KCP - Catholic Diocese of Broome

Arnikar Rastus from the Dodnun Community at Mt Elizabeth Station and Roxanne Williams from Gibb River Station are currently in Yr 12 at St Brigid’s Boarding College in Lesmurdie, Perth.

Arnikar and Roxanne began their education at Wanalirri Catholic School, Gibb River, in Pre-primary. With the support of their families, they consistently attended school every day, week, month, year, through the primary classes until 2002 when they began their secondary education in Perth.

When Wanalirri Catholic School was established in 1991, the children from Dodnun, 65kms away at Mt Elizabeth, were enrolled. For the next ten years, without fail, the families brought their children to Gibb River on a Sunday evening to stay with families during the week enabling them to attend Wanalirri School. They were picked up after school on Friday to return to Dodnun for the weekend. Sometimes during the Wet Season they swam the flooded Hann River in order to get to school on time, or were even stranded in Gibb River for the entire first term, away from family during that time. In return, the families in Gibb River gave wonderful support and care of these children.

The girls’ recent big project together has been to search for the RIGHT ball gown and shoes to wear at the girls’ Yr 12 ball.

We congratulate Arnikar and Roxanne for their wonderful achievements, the challenges they have overcome, their happy spirit in the midst of it all and for being the first girls from their Communities and Wanalirri Catholic School to graduate from Yr 12.

We wish the girls God’s Blessings for their future as they prepare to take on the next step in their journey of life.