B A R A N G

KAREN ADAMS TOPS COMMUNITY A W A R D S

A V I S I O N F O R B A R A N G

THE GLEN REACHES A MILESTONE

CEOs JOIN THE JAWUN JOURNEY

ISSUE 01

2CONTENTS QUIET ACHIEVER TAKES OUT TOP HONOURKaren Adams has been honoured for her wide-ranging community service work by being named Central Coast Aboriginal Person of the Year.

Karen describes herself as a quiet achiever and says she is honoured and privileged to receive the award.

I knew that I had been nominated, but I had no idea what it was for. I volunteer with many community organisations providing help where-ever I can. I think I am a quiet achiever, she says.

Karen has been a member of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council for 17-years. She is also a member of the Councils housing sub-committee and the Board of the Yerin Aboriginal Health

Service. She also works full-time and is a carer for her grandchildren.

Non-Aboriginal Person of the Year was awarded to Leonie Leonard. The award was presented in recognition of her outstanding and ongoing health care to the Aboriginal community, especially in the area of chronic care.

Leonie strives hard to ensure all patients are provided with above and beyond health care. She also ensures all families are connected with the services they require, the judges said.

More than 300 people attended the award presentations and dinner held at the Wyong Rugby League Club on Saturday 22 November.

Welcome to the 1st edition of the Barang Bulletin, which is the culmination of work by Jawun Secondees during 2014. The Barang Bulletin seeks to celebrate and promote the achievements of our people and communities across the Central Coast and our Jawun Community at large.

In this and future editions, you will learn more about Empowered Communities, Local Decision Making, Jawun and Barang, our tomorrow. Of our community and organisations that deliver a myriad or services and our collective ambitions for our youth and our next generation. You will hear from former Jawun Secondees of their journey and experiences and the impact that working with us has had on their future ambitions, both personally and professionally.

COVER PHOTO: QUIET ACHIEVER, KAREN ADAMS WAS NAMED CENTRAL COAST ABORIGINAL PERSON OF THE YEAR FOR HER WIDE-RANGING COMMUNITY SERVICE WORK.

2014 CENTRAL COAST ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY AWARDSAboriginal Person of the Year Karen Adams

Non-Aboriginal Person of the Year Leonie Leonard

Aboriginal Organisation of the Year Yerin Aboriginal Health Service

Non-Aboriginal Organisation of the Year Jawun

Jack Smith Memorial Award for Youth Jonathan Captain-Webb

Achievement in Arts and Culture Juanita Duncan

Achievement in Education and Training Jameela Smith

Achievement in Work Lyn Duncan

Achievement in Sport Rebekkah Dallinger

Empowering Aboriginal People through a unified voicePlease feel free to share the Barang Bulletin with those who you think will be interested in the contents and our ambition for a stronger tomorrow.

If you wish to receive copies of Barang Bulletin in the future please email: darkinjung@dlalc.org.au

Meanwhile, if you have articles or images you wish to contribute to the Barang Bulletin please email them to: darkinjung@dlalc.org.au (Please use Barang Bulletin as your email subject).

EditorBarang Bulletin.

NEWS

02NEWS

05HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

06FEATURES

08EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING

10HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION

11HERITAGE & CULTURE

12CALENDAR OF EVENTS

3Work is underway building the structure for a new organisation aimed at empowering Aboriginal communities and promoting local decision making on the Central Coast.

This follows the signing of a new partnership agreement between the seven Central Coast Aboriginal community service organisations.

The new organisation is known as Barang and interim Co-Chair Sean Gordon said work is underway to determine the best structure for Barang.

Barang is supported by both the Federal and New South Wales Governments.

It will execute a regional strategy that is aligned with the Federal Governments Empowered Communities initiative and the NSW State Governments OCHRE Local Decision Making Strategy.

To date several workshops have been held with the founding members to define the specific role that Barang will play, how it will be governed and what actions and key initiatives needed to plan and execute to bring it to reality.

BARANG SETS THE WAY AHEAD

Sean says we have defined the Barang vision as empowering Aboriginal people through a unified voice. Id like to see Barang become the regional authority on the Central Coast for Aboriginal specific issues by taking leadership and responsibility for our people. Id like to see it advocate on behalf of Aboriginal people. Id like to see it push for reform around Aboriginal people taking responsibility and the lead on issues that impact on them such as education, housing, employment and health, he says.

