Nine senior school girls from the Tiwi Islands were treated to a surprise visit from singer/songwriter Jessica Mauboy during their recent stay at the NCIE.
The students aged 14 to 18 from Melville Island’s Tiwi College made the journey to Redfern, to participate in a week-long writing and mentoring workshop, organised by the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF) and hosted by Hachette Australia.
During their visit the group attempted the impossible to write, edit, create, print and publish a book in just one week.
With help from Jessica, who spent an afternoon with the young authors sharing ideas and exchanging stories, and author Anita Heiss, the group published Our Story (Nginingawila Ngirramini in Tiwi). A book about their life and culture, heroes and sacred places.
Photo: Students from Melville Island’s Tiwi College with Jessica Mauboy.
In an interview on Channel Nine’s Christmas with the Australian Women’s Weekly, Jessica said the ILF did important work in Indigenous communities.
“The work the Indigenous Literacy Foundation does is amazing. They really do reach out to the most remote communities and ensure the kids in these locations have the same access to resources as city kids” she said.