Kadjina Community, Western Australia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kadjina Community Western Australia
Kadjina Community Location in Western Australia
LGA(s)	Shire of Derby-West Kimberley
State electorate(s)	Kimberley
Federal Division(s)	Durack

Kadjina is a small community located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It's about 300 kilometers (186 miles) southeast of Broome and 100 kilometers (62 miles) southwest of Fitzroy Crossing. This community is found on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert.

Learning and School Life

Kadjina is home to the Wulungarra Aboriginal Independent Community School. This school welcomes children from three years old up to Year 10. The school's name comes from Wulungarra Hill, which holds a special story for the local people.

School History

The school started in 1987 as part of Noonkanbah Station. This was when the Laurel family first moved to Kadjina. Everyone lived and learned at the old station house. In 1997, Wulungarra became its own independent school. The community and school then moved to their current spot. Back then, the school had only one teacher.

School Facilities and Staff

As of 2012, the school had two classrooms, a library, and a staff room. It also had an administration building, a computer room, and a music room. A kitchen was also available where community members cooked lunch every day. The music room is often used by local musicians. It can also become a third classroom when needed. The computer room is open for use even after school hours.

The school team includes a principal who focuses on running the school. There are usually two teachers and two or three Aboriginal education workers. Three or four other local people work as a cook, gardener, or in administration. The Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Cultural Centre helps by employing a local person. This person is in charge of teaching language and culture at the school. They work closely with the school's leaders. They plan language classes, trips into the bush, and events with other Walmajarri communities.

Food at School

The school kitchen is called a homemaker centre. A local elder usually runs it. They cook a hot meal every day for all the children. The food for this lunch comes from community members who "chuck-in" or contribute. Children also get a piece of fruit during their morning break. This fruit is provided by the school.

Culture and Language

A big focus at the school is teaching culture and language. Local elders lead these lessons. Yangkana Laurel, a well-known artist, is especially involved. Bush trips are often taken to show children their culture. On these trips, they learn about the ways of their ancestors. To help keep their cultural heritage alive, people tell their stories in their own language, Walmajarri.

People from Kadjina Community have worked with the Wulungarra Community School. Together, they have created a series of children's books. Between 2011 and 2013, many of these books were made digital. This was done with the State Library of Western Australia. You can now view these books online.

The children in Kadjina often speak at least three languages. The main language is Kriol. Their native language is Walmajarri. School lessons are taught in Australian English.

School Attendance

One challenge for the school is that families often travel. Family is very important to community members. So, people are often away visiting relatives. This can make it hard for the school to run regular programs. However, the school believes that every child who attends will get full attention from the teachers. An agreement between the school and community states that every child of school age who comes to Kadjina must attend school. This rule is followed strictly. While it can make planning tricky, Wulungarra is sometimes the only school children attend when they visit Kadjina.

Community Life

Kadjina is a place where people live closely with their land and traditions.

Electricity and Water

Electricity in Kadjina is provided by the Government of Western Australia. It uses the standard Australian system. Sometimes there are power surges or interruptions. In 2011, a new generator was put in place. This greatly reduced the power problems.

Water comes from two bores near the old Millijiddee homestead. This water is pumped to a high-level tank. There are occasional interruptions to the water supply. Recent upgrades have made sure the water quality is high. The water pressure is now good. It is used for the school and many houses. Sometimes the water looks muddy, but it is still safe to drink. It comes out of the ground at a cool temperature.

Recreation and Fun

Bush walking, some fishing, and camping are popular activities for visitors. Visitors need to get a permit before entering the community. The school office also acts as the community center.

Music is a very popular hobby in Kadjina. A group of musicians uses the music room to practice and write songs. They are working to create a program of 30 songs to perform at local events.

The school has bikes for the local children. These are used in an active after-school program. Children also ride them to the local creeks. The community loves fishing. You can often find them heading to their favorite fishing spots along the Fitzroy River.

Shopping and Supplies

Many years ago, Kadjina had its own community store. But for the past ten years or so, people have had to shop in Fitzroy Crossing or Broome. During the dry season, it's possible to cross the river to Yungngora community at Noonkanbah station. There, people can buy some food. The Community Council has been looking into ways to reopen a store for many years. The school helps the community by buying food. They will take people to Fitzroy Crossing or Noonkanbah when supplies run low. All items are very expensive compared to bigger towns. When supplies are low, locals sometimes go to Noonkanbah, which is 50 kilometers (31 miles) away, for essentials.

During the wet season, the community can be cut off by road for months. Kadjina has an all-weather airstrip located 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) away. This allows essential supplies to be flown in when needed.