Day Four

We’ve stayed this week at Hotel Cairns which is all plantation shutters and palms, but it’s time to pack up our things as the accommodation is about to go considerably downhill! But first...a group photo.

Before we head off on our camping trip of the Cape, we’ve got five hours of briefings from the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, Land Council and Aboriginal Australian Academy. Some of the work they are doing is truly amazing:

• At the Cape York Institute, they’re empowering up and coming Indigenous leaders of the region to drive and own the Cape York Agenda
• The Land Council continues to act as the voice for traditional owners right across Cape York, making sure they regain rights to land and sea
• The Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy is using Direct Instruction, a really effective way of teaching literacy and numeracy to kids, which means previously illiterate children can now read and write – this is huge

It does make me feel somewhat inferior about my lack of contribution to society, but hey, at least I’m here so it’s a good start!

"This will be my life’s work…helping the mob in Cape York," says James Fa’Aoso from the Cape York Leaders Program (an initiative of the Institute). Jawun secondee Bing will be working alongside James delivering this awesome program

Around 2pm, we load-up our seven 4WDs with swags, esky’s and the kitchen sink. For the secondees who will be based remotely in Aurukun, Lockhart River and Hope Vale; the kitchen sink isn’t a joke. They have supplies to last five weeks!

We drive in convoy up the coast road, take the ferry over the Daintree River to Cape Tribulation and stay the night at PK’s. Jawun’s no alcohol policy kicked in once we left Cairns, so we sit around playing cards while the backpackers get drunk and be backpackers :-)