Travis Earns Trophy in Townsville

Travis with his teammates Mackenzie Mercer, Stefany Allan Travis Allen and Arthur Gabey Community Education Counsellor.  

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Year 8 student Travis Allen pushed through his nerves and found his voice at the Junior The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aspirations Program Challenge (ATSIAP) in Townsville, earning him a peer-voted Aunty Raba Solomon ATSIAP Perpetual Trophy.  

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The program brings students together for a series of academic and cultural activities.This year’s junior challenge was based on a theme of ’50 Years of Deadly’ and drew about 16 teams from 13 schools.

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“It’s more academic-minded, so they work as a team to do a speech, long-term problem-solving and a quiz,” said Arthur Gabey, Indigenous Community Coordinator at Proserpine State High School.  

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“It’s really, really fun. Once we get the formal stuff out of the way, everyone gets involved.”

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Among Proserpine’s representatives was Year 8 student Travis Allen, who volunteered for the team as soon as the opportunity was offered.

Once the challenge began, despite being pretty reserved, Travis took the speaking role in the team’s problem-solving performance. Despite being visibly nervous in front of the crowd, he pushed through the speech and performance without giving up.

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Travis’s willingness to step beyond his comfort zone was noticed by his fellow competitors, who voted him the recipient of the Aunty Raba Solomon ATSIAP Perpetual Trophy for inspiring those around him.

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“He was one of those students who really stood out,” Arthur said.

Proserpine State High School’s senior team also took second-place finish at its Term 1 challenge.

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Arthur said both results were a proud achievement for the school, with students showing they could match it with much larger schools from across Queensland.

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