Bachelor of Nursing student Sharon Mununggurr receives her scholarship in her home community, Yirrkala
The highlight of the past month at the Nhulunbuy Campus has been the presentation of scholarships to two inspiring Charles Darwin University (CDU) students.
Both ceremonies were attended by the local media and representatives from industry sectors relevant to the recipient’s area of study.
On 24 May, Rachel Blundell was presented with two scholarships at the Nhulunbuy Campus.
Rachel has almost completed a Graduate Diploma in Education while being a mother to three children under school age. An article in the Arafura times describes her as a ‘Super Mum’.
Rachel was presented with the TIO Remote Location Scholarship. Greg Milne, representing the Top End Freemasons, presented Rachel with the Tom Usher Memorial Scholarship.
The ceremony was also attended by Nhulunbuy High School principal Kerryn Oliver, DEET representative Terry Anstiss, who manages the Nhulunbuy Training Centre, Grant Butler representing Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Education and CDU staff.
Education and Training Minister Syd Stirling sent his best wishes for Rachel's future.
On 1 June, Bachelor of Nursing student Sharon Mununggurr became the first Indigenous person studying through the Nhulunbuy Campus to receive a scholarship.
TIO’s Rachel Fisher presented Sharon with a TIO Remote Scholarship.
As Sharon could not attend the Darwin or Nhulunbuy scholarship ceremonies, CDU took the ceremony to her home community, Yirrkala. CDU staffer Sarah Hanks, Sharon’s lecturer Victoria Finger and Carina Bekkers packed up the Ute and made their way out to Yirrkala.
Sharon works at the Yirrkala Health Clinic and is also a Councillor on the Yirrkala Dhanbul Council.
Also present at the ceremony were Education and Training Minister Syd Stirling and his Electorate Officer Jenny Djerrkura, Yirrkala Dhanbul Council Clerk Djuwalpi Marika, Coordinator of the Yirrkala Health Clinic Sharon Weymouth, Annette Ellis from the Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Yirrkala Dhanbul Council CDEP Co-ordinator Hala Tupuo and Waninya Marika, Yirrkala Dhanbul Council Member.
Several speeches were made and Djuwalpi Marika told the gathering Sharon's achievement in main stream education is an important example to others.
First staff training via video link
In other Nhulunbuy Campus news, the first successful video link-up with professional development seminars have been held for CDU staff, including those based on Groote Eylandt. This will greatly increase access and participation levels of Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt CDU staff to seminars and workshops, which is something taken for granted by those located more centrally. This type of communication will greatly benefit our lecturers and will also increase awareness throughout CDU about the issues faced by lecturers based in remote areas.
Remote Field Officer visit
Bronte Cooper, the Senior Remote Field Officer based in Katherine, recently visited the Campus. He attended a staff meeting which provided an opportunity for all lecturers to hear about initiatives in the region. Centre Administrator, Carina Bekkers accompanied Bronte on a visit to meet representatives of the Laynhapuy Homelands Association and flew out to one of the homelands to meet with elders to discuss their training needs in line with planned developments for their region. The view from the small plane was spectacular and it did bring home how remote Nhulunbuy is.
Visit the Nhulunbuy Campus website.