The Knowledge of Generations
by Simone Norrie
Glancing down the corridor I saw Cain slump in his chair. Walking towards the young boy I noticed the fear in his eyes, as I remembered back to my school days. Once a lost soul myself, I could see the similarity between us, forced to go to boarding school to receive a better education. Hailing from a tiny community in Central West NSW, my best friend went to court expecting to escape punishment on his third criminal offence. Overly confident, he was shocked to receive an eight month jail sentence, extended when he instigated a fight within the prison. Not seeing him since our childhood hasn’t erased the memory of my youth, and the constant absence of my friends at primary school. Having chosen a life of crime, Aidan and I went our separate ways as I moved away from my large family to a boarding college. After a year of homesickness I settled on leaving, my Mother the only confidant that motivated me to stay. Wanting to do her proud and make a name for myself, my position within the college football team grew and, as with my confidence, my marks improved.
Seventeen years on I am now a secondary English teacher. After receiving an Indigenous scholarship in my final year at school, I attended a rural based university and have never looked back. My deepest regret transformed into the greatest decision I have ever made, having distanced myself from an inevitable lifestyle of criminal behaviour.
Approaching the shaking boy, I watched as Cain’s eyes darted around the room, escaping my focused eye. Having assertively sent him to my office, I ordered him to produce his excuse for the vandalism of the boys’ boarding entrance. His posture improved, Cain looked me in the eye claiming that he didn’t commit the act.
* * * * *
Now seventy-five, I write to Mr Davis every month. Having lost his wife of fifty years in a car accident last year, he does nothing but read, with my visits always spent in his library. Sitting in his large arm chair, he doesn’t say much now, his life marked with grief following the loss of his wife. Recently he wrote to me, expressing his pride in my work and achievements. Working as a rural journalist and media promotions officer for Indigenous students, I can only attribute my youth opportunities to Mr Davis. I remember one day of my schooling so vividly that it symbolises a turning point in my adolescence. Lying to avoid punishment for graffiti, he had looked down at me noting that he had witnessed my act. In place of a harsh penalty, my retribution was to join the school football team, and to work with the Year Seven Aboriginal students who have left their remote communities to experience the boarding facilities. Having left home at a young age myself, football created a distraction and social opportunities, with the benefits of my education allowing me to achieve my dream of becoming a journalist.
Looking across the room at Mr Davis, I saw a frail man with an ongoing legacy. Even in the times of deepest grief he reads and listens, as the desire to help me in every way shines through. Sitting in his dimly lit library I reflect on the future I could have had, an undesirable life of misdemeanor and an inevitable lack of education and opportunities.
* * * * *
Although frequently sheltered from the threat of imprisonment and the high statistics of Indigenous youth that are susceptible to the often harsh legal system, the media is a primary source in the promotion of these issues. However, it is rarely seen that the issues surrounding the community are written about within the community, as those in small districts rely on Sydney papers for the bulk of their news. Therefore, the establishment of an Aboriginal forum published within local papers could both raise awareness and promote interest in Indigenous youth as, despite advances to initiate Aboriginal culture into small communities, there still remains segregation within society. With a recent study concluding that Indigenous juveniles are now 28 times more likely to be incarcerated, solutions and preventative techniques should be the priority of Australians, especially in rural areas - deterrence is vital. A situation such as Cain’s saw his drive for a better education, having been given a chance by Mr Davis, a crucial step in his journey to achieving his aim. As boarding facilities and colleges are available with the opportunity to be relatively close to home, Indigenous youth may choose to move away from home to expand their horizon of educational prospects. Although it is not inevitable in all communities that youth will experience inequality, the knowledge of generations can indicate that one small change can provide an invaluable journey.
