| Dream Cricket QLD Gala Day: Churchie, 13 September
| Churchie (QLD) Sony Camp, 14 September
| Dream Cricket QLD Gala Day: Churchie, 13 September | Churchie (QLD) Sony Camp, 14 September
Mentoring. Music. Service.
Putting relationships front and centre.
George Huitker and his volunteers support and deliver transformative service learning within schools and communities in Australia.
Often linked to education, the arts and sport, their community work is underpinned by the ethos of “not to, never for, but with”. It is committed to values of authenticity, respect and transparency, accountability for outcomes, and the protection and preservation of trust between participants.
All programs are tailored to foster compassion and respect for others through sustained work with Indigenous schools, people in aged care, people with disabilities and other community charities.
George and his loyal team’s work is informed by meaningful action toward recognition and reconciliation, moving beyond words to respectful action to close the gaps, and proudly walking alongside one another. This creates opportunities for learning and engagement which has a positive and sustained impact on students and community partners.
WHAT HE OFFERS
George consults with schools and community organisations, delivering tailored programs that challenge traditional concepts of service learning and inspires respectful engagement with lifelong impact. These often incorporate the arts and sport. He offers the following services:
Identification and development of Service Learning activities for students and young people.
Brokering of service relationships between schools, musicians and community organisations.
Teacher professional development and training.
Preparation of student cohorts for Service Learning activities.
Audit and review of existing or planned Service Learning activities or programs.
Design and implementation of effective and meaningful reflection activities.
Public speaker/performer for conferences, dinners, school assemblies for both large and focus groups.
Inspiring post-school leavers to reignite a passion for service they may have had in their teens.
WHO HE IS
George Huitker has over 30 years teaching experience at Radford College in the ACT, most recently as full time Director of Service Learning. Over many years George has developed Service Learning programs which have had a positive, sustained and national impact on students and community partners. George is also a sports coach, published author/poet, dramatist and a musician/recording artist who has often incorporated the creative arts into service programs.
Since leaving the classroom and after a short stint with his company, the Australian Centre for Service Learning, George is now working freelance as a professional musician. He does so without separation from his lifework as a service learning educator, advisor and mentor to volunteers wishing to enrich the lives of others, as well as their own, through these three domains.
THE APPROACH
George’s approach to Service Learning is based on his 7R Service Learning Palmcard. This set of accessible checks has evolved over more than three decades of teaching, leading, coaching, mentoring and speaking in schools and with young people in a range of settings including leadership training, music, sport and theatre.
The 7R approach is the foundation of all of George’s work in mentoring, music and service spheres, if not life itself.
It asks people to actively seek, build and return to respectful relationships, while encouraging a realistic, researched and resilient approach – with reflection at its core – to all activity undertaken in one’s personal, professional and spiritual lives.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
From April 2022, George formed a partnership with the Friends of Myall Creek National Committee in raising awareness and actively promoting the site and the annual commemoration to primary and secondary school students and staff. In 2023 he also formalised his partnership with Dream Cricket Australia through Rotary International, entrusted with the task of promoting the game and inclusive activity across the country’s schools in earnest.
THIS MONTH’S MUSIC MILESTONES
Empty Without You has reached 23.5K hits across all platforms, Tiny Tin Town 10.5K, while Murrigeejar Mob’s exuberant The Things That Matter has stunned us with over 5.5K engagements since its recent release. But for now do check out GH’s new release, Songs from Z-Country and please subscribe to his YouTube channel.
Some schools/organisations George & Dream Cricket Australia have recently connected with:
-
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)
East Brisbane & Red Hill, QLD
-
Biala Special School & Emmanuel Anglican College
Ballina, NSW
-
Canberra Grammar School & Malkara Specialist School
Red Hill & Garran, ACT
-
Currimundi Special School
Currimundi, QLD
-
Darkinjung & Ngaraalingayil Barker
Yarramalong & Wollombi, NSW
-
Minimbah Aboriginal School
Armidale, NSW
-
Queanbeyan Public School
Queanbeyan, NSW
-
Tingha Public School
Tingha, NSW
“A field is empty, but if you put in the effort to grow something then you will have a garden. And that’s life. Give something, something will come back. Give nothing, nothing will come back. To grow a flower is a miracle: it means you can grow more. Remember that a flower is not just a flower, it is the start of a whole garden.”
Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth
Contact
Feel free to contact George with any questions.