I wasn’t part of the first cohort of scholars so I can’t begin my story with a very dramatic “20 years ago I became one of the first Yalari scholars”. What I can say is that 15 years ago I had an interview with perfect strangers, who thankfully are no longer strangers but family, Llew and Waverley. I was so young, and I didn’t know that I was on the brink of a life altering moment, and I don’t say that lightly. I have genuinely thought about the trajectory of my life more times than I can count and not in some existential way, but because I am so fascinated about how so many unobtrusive and ordinary moments have made the biggest impacts on my life and the lives of the people around me.
Finding out about Yalari was very serendipitous. Before I wrote my application, I didn’t know who or what Yalari was, all I knew was that I wanted to go to boarding school. The day I heard about Yalari was the day I applied. Yes, it all happened that quickly – and it had to because it was the final day the applications were due. I was at school watching a Constable Care puppet show one minute and writing an application the next. And it took me all day because I had to write the application myself, my parents didn’t help me, and I thought that was the most unfair and difficult thing in the world. Little did I know.
Yalari changed my life and although I made it look easy, it certainly wasn’t. As you have probably heard from many other scholars’ life away from family and Country on top of learning about photosynthesis and quadratics, playing sport 3 times a week, socialising, adjusting to new routines and norms, and finding time to eat and sleep, is hard and feels near impossible. But that’s kind of the point. Yes, Yalari with the help of all our wonderful sponsors, gives us the opportunity to learn and grow at some of the best schools across the country, but being a Yalari scholar in the midst of all of these challenges also exposes us to who we can become.
I don’t say this to deter anyone from going to boarding school or leaving home at any age, this is just reality; when you’re young and are removed from your source of comfort and the places and people who ground you, who you are is up for anyone’s interpretation, even your own.
This almost clean slate gave me the best opportunity to decide who I wanted to be. Us Yalari scholars always say that we walk in two worlds, and what that really means is that we get to choose our culture and the best parts of western culture and put that together to gives us a unique perspective on the world and ourselves. At boarding school you live in a symbiotic relationship with other Indigenous and non-Indigenous students from across the country and around the world. We’re learning and absorbing from each other and evolving. We have enough space and autonomy to test the boundaries and challenge the status quo while still being in the safety net of school and for me the Yalari family. And Yalari is key because for so many of us Yalari is tied to our culture and gives us something to be proud of and a family to be comforted by, when home feels a little too far away.
This is particularly true now in a time of uncertainty in a post-referendum Australia because Yalari is the vessel that connects Indigenous students from all parts of the country, from the Torres Straits Islands to Tasmania, and from the Great Sandy Desert, across the Simpson Desert and along the Murray River. Connecting the voices of young Indigenous leaders is healing. We get to come together in solidarity to unify our voices at a national level and be part of a new history.
I graduated in 2016 from Geelong Grammar School and last year I graduated from ANU with a double degree of a Bachelor of Arts and Law Honours. I didn’t know that when applying to Yalari I would also be getting a family, a built-in safety net that would support me to become whoever I wanted to be.
Waverley this is a testament to you. Your tough love, kindness, compassion and vision for generational change is why I get to stand here and why so many people have joined us for the ride. The authenticity of Yalari is what sets it apart, the only difference now is that 20 years on Yalari is a household name, not just in Cherbourg or Halls Creek but on Collins Street as well.
Jodene Garstone, Class of 2016
Jodene’s scholarship journey was generously supported by Commercial Eyes and the Oakleigh Foundation.