We have achieved a lot by signing the agreement. We need to secure the support and resources to put people into the roles so they can identify the priorities and targets, begin building stronger relationships with our founding members, service providers and governments and plan the way ahead. In the New Year we plan to establish regional tables that include like-minded Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal service organisations.

The aim is for them to collaborate, look at where Aboriginal funding is being directed and what impact it is having in the specific area of need, he says.

The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council has developed a computer program to assist it in preserving and managing the cultural heritage of the Central Coasts Aboriginal community. The mapping program shows the location and lists the significance of over 7,000 Aboriginal cultural sites on the Central Coast. It also shows the relationship to other sites in a wider cultural landscape. Current, future and proposed land use can be laid over the top to give a broader picture of the impact development has and can have on the sites.

Land Council Chief Executive Officer Sean Gordon says the program was developed by chance.

MAPPING OUR HERITAGEThe program was used for the risk management of trees in urban areas. I saw the need for a similar program in the management of Aboriginal cultural sites, to store the information contained in our files, reports and stored in peoples heads into one bank, he says.

Sean says the program also has wider application.

We have used the program in the Land and Environment Court to fight against the destruction of significant Aboriginal sites. A prime example is the Calga Sand Quarry case where we have shifted the thinking from dealing with one site to a wider cultural landscape by showing its connection to other

sites in the area. The site could have been a weigh-point to other sites as our people journeyed across the land, Sean says.

We are not anti-development. We try to maintain the integrity of a site. If a site loses its cultural integrity then it becomes severely impacted and the broader community does not understand its significance, he says.

The program is also a planning tool in that current and future land uses can be laid over the top.

It allows us to better manage our assets and better support our position in economic development whilst protecting our cultural sites on behalf of our members, he says.

We are confident Barang will be successful.

It has taken us along time to get where we are today. With the type of reform and agenda we are talking about and by working collaboratively with our Barang founding members and in partnership with other service organisations I believe we can make significant advances in the areas of need within three years, he says.

The aim is for them to collaborate, look at where Aboriginal funding is being directed and what impact it is having in the specific area of need.

4The New South Wales Aboriginal community is claiming victory after the State Government decided to withdraw a Bill that could have impacted on thousands of land claims.

The decision to withdraw the Crown Lands Amendment Bill follows a rally in Sydney on Monday 3 November attended by more than 500 people.

Chairperson of the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council Joshua Toomey says despite the short notice the rally was well attended.

We only found out about the Bill ten days before the rally, Joshua says.

In that short time we organised groups from Western New South Wales, Tweed Heads, the South Coast and everywhere in between to travel to Sydney to join the protest in front of Parliament House, he says.

Darkinjung CEO Sean Gordon says the Bill was introduced without any consultation with the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Network and for the first time in the history of Aboriginal land rights the Government was attempting to introduce retrospective legislation.

SYDNEY RALLY SUCCESSThe Bill was aimed at preventing Aboriginal land claims over coastal lands and the Minister admitted it was designed to protect public access to beaches, he says.

It was almost based on fear mongering because in 31 years of Aboriginal land claims in New South Wales not one claim has blocked public access to beaches. It also called for retrospective legislation that could have impacted on as many as 2,000 existing land claims in the system, he says.

Darkinjung are pleased with the outcome of the rally.

It was vocal but respectful, he says.

It re-united the Aboriginal Land Rights network and re-engaged it with the state political system.

It also demonstrated to the Government that we can unite in a short time and allowed us to lobby politicians once again, which we have had no reason to do in recent time, Sean says.

Lands Minister Kevin Humphries has since advised the Bill has been withdrawn.

NEWS

WHITE RIBBON DAYThe Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council hosted a morning tea at its Wyong offices to mark White Ribbon Day. Special guest included Senior Constable Mark Best from the domestic violence team with Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command. White Ribbon Day is the only national male led campaign to end mens violence against women.

ABOVE: L TO R: LYNNE HAMILTON, SENIOR CONSTABLE MARK BEST, SHARON HODGETTS AND KELVIN JOHNSON.

ABOVE: PROTESTORS RALLY AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE IN SYDNEY.

5Kerrie-Ann Cook and her Maternal & Early Child Health Team are regarded as Aunties to hundreds of children on the Central Coast. Kerrie-Ann is the Manager of the Dhanggan Gudjagang Cottage (Mums and Bubs) at the Yerin Aboriginal Health Service Centre at Wyong.

