Tom Price celebrated the launch of the Shooting Stars site this week with an event held at the Tom Price Performing Arts Centre. The event, held on East Gurruma country, brought together Shooting Stars staff and participants, community members, corporate partners, Aboriginal Elders and health service providers.
The relationship between Shooting Stars and local health service providers is crucial to the delivery of the program, with Gumala, PCYC and Nintiri DV Department attending the launch.
As part of the launch, year 9 student and Shooting Stars participant shared dress design for the Shooting Stars team, the Tom Price Warlus. In describing the design she said, “the design started off with a warlu (snake) on it. The warlu that they came up with is because when you enter the areas of Tom Price it has signs stating Warlu way on them. They also added waterholes, as the town is surrounded by beautiful waterholes. The dotted circles are a form of meeting or gatherings, the animal prints are animals that may be found out bush or hunted for tucker which is why they added the boomerangs as hunting tools. The stars are in representation of the Shooting Stars girls.”
Shooting Stars Regional Manager, Bernie Kop, spoke of her excitement for the launch of the Tom Price site.
“It’s been great to see the Senior High School, community and participants embrace the program so quickly,” said Kop, “I’m really excited to see how the program helps the girls grow in their confidence, cultural connection and capacity.”
The Tom Price site expands the Shooting Stars footprint in the Pilbara & Gascoyne region, providing support to year 7-12 students at Tom Price Senior High School.
