Spanning seven days and thousands of kilometres, the tour took our students to the heart of Australia.
There are journeys that teach you something new — and there are journeys that return you to something ancient. For the First Nations students of Gawura School, the 2025 On Country Tour to Central Australia was both.
Spanning seven days and thousands of kilometres, the tour brought together students from Years 5 to 12 across Gawura School and St Andrew’s Cathedral School, tracing a path through the heart of the continent — from Alice Springs to the red earth of Uluru, through sacred sites on Arrernte and Luritja lands.
Led by staff and guided by Traditional Owners, the tour was designed not as a sightseeing trip, but as a rite of passage. Born out of recommendations from John Ralph, Head of Gawura School and supported by Aunty Leanna Carr-Smith, it’s part of a deeply considered response to the need for First Nations youth to reconnect with their culture, land and identity. The tour is now an annual offering for all Gawura School students to walk, learn and live On Country.
This year’s tour ran from Friday 11 to Thursday 17 April, 2025 and included Arrente (Alice Springs), Luritja (Lilla), Yankunytjatjara, Pitjantjatjara and Anangu Nations (Uluru), visiting the areas of Alice Springs, Lila and Uluru.
Our Country’s geographical heart, cultural heart, spiritual heart, where The Dreaming began.
Former Elder in Residence, Aunty Leanna Carr-Smith, has long championed this trip, describing Uluru as “our Country’s geographical heart, cultural heart, spiritual heart, where The Dreaming began.” Her vision shaped this year’s tour, ensuring students could walk the lands of the Arrernte and Luritja people, and experience this sacred place firsthand.
For many students, this was their first time in Central Australia. The trip began in Alice Springs, where students explored the Desert Park and Reptile Centre, before taking in the glow of Parrtjima, a breathtaking light installation created by First Nations artists. Students described the displays as “hands on” and “incredible,” with highlights including sand painting and sensory light displays that brought Dreaming stories to life.
Day two saw students venture into the West MacDonnell Ranges, swimming at Ormiston Gorge, walking through Glen Helen and taking in the majesty of Ellery Creek Big Hole. Each stop carried the wisdom of Country and the deep-time stories that have shaped it.
“My favourite things have been the water holes like Ormiston Gorge and Ellery Creek Big Hole. I loved swimming in them and seeing how deep they go,” said Marlon Coulthard, Year 6 Gawura School student.
From Alice Springs, the group travelled to the remote outstation of Lilla, nestled near Kings Canyon in Watarrka National Park. There they were welcomed by Uncle Philip, Auntie Sadie and their daughter Vivian, who generously shared stories, rock art and sacred spaces. Around the campfire, students made damper, cooked kangaroo tail and practiced dot painting – not as tourists, but as family.
The following days brought new challenges including the 7km Rim Walk of Kings Canyon and nights spent in swags under stars that stretched endlessly overhead. With each step, students were walking more deeply into something that transcended the itinerary: belonging.
At Uluru and Kata Tjuta, the group stood in admiration. They traced the Mala Walk at the base of Uluru and journeyed through the Valley of the Winds. They listened to the silence between the rustling spinifex and felt the presence of Tjukurpa — the law, story and spirit that weaves through everything.
Aunty Gail Mabo, daughter of Eddie Mabo, joined the students on the trip.
“My favourite part of the trip has been spending time with the students. Also, the experience of coming out here to Alice Springs is wonderful. I’ve been able to go to places that I’ve never been, so it’s fantastic,” said Aunty Gail.
The On Country tour embodies Gawura School’s enduring purpose: Bridging worlds, Building futures. It reflects a vision where Christian faith and First Nations heritage are held together, with reverence and hope.
“Christian faith and First Nations culture don’t have to be separate pursuits – it’s not either/or. It’s Christian faith and First Nations culture. That’s what makes Gawura School so powerful – it holds both, and it offers something hopeful for everyone,” said Mr John Ralph, Head of Gawura School.
At the end of the trip, students returned not just with photos and souvenirs, but with something far more enduring: cultural pride, a deeper knowledge of self and a story they now carry forward.
“This is our Country’s spiritual heart,” Aunty Leanna reminded us.
When our young people walk here, they don’t just remember the past, they find strength to shape their future.
