Published: 19 July 2022
Last updated: 27 February 2024
Travel with TAHLIA BOWEN and Stand Up’s Derech Eretz team as they share a joyful week playing with, teaching, and learning from First Nations children.
Day 1: Sunday, July 3
The sky was still dark as the Derech Eretz team met in Sydney to board the minibus to the predominantly Aboriginal communities of Toomelah and Boggabilla in northern NSW.
Some in the group intentionally embarked on this journey with as few expectations as possible, aware of versatility and unpredictability of Derech Eretz, a program run by the Jewish social justice organisation Stand Up which takes Jewish volunteers to Toomelah and Boggabilla. They knew we’d be spending time with kids and learning a lot, but the rest would require opening their minds to the unknown.
Hours on the road were bookended by an educational program on solidarity and NAIDOC Week. It was important to reflect upon why we were here and ensure our purpose diverged from the phenomenon of voluntourism. We also benefited from an introduction to the story of NAIDOC Week, particularly on its commencing day.
Day 2: Monday, July 4
This morning we visited Toomelah clinic. There, a nurse and long-time friend of Stand Up made a funny comment about Derech Eretz to some new nurses who hadn’t heard of the program. “These kids don’t even go home and party - they’re up learning and writing reports!” We all laughed. She might not have been correct about the reports, but the previous evening’s program certainly remained on our minds.
It is always a privilege to spend an afternoon with Elders at the Elders’ afternoon tea we host when in community. This one, hosted in partnership with welfare organisation DrugARM, was a celebration of NAIDOC 2022, themed: Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
One of the aunties pointed at the second line of the theme, sweetly exclaiming, “that’s you guys!”
“You’re the next generation of Jewish mob”, acknowledged another aunty as she greeted the new faces in the room. On our drive home, we all agreed that it was a privilege to reap the benefits of the seeds sown by prior Derech Eretz participants and leaders. Travelling through two communities that half the group have never visited before but being greeted as old friends is a special thing.
As detail on this year’s theme was read out, one excerpt stuck with me: “The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights. Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! with us to amplify our voices and narrow the gap between aspiration and reality, good intent and outcome.”
Day 3: Tuesday, July 5
Today was filled to the brim with kids. Our day started in Toomelah and ended in Boggabilla. Note to self: the trusty playlist we use to let the kids know we’ve arrived could use an update. Tiktok songs seem to be usurping Rihanna in popularity.
As we kept our eyes peeled for kids who might want to join us, a cheeky young one said, “Youse should’ve come in the school term if you’re looking for kids!”
“But how would we hang out with you if you’re in class?” we reminded her through our chuckles.
Watching the Jewish mob and kids of Toomelah and Boggabilla playing together reminded me of the universality of sport, art and games. They bridge gaps in age, background and experience so that a Jewish adult in their mid-twenties and a Gomeroi child can bond over the joy of a paper chatterbox.
Day 4: Wednesday, July 6
Today we drove around Boggabilla looking for the kids. Since they weren’t playing in the front yard of the house where we found them yesterday, we lingered for a moment, wondering if they were still asleep. One of us suddenly spotted distant movement. A few hundred metres ahead of us, some waves. The kids were waiting for us where we left them yesterday. We waved back out the window and sped over to them.
“I had a dream last night that you came back,” one of the kids exclaimed, reinforcing one of the many reasons Stand Up continues to return to Toomelah and Boggabilla.
The quote of the day was when a kid informed us that “today’s value is honesty.”
So, we asked her, “what’s something honest?”
“Today was the best!”
Day 5: Thursday, July 7
The third day of playing with the kids has marked a point at which we now know everyone's names. This feels special, because it indicates our “new generation of Jewish mob” growing closer with Toomelah and Boggabilla.
Tonight’s educational program covered intergenerational trauma and lateral violence, when peoples from oppressed groups direct their frustration and anger from their experiences of oppression at members of their own group. Judy Atkinson’s TED talk, The Value of Deep Listening: The Aboriginal Gift to the Nation, served as a prompt as we investigated healing initiatives as crucial for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community development.
Favourite memories today included dancing with the kids and watching a very little one struggle to keep her painting within the borders of her A4 canvas (much to the table’s dismay).
Day 6: Friday, July 8
We spent today with the Winangali Infusion team on an On Country cultural immersion. We visited the sacred Boobera Lagoon, learnt about the Gomeroi creation story, tried bush foods such as the ruby saltbush, saltbush leaf, and for a few of us, kangaroo. It sparked a conversation about whether or not kangaroo could be considered kosher.
Later, we visited a tree on the outskirts of Toomelah mission, scarred with the deep indent of a canoe carved out of it by Charlie Dennison in 1938. Dennison was a font of cultural wisdom who provided knowledge to anthropologist Norman Tindale and was famously filmed making the canoe.
We learnt to hold out cupped hands when saying gaba nginda (thank you), as if holding an offering. This is because when you thank someone for sharing something, you offer them a gift in return: your listening ear.
We told our own stories through painting with dissolved ochre rock, an opportunity to impart Jewish cultural practices and knowledge. We were even able to offer our friends a challah before rushing home for Shabbat.
During our car ride home, we reflected on our opportunity to learn the Gamilaraay creation story. In the words of one participant, “it was the most moving part - watching oral history right in front of me”.
Day 8: Sunday, July 10
Over the course of the week, we were invited to yarn with a number of services in both Toomelah and Boggabilla. This included Toomelah Land Council and Toomelah Clinic, two of three services that exist in Toomelah (the third being Toomelah Public School). In Boggabilla, we chatted with old friends at DrugARM, Boggabilla Central School, Boggabilla TAFE and Joblink. We began forming more holistic understandings of the communities we were visiting as these friends shared their community roles, achievements, aspirations and challenges.
Saying goodbye is always a bit of a heartbreak. There were tears, speeches of gratitude, pictures and, with the kids, plenty of artwork exchanges. As we prepared to return to the busy lives that awaited us, one thing was certain. We all hoped to return.
“The biggest lessons I learnt were the importance of connection, consistency, community, listening and stories” — Taryn Langman, Derech Eretz leader.
“To share with people that are genuine and easy going yet culturally connected yourself was a blessing from our ancestors” — Buddy, community member.
“It’s strange how this experience made me feel even more connected to my Judaism” — Mia Stiebel, Derech Eretz participant.
“This is not goodbye, it’s see you later” — Aunty Milly, community member.
“I grew up blinded to the beauty and complexity of Aboriginal communities. Now having had the opportunity to listen to First Nations stories first-hand for a whole week and spend hours playing with the local children, I feel I’ve been given a new start in life. A new start to travel, learn, question and soak in the knowledge and wisdom of First Nations peoples so that I can appropriately play my part in closing the gap between their communities and the rest of Australia.” Shaina Rother, Derech Eretz participant.