The kids call us Aunt, we are all Aunties to them, Kerrie-Ann says.

This is one of the reasons why we love our job, she says.

We get to see the kids when they are born and watch them as they grow knowing we have had a positive impact in their lives.

The Dhanggan Gudjagang Cottage caters for Aboriginal women and non-Aboriginal women carrying an Aboriginal baby throughout their pregnancy. The Dhanggan Gudjagang Cottage also caters for Aboriginal children newborn to 5 years.

The program provides a wide range of antenatal and post-natal care, including basic nutrition, lactation consulting, regular health checks, early childhood development, immunisation, parenting courses and play groups.

There have been approximately 340 women and 500 children involved in the program which has been operating since 2009. The Mums and Bubs unit was initiated by Kerrie-Ann with the backing of the Yerin Aboriginal Medical Service.

When I was acting as the Mums and Bubs worker I saw that women were not coming into the health centre until well past their 20-week gestation period which can be dangerous if they have not had any antenatal care, she says.

A lot can happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

We need to get them in as soon as they know they are pregnant so we can provide that on-going care.

Women were also going to Gosford Hospital for midwifery clinics. They were getting different midwives all the time. So there wasnt the one on one service from the same midwife, it was a different midwife each time.

I pushed for Yerin to have its own mid-wife and early childhood nurse.

The CEO and operations manager succeeded in getting funding from the Federal Government to implement the program.

Kerrie-Ann is a former primary and high school teacher. Health was a component of her teaching. She realised she needed to change and focus more on health when she saw young girls at her school falling pregnant.

The Mums and Bubs Program plans to relocate and expand its programs in the future.

Our Aboriginal health worker has just qualified as a baby massage consultant and we plan to re- introduce baby massage classes in the future. Its a good way for mums to bond with their bubs, she says.

MUMS AND BUBS PROGRAM GROWS

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

We get to see the kids when they are born and watch them as they grow knowing we have had a positive impact in their lives.

One of my ultimate goals is to install an industrial kitchen and re-introduce our nutritional cooking classes.

They were very successful in the past. The kids helped their mothers cook and they all sat down to eat their meals together.

The major goal that I have is to establish our own birthing suite for our women and their families.

Kerrie-Ann and her team are devoted to the many Aboriginal mothers and children that access their Mums and Bubs Program. They are rewarded by the love and respect they receive and by watching a new generation of healthy and happy Aboriginal children taking their places in their community.

6A JAWUN JOURNEY

NAISDA is staffed by amazingly talented and dedicated people, whose enthusiasm is inspiring. I am so impressed how this organisation manages with limited funds and is constantly working to improve things and the experiences of the young dancers.

I learnt so much about the diversity of indigenous Australians. The Jawun program is inspiring in the way it is working to assist indigenous communities. Jawun is truly a two-way street. I will never forget my secondment. It was reinvigorating to work with NAISDA and I am so proud to have been a part of such a worthwhile program.

Prior to starting work, I was taken on a weekend camping trip covering the region which makes up Darkinjung country. The orientation trip concluded with a visit to the Koori Football Knockout. More than 10,000 Aboriginal people from all over NSW attend the event which was held at Raymond Terrace, yet this huge gathering, which brings in thousands and thousands of dollars to the hosting area, is relatively unreported. The Darkinjung traditional boundary spans both the Wyong Shire and Gosford City local government areas. The region is rich in cultural heritage with more than 7000 registered Aboriginal sites. The Central Coast is home to more than 9000 or more Indigenous people.

Almost 1400 secondees have been sent out through the Jawun program and have provided more than $50 million worth of in-kind resources. Originally working with major corporations such as Westpac, KPMG, Qantas and the Boston Consulting Group, Jawun was extended in July 2011 through a pilot program with the Australian Public Service.

Wendy Bilboe, Department of Defence

I believe serendipity led to my month-long secondment at the National Aboriginal and Islander Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College at Kariong, near Gosford.

I was one of two Department of Defence employees who took part in the departments second round of secondments with the JAWUN program in October 2012. Jawun, which means family or friend in Kuku Yalanji language of Cape York, is a non-profit organisation inspired by Noel Pearson that seeks to foster economic and social development, focusing on long-term, sustainable initiatives that will help break the cycle of welfare dependency in Indigenous communities.

