Judge backs college for indigenous boys
20.06.2008
A PROGRAM that each year places two indigenous boys from remote Queensland communities in the hothouse atmosphere of one of Brisbane's elite private schools has received heavyweight support, with Chief Justice Paul de Jersey agreeing to become the patron of the foundation set up to fund the initiative.
Six Aboriginal or Islander boysboard at Brisbane Boys College under the program, which was the brainchild of barrister Michael Amerena, a parent of boys at the college.
Justice de Jersey yesterday met Connie Pearson, 16, from Coconut Island in the Torres Strait, who is in Year 10, and Dane Gagai, 17, from Mackay, who is in his third year at BBC and is in Year 11.
Dane, an outside centre, is the college's captain of rugby, and leads the First XV. But in the next year or so, he will have to make a decision as he is also on a scholarship from the North Queensland Cowboys rugby league team.
Justice de Jersey, an old boy of the competing Church of England Grammar School, said it was ``heartwarming'' to see what could be achieved with the boys in a short time at the college.
``The boys are being exposed to opportunities which would beinconceivable in remote-community situations and on the islands,'' he said.
``It is really a dismal indictment on a highly developed, prosperous community like ours that this sort of potential development is not tapped.
``These kids, and many like them, are left to languish in situations of gross under-privilege, and this BBC Indigenous Foundation aims to address it in a positive way.
``We need to be reminded that there are valuable members of our community who need the sort of nurturing we take for granted.''
Justice de Jersey is acutely aware of the problems facing remote communities. Last week, he headed the Court of Appeal in Brisbane, which ruled that three adults should go to jail and two juveniles should receive a period of detention for their part in the rape of a 10-year-old girl at Aurukun community, on western Cape York. The males had been given non-custodial terms by the trial judge last November.
Boarding and school fees for each student at BBC amount to $27,000 a year and the foundation is looking for corporate or private benefactors to establish a $2.5 million trust fund.
The interest earned will pay the costs that are not covered by Abstudy and other government assistance programs.
Connie, a gentle giant whose father is a Customs officer on Coconut Island, where the staple diet is fruit and crayfish, said he wanted to play professional football and then join the Queensland Police Service.
``So many of my cousins are hooked on drugs or grog, and I want to encourage them that this is not the way to go,'' he said.
``This is my first year at BBC. It is an amazing place and we learn so much, and get to mingle with boys from a lot of other countries. And the food is great -- they let you go back for seconds.''
