Wyndham College: Nanga Mai nominee shines for her mob
Christine Beale is yet to finish high school but is already flying the flag for young Indigenous Australians on the world stage.
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She may only be 17, but Quakers Hill student Christine Beale is already leading her community on the world stage.
The Year 12 student at Wyndham College is a nominee in this year’s Nanga Mai Awards, run by the NSW Department of Education.
The awards celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal students and teachers from both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal backgrounds across the arts, sport, leadership and academic excellence.
Christine is in the running for a leadership award for her tireless dedication in helping young Indigenous people reconnect with their culture.
Her quest to share this knowledge with other young people began when Christine was in Year 7 when she joined an Indigenous leadership program with global aid organisation World Vision called Young Mob.
“When I was starting high school, I had a bit of knowledge about my culture, but not about all the things I should know, like the Stolen Generations and how we’re still fighting for land rights and to change the date,” Christine said.
“(Young Mob) has helped me reconnect on so many levels and be able to talk to elders who have been through those experiences and gain a real insight.
“Being Aboriginal means the world to me. Knowing that generations and generations of culture is in my hands for me to teach to future generations, is a very big role for me.”
As a leader with Young Mob, Christine travelled to the Philippines and presented a speech on her culture. She has also travelled to different Indigenous communities and met with community elders.
Teacher and mentor Tim Macintyre said Christine was already a winner in the college’s eyes.
“Christine has already done something greater than the award can give,” Mr Macintyre said.
“The award can give her that recognition, but she has already been out there on the public stage in the Philippines as a leader at the age of 17. She’s already won. I’m sure she will go on to farther things.”
Christine is completing her HSC at the college and hopes to study law and Indigenous studies at university.
The Nanga Mai Awards will be held in Sydney on March 26.