June 17, 2016
Thirty school principals had the opportunity to experience a brief taste of life in the old days on an Aboriginal Mission when they had a sleepover at Cherbourg this week.
The teachers were from Education Queensland’s North Coast region.
Indigenous Education Manager Sally Lawrence, who is based in Maroochydore, organised the visit.
She said that for the past eight years, students from the schools have been visiting The Ration Shed Museum on excursions, so she thought it was time the principals came along, too.
After discussions with Elders, it was decided the principals should have an “immersive” experience at Cherbourg.
The teachers arrived at The Ration Shed on Wednesday afternoon. They tucked into freshly made damper served with billy tea around a camp fire.
Then it was off to the Ration Shed for a talk from Aunty Ada Simpson and a screening of DVDs about Cherbourg’s history.
In the evening, they ate stew at the Ration Shed before hearing more stories from Elders and yarning with former “Domo boys” who grew up at Cherbourg.
To add to the experience, the teachers then bedded down for the night, sleeping rough in the old Boy’s Dormitory.
In the morning, they had the opportunity to go down to Barambah Creek.
“The idea is to help them connect with the Aboriginal community when they are back in their schools,” Sally said.
“It will help them build cultural capability.”
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