GARMA BURSARY WINNERS

As part of the College’s Indigenous Program, a donor has provided funds for two students to attend the GARMA festival in August. Regarded as one of Australia's most significant Indigenous festivals, the Garma Festival attracts around 20 clan groups from north east Arnhem Land, as well as representatives from clan groups and neighbouring Indigenous peoples throughout Arnhem Land, the Northern Territory and Australia. Garma happens when people with different ideas and values come together and negotiate knowledge in a respectful learning environment.

Following an application process, two students were selected. At the dinner held on 11May to announce the recipients, four benefactors provided funds to support two further bursaries to attend GARMA. As a result, four Ormond students will travel to Arnhem land to attend this important festival: Fi Belcher, Diana David-De Busch, Lachy Lamour and Emma Jenvey. They will be accompanied by Scholar in Residence Associate Professor Jane Freemantle.

Pictured below left: the Master, Dr Rufus Black, with Professor Marcia Langton AM at the Ormond College Indigenous dinner, and, below right: Garma Bursary recipients Lachy Larmour and Fi Belcher with Professor Hugh Taylor AC (1966). Professors Langton and Taylor are two of the distinguished academics providing valuable advice to the College via the Indigenous Advisory Committee.

CANVAS PROJECT

Following the GARMA Dinner in May, postgraduate resident Sarah Moore facilitated a group art activity in the Junior Common Room to help explore Ormondians' awareness of Indigenous issues.

Sarah introduced the group of students and SCR members to a series of questions. Participants then responded to each one by using paint and charcoal to write or draw words and pictures representing their thoughts and feelings on a large canvas. This canvas could be described as 'a collective mind map'.

The questions examined common assumptions in relation to Indigenous communities, the thoughts or beliefs informing those assumptions and their effects and consequences.

Participant Kai Allison said he really enjoyed the activity and the opportunity of examining people's individual viewpoints.

The finished work will go on display at the College.

The photos below show the participants getting into the Canvas Project with gusto!