Kathy goes back to school 

 
 
Betty Ah Kit caught up with former CDU student, Nathaniel Miller

It was a very special journey for Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Kathy Arbon and Betty Ah Kit when they travelled to various remote communities to fly the CDU flag in late June.

Kathy, Indigenous academic support lecturer, and Betty, Indigenous academic support lecturer in education, traveled to Ngukurr, Urapunga and Bulman communities to visit schools and talk to students about education opportunities at CDU when they complete their secondary schooling.

The experience was particularly special for Kathy, who grew up at Urapunga station and had not been back for 35 years.

“I had the opportunity to catch up with the Duncan family (now traditional owners) who all attended the same school as me,” Kathy said.

“The family informed us that they had several senior students attending Kormilda College and asked me to make contact with them on CDU school visits. I also found out that Clifford Duncan attended one of the University’s Taste of Uni programs last year.”

Kathy’s father built the first school at Urapunga in the early 1950’s in which Kathy completed all of her primary schooling. She was able to share her story with the community telling them about her education and career path.

At Ngukurr, Kathy and Betty spoke to a number of students and teachers, including Godfrey Blitner, a current CDU student.

Betty also caught up with former CDU student, Nathaniel Miller, who previously studied at CDU before leaving to be an Aboriginal Community Police Officer.

As well as having completed an honours degree at CDU, Kathy is a well-known artist with work on public display at a number of locations including Bachelor College, Parliament House, and the Royal Children’s Hospital in Adelaide as well as overseas in Tissot’s corporate headquarters in Paris.

Visit the Indigenous Academic Support Team website.