Reaching
out to provide opportunities for Indigenous students will hopefully lead to a
new generation of leaders in Australia, including our first Indigenous Prime
Minister.
Addressing
a gathering of Riverview Old Boys in Sydney last month, the Founding Director
of the Yalari Foundation Waverley Stanley said he hoped that he would live to
see the first significant Indigenous leaders in the country.
St
Ignatius College Riverview's Acting Headmaster, James Rodgers, said Mr
Stanley's talk at the Old Ignatian Union breakfast highlighted the importance
of education in realising the goals of the Indigenous community.
‘He
believes that together, independent boarding schools and Yalari can help make a
difference not only to the Indigenous students who attend the schools, but also
to their families and their communities', said Mr Rodgers.
Waverley
Stanley established the Yalari Foundation five years ago to provide
scholarships for Indigenous students to attend independent schools around
Australia. The foundation now funds 168 students at 34 boarding schools,
including eight students at Riverview.
The
Old Ignatian Union provides mentoring for Indigenous students enrolled in
Riverview.
‘Each
Indigenous boy has an Old Boy or parent mentor to support him whilst he is at
our school', said Mr Rodgers. ‘Often this mentoring program continues after our
Indigenous students have left the College. It lasts as long as a boy thinks he
needs it.'
Pictured: Waverley Stanley with Riverview's Director of Development Peter Herington (Photo: Jennifer Kirkby).