Page 17 - Luce 2014

Junior Co mmon Roo m

As the launch of
JCH Fellow Helen
Garner’s (1961)
latest novel This
House of Grief
drew national attention, second year
student and journalist (with a regular
column for the New Zealand Herald)
Verity Johnson (2013) joined the
conversation.

To jam the Melbourne Town Hall with this
number of clamouring, chattering people,
you’d think that a Hollywood superstar
is gracing the occasion. But no, it was Ms Cadorel and JCH students with Ngukurr community Elder Hazel Farrel,
the opening night of the 2014 Melbourne Ngukurr CEC teacher Regina Rogers, Ngukurr CEC Senior Teacher Kristina
Writers Festival, and the crowd pulsed with Tulen and student
anticipation for writer Helen Garner.

She took to the stage, and her magnetism Aboriginal Cultural Exchange
and personality was immediately evident
to all. Her light sharp gaze settled upon us, In September students from Janet Clarke Hall were fortunate to host
as she draped a jewel bright shawl over her students and staff from the Ngukurr Aboriginal community. Ngukurr is
shoulders. I got the feeling I was about to located 650 km south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory. Ngukurr
listen to a kindly owl. And listening to her is a community of 1500 people, situated on the banks of the Roper River.
reading the first chapter of her new book, Vice-Principal (Students) Fiona Cadorel has been visiting the community of
This House of Grief, I can see why Australia Ngukurr since 2006, facilitating a cultural exchange between the students
swoons for her.
of Ngukurr and Methodist Ladies’ College. Kriol is the first language spoken
in Ngukurr - however there are up to 5 other traditional languages spoken
She talked us through her writing process, and in the community. The purpose of the evening at JCH was to provide the
the public’s condemnation of her interest in opportunity for cross-cultural exchange. JCH students were very keen
this gruesome case (the murder trial of Robert to learn about aboriginal life and culture and to share their university
Farquharson). She even gave a masterful nod experience and Melbourne lives with the Ngukurr students.
to the backlash against The First Stone with an
indifferent, ‘Yes, I think people think I’m too The conversation was facilitated by Ms Cadorel in the SCR. Afterwards, the
soft on men.’
students played table tennis and pool and then shared a meal together. By
the end of the evening the Ngukurr students didn’t want to leave. Fiona has
The striking thing about her conversation, been in contact with the Ngukurr staff since their visit. They reported that
which ranged from loving Court drama to her the visit to JCH was one of the highlights of the cultural exchange and that
works’ treatment of men, was how funny she the students were inspired once they returned, to look up the Melbourne
was. She was insightful, quick and tastefully University website and research Bachelor of Arts Extended Program and the
cutting. But she also drew peals of laughter Special Entry Access Scheme. Fiona has continued conversations with our
from the crowd, even on the grimmest of students since the Ngukurr visit as the JCH students expressed an interest
subjects.
in being able to engage further with indigenous community members. They
are keen to explore the possibility of developing an ongoing relationship
The other thing that struck me was her with indigenous students in a mentoring capacity.
toughness. She wore the armour of a lady
who’d reached an age and stage when, if
you were offended by what she offered, she
would still stick to her guns.

We sat there in awe; wrapped around this
firecracker of a woman. I know for one that I
still am.

Verity Johnson
AR Grice Scholar
J anet Clarke Hall 17