I thought it would be useful to present the stories of member schools, starting with Gäwa on Elcho Island which is on Warramiri land.

An understanding of the Gäwa Christian School must be viewed in the context of the history of Gäwa which is situated on the northern tip of Elcho Island in Warramiri land. Galiwinku is the name of the island in the local Yolŋgu Aboriginal language. It has an ancient history as it was used for thousands of years, though sporadically, as a place for local people to conduct ceremonies and meetings. It belongs to the Warramiri clan of Yolŋu people of North-East Arnhem Land whose traditional homelands are both on the mainland and in the string of islands now known as Wessel Islands of which Elcho is one. Macassan sailors, it seems, knew of the area and traded on occasions with the Yolŋu.

Methodist missions were established, mid-twentieth century on Elcho Island. Economic activities during the mission period included fishing, fruit and vegetable cultivation and various small industries such as a brickworks. One of the missions was at Gäwa. Some Yolŋu wished to live near it and be educated at the mission. Others remained on their homelands but nevertheless established a relationship with the mission. There was, however no permanent community at Gäwa.

The Mission era officially ended by the early 1980’s with some of the older people considering returning permanently to their homelands. However Ngulpurray, an old man had a vision for his people to live in the Gäwa/ Nanginyburra region and so Gäwa was chosen as the preferable homeland site. In 1985 there was no road to Gäwa and it was only accessible by boat which could be difficult in the wet. A new residential area to the east was chosen.

However the Elders decided to tackle making a road to Gäwa. Ngulpurray’s clan daughter and her husband Colin Baker had visited Gäwa with him.

As the road improved more family members began to visit Gäwa and by 1991 there were a number of children there. Gotha, who was a teacher at Shepherdson College, the main school on Elcho Island, applied to be stationed at Gäwa to teach these children. Her offer was declined. Gotha was determined. She took six months leave without pay, which became twelve months, to teach on this homeland as an experiment. Convincing the authorities through her work, resulted in Gäwa being registered as an official Homeland Learning Centre. This Centre struggled for years but continued and in 2004 it became a Christian School under the banner of NT Christian Schools. “As well as training students in God’s law and teaching Northern Territory school curriculum, the school also seeks to preserve Warramiri knowledge and the gifts of the wider Yolŋu culture. Today 55 students from three homelands attend Gäwa Christian School and Gäwa, as a small community, is indeed thriving Yolŋu and non-indigenous staff work with the students to learn both indigenous and western knowledge.

There are three sections of the school at Gawa: Getkit, Gukuwal and Murryil.

• Getkit caters from Foundation to Year 3.
• Gukuwal caters for Year 4 to Year 7. In this year level “students are learning what it means to participate in community as young men and women.
• Merrill is years 8 to Year10. These “young men and women are on their way to being considered adults in their families and they are interested in real-life skills that will allow them to thrive as responsible individuals.

Students are taught by both Yolŋu and non-indigenous staff.

Gäwa teaches a community vision for right living: The way of law. The way of peace. Having discipline. Having/giving knowledge. Without sickness. Giving /receiving help. Having family. Students learn to seek God’s plan for their lives and to know Him intimately. The words Marŋgiyinyawu Yuwalkku which means know and learn the truth.

Other important words are:

Rommir. Mälaya.

Raypirrimirr

Marŋgikunhamirr

Rerrimiriw

Guŋna’yunamiumirr

The school has benefitted greatly from Rachel Warrukay Herweynen who has been School Principal there since 2017. Her husband Cameron is the site manager. Rachel is from the Philippines. She gained a Bachelor of Communication Arts at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. Between January 2010 and 2011 she was a lecturer at Malayan Collegelaguna in the Philippines. Between 2010 - 2012 she gained a Master of Teaching Education. January 2013 - January 2017 she was a Team Leader at Donvale Christian College Melbourne before taking on the role of Principal at Gawa.

Having such stability in an isolated community is a huge bonus for the progress of the school. Though Rachel has been prepared to stay, she has the capacity of truly fitting the job in that particular area.

Gawa is one of the northern most places in Australia. The nearest key settlement is the town of Galiwinku which is 47km away with a population of about 1500. It is not far from Shepherdson College, the NT Department School. Having two schools on the island has to be a strength.

Written by Chris Tudor

NOTE: This is the chapter to be placed in the Official History of AISNT. If there are any inaccuracies or other information that should be included, please email me.