ilearn with ipads, say students · life on spill crew.....10 getting into ... regional partnership...

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A PUBLICATION OF THE ANINDILYAKWA LAND COUNCIL Issue 03May/June 2011 Edition

INSIDEMessage from Chairman ......... 2

Top StoriesiPad trial....................................2RPA: Projects for community.....2340+ workers in jobs.................3Justin: Green thumbs up...........3Good attendance=good results 4Umbakumba Road on track......4Households to pay for power....5Trades for school students........5New home building continues...6More space for duo...................6Adult education opportunities...6Owners block mining company 7Saving our seas: on the air.......7

EconomicTownship leasing...................... 8Creative classes........................8Ronnie: Back on truck...............9New head for GEBIE.................9Life on spill crew......................10Getting into business...............11Fire ants join Greens...............11

HealthNew MJD community worker..12Aircraft lift gives dignity back...12Hearing equipment for kids.....12Health checks for students......12Centre goes residential...........13Dental prevention programs....13

Art & Culture Story: Dubujikeda-langwa.......14Weaving ghost messages.......15Win a book..............................15

Education & Youth New cultural program..............16Cross cultural exchange..........16Students on the job.................17Camps to ‘get away’.................17Flying to school.......................18Recycling in school garden.....18Thriving Malkala community....18

Land & Sea GPS tracks quolls....................19Feral animal warning...............19Vet desexes cats and dogs.....19Research to protect turtle........21Dramatic boat rescue..............21

SportGirls bounce into basketball....22Underwater action...................22Tigers strike hard....................23

Out & About..............24

Quiz...................................24

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Ayakwa | A PUBLICATION OF THE ANINDILYAKWA LAND COUNCIL

These projects are happening as part of the Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA).

The RPA is a commitment by the Australian and Northern Territory Governments, East Arnhem Shire Council, the Anindilyakwa Land Council (ALC) and GEMCO to work together with local communities on a range of projects.

The projects were developed with Traditional Owners who wanted more to be done and range from housing and infrastructure, schooling, health, early childhood, sport and recreation, safe communities to economic participation.

Many of the projects you will read about in this edition of Ayakwa are part of the RPA including the Umbakumba road (p.4), Education Board (p.4), new homes (p.6) and the basketball program (p.22) for example.

ALC Chairman Tony Wurramarrba said: “Other upcoming developments that are part of the RPA include the construction of a new health clinic in

Umbakumba and a centre for the research and education on endangered species”. You can read about these projects in future editions of Ayakwa.

Last year some additions were made to how things are organised. Local Implementation Plans (LIPs) were created to make it easier for governments and communities to look at projects in individual communities and see how they compare with other places so funding and other decisions can be made.

The LIPs for Angurugu and Umbakumba currently reflect what was agreed to under the RPA but over time community, government and other partners can work together to add extra projects . “For example, the building of a new creche in Umbakumba has been added to the project list,” Tony said.

Local Reference Groups have also been set up for community residents to talk together and also consult with government and other agencies.

The RPA commitee meets regularly to review how projects are progressing and to resolve any issues.

RPA: Projects for communityYou know about the AFL program in action, teacher housing built in Umbakumba, new houses going up in the communities and plans to seal the Umbakumba road. But what do all these things have in common?

Angurugu School is the first in the region to trial iPads, giving one to each middle year female student.

The devices will be used for everything from keeping in touch with exchange students from Victoria to interactive numeracy to using Google Earth to study geography, music and art.

Principal Kristie Lloyd said the trial was designed to see what the device could offer as an alternative learning tool.

“A big part of it will be to encourage on-going relationships with our sister school in Victoria, Firbank Grammar,” she said. “This is about making learning fun, collaborative and imaginative. These types of tools are already being used outside school by many students and by embracing them for educational purposes, we will create new possibilities for them.”

iLearn with iPads, say studentsStudents are using iPads to learn to count, read and spell, as local schools become more tech-savvy.

TECH-SAVVY: Victorian student Miki and Angurugu student Renalda Bara will stay in touch via iPad.

Welcome to the May/June 2011 edition of Ayakwa. This year has been a busy one for the ALC and GEBIE and there are lots of good things happening in the communities.

Contractors will be working day and night to have the new Umbakumba Road finished by the end of the dry season. Remember to be extremely careful when driving on the road and be aware of roadworks.

We will see more houses going up over the next months as part of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) to relieve overcrowding. The houses will be allocated on a need basis and families living with MJD will be priority listed.

Local schools have had a positive first term and are powering through the second one. I see education

as the only way out for all Indigenous people. I always tell people that there is more to life than what is on Groote Eylandt but the only way they can get onto the mainland and even overseas is to have an education.

We have made a commitment to trial iPads in schools. My ultimate goal is to have kids go to school and learn more about the world through technology.

I want to remind you to look after your health. I’m trying to give up smoking and to lead a healthy life and be a good example.

I urge you to get involved in your community; attend a Housing Reference Group meeting, take part in school activities with children. Together we can work towards a better life for our children and grandchildren.

To everyone who is working and to those who have started jobs, you should be proud of yourselves.

Message from the Chairman

TONY WURRAMARRBAChairman

Anindilyakwa Land Council

Remember, it’s not just a job, it’s also a training process where you learn new skills that you will keep for the rest of your life.

WELCOME

Ayakwa: Issue 03 May/June 2011

Editor, stories, photography: Daniela [email protected]

Anindilyakwa paragraphs:Joaz Wurramara

Additional text and photos: Thanks to Language Centre, GEAFL, Chris La Rosa, Rose Miniyowan and GEMYDU

Design and layout: Daniela Cooper

Printed by: NT NewsISSN: 1837-5340

© Copyright May 2011

COVER PHOTO: Reanna Mamarika and her Year 6 classmates from Angurugu School are excited about learning with technology. See story on this page.

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Ayakwa | May/June 2011 Edition 3

340+ workers in jobsManager Lisa Cameron said it was a huge result for the community.

“So far this year alone, we’ve placed 61 Indigenous people in employment when previously you were lucky to have 20 or 30 that were successful in a year,” she said.

“Now we’re talking 340 proper jobs with employers such as GEBIE Civil and Construction, Aminjarrinja Enterprises, GEMCO and East Arnhem Shire Council.”

And she says there are still jobs for others who want to work.

Another 20 to 40 jobs are expected to become available soon on the Umbakumba Road project

– working in areas such as signage, construction and road works.

News on the training front has also been positive.

Hundreds of people had already been through construction training. “By the end of July we’re hoping to get everyone who wants one, a construction White Card,” Lisa said.

Ten men passed a Cert 1 in Plant Machinery in April. Another five passed their Cert II in Construction. The construction graduates spent mornings doing training and afternoons being assessed working for their employer, Arnhem Electrical Contractors. The men have been working on a wide variety of projects across Angurugu, including retrofitting the Job Shop building to include windows and

constructing a new building at Pole 13. With their assessments complete, they are now being signed up for Cert III, which equates to the first year of an apprenticeship.

