A Message from the President

It amazes me that as I write this, we have successfully completed all of our service projects. Right now, we are about twenty minutes out of Theodore. Rihanna and Nicki Minaj are melodically commenting in the background. I have never been so proud of young people in my life. I know that sounds like such a grandma comment whose grand daughter arrived home safely from schoolies. Think what you like about young people, but let me tell you we Big Lifters have done our university, our hometowns, our parents all so very proudly. 

I try and recall my favourite moments on this journey, and I am really struggling. There have been so many beautiful moments taking place. Playing cricket with the biggest pearly whites in Cherbourg, listening to people share their story from birth to present (it can feel that way at times), seeing our strong women helping to complete the Wakka Wakka Women’s Centre in Eidsvold, planting in excess of two hundred native Bunya Pines in the Cherbourg community, or working with children in Eidsvold challenging their creativity to solve problems. This was in the first two days. This trip reminds me of when I returned to Australia from Europe, except I am in Australia. When I came home from Europe I didn’t want to upload photos, or share these stories on the net, or through Facebook statuses. I just like keeping these memories to myself. These are memories I have created, and I see such disclosure as letting go of the many touching moments we have shared with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. 

There is one thing that I want to share though in greater detail. That is for mainstream society to never underestimate the power of little communities, and in particular small Indigenous communities. The strength, perseverance, and respect they have for one another is admirable. White Australia definitely has a lot to learn. Yes we could have picked towns there were larger, more resourceful, with more developed infrastructure, who were used to people visiting them. As the QUT Big Lift continues to grow, I want to commit more work with the under resourced communities, to stand beside them in support of their development, building sustainable, positive relations in which forty-one superheroes from Queensland’s best university helped out with in 2011.

For me 2011 has been the most beautiful years. I have had my fair share of personal achievements this year, but after this trip, they pail in comparison to the achievements of my Big Lifters. Thank you to each and every one of you for opening your eyes, minds, and hearts to the communities in Cherbourg, Eidsvold, and Theodore. Thank you for demonstrating genuine leadership, commitment, care, and patience with the founding members, each other, and most definitely the people, young and old. You have all changed my life.

Yeah Buddy!
Michael Attard 
President of QUT Big Lift