As their friends flock to the coast for post-HSC celebrations, five former St Mary’s students are submerging themselves in the culture of the remote islands of Kiribati.
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Pat Rankmore, Jess Carlow, Sarah Longworth, Emily Osmond and Sophie Sainsbury touched down in Kiribati’s capital, Tarawa, at about 10am on Thursday, December 3, marking the beginning of an eight-day experience.
The former students are accompanied by St Mary’s teachers Bernie Arnall and Millie Woolaston, and six students and two teachers from McCarthy Catholic College. Millie spent time in Africa last year and Bernie has been on similar trips to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
The Kiribati trip is part of Catholic Mission Australia’s Immersion Program, which offers volunteers a unique experience of a world far removed from their own, in the hope they will view life from a new perspective.
Facilitator Rosa Vukovich is guiding the Australian group during their stay at Tarawa, which is part of the Gilbert Islands.
Kiribati is an independent republic located in the central Pacific Ocean, more than 2000km northeast of Fiji. It is made up of 33 coral islands divided among the Gilbert Islands, the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands. It is considered to be one of the least developed and poorest nations in the Pacific Island region.
English is widely spoken in Kiribati, however, there is a native tongue. To help locals improve their English, the volunteers will visit an orphanage and schools to interact with the children.
Bernie said there was high unemployment and limited education and having a good grasp of the English language could impact the future of the republic’s youth.
The volunteers will sleep in huts on woven mats and eat seafood, potatoes, eggs and fruit with the local people. There are no flushing toilets where they are staying and they must drink only bottled water.
Plain, modest clothes must be worn and no jewellery or technology, such as iPods or mobile phones, are allowed.
The group was vaccinated for typhoid and Hepatitis A and have taken basic first aid kits with them.
Due to the risk of dengue fever, they must wear tropical strength insect repellant and use mosquito nets as preventative measures. The closest major medical facility is in Fiji.
The Namoi Valley Independent caught up with Sarah Longworth and Bernie Arnall on Tuesday to see how they were faring on the eve of their journey.
Sarah said she was feeling nervous because it was her first trip overseas and it would contrast greatly with what she was accustomed to.
“We’re used to so much technology and hygiene and you go over there and it’s completely different,” Sarah said.
Medical supplies took up most of Sarah’s suitcase and a number of the volunteers planned to leave these behind in Tarawa, along with some of their clothing.
The volunteers took a multitude of gifts with them, including sports equipment, 40 toiletries packs for women, sports clothes, toys and school items.
Bernie said their itinerary was flexible because they would be running on “island time”.
“No watches, no plans,” she said.
“I’m really excited, actually.
“And for the kids to have an experience that’s different.”
Scheduled activities include swimming, picnics, a war tour at Betio, and a visit to the OLSH Sister’s Women’s Refuge.
The group will plant mangroves for two days at Bonriki to prevent soil erosion, and spend a lot of time with youth who will teach them songs and dances for Mass. On the eve of the Mass, they will sleep out under the maneaba (meeting place) with the youth.
Sarah said the trip was something to look forward to when she was studying for the HSC.
“This is an experience you’ll get once in a lifetime,” she said.
At the end of the journey, Sarah said it would be hard to leave the Kiribati people behind and return to “luxury” in Australia.
“They stay there in poverty and we go home to a feast at Christmas,” she said.
The group will fly back into Australia on Thursday, December 10.