“In their second year, they can move into their preferred field of tiling, plumbing, carpentry or whatever,” Lisa said.

But while the news from the employment agency is good, there is also a warning. People who declined jobs and training now faced cuts to their Centrelink payments, Lisa said.

“With Centrelink rules, any client that is fit and able to work has to do something in order to keep getting Centrelink money – whether that be training or work.”

GEBIE Job Shop has been praised for putting more than 340 people into jobs in the past two years.

Justin’s work day starts with a friendly chat. And then it’s time to go over the work instructions for the day.

To the untrained eye, the length of his instruction sheets is bewildering.

“But it’s pretty good and if we don’t understand it, we get help,” says Justin, who works in the mine rehabilitation crew at GEMCO.

The instructions tell him what to work on, how to handle problems, how to mix chemicals – and pretty much everything he could possibly need to know to do that day’s work safely and properly.

“Mostly I let the others check it,” he says. “I like

getting out there in my country. It’s a good job.”

Why does he work? He says he likes to be the one providing for his family – a beautiful wife and four kids – and it makes his family proud of him.

“My kids like school,” he says. “After school they might get a job. I think my kids would like it.

“It’s no good sitting around doing nothing.”

Exploring the mine and his country is one of his favourite parts of the job, he says.

“D-Quarry is my favourite – there are a lot of hipters (a type of weed) there so there is a lot to do,” he said. “I like doing my job.”

In fact, he likes it so much that he hasn’t missed a day in more than three months on the job, says his work mate, Simon Hartley.

As much as he likes it, he might try something else in future.

“All of life, you can learn more, have many experiences,” Justin says. “After this I will go to the next level – get my HR licence, be an operator.”

Simon said Justin was a great example of how quickly someone could get a job they love – all they had to do was give it a go, and then stick with it.

YirrandiyamaWarka Job Shop narrakmarnuma 340 warnamalya warkamanja. Akwa abarbuna warka nuwarmbilyama yikingendenemanja warka. Wurrukala warnungwarba nawadanguma aka narrumanguma jurra warnuguwardiyada marumurumanja truka akwala warka.

Justin Lalara is one of a whopping 340 community residents who is new on the job - and he hasn’t missed a day.

Green thumbs up for new mine rehab worker

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Households to pay for power

The proposed change will mean that GEBIE will no longer pay for household electricity – each household will pay their own.

The change was recommended by the GEBIE Board of Directors.

Richard Preece from the ALC said a working group had been established to inform the community and discuss any issues with them.

“All this will happen before any changes

are made,” Richard said. “We want people to understand that this is bringing the communities in line with almost all other Indigenous towns in Australia.

“It means people pay only for what they use and it encourages wise electricity usage.”

Darren Johnson from Power and Water said under the proposed changes families would be able to decide to use less electricity and thereby save money.

“All of the identified 203 residential houses will have meters installed so that residents can monitor their power use and we are committed to helping GEBIE with this proposed change”.

The GEBIE Board of Directors agreed that ‘normalising’ was part of the reason for the proposed change.

GEBIE is the business arm of the Anindilyakwa Land Council.

Angurugu and Umbakumba residents will be able to take charge of their own electricity costs with billing changes expected in the first half of 2012.

Garnamalya arakba yigibendenama nukurrulanga akabarrkilanga angwanda. GEBIE nara arakba ebenduma nungurrilanga akabarrkilanga angwanda.

Gebie Civil and Construction (GCC) is working with the school to offer work experience and traineeships to school students in the workshop.

But anyone else interested in a career in metal fabrication can also put their hand up for a job.

Currently Rodson Amagula, Edmond Mamarika and Lester Amagula are employed and spend their days constructing ‘crimsafe’ screens, security steel cupboards, wardrobes, shelves, louvres, general furniture and steel for houses.

“We do the work, from the fabricating right through to the spray painting,” Edmond said.

“My favourite is operating machinery.”

Meanwhile, Rodson enjoys working close to where his children go to school. His son and three daughters learn next door while he works hard to pay the bills and learn new skills.

“I l ike welding, especially working on cupboards,” he said. “I’m working towards getting my welding ticket.”

Two school-based apprentices have just signed up for new jobs after they completed work experience in March.

GCC General Manager Andy Irvine said they were using the hands on learning to understand their school work better and were enjoying working a couple of days a week, rather than being in a classroom five days a week.

“We’re here to introduce school students to

Trades for school studentsA refurbished workshop that opened next to Angurugu School earlier this year is offering exciting new work opportunities.

INSPIRATION: Rodson Amagula and Edmond Mamarika work on their welding skills, in the hopes of one day getting a full trade.

work and also give a go to those who have left school but would like to do other types of training out of school,” Andy said.

“My dream is to see a dozen of these guys working here, building projects from start to finish using skills they have learnt.”

Employees work towards a Cert II in General Construction after which they can specialise in a trade.

Site supervisor Marcus Sordelli said: “People can come in and get a basic knowledge of what we do and can pick a trade and trial it.

“It’s a great place to work because their family members can see them at work…their kids can watch and get inspired to learn and work and to create things. For school-based trainees, they

can get their school graduation and earn money learning a trade at the same time.

“It’s not like going to a training college where you build things, your work gets marked and then taken apart for the next student to build,” he said.

“Here, our workers build real things that get used in real houses. They can work knowing it will be used by others for years.”

GEBIE refurbished the old trade room at Angurugu School to current OHS standards to create the shared workspace.

Anyone interested in getting a job at the workshop should see Lyn Nash at GEBIE Construction on 8987 6213 or Maryanne Walsh at the Job Shop on 8987 6153.

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South Australia-based company, Fulton Hogan, has won the contract and hopes to complete construction of the entire 46km road by Christmas.

ALC Min ing Adv isor Ross McDonald said the new two-lane road would give community members better access to jobs, education and training, medical services and social and sporting events.

“It means people don’t have to have a 4WD and they’re not destroying their cars going to the medical centre and airport,” he said.

“People will get where they are going more comfortably and will use less fuel…there are a lot of other benefits.”

Ross said the aim was to have the road finished in one dry season and to use as many local workers and companies as possible.

“The tender was designed to ensure local Indigenous businesses were given priority for employment and providing equipment,” he said.

“Companies had to specify how they would make use of local Indigenous companies.”

People interested in working on the road with local companies, Aminjarrinja Enterprises (Umbakumba) or GEBIE Civil and Construction (GCC) (Angurugu), should contact the GEBIE Job Shop.

A white rock quarry is being set up by GCC about 6km outside of Angurugu to crush gravel to build up the road.

Ross said Traditional Owners, who are extremely

supportive of the project, have also provided free access to selected gravel pits and water resources along the length of the road.

Four bores will need to be installed along the road to supply water for the project, particularly in the dry.

An AAPA clearance has been obtained for the quarry area and along the road to ensure no significant sites are disturbed.

