Newcrest Mining Ltd continues to be a keen and proud contributor in supporting initiatives to enhance the general health of the Punmu community, its nearest neighbour. Examples include the Punmu Sports Carnival, the contribution of a house to accommodate visiting students, and support for studies into diabetes and a Healthy Lifestyle program. Here, teacher Dave Wells reflects on the input of Human Movement students; and we look at an earlier project undertaken by James Back.

The students are soon absorbed into the daily rhythms of school life. There is the breakfast, fruit-time (recess) and lunch programmes that ensure healthy meals and snacks are provided, brains as well as bellies are nourished, and healthier eating habits are encouraged. The students assist teachers across all year levels and also have the opportunity to take many classes themselves. The enthusiasm and experience that the students bring with them has become a valuable resource that has helped us in extending the school’s curriculum. The students have been very positive influences in transferring their recently-acquired knowledge and tailoring it to provide sports programmes for age groups ranging from pre-school to high school.

They have been quick to utilise the school’s resources and improvise wherever necessary. Their experience in providing assistance and training to community members using the gym equipment has been invaluable, as has the afterschool activities they have organised, such as basketball, softball, and football games. The students have reached far and wide to get the message of healthy lifestyles throughout the community, including the use of videos, drama, poster-making, interactive discussions, rap songs recorded and played on the community’s radio station, Rawa Radio 1059, and also broadcasting on the station positive health messages and slogans featuring the school students. The cross-cultural exchanges are an important outcome of the students’ short stays. They depart having experienced remote community life from the perspectives of both the Martu people, who live here full-time, and the service staff, who are themselves only visitors. For the Martu, it is an opportunity to expand their understanding of mainstream Australia and to develop friendships.

In a small community, or rather, in an insular, remote community, it is beautiful to see the impact that a couple of people can make to the lives of those living here, service staff included. The students’ positive attitudes and willingness to learn, teach, and help out wherever possible has added a richness to community life. But, perhaps, the biggest impact will be the one to follow: They’ll see through the clichés and the social stigmas that have become synonymous with the word ‘Aboriginal,’ for now these students can recall vivid images and real life experiences whenever someone begins talking of ‘community life’. Perhaps, some of them may return one day....