Participants were taken on a tour of the Australian Broadcast Corporation, getting to see behind the scenes and learning about careers in TV and Radio.  During a delicious lunch at the Dab Café Auntie Joan joined us and afterwards we met James Sullivan (Jumbunna) and Alice McAulif (UTS Gallery) for a workshop on the exhibition Djalkiri. Later we walked to the Academy of Interactive Entertainment and got to try out professional computer graphic software for creating computer gaming!

Through the generosity of the Sydney Opera House and Ausdance NSW, Adelle, Patrick, and Yarran were fortunate to have the opportunity to join the South American based company CCN Creteil et Val-De-Marne, for a professional Hip Hop class, and to see a show performed live. What a fantastic experience!

We enjoyed food prepared and cooked by participants based on techniques they had learnt from Corey and we were joined by Sophia Romano (Jumbunna) and Lisa Aitken (Widening Participation) for a careers workshop.  Thank you to Karen Vaughan and Robert C. Johnston for the edited films starring our very own participants shown on the Greenhalgh Theatre big screen!

Special thanks to Ben Whittaker from Australia Rugby Union for generously supplying our families with tickets to the Waratahs V Brumbies Game at ANZ stadium!

Just to say a huge thank you for helping to make NAIDOC 2012 Deadly for the How Big Are Your Dreams Mob!

Thanks to everyone for a great week away at the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence (NCIE). A fantastic and extremely busy time was had by all! We are very proud of the courage, strength and great positivity that every single participant showed.

The first day started with a meet-and-greet followed by some delicious make-your-own hamburgers before a hop on the train to visit the Gilbert & Tobin law offices on floor 37, where we got to see some extraordinary views and fantastic art works by talented Aboriginal artists from around Australia. Josh and Tathra even got to the ‘Head of the Boardroom Table’ to imagine themselves in The Apprentice and fired a few people! Congrats to Clarissa and Josh in particular for bravely standing the heights.  And thank you to the Gilbert and Tobin Staff for welcoming us in to their office as well as generously supporting our program.

Next we became part of history by visiting the very first NAIDOC Launch ever held at Hyde Park. Highlights were the amazing voice of Casey Donovan and Yarran who impressed everyone with his Move it Mob Style moves.

Back at NCIE Redfern, Alannah, Clarissa, Yarran, Tarsha, Patrick and Tathra showed off their impressive camera Skills with a Flash Lab photo workshop. We are now thinking of organising an exhibition to show off the How Big Are Your Dreams talents. Flash Lab run 8week photo courses at Redfern in which participants learn more in-depth skills.  Please let me know if this of interest to you.

Next it was off to Koori Radio 93.7FM, where Lily Shearer gave us an in-depth history of the radio station and some deadly advice on how to become a radio presenter or sound engineer through the Young Black and Deadly Program.  Also of interest were her insights on the role of the Black Theatre Company and the Tent Embassy protesters in uncovering injustices, in challenging government and ultimately changing Australian law. Best of all everyone got to think about their family descendants and see where they come from on the map of Aboriginal Nations.

Congratulations to everyone for bravely speaking to the microphones. Special thanks to Koori Radio 93.7FM for their generosity in time and deadly gifts for all HBAYD participants, Yabun 2012 CD and some Young Black and Deadly Sunglasses.

On Day 2 we embarked on a marathon day of walking, searching out and exploring places around Sydney from the Museum of Sydney, to the State Library, Hyde Park Barracks, Martin Place and the NSW Art Gallery.

Congratulations to the winning team Shorty Parrot got a Classic Piklet (Tahra, Yarran and Patrick) who arrived at MCA 45 minutes ahead of the other teams who enjoyed getting lost in the basement artwork at the NSW Gallery or in the botanical gardens.

Thanks to Robert from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) team for a beautiful tour, Rocks Dreaming, which explored the shores of Circular Quay and The Rocks from the perspective of the traditional owners of the land, the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation. It was wonderful to hear about ceremony, culture and even to learn some language.

