Painting Memories: A Week in Yulga Jinna with Jayden McCracken
Stepping off the plane and into the ochre-stained dust of Yulga Jinna, McCracken felt the quiet hum of the outback wrap around him like an old yarn spun by a seasoned drover. This was a land untouched by time, where the sun reigned supreme, and the red hills rolled like sleeping giants on the horizon. It was the kind of place where a man could walk for miles without seeing another soul, where silence stretched out like a woollen swag under the Southern Cross. By week’s end, he and his three fellow volunteers wouldn’t just leave behind the echoes of their lessons, but a piece of themselves—a mural, bold and bright, painted with the eager hands of the town’s young storytellers.
McCracken had braced himself for the challenge of leading a small band of volunteers into the unknown. Four strangers, thrown together in a land far removed from their city comforts. A place where time slowed, and the nearest outpost metropolitan comfort lay far beyond the shimmering mirage. But Teach Learn Grow has a way of forging kinship out of the raw elements of experience. As morning light crept over the tin roofs as they stirred from sleep, ready for breakfast club—a time-honoured TLG tradition where flour-dusted hands and laughter drifted on the cool morning breeze. They dived into the pulse of the school, sharing in culture classes, tending the garden beds, and, with more ambition than skill, attempting to orchestrate a whole-school sports event.
Then, as so often happens in the bush, inspiration struck like summer lightning. Billy, one of the volunteers with a talent for art, suggested a mural. What started as idle chatter soon turned into a mission, and before long, paintbrushes danced across brick, capturing the town’s stories in bold strokes. “There’s something about leaving a mark that isn’t just words in the wind,” McCracken mused. “The kids will see it every day, and maybe, just maybe, they’ll remember the hands that helped create it.”
Of course, no adventure comes without its trials. McCracken quickly learned that the remoteness of Yulga Jinna made everything more complicated—supplies were scarce, help was distant, and the land, unforgiving. The small team dynamic added a layer of challenge, where strangers became mates, finding rhythm in the ebb and flow of their days. But as the days wore on, the anxious edges wore away, and camaraderie settled in like the warmth of a campfire’s glow. “That’s the beauty of TLG—you throw people together from different walks of life, and somehow, it just works.”
His expectations of rural life had been shaped by stories—romanticised notions of vast open spaces and simple pleasures. But standing in the middle of it, listening to the teachers swap tales of hardship and triumph, he saw the grit and heart that truly defined the bush. “The unsung legends of these communities … the immense difficulties face – logistically, emotionally, and otherwise is a challenge that I believe brings out the most colourful and passionate individuals.”
But it was the kids who taught him the most. With wide eyes and even wider smiles, they welcomed the volunteers into their world without hesitation. They shared their stories—of spirits in the hills, of which dog belonged to whom, of games played under the vast, endless sky. “Despite coming from worlds apart, they let us in, let us see life through their eyes. There’s a lesson in that—to share freely, to embrace the unknown, to take in strangers as kin.”
For those considering the TLG Rural Program, McCracken offers words as steady as an old stockman’s wisdom: “It’s an adventure that changes you. You walk in thinking you’re there to teach, but you end up learning more than you ever imagined. It’s a chance to see the land and its people in a way few ever do.”
If you’re looking for an experience that will challenge and inspire you, TLG’s Rural Program is the perfect way to make a real impact. Whether you’re drawn by the call of the bush, the chance to connect with incredible young minds, or the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy, volunteering with TLG offers it all. You don’t need to be an experienced teacher—just bring an open heart, a willingness to learn, and a sense of adventure.
And when asked about his favourite memory, McCracken didn’t talk of the murals, the lessons, or the friendships. Instead, he spoke of the quiet. The moment each morning when he’d step outside and see the red hills burn gold under the rising sun. “The Principal told me something I’ll never forget — ‘The hills never look the same twice.’” And she was right. The way the light danced across the land, shifting its colours with each passing hour, was pure poetry—like a scene from Genesis, where the land itself bore witness to creation’s grand design. “There are no words to describe the beauty of it, the distant shrubbery and the beaming sun bouncing off the red dirt. Simply beautiful.”
As the volunteers packed up and left Yulga Jinna behind, the mural stood firm, a testament to their time there. And much like those ever-changing hills, McCracken knew he’d never see the world quite the same way again.
Want to be part of something unforgettable? Join Teach Learn Grow’s Rural Program today and help make a difference in remote communities. Applications are open now—take the leap and see where it takes you! Who knows? You might just find yourself wandering the wilderness like Jayden, seeking wisdom and discovering more than you ever set out to find.
Written by Brayden Hsu (Marketing Officer)
