Born in Wickham in 1983 to Banyjima parents Marshall and Elizabeth Smith, Shenara lived in Roebourne for her first seven years before moving to Mingallutharndo, a horse station run by her family.

She loved growing up and riding the horses, but also loved school, attending Roebourne Primary, Wickham High School until Year 10 when it was closed down, and her final years at Karratha District High School.

She first came across The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundations’ Follow the Dream program when she was in Year 9 at Wickham. She along with seven other students from Wickham/Roebourne were chosen for the program.

“The first big thing for me was the access to computers and the internet, followed closely by the extra help from the tutors,” Shenara said. “Everyday we could do our homework at the centre and we were also given additional work if we wanted to stretch ourselves.”

“The hardest thing for any kid is finding the discipline to do their homework and so I found if I didn’t go to the centre it was very hard for me to be disciplined.”Shenara’s parents were a big part of her support network through high school, working alongside Shenara and her tutors to help her achieve her goals.

“There were quite a lot of kids in the Karratha program and that made doing it enjoyable as you were not always by yourself; it became a social thing as well as a work thing.”

Shenara’s Mum Elizabeth ended up running the program in Roebourne for local kids, changing it slightly by allowing anyone to come along regardless of whether they were in the program but as long as they followed the rules. These students were then invited to join the program the following year.

Shenara’s own achievements at school, along with the inspiration from her Mum and older sister who both went to University, inspired Shenara to look at teaching as a profession. Along with her cousin and sister-in-law, Shenara went to university in Perth and she achieved her Bachelor of Education as well as Australian Indigenous Studies.

After moving back to the Pilbara and teaching for a while, she is now focusing on motherhood with her year-old son Jakeile and partner Kean.As well as being a Mum, Shenara was appointed Assistant Coordinator of the Gumala Mirnuwarni Education Project in July.“I work predominantly at the Roebourne centre where I tutor, liaise with the parents and run the kids to and from school,” she said. “The kids are great and I really like it.”

Shenara Smith
Gumala Mirnuwarni

After completing her secondary education in the Pilbara, which included her continued participation in Gumala Mirnuwarni, Shenara attended Murdoch University in 2001. She was one of eight Indigenous students in Western Australia who entered university, of which three were from Karratha/Roebourne. She studied in Perth for three years, and graduated with her Bachelor of Education as well as a Bachelor of Australian Indigenous Studies. Her results at university were excellent, achieving both credits and distinctions.

During her time at Gumala Mirnuwarni, Shenara started to consider becoming a teacher. Eventually she did become one, and taught at the Roebourne School. She also became a mother recently. This young woman is a quiet, ‘behind the scenes’ type of person, but because of her encouraging nature, is an ideal person to be working with, and leading young people.

In July, Shenara was appointed Assistant Coordinator of the Gumala Mirnuwarni Education Project, with the role of leading the Roebourne Enrichment Centre and its 16 students. She hopes to use her experiences and education to inspire and mentor young Indigenous students to reach their potential - just like she has.

Rex Halse
Project Coordinator
Karratha, Gumala Mirnuwarni