Latest News - May 2021

What an exciting start to the year for the Cathy Freeman Foundation! After a year of pivoting and adapting as we navigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, this year has been full steam ahead for the CFF team, with our programs and students enjoying a successful start to 2021. There's been plenty going on, including our Back To School marches, our term 1 Starting Block Awards, Give Me 5 Awards, and the introduction of some new members of our team.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Kind regards, Jade Colgan Chief Executive Officer

BACK TO SCHOOL MARCHES Over 150 family and community members in Galiwin'ku, Wurrumiyanga and Palm Island supported nearly 230 students in their return to school on Day 1 of 2021. Rain and high humidity did not stop the enthusiasm in Woorabinda, as the community got together under the guidance of CFF staff to throw a B2S Pool Party.

GIVE ME 5 Term 1 saw the reintroduction of our 'Give Me 5' awards, which are given to students who attend five or more days than they did in the previous term. At the conclusion of the term, our Northern Territory schools celebrated students who achieved this goal between Term 4, 2020, and Term 1, 2021.

TERM 1 STARTING BLOCK AWARDS We recently celebrated our end of term Starting Block Awards, recognizing students who achieved 90% and above attendance. The special awards ceremony acknowledged the hard work and dedication of students and marked a successful start to the school year.

Our new Starting Block Award products are environmentally sustainable and can be utilised by the whole family. In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint and not bring additional waste into our communities, the majority of items are made from RPET (100% Recycled Plastics) and are not individually wrapped in plastic.

KHANITA SUKASERM, WOORABINDA

PROGRAM COODINATOR

Born and raised in Woorabinda, Khanita enjoys working with children and was an early childhood educator for five years before joining the team at CFF. She is a role model to her three children, who encourage her every day.

FAY CAMERON, WOORABINDA

PROGRAM COODINATOR

Fay, who has just joined the CFF team in Woorabinda, has lived in Woorabinda all of her life. She has one daughter and five grandchildren and is passionate about working with children.

NATASHA GURRUWIWI, GALIWIN'KU

PROGRAM OFFICER

Natasha has recently joined the team in Galiwin'ku, where she lives. She is the mother of a three-year-old boy and is a lover of all sport, particularly AFL.

RAVEN MARIKA, GALIWIN'KU PROGRAM OFFICER

New Galiwin'ku program officer Raven is excited to be working with school children in his community. Raven, who has experience working in aged care, is also a huge AFL fan.

It's a busy term ahead! We look forward to participating in and celebrating National Reconciliation Week events and NAIDOC week in the coming months. LOCAL HORIZONS CAMPS: Students in our partner communities will take part in local Horizons Camps in May and June ahead of our Term 3 interstate Horizon Camps, which give students an intensive personal development experience in an Australian metropolitan city. TEAM FREEMAN: Team Freeman is back in 2021! We'll soon be announcing which fun runs you can participate in with Team Freeman for this year. We're also pleased to be conducting the second edition of Stride for Education. Stay tuned for more updates.

CFF TEAM WEEK: The whole CFF team is thrilled to be heading up to Palm Island at the end of June to visit the community and undergo key 2021/2022 planning. TERM 2 STARTING BLOCK AWARDS: In the final week of Term 2, we will be celebrating those students who achieved 90% and above attendance for the term. CFF NETBALL CHALLENGE: This June on Bwgcolman Day, CFF is hosting its 10th Annual Netball Challenge in memory of Aunty Kathy Tarpaulin. Over 140 students from Townsville will be in attendance in Palm Island for what has become a significant event on the community calendar.