinnies.org.a/appeals-processor-national