Flight of the Jabiru by Elizabeth Haran

Author:Elizabeth Haran [Haran, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bastei Entertainment
Published: 2015-01-12T11:54:59+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Late September, 1941

“I’ve got wonderful news, Jiana,” Lara said excitedly. A clap of thunder directly overhead startled her, but she knew it was an idle threat. Storm clouds had gathered every afternoon for weeks, building her hopes that it would rain, but she was always disappointed.

Lara had asked the Aboriginal girl to meet her in the classroom that afternoon, even though there’d been no classes because it was midterm school break. “It’s taken weeks, but it’s finally official! You are Shady Camp’s new trainee teacher! You will get a salary as of the first day of the new term.”

Jiana’s mouth dropped open. “That’s next week!”

“That’s right. As of next Monday, you are an employee of the education department.”

“Did the government say they’d employ a black fella for sure?”

“I wish you wouldn’t call yourself that, Jiana. You’re a young lady, and yes, they agreed to employ you — an Aboriginal woman. I do believe you are the Northern Territories first Aboriginal woman teacher. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“I can’t believe it,” Jiana said going numb.

“Well, believe it. Your application was formally approved this afternoon.” Lara held up the paperwork as proof. “You will have to attend college in the city two days a week, but Colin has promised to drive you in. Congratulations, Miss Chinmurra,” Lara hugged her. “You are officially my assistant teacher!”

Jiana had been helping every day at the school for more than two months and had brought in seven more Aboriginal students, including two boys in their early teens. Lara was very grateful, and found it as rewarding to see her confidence blossom as she did to see her students learning to read and write. She was certain she wouldn’t have so many Aboriginal students if not for Jiana.

Lara had quietly approached the education department in early August, asking for a trainee teacher. As class numbers had grown, and the student’s ages varied so much, her request was approved. Then she approached Jiana and suggested she fill in an application to make her position official. Jiana was excited by the idea, so Lara helped her with the paperwork. One of the questions was about nationality. They filled in ‘Aboriginal’ and held their breaths.

Jiana told Lara that she held little hope of being hired because her mother had told her that the government would never help black fellas. Lara ignored her fears and handed the application in personally at the education office. An official perused it and looked at her strangely.

“The applicant is Aboriginal?” he said.

“That’s right.”

“You do know she will have to sit tests,” he suggested almost mockingly.

“Of course,” Lara said defiantly. “Give her a time and she’ll be here.”

The date was set and Jiana nervously took the tests. She found them surprisingly easy and passed with flying colors. Even so, her application still had to be approved. They waited two agonizingly long weeks and heard nothing.

Lara then made enquiries about whether it looked like Jiana would be accepted as a trainee. When the information she received was not positive, she was furious and went into battle.

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