SI Joondalup supports Cullunga School

Culunga is an Independent Aboriginal Community School set in the Swan valley of Western Australia. SI Joondalup have been supporting the school as a Presidents Project for the last eighteen months. Culunga aboriginal community school enables indigenous people to gather together and produce a positive cultural environment. By providing a strong social, cultural and educational environment in which aboriginal people significantly direct the school and act as role models, it is hoped to encourage students to further their education and take up a range of career opportunities that a good education offers. Culunga is committed to developing a strong understanding of cultural identity, spirituality and a sense of pride. The school busses in the children from a wide area, and their philosophy is to teach the children a standard curriculum while maintaining their aboriginal culture.

On Wednesday 30 June I went as a representative of SI Joondalup to Culunga for a Special Parents Day where children’s work was demonstrated and displayed for parents to see. There were many parents present, sitting in the sun on chairs and talking among themselves, or walking through the classrooms and looking at what was on display. I tried to chat with them, but it was difficult and they were shy. Some of them were conversing with each other in an Aboriginal language.

We walked though the class rooms, and I was delighted to see one room open and displaying a notice “Book Fair” There were many books displayed along counters and ledges and the children were told that they could take one book (or books) home to keep. I thought this display of colourful books indicated that they were valued and were something to be desired.
These books were supplied by SI Joondalup member Maxine Saunders a teacher herself who discovered they were to be discarded in favour of new books at her local school. The children were very pleased to be able to choose a book to take home to read over the holidays and I thought it was a wonderful incentive to start children on the road to reading. Many of these children are still illiterate and the school is hoping that some members of SI Joondalup will come out to Culunga and hear them read
I went into the Pre Primary room and met the new teacher. She was just out of college and was full of enthusiasm for her little charges. The senior room under teacher Peter was quite a handful – he has about 20 students from year three to year seven, however he certainly had them all under control. They had been doing practical science experiments for the parents to see.

From there we wandered into the computer room, where the computer teacher had a collection of computers in various stages of repair. He told us that he had been a computer engineer in a former life and he was repairing old computers that were given to the school. He was also teaching the children how a computer was put together, and if some of the senior children could repair a computer they could have it to take home.
Sadly the school is not on broadband and they have no printer in the room, so the range of activities is limited. However their teacher, Kim, said that working on the computers, even at this level was teaching the children literacy as well as basic computer skills.

Sue Mulholland, the President -Elect of SI Maylands is the school secretary as well as a part time teacher. She is dedicated to the educational principles of Culunga and is very encouraging of SI Joondalup’s involvement with the school.

The school is a fairly new one and is set in spacious grounds. Kangaroos come and graze near the classrooms and there is an air of peace about the place.. The school buildings are impressive and were once a Catholic school.
In 1993, in the Year of Indigenous People, the Nyoongar Aboriginal Community took over the entire management and re-named the school as ‘Culunga Aboriginal Community School.’ Since then, Culunga Aboriginal Community Corporation consisting of parents and community members has been the major decision makers of the school.
It had been an informative day for me. We had spoken to the principal, Daryl, and asked him how he felt the school was going. He said that enrolments were up slightly and he felt that the school was attaining its goals.
.I also met the Chairman of The Board, Roland, another positive member of the team who felt that Culunga was on the right track.

.SI Joondalup is pleased and proud to be listed as a partner of Culunga .
I believe our next official visit to Culunga will be during Naidoc Week when president of SI Joondalup, Bobbi Buckle will present our cheque for $1000.

Jennie van Driel