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AUGUST 1
National out-of-uniform day
Mala Manapan (together) Day
With a gold coin donation, help build a swimming pool for Ramingining students
Cockatoo Primary School in Victoria urges other schools across Australia to join it in holding an
out-of-uniform day on August 1 to raise $2 million to build a swimming pool for students at a
partner school in remote Ramingining, Arnhem Land — 600km east of Darwin.
The waterhole used by
Ramingining students is
not in walking distance
from the town and is not
always safe to swim after
heavy wet seasons when
crocodiles roam further
afield.
For 20 years, about
nine Year 5 students
from Cockatoo, in outer
eastern Melbourne,
have spent a week in
Ramingining after a
week acclimatising and
sightseeing in Darwin.
Year 5 students from
Ramingining make a reciprocal visit to Cockatoo for about
10 days in spring.
Cockatoo teacher Tim Stapleton, who has accompanied
students on three trips north,
says the exchange engenders
a “profound sense of
reconciliation”.
“The kids are totally blown
away by the rich social life
and enjoyment of people and
the way they are embraced
so keenly by the community.
“As soon as they arrive they
are taken off to play.
Cockatoo hopes to make
August 1 a national outof-uniform day. Two million
dollars would build a
“reasonable-sized” pool, filled with bore water. Local
groups, including the Arnhem Land Progress Association,
have offered to contribute to ongoing maintenance costs,
including chemical costs.
Money can be deposited in the Ramingining Fundraising Account held with Bendigo Bank (deposits are also accepted at
Commonwealth Bank branches). The BSB number is 633 000 and the account number 146014337.
The campaign has a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MalaManapantogetherDay.
Ramingining is an idyllic, culturally rich Indigenous
communty. It is 552km east of Darwin in the tropical forest on the edge of the Arafura Swamp. Many
outstations are situated on the banks of lagoons
and rivers teeming with wildlife.
The community was the location for 10 Canoes and
is home to many outstanding artists and ­musicians.
It is an alcohol free community founded on
­upholding Aboriginal traditions and culture.
The people’s language is (Yolgnu Matha) is ­primarily
Djambarrpuyngu and Gupapuynga however
­Ganalbingu and others are also spoken: English is a
foreign language.
The school is English speaking and caters for 310
students from preschool to Year 12.
❛We need a pool in Ramingining because 90%
of the time it’s 40 degrees Celsius and their
water hole is a while away and it causes ear/eye
infections!!
A water park would be just as good but we need
$2 million.
PLEASE HELP US!!
Mala Manapan (together) we can afford this.❜
❛Please help us make
money for Ramo by
going in free dress to
school on August 1
and donating a gold
coin!!!
“We are one but we are
many
We will connect and
share our culture
We will never part.”
❛There is a community about 500 kms
east of Darwin named
­Ramingining.
Cockatoo PS wants to
help out their sister
school in Ramo by
getting enough money
to give them a pool.
In ­Ramingining as you
can imagine it is very
hot, but unlike here they
have nowhere to swim to
cool down.
In Arnhem Land there
is a small community
called Ramingining.
It is often unsafe to
swim there as there
are threats like crocs
and illnesses at the
water holes.We are
trying to raise money
to make a swimming
pool/water park for
them. ❜
❛Ramingining is very hot every day. It can go up to
30-40 degrees. That is why we are trying to raise
money to build a swimming pool. There is only one
place in Ramingining where they can swim. It is a
local water hole. The schools will have a free dress
day to raise money for the swimming pool. If we
don’t raise enough money we will build a water park
instead of a swimming pool. ❜
Comments from Cockatoo PS students
‘Mala Manapan’ means
together in Yolgnu which
is their traditional
­language. And we need
to help those people that
can’t swim because they
have nowhere to swim
that is safe. So on Mala
Manapan Day, please
contribute to this and
go in out of uniform and
donate a gold coin on
August 1, to help build
a swimming pool/water
park in Ramo.❜