SIXTH GRADUATE COHORT CELEBRATED AT NRL COWBOYS HOUSE AWARDS
Fifteen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander year 12 students from some of Queensland’s most remote communities have been celebrated as the latest cohort of graduates to emerge from Townsville’s award-winning NRL Cowboys House.
Their achievements and those of their peers were acknowledged in front of the House community including students, staff, family and partners at the annual Awards Night.
Graduate Bruce Baudu is from a little island in the centre of the Torres Strait called Yam Island and will graduate from Ignatius Park College this week.
He was recognised with multiple awards including the Senior Academic Award, Gold Award, Interact (club) Leadership Award and Most Outstanding Senior Boarder (Senior Boys).
Bruce hopes his achievements at the House inspire his siblings and the next generations in his community.
“My family tells me how proud they are and what a role model I am for the community where I’m from and I hold that really close to my heart,” Bruce said.
“I want to go into marine construction or be an auto electrician after I graduate,’ he said.
“My goal is just to work hard in the years to come to support my family and keep showing the younger generation to never give up and just keep striving for success.”
NRL Cowboys House is removing distance as a barrier to quality secondary education for Indigenous students from remote and geographically disadvantaged communities.
This year marks the sixth group of graduates to emerge from the unique, culturally-safe boarding facility bringing the total to 83 young people who have completed their secondary education since 2019.
Kirwan State High School graduate Makeilla Gibson, from Cooktown, has been at NRL Cowboys House since year 7 and is among the first group of female students to complete their full 6 years of secondary schooling while at the House.
“The experience of coming to the House in Townsville was very different to home, the community and the schooling was much bigger,” Makeilla said.
“The support of the House staff has been amazing, and the other students are like family, being here has created a lot of opportunities for me,” she said.
“Now, I’m about to graduate year 12 and hopefully I’ll get into university to study to be a physiotherapist and also continue playing rugby league.
“So much happens inside of NRL Cowboys House that others don’t see, they help us grow an do our best but still be ourselves.”
NRL Cowboys House is managed by the Cowboys Community Foundation and is a joint initiative between the National Rugby League, North Queensland Cowboys, the Queensland Government and the Australian Government.
NRL Cowboys House General Manager Rochelle Jones said it was a proud day for everyone at the House.
“Some of these young people have been with us since year seven and we have watched them grow into the wonderful, kind and confident young men and women they are today,” she said.
“It’s days like today we truly understand the positive impact the work we do at the House is having on the lives of our students, their families and their communities and we look forward to seeing all they achieve in the future.”
2024 Graduates
| Isaac Accoom (Lockhart River) | Heatley Secondary College |
| Anaclita Ahmat (Badu Island) | St Margaret Mary's College |
| Antwone Agie (Cape York) | Kirwan State School |
| Bruce Baudu (Yam Island) | Ignatius Park College |
| Destiny Escot (Doomadgee) | QPSC |
| Keelin Hookey (Doomadgee) | Ignatius Park College |
| Makeilla Gibson (Cooktown) | Kirwan State High School |
| Rahu Mara (Old Mapoon) | Calvary Christian College |
| Irene Mari (Thursday Island) | Heatley Secondary College |
| Fredrick Mick (Doomadgee) | QPSC |
| Timena Messa (Yorke Island) | William Ross State High School |
| Zaleah Mosby-Nona (Yorke Island) | Kirwan State High School |
| Taliliya Toby (Mornington Island) | Pimlico State High School |
| Kunjurra Yeatman-Noble (Yarrabah) | Kirwan State High School |
| Steven Tom (Boigu Island) | Ignatius Park College |
Award winners
Chunbahmah Award
Peah Messa
Community Service Award
Kentaro Sabatino
Resilience Award
Joseph Sam
Basil Robertson
Georgia Clay
Marina Aruba
Cultural Award
Lekizah Mene-Larry
Doriah Pearson
Lakarna Kynuna
Naraira Bann
Kesia Bob
Marina Aruba
Mayarna Donahue
Peah Messa
Phillip Sam
Ralph Sam
Louish Mari
Kentaro Sabatino
Tshak Daniels-Misi
Tahliyah Jawai
Ana Ahmat
Tillancia Yam
Kairi Yeatman
Nahkayia Yeatman
Rahu Mara
Irene Mari
Walter Nona
Destiny Escott
Fredrick Mick
Kindness Award
Brody Grieve
Dallas Darby
Kyra Tabuai
Peah Messa
Year 7 Award
Doriah Pearson
Joelle Willams
Kyra Tabuai
Lekizah Mene-Larry
Nelson Thaiday
Stirling Ludwick
Tillancia Yam
Academic Encouragement
Loretta Thaiday
Louish Mari
Tahliyah Jawai
Kudjarli-J Nuggins
Georgia Clay
Amaziah Ah Wing
Cyntara Cairns
Kyra Tabuai
Phillip Sam
Nahkayia Yeatman
Talan Mossman
Tahliyah Jawai
Junior Academic Award
Kairi Yeatman
Brody Grieve
Senior Academic Award
Rahu Mara
Bruce Baudu
Apprentices and Trainees Award
Kalina Zaro
Connect N Grow
Cert III Health Services Assistance
Kudjarli-J Nuggins
Skill360
Cert III Business in Hospitality
Taliliya Toby
Connect N Grow
Cert III Allied Health
Work Experience and Employment Award
Jonathan Dau
AE Smith
Rahu Mara
Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare
Gold Award
Amaziah Ah Wing
Aydah Ross-Kelly
Timena Messa
Cyntara Cairns
Destiny Escott
Joelle Williams
Kairi Yeatman
Kyra Tabuai
Lakarna Kynuna
Loretta Thaiday
Nahkayia Yeatman
Tahliyah Jawai
Taliliya Toby
Zaleah Mosby-Nona
Benjamin Noble
Brody Grieve
Bruce Baudu
Dallas Darby
Cyprian Mossman
Kala (Phillip) Sam
Kentaro Sabatino
Mungu Toby
Jaum (Ralph) Sam
Talan Mossman
Rathony Pearson
Interact Leadership Award
Bruce Baudu
Tahliyah Jawai
Joelle Williams
Kyra Tabuai
Amaziah Ah Wing
Cyntara Cairns
Kala (Phillip) Sam
Jaum (Ralph) Sam
Kentaro Sabatino
Hezekiah Nona
Interact Leadership Award
Bruce Baudu
Tahliyah Jawai
Most Outstanding Boarder
SNR
Tahliyah Jawai
JNR
Kairi Yeatman
SNR
Bruce Baudu
JNR
Brody Grieve