Working with corporate organisations and the Australian Public Service Commission, Jawun brokers secondments to a range of Indigenous organisations in communities across Australia. Secondees can work in remote Cape York and Kimberley communities through to urban communities in Sydney, the Central Coast and Shepparton.

When I applied for a Defence Jawun secondment, I did not identify a preferred location instead allowing Jawun to place me where they thought my skills and talents would be best suited.With an academic and teaching background, I thought I would be appointed to an indigenous general school or college and was pleasantly surprised when I was appointed to NAISDA, given I had studied ballet for 18 years from a young child.

I put it down to serendipity that I went to NAISDA; my ballet training was something that I never mentioned during the application process because it didnt seem relevant. But it gave me a feeling of knowing what the developing artists would be studying and the academic context in which NAISDA operates. And it really added to the excitement of my secondment.

I prepared an advertising and marketing strategy, including a website development strategy for NAISDA, which was founded in Sydney in 1975. The college moved to a permanent home on the Central Coast in 2006 and is situated in the Mt Penang Gardens area.

I put it down to serendipity that I went to NAISDA; my ballet training was something that I never mentioned during the application process because it didnt seem relevant.

ABOVE: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE JAWUN SECONDEE, WENDY BILBOE. (PHOTO BY LAUREN LARKING, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE)

FEATURES

7Eleven senior executives, managers, leaders and government representatives experienced Indigenous heritage and culture during a two day tour of the Central Coast as part of the Jawun Program.

Most represented existing corporate partners and had staff seconded to Central Coast Aboriginal community service organisations but had little on-the-ground knowledge or experience of the Program.

Jawun Chief Executive Karyn Baylis says the tours are conducted regularly in areas in which the Jawun program runs.

We run CEO visits twice a year to the Central Coast. They are an opportunity for the CEOs to talk to their secondees, hear how their work adds value, see what they are doing and meet Aboriginal community leaders. These visits are critical because its hard to describe what work our secondees are doing on the ground. For the executives to be able to touch and feel it in a leisurely relaxed manner is of huge value, Karyn says.

She says the feedback has been positive.

Most have been blown away. They have only been here a few hours and the impact is already evident.

Karyn also had praise for the hosts.

The Central Coast is a terrific group to work with. They know what a true partnership is and Jawun values that relationship second to none. Our corporate partners also recognise this and continue to support Jawun and the region, she says.

The party visited the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council, the Blue Haven residential development, Bungree, Bulgandry Aboriginal Place, NAISDA and The Glen

CEOs EXPERIENCE JAWUN

QUOTES FROM VISITING CEOsIt is enthralling and inspiring to see people taking on the challenges they have and do so well with it. - Gary Sterrenberg, Chief Information Officer Department of Human Services.

I am blown away by how passionate people are for making a difference and the graciousness they have for sharing their history and culture. Its genuine and it makes me humbled. - Barbara Hyman, head of Human Resources and Marketing, Boston Consulting Group.

It has been fabulous, its exceeded my expectations. The cultural aspect has been intriguing. I am surprised by how far the Central Coast has come in a short period of time and the networks they have built are amazing. - Britt Coombe, Regional Manager QBE.

Its fabulous. Its an amazing opportunity for people to extend and develop themselves but more importantly to learn about our Indigenous past. - Gaylene Smith, Director Strategic Learning and Development, Australian Public Service Commission.

I am surprised of the maturity of some of the Aboriginal organisations we have visited. My expectation was far from what I saw so I have to take my hat off to them, fantastic and very impressed. - Louise Dwyer, Executive General Manager Personal Insurance, Suncorp.

To visit the Aboriginal rock carvings, hear the stories and experience the richness of a culture that I could not have imagined existed to that extent here on the Central Coast is overwhelming and remarkable. We knew it was here some time back but to know it is coming to life again is amazing. - Jennifer Pangas, General Manager, Talent Management, Commonwealth Bank.

ABOVE: JAWUN CEOS JOIN SECONDEES AND STAFF AT THE GLEN.

8The Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation is providing new opportunities for young men at The Glen through its Transition Program.

The Program is designed for clients who complete the normal 12 week agenda and identify a need to stay longer to give them time to secure accommodation, learn new skills or advance existing skills to gain employment.

Program Manager Tony Santos says the Transition Program provides them with the necessary tools and links to re-establish their lives after periods of drug and alcohol addiction.