“It is very important that people using the road over the next 12 months are very careful around any works being done,” Ross said.

“It is likely that equipment will be working on the road 24 hours a

day.”

The sealing of the Umbakumba Road is one of the largest projects ever

undertaken on Groote and is only possible due the cooperation of the ABA, ALC, GEBIE, Traditional Owners and the Northern Territory Government.

The project budget is $20 million of which $9.5 million will come from the Australian Government’s Aboriginal Benefits Account (ABA), $5 million from GEBIE and $5.5 million from the Northern Territory Government.

Children that go to school every day get better results, is the word from Tony Wurramarrba, who heads the Anindilyakwa Education and Training Board.

“We want all children to go to school because a good education is at the heart of our economic and cultural success,” Tony said.

“Community kids with good attendance records can do just as well as children from any other part of the country.”

His encouragement comes after a report rated Angurugu School poorly based on national academic testing called NAPLAN. Poor attendance by many students was blamed.

In contrast, Milyakburra School on Bickerton Island, which has a high attendance, did much better.

And of those Angurugu students that attended

Good attendance = good resultsParents are being urged to encourage students back to school, for the sake of the whole community.

Girridarrnga akwa girringarrngwa yikamarkina nungurrulanga wurrikaiyuwa kalikajiyada schooluwa. Tony Wurramarrba “niyama yikilikajamanja girrikaiyuwa schooluwa awarnkababina yikidirrbikjainama yubuwa wurrukala wurrukaiyuwa akwalmanja angalya”.

Umbakumba Road is expected to be completely sealed by the end of the year, making the journey to and from Angurugu safer and more comfortable.

IN ACTION: Members of the Anindilyakwa Education and Training Board at its first meeting: Tony Wurramarrba (ALC), Holly Yantarrnga (Milyakburra), Elaine Mamarika (Angurugu), Nesman Bara (Umbakumba), Fran Hinton (ALC), Vickie Baylis (NT Department of Education and Training), Chris Fitzgerald (Federal Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations), Scott Perkins (Groote Eylandt Mining Company (GEMCO) and Rhonda Powell (NT Department of Health and Families).

school more than three days a week, most passed either reading, writing, numeracy, grammar or spelling in the NAPLAN tests.

“What this shows is that if you send your kid to school regularly, your kids get a good education,” Tony said.

“They can get academic results that are as good as kids on the mainland. If kids are sent to school, there is no reason why they can’t all pass some tests.”

The Anindilyakwa Education and Training Board was established following a 2009 education review that found current approaches failed the local population.

Tony said the Board’s highest priority was school attendance. It was working towards urgent reform with a greater role for Warnindilyakwa people.

New road to Umbakumba on track

READY: Locals meet with NT Department of Construction and Infrastructure staff to discuss progress on the road.

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Another 15 have been rebuilt and 30 refurbished as part of the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP).

SIHIP aims to build a total of 80 new houses across the three communities - 60 in Angurugu, 18 in Umbakumba and two in Milyakburra.

Builder, Territory Alliance is in charge of the new builds and GEBIE Civil and Construction (GCC) is doing several refurbishments and rebuilds, using the local business, Aminjarrinja Enterprises in Umbakumba and Milyakburra.

Materials for the next lot of works have been ordered and are expected to arrive in late May.

Once the materials arrive, Territory Alliance workers that temporarily left the community will return to Groote and start work on the remaining new houses at Angurugu and Umbakumba.

Work on a subdivision at Umbakumba will continue, along with the final design for an Angurugu subdivision.

Project Manager Lindsey Davison said he was pleased with progress despite the weather and

was looking forward to gearing up to deliver the remaining new houses.

“We’ve had terrible weather. The road to Umbakumba has been impassable on several occasions,” Lindsey said. “So we have been using the time to plan the next stages of work.”

Lindsey said they had been working with GCC, Aminjarrinja, GEBIE Job Shop and GEMCO to increase the number of Indigenous workers on site, as well as training more locals so they could be employed by local companies once the housing program finishes in the area.

New home building set to continueThree new houses at Angurugu, two at Umbakumba and one in Milyakburra have just been finished, bringing the total new houses to 28.

The classes are being run as part of the Schooling 3pm to 9pm program being trialled in 20 NT growth towns including Angurugu and Umbakumba.

Groote Eylandt College Director Mark Monaghan said it was about using schools after hours for activities that improved education.

“Schools are an expensive resource,” he said. “That’s why we’re looking at using the facilities after school also.”

A major focus will be adult education and activities. At Angurugu, this will start with finance and home economics plus basketball and choir lessons.

Umbakumba School is hosting classes in sewing, where the ladies are putting their new skills towards making dresses for babies.

In the future, the schools may offer language and cultural programs, and arts and craft activities, depending on community demand.

“The skills of today won’t be the skills of tomorrow, so adults really need to be continuing life-long learning,” Mark said.“Education is very helpful for building people’s inclusion, their confidence and helping them to step into other things in their lives.”

Classes in money management, cooking, basketball, choir and sewing will be offered to adults after school hours to make the most of school resources.

Money classesInterested in learning internet shopping and online banking?

Angurugu School will be working with Red Cross to offer Financial Literacy Training from May 9 as part of the Schooling 3pm to 9pm program.

Exact day and times are yet to be confirmed. Keep an eye on notices around the community.

Anyone interested in learning more about money is encouraged to go along.

Education opportunities for adults

Two lucky women who have been fortunate enough to move into a new Milyakburra house are Violet Huddleston and her niece, Vernine Wurramara.

Their three-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Milyakburra comes complete with a breezeway and verandah to take advantage of the cool, tropical air. Both ladies say their house is a vast improvement on the two-bedroom house they used to live in.

Violet, who is a full-time health worker, said the new house had more space.

“I no longer have to jump over mattresses to get to work in the morning,” Violet said.

More space was also welcomed by Vernine, who works at the local school where her children attend every day.

“There was nowhere to go in the old house,” Vernine said.

“This one has a big kitchen and is better to cook in.”

Both ladies have a special place in the house. For Violet it’s the breezeway, while Vernine’s favourite place is the verandah.

More space for Milyakburra duo

WELCOME: Violet Huddleston and her niece, Vernine Wurramara say their new house is a big improvement on the two-bedroom one they had before.

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Owners block mining companyALC chairman Tony Wurramarrba said that “miners are not welcome” on Connexion Island and Winchelsea Island which form part of the Groote Eylandt Archipelago.

“And it’s about time Groote Resources got the message,” Tony said.

Having rejected the latest land-based proposals made by Groote Resources, the Traditional Owners are now calling upon the company to completely

abandon their sea-based exploration tenements in the region.

“Groote Resources need to understand, once and for all, that Traditional Owners will fight tooth and nail,” Tony said.

“We will use all legal avenues available to us to ensure our cultural and environmental core values are not compromised.”

