THIRTEEN Year 10 students and three staff members from Trinity Catholic College in Lismore travelled across the ranges last month to spend a week in Gamilaroi Country – the second time a group of Trinity students have visited the Moree district this year.

The group was welcomed to Gamilaroi country by Sharon Cooke at the Myall Creek Massacre site. Trinity Catholic College assistant principal, Sean Baldwin said Sharon, who has resided in Moree with her husband Paul for many years, told the Lismore visitors the story about the massacre.

‘This was the first time non-Aboriginal people stood up and supported Aboriginal people against the violence, and how a number of the perpetrators were brought to trial and eventually sentenced for their actions,” Mr Baldwin said.

The Lismore students began the week in mid-September with a training session at Moree PCYC with members and staff of Moree Clontarf Academy.

“Academy director, Mick Watton, and operations officer, Wayne Craigie, organised a basketball training session, followed by skills sessions in the gymnastics room and weights gym,” Mr Baldwin said.

“After training, the Clontarf boys and Trinity students enjoyed a breakfast cooked by Alex Noble from the PCYC.”

After breakfast, the Trinity group spent time in the Clontarf rooms at Moree Secondary College, where they interacted with staff from the Girls Academy including director, Codie Ryan.

The next visit was to students and staff at Moree East Primary School.

“Our students engaged with the MEPS Year 1 and Year 5 students via sports games on the oval, the outdoor court and in the classrooms. The interaction between the students was heartwarming and both groups benefited greatly,” Mr Baldwin said.

After lunch, the Trinity students had some game time with a group of Year 10 students at St Philomena’s and helped prepare the boys for their visit to Inverell the following day for the Jamie Lyon 9s tournament.

The Trinity group were also hosted by Darrell Smith and the staff at Miyay Birray.

“Darrell had the telescope set up and students enjoyed viewing the full moon and the planet Saturn with its moon,” Mr Baldwin said.

“Time was spent around the campfire with some of the Moree Elders. We heard stories of the Elders growing up in Moree during the 1950s and 1960s, living on the Mission and the importance of family. “One of the Elders actually rode on the Freedom Rides bus in 1965 with Charlie Perkins when it visited Moree.

“The valuable lesson that every elder passed on was the importance of education and the many doors an education opens up when your school days end and your working life begins,” Mr Baldwin said.

“The other highlight of the night was the valuable time the Lismore crew spent with Kerry Saunders. Kerry outlined how we can use our natural grains to grind and make flour. With Kerry’s expertise the students made and cooked their own Johnny cakes.”

Moree elders in attendance were Lloyd and Mona Munro, Eddie and Linda Pitt, Paula Duncan, Valmay Pitt, Gerald and Delma Brennan and Danella Smith.

Chris Copeland, Kevin Pitt and Bradley Maunder also helped the Trinity students during the night.

“A massive thanks needs to go to Darrell Smith of Miyay Birray, who organised all our activities and the elders’ visit,” Mr Baldwin said.

The following day, the Trinity crew went west to Walgett.

“We stopped off at the home of the cod, Collarenebri, before spending the day with the staff and students of St Joseph’s Walgett,” Mr Baldwin said.

“We had time with Auntie Fay, Sharon and JB and were introduced to the Aboriginal Language program that St Joseph’s run. We were shown the many tools used in the past for hunting and digging.

“JB then took us out on country around the Barwon River where we visited an Alf tribal meeting place.”

When the Trinity students returned to Moree they had a fun hour with the Moree Ukulele group and Marty Roberts before travelled to Bullarah Primary School the next day.

“The students spent time with the Gwydir Mobile Pre-School kids making tractors, constructing rail tracks and rolling dough,” Mr Baldwin said.

The Trinity group then ran touch footy and soccer games with the Year 1 to Year 5 students. Bullarah School has 15 students in total. The tiny village is 80 kilometres west of Moree.

Later in the day, the Lismore students spent more time with Year 9 and 10 students from St Philomena’s.

Lismore group then met with Lloyd Munro and Lloyd Munro Jr, who took them on a bus tour of Moree.

The tour outlined the history of the various areas of Moree including Stanley Village, the Row, the Gateway Precinct and South Moree.

“The Munros have a wealth of knowledge and provided an expert education to the Lismore students,” Mr Baldwin said.

“Following a quick swim, we attended the St Philomena’s Grammys night that showcased the many talents of the students from kindergarten to Year 6 as well as the dancing talents of the staff.”

Following the performance, the Trinity students had their Immersion Prayer and reflection session. “All students spoke about the gift they had received through the week in Moree,” Mr Baldwin said.

“Many mentioned they had previously heard of Moree but it was so much better than they imagined.”

The Trinity Lismore group sent out a huge thank-you to the Moree residents who welcomed them with their local kindness throughout the visit. This includes the staff at MAAC, Balo Street Bakery, Moree Coles and Woolworths, MEPS, Clontarf, Miyay Birray, local coffee shops, MEPS and MCS, and Moree PCYC.

“The students and staff slept in Clontarf swags on the floor in the warm classrooms of St Philomena’s and they used their facilities for meals,” Mr Baldwin said.

“The Immersion is only possible as a result of the generosity of the St Philomena’s Community and the Trinity students were sad to leave.

“The trip has sown many seeds for the future. We have hopefully created the stimulus for some future young workers to travel west to experience life during a harvest or ginning season,” he said.