Connecting Spirits and Youth Leadership
When reflecting over the last 13 years of Connecting Spirits,
one of the many significant outcomes of the project, has been the contribution
of the Youth Leaders. The Youth Leadership part of Connecting Spirits has its
origins in the actual formation of the project in 2004. This aspect of
CS happened almost by accident not design and has evolved over the past decade.
Through the passion and dedication of Remembrance 2004 Mt Barker High student, Donna
Handke (now Mellors) this young woman carved a path not only for herself but
those young leaders who followed in her footsteps. Her role in the formation of
Connecting Spirits is well documented in numerous places including the webpage
of the project (www.connectingspirits.com.au
) . Donna established the template in one sense by taking part in the 2004 tour
then through her ongoing support and passion for researching and commemorating
our war dead, worked with me to establish the inaugural CS project of 2006. As
a young person working with her peers, she had a unique perspective on all aspects
of the project. From that point on, others followed her lead and the contribution
of these young Australians can not be underestimated. Each of them initiated fund
raising activities, contributed to decision making, assisted and took responsibility
for many other areas. By giving that practical support to both Mal Jurgs and
myself, they gained a broad range of skills and experiences that produced a CV that
most school leavers would only dream of. There are many stories and accounts of
their work and CS has been enriched by all their contributions. Thank you…
CONNECTING SPIRITS
YOUTH LEADERS FROM 2006- 2017
2006 Donna Handke (now Mellors) – co-project manager
2008 Flo Bourke &
Chloe Oborn – Singer
/song writer (Flo) and co- author of the CS book (Chloe)
2010 -Hamish Jurgs &
Hayden Biddle- peer
support on tour
2012 – Molly Flanagan – established the Connecting Spirits
project for Willunga region through the local RSL sub-branch
2014 – Ashleigh Martin – co project manager on the St
Francis De Sales project
2015-Tamika Williams
& Mollie Sandercock – co project managers on the CS Anzac Centenary Tour
2017- Tamika Williams- co-project manager on the CS Community
tour supporting Mal Jurgs at Meningie Area School
THE FUTURE…
The Connecting Spirits project continues to
evolve and is now a community based project not an exclusive DECD initiative. Continuing
with the concept Youth Leadership, Mal and I are working closely with Tamika
Williams who is studying to be a teacher specifically in the field of
Aboriginal Education. As we begin the planning for the 2019 tour, it is to be
hoped that Tamika will continue to have an active role in the decision making
and overall project management and to travel with the next group. The skills
she is developing will stand her in good stead when she enters the classroom as
a fully qualified teacher and thus continue the work of CS. If you, your company
or organisation value our young people and can financially assist Tamika in her
Youth Leadership role, please contact me on julie@juliereecetours.com.au
2004-2008: Donna Handke (now Mellors)
 |
| Donna Handke at Rufus Rigney's grave 2004- the Connecting Spirits journey begins |
 |
| Belgian television covered the Harelebeke ceremony with Donna 2004 |
 |
| Through Donna's initiative, the soil from Rufus Rigney's grave in Belgium was returned to his niece the late Dr Doreen Kartinyeri in the Connecting Spirits Anzac event on April 23rd, 2005 on the shores of the Coorong....Ngarrindjeri country. Connecting Spirits was born. |
 |
| Donna leads the inaugural 2006 CS tour : seen here with Chloe Oborn who returned to the battlefields as a joint Youth Leader with Flo Bourke in 2008 |
 |
| Coverage of the 2008 Connecting Spirits ceremony at the grave of Rufus Rigney. |
 |
| 2008 - Donna with underground WW1 expert Johan Vandewalle. Donna is wearing her Ngarrindjeri shirt with pride. 2008 - 2010 : Flo Bourke and Chloe Oborn 
Chloe and Donna share a commemoration in 2008
|
 |
| Flo Bourke |
 |
| Flo Bourke Youth Leader in 2008, plays the song 'Tired old piano' in Talbot House, the inspiration for one of the songs she wrote and recorded. Flo was mentored by iconic performer Eric Bogle. 2010: Hamish Jurgs 
Hamish Jurgs was a wonderful support to his peers while on tour.
2012: Molly Flanagan
Molly Flanagan was a member of the 2010 CS tour and when her family moved to McLaren Flat and to Willunga High School, Molly made contact with the local RSL sub branch to establish another CS project for that region. Molly initiated the Willlunga project and worked with the RSL members to take CS to a new community.
Molly with future Youth Leader Mollie Sandercock and the President of the Mclaren Vale RSL sub branch, Brian Flavel at Kranji war cemetery in Singapore.
2014: Ashleigh Martin & the St Francis de Sales project
 Ashleigh Martin takes the lead from Molly Flanagan and sets up a 3rd CS project ('Anazc Fallen Heroes') with St Francis De Sales college in Mt Barker. The impact of these youth leaders continues ... 2015 : Mollie Sandercock and Tamika Williams on the Anzac Centenary tour |
 |
Add Mollie Sandercok and Tamika Williams departing on the 2015 tour. |
No comments:
Post a Comment