The Program is necessary for many men who come to The Glen because 12-weeks is not a long time. Guys come in here and 12 weeks is gone in the blink of an eye, Tony says.

After the initial period they can apply to join the Transition Program if they can demonstrate the need to stay longer, he says.

TRANSITION TO SUCCESS

I can only dream about where my life is heading now. It is the best thing I have done.

Unfortunately a lot of men have no option but to go back to their old ways if they cannot get into the Program.

The fact they have achieved 12 weeks clean and sober at The Glen is not going to cut it for most guys unless they go back to a supportive environment.

Most dont, most return to a using partner and friends. They also return to a wider using community where they are well known and where other addicts are eager to see someone who is now clean and sober fall over, he says.

26 year old Andrew is a member of the Transition Program.

Its a good program. It has helped me out with a lot of things, Andrew says.

Being here as given me more opportunities and time to think about what I want to do with my life instead of getting back out there in the drug community, he says.

EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING

LEFT: L TO R: TRANSITION PROGRAM PARTICIPANT ANDREW, TRANSITION PROGRAM MANGER TONY SANTOS AND THE GLEN RESIDENT CLARENCE.

I dont want to go back to that lifestyle, I want to stay here as long as I can and build a strong foundation for when I do leave so I can make a fresh start.

After a trial period I now have a casual position at a local hardware store and I am studying community service at TAFE.

I want to eventually work with kids, like a mentor, share my past experiences with them and hopefully stop them from making the same mistakes I did, he says.

There are currently 12 men in the Transition Program but Tony says there is a need for more places.

If you asked the men on the regular program if they wanted to stay longer more than half would say yes, he says.

This is because more than half of the men on the Transition Program succeed after leaving and have good outcomes as opposed to those on the regular program.

Those on the Transition Program have established the links to support them on the outside and there is more chance of them remaining clean and sober.

I only planned to come here for the first 12 weeks but something changed inside me and I realised I could make something of my life and I am glad I did, Andrew says.

I can only dream about where my life is heading now. It is the best thing I have done.

9The Glen has celebrated its 20th anniversary in true Indigenous ceremony and style with more than 400 people in attendance including local Indigenous community leaders, political representatives, past residents and supporters.

It was a day to reflect on the achievements of The Glen, its residents and the work of its dedicated staff and supporters. Chief Executive Officer of The Glen Joe Coyte said it was also a day to celebrate.

We are celebrating the hard work over the past 20-years and the 3,000 people who have entered programs at The Glen over that period. Hopefully we have been able to empower them to make better decisions during their lives, he says.

Joe attributed the large turnout for the celebrations to the widespread community support.

THE GLEN REACHES A MILESTONEWe have a lot of support because we work hard in the community. We collaborate with the community and we value our relationship with the community, he says.

The Glen was established at Chittaway Bay in 1994 by the Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation to combat the suffering of Aboriginal people at the hands of drugs and alcohol. In establishing The Glen Ngaimpe was aiming to keep Indigenous and non-Indigenous men out of the criminal justice system and place them into treatment for their drug or alcohol addiction which it says is responsible for most offences.

The Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation is motivated by the continued over representation of Indigenous Australians in the prison system, the abuse of alcohol and other drugs and low levels of participation in education and employment compared to the general population.

16-year-old Matthew Thornton gets personal satisfaction from preparing meals. At the same time he is learning new kitchen and cooking skills while studying for his Year 10 Certificate.

It makes me happy to see smiles on a customers face when I prepare good food for them, Matthew says.

Matthew is one of a number of young students training in food and beverage preparation at the Coolamon Cafe and Catering at Bara Barang. The skills they learn can prepare them to enter the hospitality industry and the general workforce.

Cafe Manager Debra Coade says the students learn barista skills, food preparation, health and hygiene as well as customer service.

Not only does the training prepare them to enter the workforce but it also provides them with structure and social skills. Some of the kids come here after struggling with behavioural issues or problems at home or at school but when they enter the kitchen they are different. Some develop a talent for making coffees, some enjoy baking and

some enjoy preparing take-away. I dont know many who are fond of cleaning up at the end of the day but that is something they have to learn, Debra says.

The Cafe was facing closure earlier this year after funding was cut to Youth Connections. It is now being funded under the work for the dole scheme supplemented by a growing catering business.

Debra plans to expand her program after the granting of funding for the introduction of a nutrition program.