Tony encouarged young people to take an active

Traditional Owners have rejected applications by Perth-based mining company, Groote Resources Ltd to explore two islands near Groote.

Wurrabalija akwangburrkba-langa aka yilikamurra nara engenduma Groote Resources awadima amkwaduma alakinimanja ayangidarrba.

Indigenous video journalist Allan Clarke said the interviews with Warnindilyakwa elders came back to the issue of the Indigenous people not having rights to the sea, the way they do to land.

The program focuses on the traditional owners’ fear of sea mining and what it would do to their culture.

“Many people don’t understand the cultural connection Indigenous groups have to the sea. Because they don’t have rights over it, they don’t have a fair go at protecting it,” Allan said.

“While interviewing here, I thought overwhelmingly that the fear among the old people is very real and very scary. There is no way to actually calm that fear unless there is sea rights granted.”

The program questions whether sea mining – a relatively new concept in Australia – is worth potentially destroying a culture over.

“I don’t think the right area to start doing sea mining - almost as a test case - is on Groote, an area that’s so rich in culture and Indigenous history,” Allan said.

Anindilyakwa elder Murabuda Wurramarrba’s main message in the interviews is that Traditional Owners are opposed to anyone mining the sea.

“We will fight with whatever is required because the threat to our culture and the environment is too much,” Murabuda said.

Allan said he felt there was hope because “really strong men were taking a really strong stand” on the issue.

“It’s very tough when mining companies are making all kinds of offers, to say the issue is not negotiable.”

The fear of the older generation is that the younger people won’t be as interested in taking up the fight, the program shows.

The plea is to younger Warnindilyakwa people to get involved and help fight for sea rights.

Saving our seas: on the airThe message of saving Groote waters from sea mining has spread to the air waves as part of the SBS’s new series of Living Black.

role in joining the fight. “They will be the next leaders so they need to get involved with issues now,” he said.

This special Groote Eylandt program premiered on SBS on April 24 and will continue to show on SBS1 and SBS2

throughout May.

STRONG STAND: Allan Clarke looks at the area under threat, with local elders, Jabani Lalara and Murabuda Wurramarrba.

CULTURAL CONNECTION: Thomas Amagula explains the fight of the Warnindilyakwa people to video journalist, Allan Clarke.

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In December 2008, members of the Anindilyakwa Land Trust and ALC signed a lease covering town areas on Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island.

“The lease means that the government is managing the three communities for 40 years, with a potential for an additional 40 years,” ALC Chairman Tony Wurramarrba said.

“The agreement makes it easier for business and private development and also means that locals can now buy their own home if they want to.”

The Office of Township Leasing (OTL) has a contract to manage the lease, collect rent for payment to the traditional owners and help build

business opportunities. Executive Director Greg Roche said the OTL had now negotiated leases with most households and businesses in Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra.

“In some cases we have negotiated offers in return for work done to a building,” Greg said.

“This is to ensure the building is safe.

“We also negotiated with people occupying an unsafe building so that the building can be upgraded.”

Greg said the OTL would pay to upgrade these buildings but would take some of the rent money to cover the cost.

He said the outlook was particularly positive for local businesses.

Businesses in the communities had been quick to upgrade their facilities and expand now that leasing agreements were in place.

“With secure leases in place, several businesses have already invested in new infrastructure or upgraded their existing assets.”

Land surveys had now been finished to identify property boundaries – “these will help improve township leasing arrangements,” Greg said.

Processes were also being put in place to value each property so that people could buy their own home.

Progress in all three communities has been encouraging since a historic lease was signed in 2008.

Township leasing provides new opportunities

Creative classes for budding entrepreneuers

Fancy making your living doing something creative and practical?

Pottery will be taught as a Work for the Dole program for six months from May for between 10 and 20 women.

“Hopefully we’ll find people that want to make it work and at the end of it will start up small business enterprises,” Jobshop Manager Lisa Cameron said.

“Participants can take the new skills they have learnt and use it to make some money and help support their families.

“We’ll take some of the work to the art centre and as we start selling it, use the money to buy more material.

“We’ll also teach people the basics of running a business and how they can work from home successfully.”

The program will be held in Angurugu but is open to people from Umbakumba and Bickerton also.

“If it goes as well as we’re hoping there’s no reason we can’t set up a program for Umbakumba,” Lisa said.

The sewing project, also based in Angurugu, will follow a successful program run with 11 women in Milyakburra last year, who made curtains for all the community’s houses plus cushions and other soft furnishings.

“That project worked so well that we got the funding to run it for an extra four months,” Lisa said.

Once a secure room is found, the sewing project is ready to start.

A pottery and a sewing project will be run in the communities to teach locals skills they may be able to use to start their own businesses.

NEW START: Up to 20 women will learn pottery (top) as part of a new Work for the Dole program. Meanwhile, another dozen or so will get a chance to learn to sew (bottom) and hopefully set up a business using their new skils.

ECONOMY

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New GEBIE head brings much management experience

Greg Mitchell is a man of many passions.

As the head of GEBIE, he is working to improve health, education, economy and social outcomes for Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island.

“It will be through a focus on the Regional Partnership Agreement, community engagement and staff development,” he said.

Greg joins GEBIE with 25 years of experience in management and as a Board Director across a number of industries, including agriculture, mechanical services and

logistics. He also managed a consultancy working with the long-term unemployed over 50 years of age.

Before moving to Groote, he spent four years in State and Federal Governments including as Director of the Indigenous Coordination Centre in Mount Isa and spent 18 months living and working in the remote Indigenous community of Doomadgee (in outback Queensland) as the Government Business Manager.

The family man has two beautiful grown-up daughters living in Mount Isa and Brisbane and a two-year-old grandson.

When not hard at work, GEBIE’s new General Manager enjoys restoring old Holdens, riding motor bikes, powering on jet skis and keeping fit with a nightly run.

The Angurugu man, better known as “Ronnie”, always knew he’d go back to operating machinery for a job.

Instead he’s going back to his first passion – monster trucks – which he operated for GEMCO in the 1980s.

With new technology, a lot has changed in the way things are done at the mining company but Ronnie is not daunted by the flashing lights, colourful screens and multiple levers of 21st century mining trucks.

With his new HR licence in hand, his days now are

spent learning the intricacies of operating the big machines.

“I like working on trucks,” he says. “I think I’ll be here for a long time. I’m back on track to going where I want to go.”

Once he’s passed his tests and proven himself on the mine roads and tracks, he wants to train others among his people to use the machines.

“I want to help Indigenous people. I want to help other people to learn,” he says.

“I ask more people to work – they will get money, cars, stuff for their kids. If you want a job, ask

me first, I will ask the bosses.” He says staying at home is “no good for me” and says it feels good to be busy.

Training coordinator Mark Gage says Ronnie’s attendance and his skills were inspirational.

