The Soaring Eagle

Warlawurru is the name given to the eagle which soars above the land in Halls Creek.
The Warlawurru is the totem of the Jaru people, seen as a parallel to God’s spirit caring for its people like the eagle gently hovering over its young.
And the title Warlawurru could also be given to the Sports Challenge team who did a program in Halls Creek earlier this year. They certainly flew high – and far.The team left Perth in the morning and after arriving in Broome got in a car and drove 700 kilometres to Halls Creek.
Warlawurru is situated at the Lunja community at Red Hill, just over two kilometres from Halls Creek. The people follow the ways of Ngawi and seek to nurture Gospel values and aboriginal spirituality.
Jaru is the local language and culture and the mentors, basketballers C.J.Jackson, lacrosse player Emma Attwood and Luke van Zeller (everybody knows what Luke used to do) and touch football rookie Mikaela Cross were not only given an open-armed welcome but Jaru names.
Indoor and outdoor problem-solving activities, sport, communication and co-operation were used to spread the “good news.”
Sister Maura O’Connell, who leads the dedicated group of passionate people at Halls Creek, said this of the program:
“This is fantastic, this is the first time some of these students have worked together in a co-operative manner.”
That from an Irish nun in her 60s.
What else needs to be said – apart from the fact that we are looking forward to going back.
Heading on after the visit to Halls Creek was a trip to the Birlirr Ngawiyiwu Catholic School at Ringer Soak.
It’s 170 kilometres east of Halls Creek and because of isolation, few outsiders make it to Ringer Soak.
The mentors were a huge hit – but more so the mandarins they brought from Broome. The fresh fruit was an amazing lure for the youngsters to perform.
However, they proved to the mentors that they didn’t need to. They were jumping to go.
“This was a fantastic opportunity for them,” acting principal Vincent Russell said.