COOKING UP CONFIDENCE AND CAREERS

Programs at The Glen are designed to treat clients in an holistic manner. This means treating them spiritually, mentally as well as and physically. It also means addressing the things that may be causing the addictive behaviours, giving them power to take control of their lives and enabling them to live a good life and to become family and community members.

Recently The Glen was forced to close The Glen Annex at Rothbury due to uncertainty over funding. This resulted in the loss of 18-beds and existing clients were relocated to Chittaway Bay.

Despite this setback Joe says The Glen is here to stay.

The Glen is here for people who need it and those who may need it in the future. If the support we see here today is any indication then we are here to stay.

We will have parents and kids cooking bush tucker while focussing on health and nutrition. We will also set up a cooking class in the Skills Centre and take them around the garden where they can learn about sustainable cooking, she says.

Debra is devoted to her students and the cafe.

I love the cafe and the kids who work hard to keep it running. We dont aim to make huge profits. We just want to be able to make enough to keep the cafe open and running.

ABOVE: MATTHEW THORNTON COOKS UP A DISH AND A FUTURE CAREER AT THE COOLAMON CAFE.

10

BUNGREE SEEKS NATIONAL HOUSING ACCREDITATION

MORE HOUSING ON THE DRAWING BOARDS

The Bungree Aboriginal Association is applying for national accreditation of its housing services.

Bungree Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Naden says national accreditation will mean Bungree will be able to provide a greater level of accommodation services to the Central Coast Aboriginal community. Bungree owns and manages a large number of properties and is one of the largest providers of secure and affordable housing for the Central Coast Aboriginal community.

Bungree is the only Aboriginal housing provider in New South Wales to be registered mainstream. All mainstream housing providers must register nationally, so that a

provider only has to deal with one Registrar for all state and territory jurisdictions. And, in that process we are now going through the national regulatory system for community housing, Suzanne says.

We have until 5th January 2015 to complete the registration process. This is a huge step for Bungree and I believe it will lead to a better level of services for our community, she says.

Suzanne says the demand for Aboriginal housing on the Central Coast is high. Bungree has a current total of 83 properties that includes transitional housing and long term tenanted homes. Most properties are currently occupied and Bungree

has a waiting list for accommodation of 15 to 20-years. She hopes to ease the shortage in accommodation in the future by leveraging off its existing stock to build on its current portfolio.

We are waiting for the transfer of titles for 20 properties to Bungree that we want to leverage off to build up our own stock. We will continue to build our own stock with a diverse range of accommodation to work towards becoming the preferred service provider for Aboriginal housing in the eyes of the community and government, she says.

Meanwhile, Bungree expects to learn in the New Year if its application for national accreditation is successful.

ABOVE: A RESIDENT OF BLUE HAVEN IN FRONT OF HER DARKINJUNG HOUSE.

The Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council is continually building on its housing stock on the Central Coast.

The Land Council has a total of 19 properties, eight at Empire Bay and the remainder spread throughout the Wyong Shire.

Land Council Planning and Development Manager Lynne Hamilton says the existing properties are rented to members on a cost recovery basis and three new properties are being constructed as part of the next stage of Blue Haven.

We have just turned the dirt of the first of those new properties. We are expecting them to be completed by February. They will be rented to Aboriginal families on the Central Coast. People must be members of the Land Council to qualify for our affordable housing scheme, Lynne says.

She says the Council plans to add a variety of housing to its future stock.

We have looked at our waiting list and identified that more than half of the people seeking housing are single or married couples. In the past we have developed four bedroom properties and we have accommodated many families. Now we are planning to build villas or town houses to cater for singles and the elderly, she says.

HOUSING & ACCOMMODATION

11

Its a long way from treading the boards in Philadelphia and New York to the rehearsal rooms of the NAISDA Dance College at Kariong.

Thats how far Iquail Shaheed has travelled to pass on his dance skills to

NAISDA STUDENTS GET A TASTE OF THE BIG APPLE

The Mingaletta Women Elders Group considers itself a touchstone for the local community. Its members say they are a wealth of knowledge and experience.

If people need something they usually give us a call. We have so much knowledge between us of Government departments and functions and whats available within our community, Aunty Colleen says.

The elders meet every Thursday at the Mingaletta Community Centre in Umina where they undertake their specialist crafts.

