Aurukun students head to Blue Lagoon
Constable Beazley learns how to make fire the traditional way.
It was a policing duties with a difference for Constable Alexander Beazley when he was recently invited to attend the Returning Generation School Camp for Year Six Aurukun School students at Blue Lagoon near Aurukun.
The camp is hosted by Aak Puul Ngantam (APN) Rangers Services and is designed to provide an opportunity for students to learn from selected elders and rangers about how to care for their country along with undertaking traditional activities.
APN comprises of Wik and Kugu people and operates on southern Wik lands with land and sea management programs, cattle and carbon enterprises and youth engagement programs.
The Return Generations School Camp is now in its second year and provided a wonderful opportunity for the Aurukun students to spend five days at the inland location of Blue Lagoon, so named because of the opal blue coloured water against the clay.
The students were well supported on the camp by teachers, Aurukun health staff, local elders, Indigenous APN Rangers and Constable Beazley.
You can’t miss that bright green paint!
Constable Beazley said it was an experience that he will never forget.
“The students were involved in a range of traditional activities each day. They made a humpy, formed spears, did traditional paintings and learnt how to track, that was all just on day two,” Constable Beazley said.
Learning how to make spears from scratch.
“It was fascinating watching the spears get made. They were fired in the open fire and slowly bent straight. Then the sticks were peeled, crafted and sting ray barbs were attached. The students got right into it.
“In the coming days the students finished off the humpy which was a sight to behold with a structure rising from the ground in what seemed like no time at all. They also participated in hiking, fishing and orienteering.
“I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to stay for the whole camp but being shipped out by helicopter for patrols of Cape York peninsular and Aurukun alcohol management plan was a nice way to finish off three great days.”
Constable Beazley farewelled the camp for Peninsula patrols in style.
Sandy Whyte from APN Cape York praised the efforts of Constable Beazley.
“Only good reports we heard about the way Constable Beazley interacted and engaged with the students and all of those supporting the camp,” Sandy Whyte said.
“The Returning Generation School Camp is now an annual project for us and we aim to maintain a positive and open relationship with the Queensland Police. We look forward to welcoming officers back next year.”
Source: Cairns Crime Alert
