From Little Things, Big Things Grow

From Little Things Big Things Grow

It’s hard to believe it’s already been three weeks since I arrived in Australia. In that time, I’ve absorbed a staggering amount of knowledge and experiences—I just hope the flight back to Nairobi doesn’t charge extra for excess brain weight!

After my time in Brisbane, I joined Br. Mick and Alice on a six-hour drive south to the breathtaking coastal town of Coffs Harbour. The drive was beautiful—or so I’m told. I was only awake for about two of the six hours. When we arrived at the residence where we’d spend the next four days, I finally met the infamous Adrian Brannan, who has the warmest and most calming tone when he speaks to you.

There were eight of us in total, and the only people I knew were the two I had just spent hours in a car with. That first evening, everyone kindly tried to draw me into conversation, but I was floating somewhere between time zones and couldn’t quite find my words.

On Monday, I met Uncle Mark, a Gumbaynggirr man full of charisma and charm. To be honest, my high school history class had misled me—I had been taught that European ex-convicts were the original inhabitants of Australia. I had never even heard of Aboriginal people, let alone that they are the First Nations people of this land.

So when Uncle Mark conducted a Welcome to Country ceremony—connecting us to the land, water, and sky—I was deeply intrigued. I learned that Aboriginal people have lived on the land now called Australia for over 50,000 years. They developed incredibly smart techniques, like building fish traps, and practiced conservation by only taking one-third of what they needed.

I also came to understand the systemic racism Aboriginal people have endured, mirroring struggles seen in Kenya and across many African nations: fighting for representation, dignity, and even the right to live. Uncle Mark even taught me how to fish. I caught a log, broke two lines, and decided I was content—after all, where in Nairobi would I even go fishing?

Special shoutout to Br. Steve Morelli—without his initiative in writing the first Gumbaynggirr dictionary, I might never have learned about the Gumbaynggirr people.

By the end of my Coffs Harbour trip, I walked away with two big takeaways: First, I deeply admire the efforts Australians are making to recognize and honour First Nations people. Second, I’ve developed a newfound appreciation for Swahili. Aboriginal people were once banned from speaking their languages, and as a result, generations grew up without them. Let’s not allow the same to happen in Kenya. It’s not “woke” for our children not to understand Swahili—it’s a loss.

From Coffs Harbour, Adrian, Jenny (who works with Adrian), and I road-tripped further south to the vibrant city of Sydney. What can I say? The Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the amazing people—Sydney is alive with beauty and history. I stayed in Balmain, a suburb steeped in Christian Brothers history, as it was once home to the formidable Br. Ambrose Treacy.

Greg posing with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House

Using ferries to skip across the harbour was a fun and efficient way to move around—I envy Australia’s public transport system! I also had the privilege of speaking at St. Edmund’s, a special school with 125 students and 50 staff members. Established in 1951 as a school for blind boys, it now supports students with diverse conditions—very much like the Kurt Fearnley Special Needs Unit at Ruben Centre. I’ve already initiated discussions about a potential exchange between the two institutions, and I’m excited about what that could mean for both sides.

One of the most striking aspects of my visit to Australia has been ANZAC. I visited an ANZAC museum and learned about Australia’s involvement in World War II. For such a young nation at the time, Australians went above and beyond. Understanding that part of history gave me valuable context about the country and its people.

Though my time in Sydney was brief, it was incredibly inspiring. Oh—and I finally learnt how to swim!

Now, I’ve arrived in my final city: Melbourne. They say, “save the last dance for the best,” and it’s already proving true. Here, I’m deepening my knowledge of communications and youth advocacy—two areas close to my heart and central to my work back in Nairobi.

Just a day after arriving, I spoke at the Rotary Club of Essendon. It was a glorious moment to stand before the very people who helped make this trip possible. I gave a speech and presented my work with the Ruben Centre and Rotary in Kenya. The presentation was a collaborative effort with Kate Holland and Ryan Wait.

Greg & President Tony De Fazio of Rotary Club of Essendon

My kind hosts, Shirley and Ray, took me on a tour of Melbourne’s city centre and taught me how to navigate the electric trams and trains. I then travelled to Warrnambool to visit my friend—and proud Ruben Centre “Top Fan”—Margo Salmon. It’s also the hometown of the maverick Br. Frank O’Shea. Warrnambool is a gem of a town, and I got to tick off several “firsts.” Yes, kangaroos are real. And yes, I fed one!

Greg feeding kangaroos at Warrnambool Wildlife Park

While there, I also visited 360 Southwest, a local organisation providing support coordination, community participation, and capacity-building services for NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) beneficiaries. I worked alongside “Kevin” (not his real name), a young autistic man, and it was a powerful learning experience.

I’m currently staying with the Brothers at St Kilda, whose wisdom and hospitality have been a highlight of this journey.

Am I missing home? Not really. But I can’t wait to return and spark change using everything I’ve learnt. I’ll leave you with a song. You can listen to it on YouTube or Spotify.

By: Gregory Barake

Edits By: Benson Kagwima