Tiwi Immersion

Sharing culture and friendship

Several Year 9 and 10 students and BGS staff were warmly welcomed by the Tiwi community on our annual Tiwi immersion trip. 

This program is founded on the relationships we have built over the years and the engagement and commitment of our students who once again were great ambassadors and took on every opportunity passionately, fostering strong friendships and treating everyone with respect. 

Angus Beaton, Year 10, gives a first hand account of the Tiwi Immersion Trip highlights.

‘Words cannot give justice to how amazing Tiwi is. Everyone we meet, every place we see, every moment, just feels like home, but everything is so different.  

At home, everything revolves around us, the younger generation. Here, it is a different story. One of the Tiwi boys, Rango, came camping with us and the first thing he did when he woke up in the morning was help his elder (Bernard) pack up.

He packed up all his things and made sure he had everything he needed, not because Bernard asked him to, but because here, elders are the most important, they are the keepers of knowledge and culture.

The kids in the community treat us as one of them (an energetic 6–8-year-old). They love getting to know us, showing us around and sharing their culture and friendship.

We were blessed with the presence of 2023 Senior Australian of the Year, Tiwi Elder, Bernard who was always smiling or laughing and truly taking everything in, the whole world around us, the people, and the environment.

I was lucky to have a one-on-one chat with him around the campfire as the sun set over the sea, illuminating the beautiful red cliffs, and I took the opportunity to listen and really soak up his story.

When we crossed onto his Country, he opened the car window and sang out to his ancestors to give us safe passage on Jikilarruwu.

The next day we were granted access to a secluded water hole, deep and cool, emerald green with crystal clear water and a sandy bottom and complete with a waterfall and rope swing that the local kids loved.

This was one of the best experiences I have ever been a part of, and I am genuinely contemplating returning to Tiwi after I have finished school.’