Field Notes & Narratives

Stories

Every story here was shared willingly, recorded with care, and published with permission. These are real voices from real places.

FGV
Program Story2 min

Tuesday Gym Sessions — Building Consistency

BG Fit's weekly Tuesday gym sessions at Mount Isa PCYC have grown from 5 to 20 regular attendees, building trust through consistency....

ConsistencyYouth MentoringTrust Building
FGV
Flexi Group Voices
Aunty Iris May Whitey
Elder Wisdom2 min

Ethel and Iris: Carrying the Torch of Heritage

Ethel and Iris Ferdies, sisters from the Palm Island Aboriginal Community, carry the stories and struggles of their family with profound dignity. Ethel, reflecting on her roots, introduces herself as ...

Aunty Iris May Whitey
Aunty Iris May WhiteyPalm Island
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Elsa Mortoa
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elsa Watson: Stories of Resilience on Palm Island

Elsa Watson, a Cultural Advisor from the Palm Island Aboriginal Community, shared her family's poignant history and her own experiences growing up on Palm Island. Her journey is one of resilience and ...

Elsa Mortoa
Elsa MortoaPalm Island
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Rachel Atkinson
Service Success2 min

Elder's Vision: Strengthening Our Future Generations

The Palm Island Aboriginal Community recently gathered to celebrate a momentous occasion, the opening of the newly upgraded Palm Island Early Childhood Center. The day was filled with joy and pride, d...

Rachel Atkinson
Rachel AtkinsonPalm Island, Queensland
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Gurtrude Grace Richardson
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elder Ude Grace Richardson: A Journey of Resilience and Belonging

Elder Ude Grace Richardson, a revered member of the Palm Island community, shared her life story, painting a vivid picture of resilience and belonging. From her early days in Georgetown to her decades...

Gurtrude Grace Richardson
Gurtrude Grace RichardsonPalm Island
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Aunty Ethel Robertson
Elder Wisdom2 min

Elder Ethel Robertson: Stories of Strength and Survival

Ethel Robertson, a respected elder from the Palm Island Aboriginal Community, shares a poignant narrative of resilience and family bonds. Born into a large family of seventeen siblings, Ethel's story ...

Aunty Ethel Robertson
Aunty Ethel RobertsonPalm Island
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Agnes Watton
Community Story4 min

Agnes Watton - Riding Out the Storm Alone

Agnes Watton - Riding Out the Storm Alone === [00:00:00] Because like she's the only one on the island that's got an elevator. Oh, really? Yeah. Not because of her health. Yep. Condition. Um, could...

Agnes Watton
Agnes WattonPalm Island
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Aunty Ethel Robertson
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elder Ethel Robinson: A Journey Through Trials and Triumphs

Elder Ethel Robinson shares a poignant story of her family's history, weaving together threads of resilience and survival. Her father, Tom, was a Southie Aboriginal from Halifax, while her mother was ...

Aunty Ethel Robertson
Aunty Ethel RobertsonPalm Island
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Clay Alfred
Community Story4 min

Clay Alfred - Staying Prepared, Staying Sober

Clay Alfred - Staying Prepared, Staying Sober === [00:00:00] Oh yeah. What, what, um, what was it like for yourself? The storm? It was all right. Um, it was alright. And what was what, how do you s...

Clay Alfred
Clay AlfredPalm Island
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Cyndel Louise Pryor
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elder Del Louise Pryor: A Journey of Connection and Healing

In the heart of the Palm Island Aboriginal Community, Elder Del Louise Pryor shares her poignant story, weaving a narrative of connection, loss, and resilience. She begins with her grandfather, Peter ...

Cyndel Louise Pryor
Cyndel Louise PryorPalm Island
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Uncle Frank Daniel Landers
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elder Frank Landers: A Journey of Resilience and Community

Elder Frank Daniel Landers shares a poignant story of resilience and community, reflecting on his life journey from Ingham to the Palm Island Aboriginal Community. Born in the 1940s, Frank's family wa...

Uncle Frank Daniel Landers
Uncle Frank Daniel LandersPalm Island, Queensland, Australia
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Aunty Ethel Robertson
Challenge Overcome2 min

Elder Ethel Robinson: A Journey of Resilience and Heritage

Elder Ethel Robinson, a distinguished member of the Palm Island community, shares a poignant narrative of resilience and cultural heritage. Her story begins with her father, Tom, a proud Southie Abori...

Aunty Ethel Robertson
Aunty Ethel RobertsonPalm Island
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Anne Gripper
Impact1 min

The Kula Project — Life-Changing Impact for Rwanda's Coffee Families

The Kula Project in Rwanda — $25,000 for coffee farmer fellowships and savings circles. Odette increased her coffee yields; a family achieved school for all children through a micro-business loan....

Economic EmpowermentAgricultureMicro-EnterpriseEducation
Anne Gripper
Anne GripperSunshine Coast, QLD
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Community Story2 min

Doomadgee Camp — Taking It Remote

BG Fit's Doomadgee bush camp brought fitness and cultural activities to one of Queensland's most remote Indigenous communities....

Remote CommunitiesYouth EngagementShowing UpCommunity Need
DCP
Doomadgee Camp ParticipantDoomadgee, QLD
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Elders Group
Community Story3 min

Caring for Elders, Kids and Country

Gale Larry - Caring for Elders, Kids and Country === [00:00:00] Yeah. With our power, some dinner with power was, uh, especially, you know, when the little ones Mm. Elderly people. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Be...

Elders Group
Elders GroupPalm Island, Queensland, Australia
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Brodie Germaine
Personal Narrative1 min

Why I Started BG Fit

Brodie shares the founding story of BG Fit — born from witnessing too many Indigenous young people cycling through the justice system without support....

Youth JusticeSport as InterventionCommunity BuildingCultural Strength
Brodie Germaine
Brodie GermaineMount Isa, Queensland, Australia
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Program Story2 min

Spinifex Residential — Getting Through to the Hard Cases

BG Fit's program at Spinifex Residential works with young people in out-of-home care and the justice system, using sport to build trust....

Youth JusticeResidential CareTrust Through SportCreating Pathways
SRY
Spinifex Res YouthMount Isa, QLD
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Patricia Doyle
Community Story5 min

Patricia Doyle: Palm Is Where the Heart Is

Patricia Doyle: Palm Is Where the Heart Is === [00:00:00] Um, my name's Ben. Hi, Patricia Francis. And your sisters? Yeah. Proper sisters. Yep. I'm gonna record, is that okay? Yeah, that's fine. So...

Patricia Doyle
Patricia DoylePalm Island
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Community Story1 min

Mount Isa Bush Camp — First One on Country

The first BG Fit bush camp took 12 young people on country near Mount Isa for three days of cultural connection and Elder guidance....

Connection to CountryYouth DevelopmentCultural ConnectionHealing on Country
MICP
Mount Isa Camp ParticipantMount Isa, QLD
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Jeanie Sam
Achievement1 min

PICC Shares Our Story at National Conference

In September 2023, PICC presented twice at the biennial SNAICC Conference, which was held in Darwin. "The Storyline of the Palm Island Children and Family Centre" told the history and the successes o...

Jeanie Sam
Jeanie SamPalm Island
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