Evening saw us return to the city for a night visit to the Observatory, where we heard about how the stars are traditionally read by our Aboriginal Elders.  A highlight was to see Saturn through the telescope, on a clear night the planet looked beautiful.

On day 3, after a workshop with Karen in which we thought about the positive things in our lives and those things we would like to change, we caught a ferry to Cockatoo Island to check out the amazing art of the 18^th Biennale of Sydney.

Full respect goes to Tarsha, Pat, Tathra and Yarran for creating their own performance in the Overseer’s Cottage, inspired by the art Biripi, 2006 by Khaled Sabsabi. Filmed in the Hastings area on the mid North Coast of NSW, Biripi was made at the invitation of the Biripi Nation people.  The film’s content, covering dance ceremonies, is the artist’s “personal declaration of freedom, cultural appreciation and spiritual respect for the Biripi Nation and the traditional and rightful owners of this land. Sharon Brown, a Biripi woman, endorsed the joyful interpretation of the How Big Are your Dreams group who delighted the general public with their dance. It was wonderful to see them proudly announcing their heritage and teaching some deadly dance moves.

More fun and dance was to be had on the way home with Uncle Darren on the yidaki (didge). We also got to hang out with the Koomburri Mob who had been street performing.

Our last day included another fantastic health workshop with Daren and Baz reminding us that we get out of life what we put in.

Next we enjoyed a cooking workshop with Cory who talked about the benefits of good food. He warned about the nutritional dangers of the fast food industry. Congratulations to everyone for creating your own recipes to enjoy with lentils, vegetables and kangaroo.

The camp finished with a Harbour Cruise aboard the Tribal Warrior.  Despite the poor weather we enjoyed great views, history and cultural performances by Uncle Terry.  We also heard an inspiring story by Tracey who is on her way to being the first female skipper of the Tribal.

Congratulations to Dean, Josh and Jake for getting up and showing everyone how traditional dancing is done.

Lessons we learnt over the week were:

• The only silly question is the one that isn’t asked (Lily Shearer, Koori Radio)
• Respect starts with self-love (Lily Shearer, Koori Radio)
• You get back what you put in (Baz Nassis)
• Healthy bodies come from healthy food (Corey Grech, Kool Purple Kookas)
• We can all make a difference through the ripple of influence (Corey Grech, Kool Purple Kookas)
• The only bad decision is the one that wasn’t made (Corey Grech, Kool Purple Kookas)
• No shame in giving it a go only in not trying (Uncle Terry, Tribal Warrior)
• All that is needed is a positive attitude and to give it ago (Uncle Terry, Tribal Warrior)
• YOU can take control of your life (Latoya, Lawyer and Psychology Student, talking about surviving sexual abuse at an early age)

Particular thanks to:

• Daren Dunn and his Deadly Mob of inspiring people,
• Tania Dunn,
• Baz Nassis
• Simone Brown
• Helen Apostle
• Clancy King
• Karen Vaughan
• Corey Grech
• The National Indigenous Centre for Excellence
• Koori Radio 97.3 Fm
• Museum of Sydney
• The Tribal Warrior
• Gilbert & Tobin, Law Firm
• Flash Lab Photography

Here are more photos of camp!!!

It is now time to choose your project.  Some ideas are:

Photography: Flash Lab workshops and an exhibition

Music producing: Young, Black and Deadly program, Koori Radio and Aaron, Liverpool PCYC

Sailing: develop your skills through the Tribal Warrior program

Traditional Dance: Tribal Warrior program

Contemporary Dance: Bangarra

Modern Dance: Bangarra and Move it Mob

Sports: mentored by Daren Dunn and Basil Nasisis

Finding your Family heritage: Tranby Aboriginal College

Film making: University of Technology, Sydney (starts a little earlier on the 3rd of January)

Health (nursing and midwifery): University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

Engineering and Information Technology: including robotics and gaming design: UTS

Science Investigations: UTS and CSIRO

Design: UTS

Other ideas are canoe making, event management, outward bound, song writing and of course your own dream.

Feel free to speak to the project team if you have questions or would like some advice!