Children all over the world are the same! Endearing, sweet and open-hearted. The schoolchildren that we encountered at the two schools at Uluru were no exception. At the first school, Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal College, there were students who were painting and preparing a mural for Harmony Week, where each school in the district would add a section to tell their own story. They enjoyed holding and posing with the torch and were in turn delighted to be presented with a gift by Audrey Ward, from schoolchildren of Boorowa Central school in NSW, also a piece of artwork with its own story.

At the primary school, Mutitjulu School, the children were at play and engrossed in their games and laughter, and it was difficult to get their attention at first, until the stickers arrived. These young children were delighted to receive the World Harmony Run stickers which they proceeded to stick all over themselves and their clothes.

The flaming torch soon achieved an even higher pitch of excitement and the opportunity to run with it was irresistible, if a little rowdy as they continued with their playful mood. However, when the girls began to sing the Harmony Run theme song to them, they quietened and moved a little closer. This was something they understood: the power of song, as it is a vital part of their own culture. Living as they do at the foot of the Rock, in the embrace of Uluru, the site considered by all to be the spiritual heart of Australia, they responded by asking again for the song. The entire Harmony Run group sang it quite a few times, and then Prachar Stegemann invited the children to join in. Shy as they were, they tentatively voiced the unusual rhythm and phrases of the Harmony Run theme song with us, reading the unfamiliar words off the back of the brochure, imparting to us a real sense of the reverence and mystery contained in the song, so that we saw it also in a new light through their eyes.

- Mrinali Clarke

The first place that we attended was Nyangatjatjara Aboriginal College In Mala Road. The Head of the College was Gail Donaldson. Gail and her husband were asked to come out of retirement in Adelaide in December last year to take up the post. They self-givingly agreed to come to Yulara and take over the running of the college, and are doing a wonderful and inspiring job for these unique students.The college is operated as both a boarding and a day school, with the capacity to take 69 boarders. The philosophy behind the college is to provide a place where students who have finished primary school in their local community can continue their education and it currently serves three primary schools. On the day that we attended many of the students were absent due to other community activities and commitments.

Although the students seemed to be exceptionally shy, Gail assured us that as soon as we left, our visit would immediately become one of the highlights of their studies on ‘Schools in Harmony’. I presented the students with a large poster made up of lino cuts that were prepared by the students at Boorowa Central School, NSW, and were representative of their understanding of Indigenous culture. This has set up a line of communication between the two schools for the future.

At the Mutitjulu Primary School, I spoke to the Principal, Jodie Punguika, who has been working with Indigenous communities for 11 years, and teacher Mal Hutchinson who moves around the large district as a relief teacher. The students were involved in a project called ‘Schools in Harmony’ which fitted in perfectly with the World Harmony Run visit.

- Audrey Ward

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