It could be an excerpt from the menu of a high-end city restaurant, but this is what was served on a warm evening earlier this month by 11 accomplished high school students to an appreciative group of family members and guests at a special graduation event “under the stars” in the remote community of Barunga in the NT.
As part of our Thriving Communities Program, EON has been training these high school students in horticulture, healthy eating and hospitality to improve their health, job-readiness and life skills. The educational merit of our training modules has been recently acknowledged through their incorporation in the NT School of Distance Education curriculum for the higher education certificate.
The Barunga graduation event was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the students’ achievements and for our Indigenous graduates to showcase their new-found skills. They prepared the delicious three-course meal for the guests and their community using fresh produce that they helped to grow.
We are so incredibly proud of these graduates and what they have achieved. Accolades to EON Project Manager (Central Arnhem) Kaillee Brown, Barunga Principal Malcolm Hale and high school teacher Garry Reeve for their stewardship of the students.
We are grateful to all attendees, including our special guests, many of whom travelled a great distance to show their support. And we thank EON’s Donna, Lucie and Tara for helping out on the night.
Well done to all!
