Page 26 - Port Douglas Magazine 33

CELEBRATING CULTURE

& COMMUNITY

YALANJI STYLE

WORDS by Emma Tunnock

roud Kuku Yalanji woman and Port Douglas local, Kirsty Burchill, talks Country is at the heart of Indigenous culture, so when a young Kirsty Burchill
to us about growing up in Mossman, her aspirations for Indigenous boarded a plane to Brisbane, the experience of leaving home at the age of 11
Pyouth and the importance of celebrating culture and community. was more daunting than most of us could possibly imagine. Kirsty recalls her
Born in Cairns and raised in Mossman, Kirsty is one of four siblings and 64 terrifying flight, and it would be four years before she relaxed into enjoying
grand-children. Culture and county are at the centre of her upbringing, along the experience of high school. With home sickness constantly knocking, she
wrapped up high school with happy memories, lasting friendships, and the
with expectations of dreaming big and striving hard. The Burchills are well
known for their tenacity and influence, especially across the performing arts, honour to being the last Boarding Captain of Lourdes Hill after 99 years.
sport and education. Kirsty’s uncle Leon Burchill is a respected Australian She also left with nominations for several numeracy and literacy awards, a
actor and her aunty Tahlia Burchill is a celebrated dancer, teacher and mentor developed love and talent in music and sport, and perhaps, most significantly
to young performers. “My family has always had strong expectations – elders for the Burchill family, Kirsty was the first of her siblings - and indeed
43 cousins, to graduate high school.
have taught us to love what we do and go hard for it. I have grown up knowing
I had to make something of myself – not to get stuck in a comfort zone and to Earning a Diploma in Community Services, Kirsty then went on to pursue
strive for what I want in life,” Kirsty said. her passion in music, studying at the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing
Arts. Eventually the pull of Country returned her home. “I was missing country
Taking inspiration from her elders and with determination in her blood, at the
age of 28 Kirsty is most definitely taking life by the reins and making an impact and family - being Indigenous you have a strong connection to country and I
where it matters most. needed to be home for a little bit,” she said. Home she came with her mantra of
“be better” firmly ingrained.
The out-of-comfort-zone adventures began for Kirsty when she was attending
Mossman State Primary School. A spirited and talented kid, Kirsty was the In early 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic ruled headlines across every corner
first Indigenous student in Mossman to be awarded a scholarship to a top- of the country, Kirsty - together with a group of like-minded local women -
ranking boarding school in Brisbane under the Higher Expectations Education took up the challenge to make a real difference in promoting local Indigenous
program. The program, targeted at the Cape York region, was created in culture. With no time to waste to amplify Indigenous celebrations and cultural
response to the widening gap in educational opportunities and outcomes for awareness in the region, the Indigenous Events Committee was formed.
Indigenous communities and saw around 30 talented students from the region Kirsty and fellow committee members took on a new way of doing things.
awarded scholarships to boarding schools across Queensland. Respect for Elders firmly prioritised, it was a delicate case of treading softly
whilst making maximum impact.
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