Heywire winner, Rochelle from Port Keats, Northern Territory shares her story.
Listen to an audio recording of this story here
Sometimes I close my eyes and think of home; my seven sisters, my brother and I when we were are fishing for barra.
The smoke was rising through the trees as Mum stoked the fire along the riverbank.
We’d all go for a swim in the cool waterholes after a good feed of bush plums.
At night, we sometimes would go on a hunt for buffalo — good meat that!
We’d eat it up while laughing and sharing yarns around the fire.
These are happy memories for me — being with my family.
I’m the third youngest so I’ve always looked up to them. They all teach me things about culture and the bush.
My brother’s a mechanic and he taught me how to change a tyre, which is real handy.
Four years ago I moved away from my family, and my home, to go to boarding school in Victoria.
It was very different to the Top End where I come from — it was much colder there and they had cows, not buffalos.
I joined the local female footy team and eventually started making new friends. We even made it to the grand final!
Last year I got accepted to do a police traineeship at Mooroolbark Police Station in Victoria.
I remember the first day how nervous I was, and how noisy it was.
Police were talking on the two-way radios, telephones ringing, reports being filed, and people coming in looking for assistance.
I remember seeing officers walking around with guns on their belts — I’d never seen a gun in real life before!
I’ve been working here for a year now and I’ve grown to really like it.
I’ve met so many people and I’ve learnt a lot of important skills I can use in my own life.
Next year, I have plans to do an Indigenous Gap Year with the Australian Defence Force to help me follow my dream of being a police officer.
Moving away from my community gave me the strength to never give up.
One day I want to return home and be a leader in my community, and for my family to be proud of me!
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