“Once he’s settled in here, he will be mentoring the guys that come after him,” Mark says. “We don’t give these things away – you have to work for them and Ronnie has worked hard. When he is underway, we’ll bring the next person in and give them the same opportunity. Hopefully they will go for it, just like Ronnie is doing.”

Back on truck

In a colourful career with GEMCO, Ronald Mirniyowan has worked in the mobile workshop, on the concentrator, the fixed plant and in the rehabilitation crew. But he’s not stopping now.

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SOMETHING DIFFERENT: Kerstina Mamarika hoses the concentrator floors, with the help of Sylvia Tkac and Milva Marocchini (right).

Supervisor Paul Livaken said: “the door was open for workers to give other mine jobs and departments a try.”

The spillage crew cleans spills from the concentrator, helps dry out sumps, monitors debris and does general cleaning.

“Our main focus is to give good housekeeping to make sure everything is safe and excess dirt and waste is removed,” Paul said.

The spillage crew is a stepping stone for many who want to work on the concentrator.

“If these women decide to stay, they can look

down the road for different employment and other opportunities,” Paul said. “We’re trying to encourage workers to come on board for the long term. If the spillage crew is where they are headed, it’s not where they need to stop.”

When Ayakwa spoke to Kerstina Mamarika, Sylvia Tkac and Milva Marocchini they had only been on the new job for a few hours.

“We really like working in rehabilitiaton,” Milva said. “We just wanted to try something different.”

Kerstina said it was too early to decide for sure but the rehabilitation work was so far still her favourite.

“I feel closer to the country when I am collecting seeds and weed spraying. It’s better than staying home.”

Sylvia acts as a bit of a mentor to the younger Indigenous workers that come through the GEMCO ranks.

“I hope I can help make them feel comfortable, make them feel at home,” she says.

“I’m not a leader. I’m just a person that likes working outdoors. The rehab team is good because we learn the ‘Balanda’ way of doing and saying things and the Indigenous way.”

Girls experience life on spillage crewThree mine rehabilitation workers were curious about what it would be like to work on the concentrator. So in April they started doing work experience in the spillage crew two days a week.

Angurugu residents took a tour of GEBIE Civil and Construction (GCC) work sites to see the fruits of hard work being done by staff and contractors. GCC General Manager Andy Irvine said they had the chance to look at various types of new buildings and refurbishments that the company had completed or were working on.

Anyone interested in joining a tour in future should put their name down at the GCC office.

Residents tour building sites

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GEBIE provides free help for people who have business ideas and want to go into business for themselves.

Nicole Prudames from GEBIE is currently working hard to try to get a workshop by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) on Groote.

Indigenous people who have business ideas they want to turn into reality are attending the workshops around the country.

Nicole said the workshops helped people right from thinking about the idea through to planning, starting up and then running the business.

“We can help develop business ideas, help

people thinking about what is a hobby and what is a business and how to get from one to the next,” Nicole said.

“An important part is to do the research, do a survey and understand local people and what they want and need.”

She said people had some great ideas for new businesses but it was a good idea to get help in starting out.

Nicole said at the workshops, participants would work with a business specialist to learn how to research their idea and learn what is required to manage a business on a day-to-day basis.

Following successful completion of the workshop series, participants may be eligible for one-on-one time with a business consultant (funded by IBA) who will help them take the next step towards building an income generating business.

“It would be great to have the IBA workshops available for people on the island but if we don’t manage to get them here, people can still get help,” Nicole said.

“We also help people who are already in business to think about how they can grow.

“These people would be the local champions in business to set an example for other people who want to start out.”

Getting Indigenous Australians into businessLocal Indigenous people have created businesses out of things they are passionate about and GEBIE is helping to ensure businesses are successful.

The four men are joining the other six Green Ants that work around the region but will continue to work as a seperate crew in Angurugu.

To celebrate the occasion, GEBIE gave the new Green Ants – Gregory Mamarika, Wesley Yantarrnga, Vernon Wurrawilya and Shane Lalara – some new equipment to make the job that bit easier.

“We do things like mowing, whipper snippering, brush cutting and taking green waste to the dump,” Gregory said.

“We like to help other people and also to show other people from other places that our town can look good.”

Steve Costello from the Job Shop, said the men were on the job every day.

“These guys tick along so well, it’s amazing to see,” he said. “We only have four places but could put 30 on if we had the opportunity, there are so many people wanting their jobs.

“Angurugu households can have their gardens maintained on the sole condition that they clean the yards beforehand and keep them clean,” Steve said.

Fire ants join forces with the GreensThe Greens Ants have grown thanks to the Angurugu-based Fire Ants becoming part of their hard working team.

Did you know?The Green Ants name comes from the GEBIE emblem, which was chosen because the green ant is a social creature and a hard worker.

The Green Ant yimurralya is used as bush medicine.

The nest is taken from the tree, rubbed together and then placed in a bucket of water for only a short time. The water is strained into a clean bowl and this green ant medicine is drunk if you have the flu.

The Green Ant belongs to the Wurramarrba, Bara Bara and Durila clans.

AMAZING WORKERS: Gregory Mamarika and Shane Lalara show off some of their new equipment.

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New life for old bathroom

Hearing equipment for kidsEar equipment has been delivered on Eylandt to help reduce the rate of hearing loss among Aboriginal children.

Indigenous Health Minister Warren Snowdon said hearing problems affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people at a higher rate than non-Indigenous Australians.

“Aboriginal…children are thought to have the highest prevalence of chronic middle ear infection in the world,” Warren said.

Some studies suggest that more than 10 per cent of Indigenous children aged 0 to14 years have ear or hearing problems, compared with just three per cent of non Indigenous children of the same age.

“This is a serious problem as hearing problems in early life can have impact on language acquisition and performance at school,” Warren said.

The specialised ear equipment includes otoscopes and tympanometers.

New MJD community worker

Many of Joyce’s family members are affected by Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) and Joyce is very committed to working to help support people with MJD on Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island.

Joyce will work closely with Gayangwa Lalara and Simone McGrath.

As part of her job, she will translate research and medical concepts for families, visit families with MJD, help with the hydrotherapy program,

work with researchers and provide cultural advice to other MJD staff.

“It is great to have Joyce onboard,” Simone said. “She is brilliant and always makes herself available to help me. Without people like Joyce and Gayangwa, we would not be able to do our work.”

No doubt Groote Eylandters will see Joyce travelling around with Simone in the MJD troupe carrier.

The newest member of the MJD Foundation team is community worker, Joyce Lalara.

“This sends a powerful message of how a relatively small amount of money can have a huge impact on people’s lives,” Nadia Lindop said from the MJD Foundation said.

“Last year our employees struggled to carry a client up aircraft stairs in torrential rain, so she could visit Queensland for a respite trip.

“Now no-one travelling to and from Groote has to go through that kind of indignity again.”

ALC Chairperson Tony Wurramarrba said: “For Warnindilyakwa people with MJD, many of which are my own family, this project is so important.

“Someone in a wheelchair will still need help getting on and off a plane, but they don’t have to feel ashamed.

