In late June, 19 students from ACT Radford College’s senior school will be travelling north to assist at Gunawirra supported preschools at Gunnedah, Kootingal, Quirindi and Werris Creek, and another group travelling even further north to Inverell .

The students, comprised of 13 girls and 6 boys, accompanied by two teachers,are very excited about experiencing life at these Gunawirra supported schools, helping unconditionally and energetically wherever they can, and sharing their own life stories with those they will be working closely with. They would like to have a session with everyday parents whose children attend the preschool.

It is hoped that a documentary will be made by the Radford staff and students chronicling their experience. At the close of their school stay, the group will retreat to The Warrumbungle’s to reflect on their journey, what they gained from it, and where their next footsteps will lead them.

A very important visit took place on the 11^th of April to the preschool centres in Northern NSW that receive support from Gunawirra.

Radford Early Learning centre, Gunawirra, Jeff Nelson, a proud and deep thinking Aboriginal professional who works with Gunawirra, Good Beginnings Liverpool, Kootingal, Werris creek, Quirindi and Kempsey, (missed Gunnedah – car broke down) all attended to begin the actual process of building our new Activities website.

Ably led by Sarah Boardman of Radford, we spent the days really working very hard on our basic values and our actual practical work to get the site up and running. Every centre will look after a modem. Gunawirra will add to it the work of famous cartoonist Carl Sherrif who with Carolyn Leys from Gunnedah will plan the little movie for the children on the “Gunawirra ‘Good-hearts’ ” to do with Nutrition, Personal Hygiene and Health.

Norma and Shiri from Gunawirra with the help of Patricia and Chryne (our ‘mother infant’ Aboriginal specialist) will work on a movie with the avatars which Chris Bourke will help us create from the Gunawirra Kids. These are her Yarramundi Kids while we wait for our own Gunawirra Kids.

Chris is a proud and skilful Aboriginal women who specialises in working with children who are sexually abused and victims of alcohol, drugs and domestic violence. Gunawirra is honoured to have her now as a member and an integral part of our work. She will work for Gunawirra for a day each week.

On August 30th to September 1st the United Nations is running its annual DPI/NGO Conference in Melbourne with the theme “Advance Global Health”.

Gunawirra has been awarded space in the exhibition area and we will be presenting our story, programs and publications to the attendees. Our video “I go to Preschool now” will also be featured in the conference audio visual presentations.

This is only the second time in 63 years that the UN has held this important global conference out of New York and Gunawirra is excited and honoured to be included.