Bathurst Island Community Fundraising

Hi, our names are Benjamin Camilleri and Xavier Byrne. We are students from Saint Ignatius College Riverview and will be visiting Bathurst Island on a country placement from 15 June to 26 June.

For every $10 donated, we will run 1km. Not only this, once we reach certain fundraising accolades, we will make the run more challenging, whether this be physically or psychologically, for ourselves.

A Catholic mission was established in 1911 by an Australian Roman Catholic Bishop and missionary, and the islands were proclaimed an Aboriginal Reserve in 1912. Sr Anne Gardiner, 2017 Senior Australian of the Year, was appointed to the Island in 1953, and Saint Ignatius’ College has had a relationship with Sr. Anne for the last ten years. Students visiting the island have assisted Sr Anne with her work involving the Patakijiyali Museum, which she has established, the upkeep of the school grounds and helping in the ‘Op Shop', which raises funds for the local Catholic School.

We will spend a week on the island assisting Sr. Anne with the tasks described above and interacting with the Tiwi people. The money donated will go towards assisting us with the amenities and services we can provide to the segregated community on the Island. Whether this be an extra tin of paint for painting the local church, or a deck of cards, all donations are put towards this picturesque island.