CommBank recognised the need to highlight some of these outstanding citizens and thus the Australian of the Day series was created. The campaign has seen eight young photographers travel our nation in search of incredible people doing incredible things. Over the course of eight months, they’ve unearthed everyday Aussies that’d likely receive a round of applause from Mother Teresa herself. We were more than happy to help CommBank shine a spotlight on them and have been hard at work to bring y’all the best of the best.
Western Australia has dished up some absolute legends and here’s a few of them.
What were you doing at 11? Odds are you were hounding your parents for a new Tamagotchi (oh, nostalgia) or whatever super-expeno fad that was tickling your fancy. Don’t worry, so were we.
Enter Bohnuer Chubahiro, the 11 year-old who’s about to make you feel beyond guilty for not leading a more charitable childhood.
Bohnuer and his family moved to Australia from Burundi in Africa as refugees when he was two years old. They’ve been based in Perth’s northern suburbs since their arrival. His older sister/fellow incredible person, Bella, works at an AFL club called the Young Lions as a youth leader and coach. She introduced Bohnuer to the sport at age eight and he’s been smitten ever since.
The Young Lions is a not-for-profit AFL program with a focus on multiculturalism. It’s designed to help youth from indigenous, migrant and refugee backgrounds in establishing supportive networks amongst the broader community.
Over the next few years, Bohnuer excelled. He’s the coach of his multicultural team and the captain of his district’s squad. It’s quite an impressive accomplishment for a guy of his age and the reason why he’s Australian of the Day #106.
“I wanted to play for a proper club because I like footy… I just feel like I’m free, I can do anything I want when I’m on the field,” he says.
However, it wasn’t all fun and games during his rise through the ranks.
“The first few years they were a bit racist but I just kept on going and soon they stopped and now it’s fine. I just tried to do good and I think in my head, if I can try and get all these other country people to like me I’m going to feel better. I got a lot of mates outside footy, because sometimes when we go to other clubs I just start conversation and we talk and I just assume we’re friends.”
Even at a young age, Bohnuer is wise beyond his years and understands how beneficial organised sport can be in developing a positive outlook for misguided kids.
“Normally the kids are on the street but when they play footy they’re allowed to do almost what they want and they’re playing with the team instead of arguing. When they come to training they don’t act the same as outside the club, because outside of the club they’re probably a bit naughty. When they’re inside the club they listen and act better and more mature. I reckon they feel pretty good.”
Further adding to his angelic nature, Bohnuer has remained humble as a leader. He just really loves football and wants to make a difference.
“I never thought I’d be here, I just thought I’d be a normal kid, I probably am still but to me I feel good all the time. Especially when I’m outside teaching kids because I remember when I was at their stage trying to practice I had no one to practice with other than Bella, so I try to help them as much as I can.”
Good hustle, Bohnuer. We’re sure this won’t be the last time we hear about you.
Master photographer and Australian of the Day documenter James Whineray has been hard at work with CommBank to uncover tales of everyday Aussies making a difference in our country. www.australianoftheday.com.au is jam-packed full of stories about ‘Strayan legends that’ll have you laughing, crying and everything in-between. If you need more motivation, check out the two incredible peeps described below.
CONJURING FORGOTTEN MEMORIES WITH THE POWER OF MUSIC
Peter and wife Edith are the phenomenal folks responsible for ARVOSI’, AKA: the Armadale Volunteer Singers. This remarkable duo, along with their squad, perform concerts at nursing homes in the Perth metropolitan area – spreading joy and goodwill at every spot the visit. It’s clear why Peter is Australian of the Day #120.
#PeterForPM?
To share Peter’s story, let us take you back in time to a period where everything was seemingly draped in a light hue of sepia. Don’t think we’re calling you old, Peter. You don’t look a day over 25!
Peter was first encouraged to sing by his mother when he was a strapping lad of 12. He was never terribly interested in singing and was instead more keen on piano. It wasn’t until his house in Surrey was flattened during one of the London bombings, and subsequently his families piano, that he was forced in an alternate direction. “I was evacuated with my grandparents and I never got the chance to play piano again,” says Peter.
Just as a friendly reminder:
Problems then…
Problems now…
Peter later moved from England to Auckland, New Zealand for 30 years where he continued singing. In 1994 he packed up his things and made his way to Western Australia, taking up a governmental position in minerals and metals. He underwent a heart bypass four years later and decided to throw in the professional towel. Good call, Peter. Good call.