“We would like to see these lifts in

every remote Arnhem Land community where people live with a disability. We are proud to be the first ones here on Groote Eylandt.”

Another person who is thrilled to finally have the lift is MJD Foundation Vice Chairperson, Gayangwa Lalara.

“I am happy that this lift is here,” she said. “It was so hard to help my niece or sister on and off the plane before.”

The project was supported by: the Federal Government; Tasmanian manufacturers, Airport Maintenance Services who installed the lifts and trained aviation staff; Perkins Shipping who convinced Toll Group and NXQ Shipping to freight the two large lifts to Darwin and Groote; Gilbert + Tobin for drafting the necessary contracts; and Keren Shanley’s family for donating the aisle wheelchairs.

Aircraft lift gives dignity back to wheelchair usersThe purchase of an aircraft wheelchair lift has been a priority to help improve life for MJD sufferers and their families in Arnhem Land.

DIGNITY: People in wheelchairs such as Roseanna Miniyowan will still need help getting on a plane, but should no longer feel ashamed.

Health checks for studentsSchool children have begun to receive regular health checks by professionals. Umbakumba and Angurugu health clinics are working with the local schools to do the weekly checks during school hours.

Public Health Officer Norma Ellis said they were checking things such as height, weight, body mass index, oral health, vision and more.

“It’s all about having fun and making sure they know that being healthy and getting regular check-ups is important,” Norma said. “We want healthy kids running around because they’re our next generation of leaders.

“If little children are going to school and they can’t see or they can’t hear properly, it has a big impact not only on learning but also on social aspects.”

The clinics are also running regular healthy lifestyle programs at the schools.

HEALTH

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Dental teams bring prevention programs

The first dental team spent three weeks seeing patients in April.

Dr Thien-Nhien Nguyen from Sydney was assisted by Kahlia Evans from the Gold Coast.

GEBIE is paying the dental staff and providing the clinic facilities, and GEMCO is providing accommodation for the dental teams.

Oral Health Services NT (OHSNT) will do their usual monthly visits in the other months.

Coordinator Sandra Meihubers said the dental team would work in the Angurugu clinic from Monday to Thursday, where all

Aboriginal people could access free dental care.

On Fridays they would offer a private dental service at the Alyangula dental clinic where the fees would go into the dental program funds.

“While it is difficult to get dental services in remote communities, we hope this program will attract more dental staff in the future, and we look forward to providing much needed dental care and working closely with (existing) staff to develop more dental prevention programs,” Sandra said.

A dental team will spend four weeks on Groote every second or third month as part of the Anindilyakwa Oral Health Program.

Mungkadinamanja Flexible Aged Care Centre will operate 24 hours a day, five days a week, two weeks per month from May 16.

It’s just a three months trial to start with, says centre manager Margaret Allgood. “But we hope it won’t be long until we can take people in overnight, seven days a week.”

Gulidja Durilla is an Angurugu resident who will become one of the first to stay at the centre overnight.

Gulidja started out at as a helper and has now been a client for many years, enjoying the professional care in her aging years.

“I like it here, I like the food,” Gulidja says.

Some of the service’s existing Bickerton clients will also travel to Angurugu for five days at a time to take advantage of the centre’s intensive overnight care.

Margaret says many people worked together to make this dream happen.

“It’s been a long process to achieve this – a lot of people have done a lot of hard work.”

The centre looks after high care and low care clients including those with Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) offering respite and personal care, social outings and meals on wheels.

A dream will come true for many when a service for the elderly and those with disabilities goes residential.

Centre to provide overnight care

RESIDENTIAL: Gulidja Durilla (front) will be one of the centre’s first clients to receive overnight care. Others such as Charyllynee Wurramarrba (rear) will continue to use the service during the day.

The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has issued advice to parents about the viral infection known as “hand-foot-and-mouth disease” that is currently circulating in children in Territory centres.

“Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is usually a mild illness that lasts about a week and typically starts with fatigue, poor appetite, sore throat and a mild fever,” Director Dr Vicki Krause said.

Parents with concerns about this illness should speak with a doctor or read the fact sheet available from the Centre for Disease Control link at www.health.nt.gov.au

Protect against hand-foot-and-mouth disease: Centre

Hearing equipment for kids

PREVENTION: Dental assistant Kahlia Evans and dentist, Dr Thien-Nhien Nguyen look after community teeth.

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ART & CULTURE: STORY

By Gula Lalara

Long ago we lit a fire to burn off the bush (to flush out animals). I saw a cat. We lit the fire. A big southeast wind was blowing. We lit it. I was carrying a tomahawk, and I was standing beside a river. The fire got really big. It burnt towards us. I was looking for bandicoots and blue-tongued lizards. There were a lot of us men (all looking for animals).

After a while maybe the mother cat saw the fire or smelt it maybe. It ran from the bush.

I was standing beside the river. I heard the grass crackling now. It kept on crackling towards us. “It’s a bandicoot,” I thought mistakenly. I watched (expecting a bandicoot) but it jumped, it ran towards us. It was a big cat, a wild cat.

It ran and ran. There was a paperbark that had fallen down, and was lying across the river. Maybe it was the cat’s path. It ran, it crossed over the creek along the paperbark until it reached the other side. It ran fast, it ran further away, I thought it was going to keep on going, but no. Pounce! It grabbed a kitten by its neck. It ran. It didn’t run slowly, it ran fast. It ran and ran and ran. It crossed over the river along the paperbark. Then it put the kitten down beside the creek on the sand.

It went back again, it ran off. It kept on running, then it grabbed another. It came back along the same way, and put the kitten down in the same place.

It kept going back, it ran off. It kept running to take another. It didn’t look around very far, it was coming straight back. The kitten was lying sideways in the mother’s mouth. It came back, and put the kitten down. That was three now.

It ran off again. It kept on running. It went back and took another. It came back along the same way. It put the kitten down. That was four.

The fire was coming closer. Here was the mother. And no, it didn’t run slowly, it ran very quickly, it kept on hurrying, until pounce! It grabbed another. I didn’t see it take that one, I just kept watching, because it was going so fast. It came back, and crossed over the creek along the same paperbark. And that was it, it put the kitten down on the sand. It gathered the kittens together, and looked after them.

The fire came towards us, without stopping. It crackled loudly. And I said, “That’s all, five babies,” I said. “Now the mother has stopped.” The fire burned on, there was a lot of smoke but it didn’t get to us. It stopped at the creek.

As for those kittens and their mother, the kittens were sleeping together, their mother was sitting, sitting up watching the fire. I felt sorry for her. Maybe the mother had been hunting a long way for meat, looking for something for her babies. But she didn’t get anything because of the fire, or maybe she had eaten and killed something, maybe she hadn’t, maybe she was hungry, she had been hurrying so much.

Then I told some other men, not our men, others in Darwin, about the cat I had seen.

That’s all.

