Hymba Yumba Independent School Alumni
Former Greater Springfield student Tramain Maybanks loves nothing more than making a difference to the lives of young indigenous children.
The 25-year-old is a Year 2 teacher at The Aboriginal and Islander Community School at Acacia Ridge and completed her high school education at Springfield’s Hymba Yumba Independent School in 2013.
“I was one of the very first graduates of the school,” Ms Maybanks said.
“Being able to go to school to learn while also being culturally supported was definitely the highlight of my education.”
The Toowong resident said her biggest inspiration while growing up was Aunty Pearl Duncan.
“She was the first known tertiary-qualified First Nations teacher in Australia. I knew if she could get through university in a time when First Nations’ people were treated so poorly, then I would most definitely do it now.”
Ms Maybanks is a Bundjalung woman from the north-east NSW Coast.
“I grew up here in Ipswich on Yuggera country. Prior to starting at Hymba Yumba I had never met an Aboriginal teacher in all of my schooling,” she said.
“I knew I wanted to teach because I felt it was the most direct way I could make a meaningful impact on the lives of First Nations’ children.”
She said her advice to indigenous children who wanted to lead a successful life was to remember the 60,000 years’ worth of ancestors backing them.
“Our people have come so far, there is nothing that is unattainable for us,” Ms Maybanks said.
Ms Maybanks fondly remembers her school days at Springfield.
“The thing I love most about Springfield is the feeling of community,” she said.
“When I was a teen, I worked at a coffee shop (Merlo) in Orion. To this day I still see old customers when I am out there who remember me and different aspects of my life.”
Ms Maybanks, has close to 5000 followers on her Instagram page @murriteacher.
The dedicated teacher said it was because she was relatable and approachable, and cared about sharing knowledge about her culture and people.
“So many teachers want to learn best practice for their classrooms when it comes to teaching, and teaching about First Nations’ people,” she said.
Teacher Bree Goulding, from Hymba Yumba Independent School, said Ms Maybanks was a pleasure to teach.
“She was an extremely driven and self- motivated jarjum who had a clear vision for her future,” Ms Goulding said.
“Tramain was a natural leader at our school and always a passionate advocated for her fellow jarjums and an active member of our school community.”
