Name Barry Robinson
Subjects We learned
English, maths. I liked all my subjects.
We
got food (milk and bread and juice) at school. Families got rations.
Culture After school we had
culture and ceremonies.
Language I had to speak
English in class I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t even say “yes” or “no”.
Other languages spoken by the students at
school and in the community were Dalabon, Mangarrai, Jawoyn, Mara and Mayili.
The main language spoken was Kriol.
Discipline Discipline was really
strict in those days. No one was allowed in the playground after school. We had
to line up in the morning and march.
Friends Christine Captain Andrews
Robert Lee Penny (Gordon Andrews was my best mate). We played marbles (all of
us were good). After school we worked for missionary mob
Clothes We wore cloth rag at first, no uniform.
Sports and games We played football,
basketball, softball and cricket. The old basketball used to be where the old
clinic was. In 1978/ 9-there was the
school sports in Darwin – racing, relay, tunnel ball, 200yards, and 400yards.
It
was too hard for entertainment to get here to Barunga.
Buildings and Equipment When I first went to school
it was under the old mango tree. It was hot so every lunch time we would go
down the creek for a swim.
We had no washing machine. The old ladies washed in the community laundry
(where the old library is)
Reflections After leaving
school in 1971 I did cattle station work coming home to Barunga for Christmas.
My job was branding and earmarking cattle. I used to break in mad horses.
I broke my leg chasing a dingo. The old
Aboriginal man told me that it was not good to chase dingos as something bad
will happen. The next day I had a accident.
I loved school. I went Monday to Friday. My
family wanted me to be educated. Kids should go to school everyday and find a
good job decent job.
Culture should be part of
school. I wish we had more.
School should teach both ways
Advice to .“When there is no sit down
money I don’t want them to come and
young people wake me
up.”