Embracing Connection, Culture, and Renewal
Wednesday 27 November 2024
St Leonard’s College alumna and Amiel Award recipient, Stella Wadeson (OC2018) reflects on the Garma Festival experience.
“I would like to first acknowledge the Bunurong and Boonwurrung People of the Kulin Nation who are the traditional owners and custodians of Country. I pay my deepest respects to their ancestors and all First Nations peoples past, present and emerging. I recognise that sovereignty was never ceded and further extend this acknowledgment to the Yolngu people in north-east Arnhem Land, the land where Garma Festival takes place, the sacred site of Gulkula.” Stella Wadeson, Class of 2018
St Leonard’s College takes immense pride in the accomplishments of its alumni who embody the values of social responsibility, cultural understanding, and social action.
A recent example of this commitment is Stella Wadeson’s inspiring journey to the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land, made possible by the Amiel Award – a grant that celebrates the College’s tradition of fostering meaningful change and collaboration. The award is named after Nicki Amiel, past student, staff member and parent, past President of the St Leonard’s Old Collegians Association and member of the College Council from 2000. Nicki held the position of Chair of the College Council from 2014 to 2018. The Amiel Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving the lives of others within and beyond the College.
Stella, who was the inaugural recipient of the Amiel Award in 2018, recently participated in Garma 2024, a four-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “Being welcomed onto Yolŋu Country reinforced the importance of listening and learning. Through working alongside people from all walks of life, the key connection that united everyone was a commitment to ongoing reconciliation.”
The theme of Garma 2024, Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu – Fire. Strength. Renewal, resonated deeply with participants. Chairman of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Djawa Yunupiŋu, emphasised the importance of resilience and hope following the rejection of the Voice referendum, encouraging attendees to “look up and ahead.”
For Stella, the journey was also a return to familiar landscapes. In 2014, she had visited Warruwi Community School as part of the College’s partnership program, fostering an enduring appreciation for the culture and traditions of Australia’s First Nations peoples. She shared, “The memories of my time in Warruwi remain vivid. These experiences contributed to understanding the importance of culture, connection and collaboration.”
During Stella’s 12-day involvement at Garma, she worked as a volunteer alongside Yolngu people and festival attendees, contributing to an environment that celebrated cultural heritage and sought to inspire positive change. She described the festival as a space of profound learning and reflection, stating, “’Garma reminds us to hold space for one another, fostering a renewed future that represents strength and reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Stella’s commitment to community engagement and leadership has been evident throughout her journey. In 2019, she was recognized as the Bayside Young Citizen of the Year announced on Australia Day (photo below), an accolade that celebrated her extraordinary dedication to initiatives such as the Bayside Youth Ambassadors and Women of Influence group. She also played a key role in organising the St Leonard’s College Having a Yarn breakfast in 2018, which fostered important conversations on inclusion and cultural understanding.
Stella’s achievements exemplify the lasting impact of the Amiel Society and the immersive social action programs that are integral to the experiential education offered at St Leonard’s College. By nurturing global citizens who act with compassion and purpose, the College reinforces its commitment to reconciliation and creating a more inclusive society.
Through opportunities like the Amiel Award and experiences such as the Garma Festival, St Leonard’s College alumni exemplify the values of social responsibility and action that lie at the heart of its mission. Their journeys inspire current students to engage with the world as thoughtful, informed, and empathetic leaders.
Featured above: Stella Wadeson (OC2018), Bayside Young Citizen of the Year Award Recipient, 2019