Some are expert in sewing and others in knitting, drawing, crochet, cooking and jewellery making. Aunty Joyce paints, Aunty Anita and Aunty Colleen specialise in sewing, and Aunty Leigh cooks and sketches while Aunty Margaret is an expert designer. Uncle Reg organises the raffles and manages the 100 Club.

Aunty Anita says the group makes all sorts of items and donates them to charity or sells them to raise funds. The meetings are also an opportunity for the Aboriginal community elders to reconnect, socialise, support one-another, share skills and discuss community issues. Some members of the

MINGALETTA ELDERS CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at NAISDA. Iquail comes to NAISDA with an impressive resume in dance from his African American background. He is the founder and Artistic Executive Director of DANCE IQUAIL in New York. He has been trained in dance since the age of 13 and performed with leading American and international dance companies and in major Broadway productions. For the past several months Iquail has been at NAISDA where he is introducing the Horton Technique into the local dance college curriculum.

The Horton Technique is not widely taught in Australia. I am building the systems

ABOVE: THE MINGALETTA ELDERS (L TO R) AUNTY MARGARET, AUNTY COLLEEN, AUNTY ANITA, AUNTY PAM, AUNTY LEIGH, AUNTY JOYCE AND UNCLE REG.

ABOVE: IQUAIL SHAHEED

HERITAGE & CULTURE

and training curriculum so NAISDA can continue to be a centre for the Horton Technique in Australia, he says.

Iquail has praise for NAISDA and its students.

I see them blossom as the difficult things I asked them to do become easier. Its also amazing that many NAISDA students are graduating and entering mainstream dance in Australia and overseas. NAISDA needs to be recognised and cherished for the opportunities it gives to so many young people, he says.

Iquail has returned to New York and will be back at NAISDA in March.

elders group also visit local primary and pre-schools where they tell and perform Aboriginal dreamtime stories. They dress up to give their stories life.

Aunty Leigh is the garden, Aunty Anita is the ocean, Aunty Robyn dresses up as the black fairy and Aunty Barbara dresses as a clown. Aunty Anita gives out stuffed toys to the kids.

Each child gets a toy of a native animal. They know what the animal is and what

they can do so they show off for us elders, Aunty Anita adds.

They also participate in many outdoor activities, are a very active and open to new members.

They meet at the Mingaletta Community Centre every Thursday. For further information phone 02 4342 7515 or email admin@mingalettacc.com.au and address your email to Mingaletta Elders.

DECEMBER 201410-13 NAISDA Dance College performance of Your Skin my Skin at the Carriageworks Sydney.13 Second Hand Saturday, Gosford Local Government Area12-16 Christmas Lights in the Gardens, Mt Penang13 Central Coast Womens Choir14 Avoca Beachside Markets20 Central Coast Womens Choir20 The Entrance Farmers Market21 Darkinjung Members Christmas party24 Christmas Eve24 Carols by Candlelight, The Entrance Memorial Park25 Christmas Day26 Boxing Day27 Central Coast Mariners vs. Brisbane Roar at Central Coast Stadium Gosford31 New Years Eve celebrations, The Entrance Memorial Park31 2GO Gosford New Years Eve Waterfront Carnival

JANUARY 20151 New Years Day3 Central Coast Womens Choir3 The Entrance Farmers Market10 Central Coast Womens Choir17 Central Coast Womens Choir17 The Entrance Farmers Market17 Cinema Under The Stars, Terrigal24 Central Coast Womens Choir26 Yabin Festival Sydney26 Survival Day (Australia Day)26 Australia Day celebrations, Memorial Park, The Entrance, Kibble Park Gosford31 Central Coast Womens Choir

FEBRUARY 20156 Mingaletta Community Meeting7 Central Coast Womens Choir7 The Entrance Farmers Market13 National Apology Anniversary14 Central Coast Womens Choir14 Valentines Day21 Central Coast Womens Choir21 The Entrance Farmers Market28 Central Coast Womens Choir

Corporation Ltd

CALENDER OF EVENTS

BARANG FOUNDING MEMBERS

Barang Bulletin is published by the Barang Central Coast Aboriginal Regional Partnership Agreement. Material in this publication comes from a variety of community and government based sources and therefore does not necessarily reflect the views of Barang or its members. Material submitted to Barang Bulletin may be subject to editorial changes. Material that includes dates, times and contact details is correct at the time of publishing. Therefore, Barang cannot be held responsible if it is not informed of any changes to that information prior to publication.