A private school will no longer be able to host school camps on a South Australian island after a native title ruling was made to allow an indigenous group to “spiritually reconnect” with the land.
Students from Scotch College Adelaide have enjoyed going to Goose Island on the Yorke Peninsula for school camps since 1966, taking part in activities such as snorkelling, kayaking and sailing.
The school’s license to access the island was set to expire in 2027, but trips to Goose Island will end at the end of this year.
Scotch College was permitted to use the island for camping through a licensing agreement with the Department of Environment and Water.
However, in March last year, the Federal Court ruled that the Narungga held native title to the state’s Yorke Peninsula, which includes Goose Island.
Scotch College principal Trent Driver said he was “deeply disappointed” that the school had been asked to “return the island to its traditional owners for alternative uses”.
“After several months of good faith negotiations and discussions between the College and DEW, we have been informed that the licensing agreement with Scotch will end in December 2024 and we will not have access to the island for school programs in the coming years,” she said in a letter to parents on Tuesday. The advertiser reported.
‘The College has made every effort to negotiate a collaborative solution and will keep the lines of communication open with the Narungga People.’
Scotch College (pictured) has had to surrender its licence to operate school camps on Goose Island in South Australia after a native title ruling.
The Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation (NNAC) had lodged an application regarding the island, and the organisation’s chief executive thanked the school for relinquishing its licence.
“For the 60-plus years that Scotch College has had its license to operate on the island, we haven’t really been able to access it, so now we want to develop a three-pronged approach,” Milera said.
‘We want to look at how we can reconnect spiritually with the island, see how our Sea Ranger program can play a role in caring for and conserving the environment and also look at the economic opportunities that arise from ecotourism.
‘This provides an opportunity for everyone to come there and enjoy, while understanding the cultural and spiritual connections to the island.’
Tuition for Scotch College seniors is $30,360 per year.
Scotch College students in Adelaide have enjoyed going to Goose Island on the Yorke Peninsula for school camps since 1966, taking part in activities such as snorkelling, kayaking and sailing (pictured are Scotch College students on school camp)