The Ignatian - December 2016 Vol 26 July Edition Vol 27 | Page 11

Bursary Story
A Pathway to a
New Future
My name is Ali Crawshaw-Tomlins. I’m from Darwin and I’m a proud Gurinji, Jawyon,
Walpiri and Arrente man.
Growing up, I was exposed to domestic violence, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, criminal
activity… all in my own household. But I’m not going to focus on how bad my upbringing was,
because I know there is always someone out there who’s had it worse. What I would like to
celebrate is how my life has changed because of the opportunity I was fortunate enough to
have, which couldn’t have happened without my mum, Yalari co-founders Llew Mullins and
Waverley Stanley, and then-Riverview Principal, Mr. Shane Hogan. To be completely honest,
if Yalari didn’t exist, I could imagine myself not going to Riverview and ending up in gaol like
so many of my family and old friends. This isn’t because I’m a bad person – and neither are
they – but because of the environment I was in and the upbringing I had.
Was it hard making this change? Yes it was. I remember coming to Saint Ignatius’ College not
even knowing how to pronounce the school’s name properly because my education level was
behind everyone else’s. It was hard coming from a place where I had seen my countrymen
everywhere to the north shore of Sydney where sadly it’s rare to see another black fella
outside of school. I was homesick, the work was difficult, I was initially teased for my stutter
and the way I talked.
Education has
changed my life
dramatically...
Riverview has
opened up many
opportunities
and pathways to
my future that
I never could
have imagined.
So, yes. It was hard. But as the weeks went by, I made friends in the boarding house. Friends
that I now consider my brothers.
My mum was the reason I was at school and there was not one night I didn’t call her. I’d
be on the phone begging to come home, and sometimes she would just hang up. My mum
comes from a long line of strong independent women, but even for her it was one of the
hardest things letting her eldest son go off to boarding school. Mum is the reason I stuck
through and I can’t thank her enough for her support through my years at the College…
especially through my early years.
Education has changed my life dramatically and the lives of many other young Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander kids. Riverview has opened up many opportunities and pathways
to my future that I never could have imagined. When I finish school later next year, I want
to spend time in my dad’s country in central Australia and then continue my studies.
Fortunately, I go to a school where going to university is a real possibility.
When I had my interview at Riverview, something that Mr Hogan said to my mum really
stuck with me: “I’m not concerned with what career paths the boys might take after school.
All I want them to be is good, loving, supportive fathers to their kids.”
I may not be sure what job I want yet, but I’m positive that I will do something that will give
my children a better childhood than my own. This opportunity has made that possible. I
will forever be grateful for this life-changing opportunity. And I’ll forever be grateful to the
people who believed in me and made it happen.
Thank you.
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