AFL Cape York House Foundation director Rick Hanlon, students Jessie-Ella Mosby, Makita Kerindun and Walter Satrick, and Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker celebrate the launch of ME. Exhibition. Photo: Supplied.
A stunning new art exhibition at the Cairns Airport is serving as a connection to home for Cape York and Torres Strait Islander students living in the city.
The ME. Exhibition came as the airport and the AFL Cape York House Foundation formalised a partnership to support student endeavours and features a range of self-portraits created by boarding students.
Strategically placed at the domestic terminal departure gates where the students usually travel from, the exhibition serves as a reminder of who they are and where they come from when away from home.
AFL Cape York House Foundation director Rick Hanlon said the partnership with Cairns Airport enabled students access to opportunities that might otherwise not be possible.
“Like us, Cairns Airport is a business that’s all about people,” he said.
“For example, with Cairns Airport’s assistance, our young people will travel to Sydney in October for the DanceRites competition, where they will get the opportunity to perform in front of thousands of people and represent themselves, their culture and AFL Cape York.
“For our students, Cairns Airport represents a connection back to home; having the exhibition in the terminal helps young people feel a link back to their families, and also brings them back to why they’re here.”
A high number of remote Indigenous youth must leave their communities to complete their education, leading to homesickness and social disconnection.
The wellbeing-focused AFL Cape York House currently supports 100 students from 45 Cape York and Torres Strait communities in completing their education in a culturally safe environment.
Cairns Airport chief executive officer Richard Barker said the airport was well placed to champion the valuable work of the AFL Cape York House Foundation.
“Cairns Airport is the gateway to Cape York and the Torres Strait, with a number of flights operating to and from these regions every day,” he said.
“The AFL Cape York House Foundation provides exceptional opportunities for young people in these remote communities, and we are pleased to support their important work through a range of initiatives.
“We are also thrilled to feature the ME. Exhibition in our terminal; this meaningful artwork has brightened the area and is a fantastic way to showcase the rich culture of Tropical North Queensland, which we know is a key drawcard for visitors to our region.”
The self-portraits in the exhibition allow students to remember who they are and where they are going. Photo: Supplied.
