Our Story

History Of Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre

In 1978, the Walmajarri people took over the lease of Billiluna and Lake Gregory (Mulan) stations from the Federal Government. The area was initially tribal lands of the Walmajarri people.

Upon receiving the land, the people asked for the facilities needed to run their communities. Such facilities included a school. After consultation with both the Government and Catholic Education systems, the communities decided they would like a Catholic school to be established in each community of Billiluna and Mulan.

Accordingly, in 1978, the Bishop of Broome along with community members, requested the Sisters of Mercy in Singleton NSW to send sisters so that schools could be opened. The communities wanted their children to learn about God, read and write and do number work, so that eventually the community could run its own affairs and live successfully, in both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal world.

In late January of 1979, two sisters arrived to begin the schools. On 5 February, 1979, Sr Bernadette Mills commenced school at Billiluna station with approximately 40 children, covering all primary grades. Originally, it was planned to send the older students to Balgo and attend high school there, however, the community decided against it, as it had no close ties with the Balgo community, and wanted their children to stay in Billiluna.

The first classroom was a tin shed with a concrete floor and corrugated iron walls – originally used by stockman as living quarters. In 1981 a new building was erected on an areas chosen by the community. In the years 1987 to 1990 three more teaching spaces were built as well as a library and an office. In 1990 the secondary component of the school was undertaken, rather than the secondary student travelling to Balgo each week for high school. 1992 saw the first intake of secondary students.

The Sisters of Mercy were a presence in the school for many years to come. Staffing at the school stayed as two Mercy sisters until 1989 when one sister was to leave. The remaining sister was joined by the first permanent lay teacher. Since then the staff have grown, including Aboriginal Teaching Assistants. Over the years there has been many community members assist the children in learning, by coming in to the school to teach the children the culture. Kururrungku has also been served by many other professional resource people who visit the school regularly to assist the students.

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre Logo

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre’s logo depicts the Holy Spirit coming down on wallabies. Wallabies are the dreaming lore for the Walmajarri people of Billiluna Station.

Long time ago in the Dreamtime, a lot of people were travelling from Sturt Creek. They travelled all the way to Mayarra. The snake became tired, it coiled itself around the tree then went into the waterhole and stayed there.

One female and one male wallaby were travelling to Mayarra. They were called kururrungku. The skin names were Napurrula and Jupurrula. The female Napurrula was tired and stopped there. All the people kept walking and asked her to keep going. She refused and said “I am tired, weak.” She sat down. The male wallaby, Jupurrula, kept walking. He looked back, saw his sister stopped, so he stopped too. The two kururrngku stayed by the gum tree.  This is the Dreaming law for us.

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre Profile

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre is a Catholic learning environment catering for students in Pre-Kindy to Year 10. It is situated on Billiluna Station, 180km south east of Halls Creek on the Tanami Road and joins the Canning Stock route at its juncture. The school serves all students residing at Billiluna Station.

Our School

School Motto

Marrka ngurlipa

Kayanta ngurnanka

“Staying Strong as One”

Kururrungku Dreaming

Long time ago in the dreamtime, a lot of people were travelling from Sturt Creek. They travelled all the way to Mayarra. The snake became tired, it coiled itself around the tree and then went into the waterhole and stayed there.

One female and one male wallaby were travelling to Mayarra. They were called ‘Kururrungku’. Their skin names were Napurrula and Jupurrula. The female, Napurrula was tired and stopped there. All the people kept walking and asking her to keep going. She refused and said, “I am tired, weak”.  She sat down. The male wallaby, Jupurrula, kept walking. He looked back, saw his sister stopped, so he stopped too. The two Kururrungku stayed by the gum tree.

This is the Dreamtime lore for us.

Vision & Mission

School Vision

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre provides a loving environment where the Catholic Faith is valued and promoted and where its primary focus is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the centre of our daily life and provides the nourishment we all require to be good and valuable people.

School Mission

Our Education Centre aims to:

  • promote the development of each person – spiritual, academic, emotional, social and physical so that each child can become an active participant in not only Billiluna Station, but in all spectrums of society. It is a place where each person shall recognise and respect the dignity and rights of self and others.
  • Create an environment which will motivate a desire for knowledge, understanding and a love of truth.
  • Challenge and encourage children to widen their range of interests beyond Billiluna Station and extend their own abilities for the good of all the people they come into daily contact with.

