From Rainforest Soil to Drier Ground

Raised where the rainforest meets the sea, Jeriah Cannon – a proud Eastern Kuku Yalanji Bama from Mossman – left her vibrant homeland in Year 7 to pursue a scholarship with Cape York Leaders Program (CYLP) as a boarder at Rockhampton Grammar School. She traded the tropics for drier country and has been flourishing ever since. 

“It was hard at first,” she shared. “I didn’t have any family around or familiar faces. I had to adjust to a completely different environment. It’s dry country here and I’m used to rainforest country. That change in connection to Country was a challenge.” 

Now in year 12, Jeriah embraced those early challenges, the experience and everything it had to teach her. She credits the move with helping her become more independent and open to meeting and collaborating with new people.   

“I had to step out of my comfort zone and talk to people who weren’t from where I was from,” Jeriah says. “It turned out to be a good thing. You get to learn how to work with different people and cultures. It’s not hard unless you make it hard and having friends around really helped me not feel so overwhelmed.” 

For Jeriah, a good education is about more than just academics. “It means having good teachers and support networks who understand your learning style and are patient with you,” she says. “That’s how you become a good learner and reach your potential.” 

Coming from Cape York, where Year 12 completion rates can be as low as 5 percent, Jeriah stands as a powerful example of what is possible. With a 94 percent Year 12 completion rate among students in the Cape York Leaders Program, her journey through high school completion is paving the way for her own success while helping close the education and employment gap for future generations. 

Being part of CYLP has made a big difference in Jeriah's journey. The program has supported her with school supplies, uniforms and access to extracurricular activities – removing barriers and opening new opportunities. Her CYLP Student Support Officer has been a key figure, offering practical help like driving lessons and even taking her to visit her younger brother who also boards through CYLP at St Brendan’s College in Yeppoon. 

“Without CYLP, I wouldn't have had the same chances,” she says. “They’ve helped me stay strong, focused and connected to my goals away from Country.” 

Jeriah's journey isn’t finished yet, she plans to complete high school and like a seed carried far from its rainforest home, she is taking root even in dry soil – growing strong, guided by her culture, her community and her own determination.