This story is one of a set of stories and songs available on CD from Groote Eylandt Linguistics. Checked by Dugururru Lalara and Elizabeth Caldwell.

Mother cat Dubujikeda-langwa

Yarne ka a...rakba-wiya, yirrikalarukwa ena angwura. Ena bujikeda ningirr ingkama. Yirrikalarukwa ene ka angwura. Madirrungwarne ka mamarika numangkarrina. Yirrikalarukwa ena. Ninguwilyaka ebina bangkilya, akwa ningarjiyinga adalyuma-manja akwiyakbidjina. Ngalaje ka angwura adirrungwarne ka nuwarumbinadina. Nekalar id ina err ibaba. Ningandayuma yirukwujilangwa wa iya yimarndakuwaba wa ningakina da. Yirrababurne ka yirruwa, yarnungkwarba.

Bi...ya ngalaja akina arndarringba narringka dukwa angwura ebina akwa nengbaja dukwa. Nuwangkarre ka erriberriba-langwa.

Ngayuwa ningikuwarjaya akwiyakbidj ina ningena da. Ningengkirrika arakba nuwakar.danguma amarda. Erribabe ka nuwakadange ka eningangkawura. “Yirukwujilangwa bu!” ningiyama da. Ningandaya akena ngalaja nengbijangina, erribaba nuwangkarrina. Ena aruma bujikeda, arukwunungwenimbaluba akina.

Nuwangkarra, nuwangkarra. Muwilyaba mamarra numilingakuwarbarrinuma makina, numikilyangbadingama adalyuma-manja. Dukwa makina ngala-langwa mamurukwa-baba da. Nuwangkarra, mibina-langwiya mamarra neyakuwarrukwa ebinu...wa, ayakuwarra. Nalyibayija, nuwangkarre-ka erribaja bu...wa, nare ka amiyerra bu. Jangkawu! Akwa yingumamirrkalyubalya memirrma aburradikba-manja. Nuwangkarra. Nara ambaka-langwa kuwangkarrina, yeya-murra-wiya nuwangkarrina. Nuwangkarra, nuwangkarra, nuwangkarra. Neyakuwarrukwa ebina adalyuma mibina-langwiya mamarra. Bi...ya nuwakumarna adalyuma-manja akwiyakbidjina mamudangkwa-manja.

Ngarningka nalawurrada nuwangkarra. Nuwangkar ru . . .wa, engka nar ndar rka . N a l aw u r ra d a e b i n a - l a n g w i ya n gawa , nuwakumarna ebina-manja angalya.

N a l a w u l a w u r r a d a , n u w a n g k a r r a . Nuwangkidikarrinu...wa, namanga. Nare ka amiyerra bu kuwandaya, abukwaya

narrakburrakbiyuwiyidina. Narukwilyangbada ebina angariya. Nalawurradina akina ngawa, biya ebina nuwakumarna. Abiyakarbiya arakba.

Ngarningka nuwangkarra. Nuwangkarru...wa. Nalawurrada, biya namanga. Nalawurradina ebina-langwiya ngawa. Nuwakumarna. Abiyarbuwa.

Ngalaja angwura abukwaya nuwakwudangwudinu da. Ene ka arndadikba. Bi...ya nare ka, ambaka-langwa nara kuwangkidikarrina akina, nalyibinu-murruwiye ka eyija akina ngawa nuwangkarra, nuwenjirrikaja ngawa, bi...ya jangkawu! Narndarrka. Ningungwarndirranga namanguma ak ina, b iya yanda ngawa ningandayuma ningakina, nuwekekirrarjinuma warenja-bawiya-baba. Nalawurradinu...wa, ebina neyakuwarrukwa mamarra. Akwa ngawa nuwakuma mamudangkwa-manja. Biya nuwarrumurndukwe ka amurndakakina eyukwayuwa, nuwakwurrajuwa abuburrada da.

Ngalaje ka angwura erribaba, bi...ya nare ka, nuwakadange ka. Bi...ya ningiyama, “Ena bu ngawa amangbala bu abuburrada,” ningiyama. “Kambirra nuwerriminja,” ningiyama nganja. Ebina angwura nuwangkarrine ka, angwarre ka ena, bi...ya nare ka. Biya ebina-manja adalyuma ngawa nuwerriminjuma akina angwura da.

Ngalaja ebina eyukwayuwa akwa dirndarringba, namungkwulijayinuma ebina eyukwayuwa, ngalaja dirndarringba yingangmakwulaluma yinginyakarjayuma yingirringka-ma angwura wa dakina. Ngayuwe ka ningerrukwulinume ka. Akena dirndarringba dukwe ka awilyikerra y ingungur r kwena-ma akwa lyu wa da , narringaminaburangka-ma wurrabuburrada da. Akena akina angwura-baba akwa dukwa yingayijina, yinguwardanga, dukwa nara da, murumuraya dukwa da, yingenjirrikajuma ngawa da.

Enena kamba ningarramaka-ma wurrukwala warnungkwarba da, nara ngakwurruwa-murra, wurruminaruma angalya Darwin, akina bujikeda ningirringka-ma.

Akina bu ngawa da.

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In 2008 Kevin Rudd and Brendan Nelson gave two very different apology speeches to the Stolen Generations. Rudd alluded to racism, eugenics and the immorality of past policies. Nelson spoke of benign intentions, goodness and the hurt felt by those accused of wrong doings. Both cannot be true - or could they?

This book challenges how we judge the past and asks what exactly it was that the Australian nation said sorry for. It is a fresh contribution to white Australia’s perennial search for national identity - an identity we need to now assert against the darker facts of our history on this

great continent we all call home.

Ayakwa has three copies of The Protectors to giveaway. To enter, just fill in the form below and drop it into the box at the ALC or the Job Shop or mail to: ALC, BOOK GIVEAWAY, PO Box 172, Alyangula NT 0885.

ART & CULTURE

They’re weaving them into works of art and more practical pieces like cushions and baskets.

Art instructor Aly De Grootes was on the island in March to help dozens of women and girls start weaving using these “ghost nets” and help protect the environment.

Roseanne Rankin, 12, says they also learned that ghost nets hurt wildlife.

“They kill turtles and crocodiles and other animals because they get stuck in them,” Roseanne said.

Jeanna Wurrmai, 10 says some of the nets were very big – like the size of a house. “If something gets stuck in there, it can’t get out,” she said.

Aly said the weaving project was a great way to raise awareness of the harm that old fishing nets do to the environment.

The contemporary basket making techniques used are based on the same principles as Indigenous basket weaving, she said.

For more information on ghost nets see Land and Sea page 20.

Women weave ghost messageArtists and weavers have found a novel way of using the discarded fishing nets that wash up onto Groote beaches, trapping and killing turtles and other marine life.

A painting by Anindilyakwa traditional owner, Alfred Lalara, has been entered into the prestigious 28th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award.

Alfred is a talented contemporary and traditional artist and one of few that still paint traditional line art.

