15th. January to 9th. February
From left to right is Marbuck, Podgie, John Bull, Sharon, Hippie, Tina, Athol,
Woopia, Junior, Beckles, Franko, Dolly, Pappy, Teggy.
Beckles getting stuck into the demolishing of the old park shelters.
Some of the shelters being demolished in preporation for replacement.
Further work going on.
More work.
Students are trained in the correct use of jack hammers.
A shelter ready for replacement
Congratulations! To those participants who were selected for the CJP course.
Teddy Currie
Roberta Coolwell
Ruth Harwood
Warren Paulson
Athol Bundock
Robert Coolwell
Roger Coolwell
Lindsay Coulthard
Frank Long
Sharon Reeks
Heath Currie
Katrina Currie
Sheldon Fogarty
Rebecca Coolwell
Here’s hoping you continue to enjoy the course and to get as much as you can get out of it. Cheers!
The Beaudesert CJP Course Is Finally Underway
Thanks to CTQ, CSTC, The Beaudesert Shire Council, DEET, John Long, Frank Long, L Fraser, Mununjali Housing, The Steering Committee and the Mununjali Elders the Beaudesert CJP is finally underway. Anyone else that I have missed out please accept this as a thankyou.
1t is now the fourth week of the program and the CJP participants has gained OH&S skills as well as their Blue Cards. They have already begun, in this hot heat, the energy- draining task of demolishing park benches and shelters at Stinson Park as part of the construction. The participants feel that they have already learned a lot about construction and about each other. They have yet to get into full swing of the cultural side of the course which they are looking forward to.
A bond has already been formed between the teachers and the participants. It makes it easier for better communication. John Long, Merv Rumpf and Lionel Fraser have nothing but praise for the participants. They see that they are determined and have developed a huge amount of confidence. There is nothing that they can’t do
All I can say is well done participants! Keep up the good work.
Teenie Wilton
Comments
I interviewed the participants and the teachers about what they thought of the course and each other. Here are their comments.
The participants are doing an excellent job. They have shown 100% enthusiasm and the attendance has been almost 100%. I am very proud of being associated with the very first pilot program. It’s a new experience being supervisor and I felt like it was going to be a real challenge but with a group like this I have no worries at all.
It’s been hard getting this up off the ground but the support was excellent. I am really stoked that the organization that funded the program and also the training bodies sat and listened to what I had to say to them. I really appreciate it.
I am passionate about teaching my culture and construction skills to the participants. I hope that they achieve the highest level in both subjects. I have no doubt that they will succeed in doing so.
John Long
Supervisor in construction
There is no other course like this in Queensland so I am proud to be associated with it. The construction and cultural goes hand in hand so that you can work both subjects in together. The participants can construct around sacred sites and build board walks also.
I'm privileged to be able to teach a class because in Bidjara country we can only take so many young people out at a time.
The participants have been promised jobs already, which is good. Where else can you do a course in seventeen weeks and get promised a job?
Lionel Frazer
Cultural Teacher
The teachers are good. We get on well with them. Doing this course with Uncle John has made me see a different side of him. He is very caring and considerate.
Lionel and Merv are alright. I get along with them.
Robert Coolwell
I would like to see all the participants finish the course and go onto full time employment and maybe teaching and showing other young people what they have learned.
Ruth James,
Member of the Mununjal Elders Group
I feel it’s very good. I’ve learned that there is more to construction than what we think there is. It is an art form in itself. I enjoy working outdoors, which is a bonus. I’ve also learned to call it CONCRETE and not CEMENT Merv.
Dolly Coolwell
I think the course is good, us because it’s helping us to gain a lot for ourselves. I hope to gain more knowledge about my culture and to gain more skills.
I have found the teachers to be great. They have showed me that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.
Ruth Harwood
I love it! I am hoping to gain a career out of it. John and Lionel are excellent teachers.
Warren Paulson
I think the course is good. I hope to gain full-time employment. I think John and Lionel are both cool.
Sheldon Fogarty
I think everything about the course is neat. I hope to gain all I can from the course. John and Lionel are good teachers. They do their job and are excellent at it.
Teddy Currie
I like it. It’s interesting and fun. I hope to gain as much as I can and a job.
It makes me feel deadly and proud about myself knowing I can do what others can do.
The teachers are deadly. We get along well with them. The make us feel comfortable and we have a good laugh.
Rebecca Coolwell
It can get a bit slack on the theory stuff but we do learn things. We like the practical part mainly because we like the outdoors. It’s a lot of fun.
The teachers are both good.
Roger Coolwell and Lindsay Coulthard
I think it’s good. I like it.
I hope to get a job out of it and more skills. It can never hurt to have more skills.
Laughter Column
Who said that the CJP was boring? How can it be when we have participants getting themselves into crazy situations and talking like they had a secret language of their own? I won’t mention any names but you know who you are.
These ditties were submitted by Dolly, Ruth and Rebecca.
Little Mr Roger sat on the grass,
Eating his morning tea
While singing his salad song
A spider came along
And scared the daylights out of him.
Frankie got bitten by and ant
Then he jumped around like
A little aborigine
Doing a corroboree dance.
Lindsay Coulthard went for a stroll
Then ended up going for a mighty roll.
Frankie Frankie,
Hard at work
Hit his head,
Now it hurts
Driving to the bora ring at Canungra, Jnr (Robert) said “There is a good swimming hole over there”.
Wasn’t that clever of Dolly, Ruth and Rebecca?
Come on boys! I’m sure you can do better. I expect more material for the next newsletter.