Flying High On Groote Eylandt

Darren Pittaway (principal) saw his students flying high during the recent Sports Challenge visit to Umbakumba School. Umbakumba school is situated approximately 60km from the main settlement of Alyangula on the east coast of Groote Eylandt.
Although only a small community, it has a large heart. The island has been recently plagued with negative press due to small pockets of unrest, this had the potential to affect all members of the community, however, the positives have far outweighed the negatives. This was evident by the enormous smiles that the children greet you with each day.
Sports Challenge mentors Jade Warrington (athletics), Stephen Tucker (athletics) and Camilla Milburn (manager) spent three days at Umbakumba working with the students in problem solving, conflict resolution and goal setting, culminating in each student making, decorating and flying their own kites, something that had not previously been done.
The kites captured the positive spirit and creativity of the students, and as they reached full flight on a beautiful sunny day so too did the children.
Groote Eylandt, Dutch for ‘big island’, is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria in north eastern Australia. It lies approximately 50km from the Northern Territory mainland and east coast of Arnhem land (630km from Darwin by air). The island is approximately 50km from east to west and 60km from north to south. There are three settlements on the island: Angurugu, Alyangula and Umbakumba. The island belongs to the Anindilyakwa Aboriginal people, and is part of the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Reserve.