In this environment of understanding, acceptance and happiness each child can grow to personal and social maturity whist aiming towards making a worthwhile contribution to society.

School Goals

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre strives to:

  • foster and strengthen the students love and knowledge of Jesus and his way of living;
  • offer the best education that incorporates Aboriginal and school way learning to develop each individual’s unique potential;
  • create an atmosphere of openness and acceptance that promotes happiness and self-respect;
  • promote empowerment that enriches the students and community and enables them to become contributing members of their own and wider society;
  • foster self-esteem and pride in the Aboriginal culture of the school and community;
  • listen and respond to community wishes;
  • create an atmosphere that invites and values community involvement;
  • maintain close consultation with the community regarding decision-making.

Values & Aims

School Values

Mercy

  • Catherine McAuley: “There are things that the poor prize more highly than gold, tho’ they cost the donor nothing; among these are the kind work, the gentle, compassionate look, and the patient hearing of their sorrows.”
  • “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12: 15
  • We believe in God’s mercy and compassion toward each person, and in God’s presence in each of us.

Respect

  • Catherine McAuley: “Be ever ready to praise, to encourage, to stimulate, but slow to censure, and still more slow to condemn.”
  • “Be ready to do good at every opportunity, to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people” Titus 3:2
  • We believe in God’s love for us, and in our need to demonstrate that belief by our love and respect for others through our thoughts, words and actions.

Dignity

  • Catherine McAuley: “It is not sufficient that Jesus Christ be formed in us – he must be recognized in our conduct.”
  • “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you.” Matthew 7:12
  • We believe that each person is created by God, and is to be respected as unique.  Each of us are precious in God’s eyes.

Excellence

  • Catherine McAuley: “Perfection does not consist in performing extraordinary action, but rather in performing extraordinarily well the ordinary actions of everyday”
  • “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.”  Colossians 3:23
  • We believe in creating a school which provides an education that will enable each to always do their best – to become the person they were created to be.

Courage

  • Catherine McAuley: “If we are humble and sincere, God will finish in us the work He has begun. He never refuses His grace to those who ask it.”
  • “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
  • We believe that each person has been gifted by God, and when we call for God’s help, God will not leave our thoughts and decision making.

Hope

  • Catherine McAuley: “How quietly the great God does all His mighty works! Darkness is spread over us, and light breaks in again, and there is no noise of drawing curtains or closing shutters.”
  • “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
  • We believe that the people in our community have the right to a happy and fulfilling life.

School Aims: Knowledge

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre aims to guide and support its students in acquiring knowledge of:

  • their own special God-given talents;
  • bible stories and important Catholic beliefs;
  • Standard Australian English and Walmajarri;
  • mathematical facts and ideas;
  • different cultures, their behaviours and values;
  • their Aboriginal identity and culture;
  • Australian and world society;
  • ways of finding information’
  • arts forms such as dance, drama, story-telling, craft and music;
  • manners;
  • what is happening in the world;
  • rules and laws that keep the peace;
  • how the media functions;
  • the environment;
  • their body and how it works;
  • body care;
  • a variety of sports and ball games.

School Aims: Skills

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre aims to assist students to develop the ability to:

  • pray in different ways;
  • know and understand their own value as a special person;
  • concentrate on a given task;
  • make decisions;
  • learn from mistakes;
  • understand and practise skills taught;
  • listen with understanding;
  • speak well in Standard Australian English;
  • read with understanding and enjoyment;
  • put thoughts into written Standard Australian English;
  • keep healthy, clean and fit;
  • understand and use mathematical processes and ideas in real life situations;
  • carry out calculations mentally and apply them;
  • use their creativity;
  • behave in the right way;
  • use their initiative to cope with life;
  • memorise and use facts and ideas;
  • write neatly at a suitable rate;
  • play a number of individual and team sports;
  • spell commonly used words correctly;
  • understand mass media;
  • use the skills of traditional Aboriginal life;
  • work out problems;
  • use the digital technology and various software packages

School Aims: Attitudes

Kururrungku Catholic Education Centre aims to assist students to develop belief in the value of:

  • their Christian faith;
  • prayer;
  • living the Jesus way;
  • their own cultural heritage and that of others;
  • looking at a situation from all sides in searching for truth;
  • believing you own self;
  • education;
  • accepting the uniqueness and individuality of others;
  • getting along with others;
  • the local community;
  • things of beauty;
  • looking after the environment;
  • respecting property; which is sacred in both cultures