Day two out here in the APY Lands and I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything we're experiencing. Every moment feels like something I'll remember forever.
We left our base at Umuwa at 10am and our first stop was something really special. Xavier from our Aboriginal Programs team took us on a cultural tour of his country at the Yankunytjara Pitjantjatjara Lands. Walking through Victory Well for an hour, seeing these incredible rock faces and caves – it was so peaceful and beautiful. There's something about being out there that just makes you feel connected to something bigger than yourself.
Having our packed lunch at Victory Well was pretty cool too. Just sitting there in that amazing landscape with the team, taking it all in. Then it was time to continue our journey to Mimili.
When we got to Mimili at 1pm, we visited the local Art Centre and honestly, I was blown away. This isn't just any art centre – this is where you get to see Aboriginal artwork being created from scratch. We met four local Aboriginal women who were halfway through their pieces, and watching them work was incredible. Some of the completed artwork on the walls was absolutely extraordinary. The talent these artists have is just amazing, and it was such a privilege to spend time with them and see their creativity in action.
After that we headed to Mimili Anangu School for our workshop on respectful relationships, resilience and healthy living. The kids were so excited to see us – their energy was infectious. You could see the joy on their faces and it reminded me again why these trips are so important. These kids deserve every opportunity to learn and grow.
Jase and I then ran a footy clinic which was heaps of fun. There's nothing quite like kicking the footy around with kids who are just so genuinely happy to be there. But the real highlight was watching the students perform their final rehearsal for tomorrow night's annual Ernabella Dance Festival. Knowing this festival brings students together from all over the APY Lands makes me even more excited for tomorrow – I have a feeling it's going to be the highlight of our entire trip.
We drove back to Umuwa late afternoon for a pretty relaxed night as a group. Josh Carr surprised us all by whipping up some spaghetti bolognese for dinner – turns out our coach is multi-talented! We spent the evening reflecting on the day and what we've been experiencing.
Tomorrow's a big one. We're heading to Ernabella in the morning to deliver workshops to more than 70 students aged 4 to 17, then back to base camp before returning for the Dance Festival.
Can't wait.
JHF