Still doing his thang as a singer, Peter met his wife Edith at a concert. They then joined a group together in Armadale. Being the noble and incredible people they are, Peter and Edith thought it was high-time to dedicate themselves to enriching the lives of the elderly. ARVOSI’ was born and they’ve never looked back.
The pair manage to conduct over 45 concerts annually which is no small feat.
“We’ve done up 450 concerts in total so we’re well known in the circuit,” he says.
“We go to places 2-3 times a year and we change our program 3 times a year so that there’s always something fresh for people to enjoy.”
As for the selection they masterfully present?
“We work on 1940s, 50s and 60s music and we do some from the 70s but most of our audience who are late seniors know the music from their young days so we go with that formula. It seems to work well.”
Music is a universal language. Many of those whom Peter and Edith play for suffer from dementia and affiliated illnesses. By playing them songs they’re familiar with, these elderly people are able to form a connection with the past unachievable by other means.
“It brings them back to their childhood and youth years. Although they can’t remember what they had for breakfast this morning – sing them a song and they know all the words.”
Not only does it bring immense amount of happiness to these people, it also creates a marked improvement in their behaviour.
“We get feedback from the nurses saying it lasts about a day and a half before they go back into their current predicament.”
Just to cement their altruistic status, Peter and Edith don’t make a cent from their charitable deeds.
“We don’t make a profit but we don’t make a loss so we’re very happy with that.”
Absolute legends.
INDIANA JONES AND THE BATAVIA MASSACRE
Besides lacking the hat, whip and satchel (who knows – maybe he does use a satchel? We’ll ask and get back to you), Dan Franklin is as close a resemblance to a modern day Indiana Jones as it gets.
Dan’s a forensic archeologist/anthropologist. In saying such, a big portion of his 9-to-5 grind is spent picking through extremely old bones – think CSI guest staring Captain Cook.
Dan moved from New Zealand to Perth in his early childhood. He began studying economics before he chucked a stock-standard twenty-something move and conceded that he should probably engage with a career that he’s actually going to enjoy.
It’s all good, man. We’ve all been there.
Dan then followed his gut and transitioned into the fields of archeology and anatomy. He’s never looked back. Well, like, obviously he has – it’s his job to do so after all…
As an undergrad, Dan worked on the excavation of those killed in the Batavia massacre. HOW’S THAT FOR A SUMMER INTERNSHIP?! He then began honours studies and subsequently completed a PhD on the mutiny.
We should probably clue you in on what the whole Batavia incident was about, if you don’t already know. Between meme-maker and history professor, we sure do wear a lot of different hats in this office. Now pay attention, kids. This makes for one hell of a dinner party story.
~Like sand through the hour glass goes the days of our lives.~
Jokes, this is some pretty horrific stuff.
IN A TINY NUTSHELL: A Dutch East India Company ship named Batavia set sail in 1628 from the Netherlands bound for its namesake, modern day Jarkarta. The ship wrecked on the Morning Reef – about 60 km off the coast of Geraldton in Western Australia the following year. 316 people were left stranded.
Unfortunately this wasn’t one of those Gilligan’s Island scenarios. There wasn’t a tiny cocktail umbrella in sight.
One of the ship’s seinor officers lost the bloody plot. He organised a mutiny and was responsible for the torturing, raping and murdering of 125 of the wreck’s survivors.
Mate, the rest of us just take a spa day.
The story of the Batavia is an important topic in terms of archeology and the reason why Dan’s Australian of the Day #93.
These days Dan lectures at the University of Western Australia, conducts field excursions both in and outside of Australia for post-grads, jets off to America like a complete rockstar to investigate forensic case studies and picks through the bones of dead bodies all day. We also imagine he sits on the floor of his shower, rocking back and forth muttering “I must be clean” when you consider the twisted nature of some of the things he’s had to review. We certainly would. No doubt about it.
Because he surveys skulls for a large portion of the day, Dan may stare at you like a weirdo if your cranium is Bratz Doll-esque.
“If someone is walking around and they have an unusually shaped head, I tend to focus in on on that. I guess you can’t switch that off,” he says.
When Dan’s not exhuming dead bodies he likes pulling apart classic cars and motorbikes.
“If you can rebuild a skeleton you can rebuild an engine, at the end of the day everything goes back the way it came out – you’re just putting something back together.”
Good point.
Cheers Dan for helping us better understand the history of our great nation. U DA BEST.
Do yo’self a favour and go hit up www.australianoftheday.com.au for more stories of amazeballs people.
