Teachabout Dry Season Program 2014: Tom: Arrival in Minyerri

Tijimbat Minyerri - Wet Season 2014

Our name, Teachabout, closely aligns with the word, tijimbat, a Kriol word from the Roper River region, which means 'teach your kids about everything'.

Teachabout has a unique approach to school holiday programs. Our programs are well thought-out and expansive with a strong focus on building relationships with the kids, their families and community members. They incorporate a wide variety of activities including art projects, science experiments, cultural knowledge, drama, ICT, music, dance and sport. English literacy, numeracy and problem-solving skills are integrated across these activities and also form the focus of specific sessions.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have since passed away.

Tuesday, 24 June 2014

Tom: Arrival in Minyerri

Hello again, this time from Minyerri!

On Monday morning we drove south from Katherine on the Stuart Highway, stopped in Mataranka, and then headed east along the Roper Highway towards Minyerri. Once we arrived we had a walk down to the billabong, from which the community takes its name, and had a chat with Micheala – one of Teachabout’s oldest friends. We then headed back to our home away from home and settled in for a delicious chicken curry.

On Tuesday we woke up and headed to the community basketball court to meet some of the kids and join in with the after school program which runs twice a day during the holidays here. After an hour or so mucking about we left the kids for the heat of the day and chilled out with some lunch.

In the afternoon the Teachabout team headed up to the oval, which has a new covering of green grass, and had a kick of the footy and a soccer ball. However, before long I was left alone with only Tyrone because the real fun was being had under the tree with Phoebe, Jesse and Tara reading the stories that past Teachabout programs had written and published! A great display of how keen these kids are to show off their reading skills as well as kicking the footy!

Having just watched a beautiful sunset I am feeling more and more comfortable and more and more excited about working with the kids over the next few weeks. Minyerri is a beautiful community and I can’t wait to learn more from the wonderful people who live here.

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The Activity Leader Mob

Amy
Amy is very excited to be returning to Minyerri, her second program as an Activity Leader with Teachabout. Amy is very close to completing her Master of Teaching (Primary) at the University of Melbourne and is looking forward to getting stuck into the mathematics component of the Teachabout program. When she is not working, studying or singing Amy enjoys sewing, crafts, cooking and travel. She is looking forward to seeing all the kids again and learning even more than she learnt on the last program.

Kevin
Kevin can't wait to go on his first program to Minyerri as part of Teachabout. Kevin is mid-way through his Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University and will be heading up the science component of the Teachabout program. He is very excited to be a part of the program and hopes to share a fantastic experience with the community. In between study and work, Kevin is a keen athlete and loves to travel, previously spending 5 months in the Northern Territory and around the top end.

Phoebe
Phoebe is thrilled to finally be heading to Minyerri, as she has been aware of the Teachabout program since its inception. She is very excited to meet all the kids she has heard so much about! She is also excited to be spearheading the health and humanities activity areas of the program. Phoebe is in her second year of an undergraduate degree in International Studies at RMIT. She loves travel, food and photography!

Jesse
This is Jesse's fourth trip to Minyerri as a Teachabout activity leader. He has one semester to go in a postgraduate Master of Teaching at the University of Melbourne. He loves travel, adores Jack White and thinks that Paul Roos coaching Melbourne is the best thing to happen since the invention of the splayd. Jesse can't wait to get back to his friends in Minyerri and the beautiful surrounding waterholes.

Tom
Tom is very excited to be on his first Teachabout adventure and cannot wait to learn from all of the kids! He is currently studying to be a Primary Teacher at Deakin University. He also enjoys coaching and participating in a range of sports particularly rowing and soccer and hopes to use his enthusiasm for this area to encourage a fun sports element to the program.

Tara
Tara is thrilled to be going to Minyerri to begin her first program as a Teachabout Activity Leader. Tara has a professional background in social science and environmental policy, but has a long-term passion for music. You can find her on the weekends performing around Melbourne, eating delicious food or painting at home. She can’t wait to meet everyone in the community and is looking forward to learning loads of new things from the Teachabout kids.