Here at Nadaria School we run a horse program due to a long history of horses in this community.
It was Rex Kanawara and I that decided how we could implement that into our kids' education.
Rex said the first man we needed to talk to was the old man from Ithollera
and he gave us full permission to use his place.
The students have engaged fully with this program.
Our attendance has increased for our senior years.
They develop all their literacy and numeracy around this program.
The community has engaged with the program from the very bottom up
so when they see our students engage with the horses they stand a little bit taller.
Last year we had 20 participants.
This year we had 32 students participate
and next year probably going to have more students.
The younger students that are in year 7 have already come up
and have been telling me that they're going to want to do the ride next year.
They really like horses and that sort of stuff.
So it's really giving the younger students something to aspire to
and something to look forward to I think.
The funding has come from the Department of Education originally
which was not sustainable over the long term
so we needed to look for other partnerships in the program.
The stronger communities has come on board with the school
to provide and assist us with that funding.
Without their support it wouldn't be possible.
This year it was easier for the older kids to look after their younger year rates
and like showing them how to do the saddles and riddles
and looking after them while they were riding.
They didn't have to ask Chris or other AT's like Lofty and Jeremy
to show them how because the bigger kids was there.
One of the big things that I noticed was that the students from last year
really stepped up this year and showed the way in what needed to be done.
We've had a hierarchy like you would on a cattle station
where our year 8's were in the class of our Jackaroos.
They are year 9 students or certificate 1 students.
They come in as our ringers or our stockman
and they are certificate 2 students because they've had more experience.
They were like our head stockman.
In some cases the certificate 2 students were allotted
so many of the cert ones and the year 8's to go and do a job
and so they were given leadership roles
to expand their personal development.
I really enjoyed with the friends and the teachers when I was on the ride.
I like to ride the horses and take care of kill one.
That's it.
Yeah, my daughter was on that ride into Alice
because like she never rode before but like coming to school
and doing like what the other kids are doing
they're learning how to like ride a horse and how to look after their horses.
Yeah, I felt happy to see riding one of the school horses.
Not only young fellas can ride horses, anyone can do it.
There were 20 girls who ride a horse like their grandmother used to ride.
They feel very very proud all the way up.
Journey from here to Alice was very surprised.
Yeah, just were nervous but they still had a good fun.
Having a good fun and laugh and you know making fun of each other.
So you found something on the tree.
There was a hollow tree and there was honey peas.
But someone had a idea to light a fire.
Mali.
Got a long stick and put the dry leaves at the end of the tall tree.
And made a fire ball with a long stick and burned the hollow tree.
And all of a sudden the honey pea riced and stung all over the place.
They were after me first. They sting me right here in the arm.
And they turned around for Stanley and Stanley had these things in his face and his head.
There was a fun and good laugh. Funny things happened.
The students that we selected to actually ride the horses in the parade this year
were probably our most experienced riders.
Really they were the ones that on the ride they showed initiative.
They stepped up. They really helped out.
The decision was not just mine alone.
It was the other teachers and mentors.
And we wanted to get a good cross section of the family groups in Hermannsburg.
And that also included the people that were leading the horses as well.
So we had some of the young people as the handlers as well.
The young lady that we had as the flag bearer this year.
She's really led the way and showed a lot of leadership.
She gets in and helps out with the younger ones.
She really never had to be asked to do anything on the ride.
She was always there asking what could be done.
I was proud to wear light horse uniform.
And I felt proud to hold the flag in a parade.
When we rode through the mall some of us were shy.
But then we didn't worry about getting shamed then.
And then we just started to feel happy waving at people.
They were waving back.
I felt really proud when my family was watching me.
Last year I felt a bit ashamed.
I was done for the first time.
But this year it was alright.
I didn't feel shame or anything.
I had some young students cheering for me.
Calling out for you.
How did you feel when they called out for you?
Pretty shame.
Nervous.
They made the drums and the trumpets.
At school we studied bad indigenous servicemen.
Because we didn't recognize them.
And it was good in that ceremony at Anzac Hill.
The Australian Light Horse Association.
Walking up, putting the flower down.
Stand, salute.
I feel proud to have myself.
For the young ones coming through.
Who wants to do the Anzac ride next year after coming to school.
And learn how to ride horses.
I was proud. I felt very happy.
And surprised when I see the kids enjoying themselves.
They came a long way and did it.
