Introducing our Cultural Educators - CatholicCare NT

In their own words…

Francis Storey

I was born in Mount Isa QLD and in 1988 our family moved from Mt Isa to Tennant Creek NT.

My Mother’s language group is Wombaya (Barkly Tableland) and my Father’s side is Wakaya (Barkly Highway).

Tennant Creek is where I grew up and have lived there from 1988 – 2017.

I have 3 children of my own and through kinship I have a 11 year old child who is a part of my family since she was 5 months old.  I’m a proud grandmother of 2 beautiful children.

In 2007, I first started work with CatholicCare NT in the Tennant Creek office as a Money Business worker and finished in 2011.

I returned two months later as an Administration Officer in the Tennant Creek Office from 2011 until 2018. I left for family reasons, however in July 2019, I commenced in the Katherine Region as a Financial Wellbeing & Capability Case Manager.

I really enjoy working for CatholicCare NT, working with the clients, staff and the community, that’s why I keep coming back.

Carol Manfong

I was born in Katherine and I come from a strong line of Jingili Women from my mother and grandmother. I am Mudburra from my grandfather from the Alum family group – a well-known Strong and Proud family, who worked in the cattle industries and related through family connections and kinships across the Northern Territory.

Growing up at Newcastle Waters and Wave Hill Settlement now called Kalkarindji was an adventure and still have fond memories.  I recall that most weekends, we spent on country, camping, fishing and hunting with my grandparents.  My grandmother and mother taught me lots of cultural knowledge.  I am very proud that I was taught at an early age to care for country, culture and my people.

My grandparents took care of my sisters and myself at Newcastle Waters where we attended school, until we were old enough to attend school in Katherine and Kalkarindji and back to Newcastle Waters because my parents travelled around the NT working on various cattle stations.

A few years later, my two older sisters and I then attended a Boarding school in Charters Towers QLD and my parents moved to Katherine in 1985 so that we could get better opportunities for our family.

I come from a large family and I am one of eight siblings.  I have three children and I am a grandmother of two, all whom live in Sydney.  Two of my older siblings were part of the Northern Territory Stolen Generation. 

I have been employed with CatholicCare NT for 2 years and I work in the Financial Wellbeing and Capabilities Team as a Case Manager, based in the Katherine Office.

What I really love about my job is that I get to travel to 16 remote communities in the Katherine region. I am a strong advocate for the people who I work with and the Katherine Community.

Caroline Busch

I have been employed with CatholicCare NT for 12 years and I work in the Human Resources area as the Cultural Development Coordinator.  I am based in our Berrimah Office, however I do travel frequently to the other regions.

I am a Larakia woman from the Briston family group – a well-known sporting family.  My mother Alice is a Larrakia Senior Elder & part of the stolen generation.  Our family language group is Marrathiel and my mother’s father is from the Shepherd family group (one of the 8 family groups that makes up the Larrakia language group).

Growing up our family spent most weekends on country, except when it was football season.  My family were taught how to clean geese at a very early age of their lives.  My Father grew up on the Tiwi Islands and he was taught a lot of cultural knowledge, he knew how to speak and dance Tiwi.  My parents taught the family about their country, culture, hunting and how to cook geese, crabs, turtles and fish. 

As a Larrakia woman, I enjoy interacting with people and sharing my cultural knowledge. 

Aunty Pat Braun    

I was born in Tennant Creek to Arrente Father and Warrumunga mother.

I spent my younger years growing up in Central Australia where my parents worked on Cattle stations.

At aged five years, myself and two older siblings went off to boarding school in Alice Springs, at the old OLSH Convent.

It was very emotional being away from our families and Tribal nanas for the first time.

We found English language very hard to speak as it was our third language at that time and as an adult I still find English hard.

I have worked for CatholicCare NT for many years and I enjoy and believe in their connections to family, country and community.

Phil Brown

I am a local Darwin person who was born in the old Darwin Hospital at Myilly Point. I attended various primary schools in Darwin from 1966 through to 1970 and then my family moved to QLD where I completed senior schooling.  After school, I worked on the QLD Railways prior to returning to Darwin when I was 19.

In QLD, I lived in both the Torres Strait Islands and Aboriginal worlds.  I grew up learning the Torres Strait Islands traditions and learned how to make Kup Murri, which is cooking food in the ground on special occasions.

In Darwin, I enjoyed playing Australian Rules and Rugby League for local Darwin clubs.

I am a descendent from the Wadeye/Daly River region, an area called Rak Tjindi (Chindi) near the Moyle River, also known as the black soil plains.  This is my Great Grandmother’s country where she roamed between Wadeye, Rak Tjindi and Nauiyu (Daly River) communities and other outlying outstations. 

In 2017, I commenced employment with CatholicCare NT as the General Manager Workforce & Partnerships.  I am also the Chairperson of the Reconciliation Action Plan Committee and I enjoy travelling across our sites working with and supporting staff.  I certainly enjoy meeting staff from diverse backgrounds and sharing my experiences and knowledge, so staff can feel comfortable and enjoy Aboriginal cultural in their workplace.   

Hamish McDonald

I was born and grew up on Arrente Country in Alice Springs.  I am from the Eastern Arrente, Luritja clan group.  My Mother’s side is the Swan/Kenny families from the Luritja and Pertame (Southern Arrernte) Language group and my Father’s side is the McDonald/Clements families from the Eastern Arrernte and Alyawarra Language group.

My Grandmother was part of the Northern Territory Stolen Generation and I was always intrigued to hear her stories growing up with local families at the St Mary’s Hostel in Alice Springs.

I did all my schooling in Alice Springs and played sports, football and today I still enjoy watching the local footy games on the weekends.

One of my favourite childhood memories was hunting Kangaroo and learning from my Grandmother and Uncles.  I still enjoy hunting Kangaroo with family and friends today.

Kangaroo and Alangkwe (Bush Banana) is my favourite bush tucker.

As an Arrernte person, I likes to share my people’s knowledge and history.

I have been employed with CatholicCare NT for four years in the position as Lead Practitioner in the Intensive Family Parenting Service.