Saturday, July 24, 2010

Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Program

The beautiful smiling face in the middle is my daughter. She is 20, and has always known what she was born for. An amazing person who totally inspires me. Great chick!

Renee wants to fly for NASA, so she has planned a way to get there. Flying for the RAAF is her first step in her journey to achieve her goal.


The following is an article published in the West Australian Newspaper 22 July 2010 written by Joseph Catanzaro.

They arrived at Fairbridge Farm two months ago looking for a new direction in life - 36 young men and women from around WA who had signed up for a ground breaking program.

Yesterday, after surviving an eight-week military boot camp, the same young people stood proudly at attention as they graduated from the State's first Australian Defence Force indigenous pre-recruitment program.

Designed to help young indigenous men and women meet the academic and physical requirements for entry into the ADF, today the graduates will sit an aptitude test in Perth to see what roles they might be offered in the service of their country.

Eight weeks ago, 23-year-old Moora resident Shaun Nannup was unemployed, his frustration causing him to turn to alcohol and violence. Yesterday, he said that the training had given him the confidence and skills to achieve his dream of doing something more. "I'm going to join the army - the armoured corps or maybe the infantry," he said.

Under the direction of indigenous servicemen, the recruits were put through rigorous military and academic training.

Chief instructor WO1 Colin Watego, a 56-year-old soldier who has 37 years experience in the army, said the recruits had not been found wanting.

"This program has helped empower these young folk with confidence and a can-do attitude," he said.

Pinjarra resident Renee Matters, 20, said she thought the sky was now the limit. "My first preference is the air force," she said. "I want to fly jet fighters."

Unity of First People of Australia founder Ernie Bridge said even for those who did not go on to a career in defence, doors had been opened, with several highly impressed companies indicating they had jobs waiting for the graduates.

For Mr Nannup, despair and unemployment are in the past, his gaze now firmly fixed on a bright future. "I'm never going back there." he said. "I'm ready to serve my country now."


4 comments:

  1. Wow, that is awesome. You must be so proud of her. A bright light shining for other Indigenous folk.

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  2. Hi =I= how you doing? Sorry I was off line for two weeks, house sitting for my brother.

    Yes I am, she is a very cool chick. Renee is 20 and has a commercial pilots licence. She wants to fly Jet Fighter planes for the RAAF and then some other....lol

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  3. What a girl! Getting a commercial pilot's licence is no mean feat.

    Yeah, all good. I see my students again this week after 3 week's break from them. Graham sold a small painting at the Noongar exhibition. I am ecstatic, he wasn't even going to put one in!

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  4. Oh fabulous what did he paint? How exciting for him.

    Yep she a great chick! Drives me crazy because she is mad as but love her to bits...lol

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