The biggest winner in the awards will take home $40,000 the winner of each of the following categories wins $4000: Telstra General Painting Award; Telstra Bark Painting Award; Telstra Work on Paper Award; Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award; and the Telstra New Media Award

The award exhibition opens, and award presentations will be made, on Thursday, August 11.

Local artist vies for national award

A journey through whitefella past

This book is a very personal search to understand the men who were the protectors of Aboriginal people in Australia’s north - their moral ambiguities, their good intentions and the devastating consequences of their decisions.

WIN!

The Protectors Book Giveaway

Name:......................................................................

Address:...................................................................

....................................................................Drop the completed form into the box at the Anindilyakwa Land Council or the Job Shop or mail to: ALC, BOOK GIVEAWAY, PO Box 172, Alyangula NT 0885.

AWARENESS: Roseanne Rankin (above) learns about weaving and Jeanna Wurrmai (left) shows off her small basket.

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CMYK SPOT A


EDUCATION & YOUTH

Arts program keeps culture alive

They will use materials and methods traditional to the Groote Eylandt area in activities such as bark painting, carving, weaving, jewellery making and cultural learning.

The Anindilyakwa Arts Centre is taking the new program to Angurugu from April until June, to Umbakumba and Milyakburra from July until September and to Alyangula in October.

Arts coordinator Vianetta Chapman said it was to help keep local culture alive for generations to come.

“Research shows that culture and connection to culture empowers people’s sense of self and helps in a healing process,” she said.

Local elder, Murabuda Wurramarrba spoke to Angurugu children about where they belong in one of the program’s first sessions.

“Every child should have the right to grow up in their own culture and learn about their culture and where they have come from,” Murabuda said. “Here, everybody should know about their moieties and which totems belong to their clan.

“It’s important that kids learn it and respect it. If you can’t live and practise culture then you’re dead inside,” Murabuda said. “Aboriginal people need to connect with their country to get spiritual, physical and emotional balance in life.”

About 10 local artists will be involved in the program and there are plans to hold a festival at the end of it to display students’ art work.

The project is funded by an Artist-in-Residency Grant from the NT Government and was co-developed by Angurugu teachers.

Middle-school students are going back to their roots in an arts and culture program being taught this year.

LEARNING: Ivan Thompson plays the wooden sticks with Alex Bara watching (top left). Junior Roberts (bottom left) practises his rhythm skills. Murabuda Wurramarrba impresses students on the didgeridoo (above).

Gove nutritionist, Hiromi Johnson, brought the Vegie Man to Groote Eylandt to help promote “2 Fruits and 5 Veg” in the schools.

Her visit was organised with the help of GEMYDU.

Students had a great time creating faces from fresh fruit and vegetables – and best of all, they got to eat the faces.

A group of students from Angurugu’s sister school in Brighton, Victoria spent a week on the island.

Angurugu teacher Sonia Svirak said they went ‘out bush’, visited restaurants, had sleep overs and played sport while establishing firm relationships with the students from Groote Eylandt.

Other highlights were a bush tucker tour, swimming at Naked Pools, a visit to Umbakumba School and a flight to Milyakburra.

Thomas Amagula from the ALC gave the girls a cross cultural induction, in which they learnt differences and similarities between the two cultures.

Sonia said: “Angurugu girls chosen for good attendance and excellent behaviour will visit Firbank later in the year.”

Cross cultural exchange with Victorian girls

EXCHANGE: Angurugu girls enjoy a trip to Naked Pools with their new Victorian friends.

Vegie man visits

Girls from Angurugu took their Firbank Grammar School friends on a series of outings in April.

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EDUCATION & YOUTH

Students on the job

Teacher Kerry Peacock said it was a fantastic week.

“All the students were enthusiastic and had an enjoyable time,” Kerry said.

Jethro Marawili was placed in a job with the Shire works department, working with other young men whipper snippering and helping maintain the Umbakumba community.

Belinda Mamarika and Antonia Ja-ragba learnt all about the daily de-mands and running of the busy Shire office and spent some time behind the scenes at the aged care facility.

Nora Wigness and Trevina Herbert spent a busy week in the Mikbamurra Shop, while Mervin Ngalmi had an ad-venturous week with the Rangers.

Amethea Mamarika and Katelynn Bara saw a different side to school during their placements.

Amethea experienced work as a

teaching assistant in the grade three, four and five classroom.

Meanwhile, Katelyn learnt how much work goes into feeding all the students out of the school’s very busy kitchen.

Kerry said senior students do regular work experience during school time to help them begin to think about a pos-sible career.

“Work experience can help a young person decide if a work area is likely to be what they want to do later,” she said.

“It also develops skills in communi-cation and team working.

“Sometimes students are even of-fered paid work because they have impressed an employer during work experience.”

Work experience is undertaken by se-nior students at schools across the re-gion, including Angurugu.

Umbakumba senior secondary students learnt real skills on the job while doing work experience in March.

Five youths aged 12 to15 from Angurugu and four men in their early 20’s from

Umbakumba joined mentors for three days of activities such as hunting and

fishing, plus lots of information talks about sexual health and the bad effects

of ‘gunja’ and smoking.

Groote Eylandt AFL Manager Ian Brown went along and said the men and boys

took the chance to spend one-on-one time with adults, talking about things.

GEMYDU hopes to run one camp for girls and one for boys each term.

Camps a chance to ‘get away’A camp on the isolated North East Island was a great opportunity for young Angurugu and Umbakumba men to get away from everyday life and get a new perspective.

ADVENTURE: Mervin Ngalmi (top) enjoys an adventurous week out and about with local rangers.

BUSY: Nora Wigness (left) learns new skills on work experience at the Mikbamurra Shop.

Lots of innovations are happening in the Milyakburra School Nursery this year.

One of them is using recycled newspaper to make pots for their new Fox Tail palms.

Students are working hard at getting 150 of the palms ready for sale.

They seeded them last year and now primary and middle year students have been busy transplanting them into bigger pots.

“When we sell the fox tails to the community, it will make our town look very beautiful,” student Patricia Lalara said.

Schoolmate Vanessa Watt has a business mind about the entrepreneurial project.

“We will make lots of money when the plants

grow bigger because we will sell them to people in the community,” she said.

Students have also been preparing the garden beds for the 2011 market garden produce - preparing soil, planting seeds and looking after seedlings.

At the end of term one, the community was invited to participate in various gardening projects.

Principal Kirsten Morey said the school was also preparing to run a garden night where students invite their families and share their new gardening skills.

“This is an authentic enterprise learning situation for the students and will improve health and wellbeing in the community,” Kirsten said. “It’s a win-win.”

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EDUCATION & YOUTH

Ruby Omeenyo and her husband, Cornelius have been providing activities for children and youth at Malkala with the support of youth organisation, GEMYDU.

Malkala is a small community located between Alyangula and Angurugu, home to 25 children and young people aged 0-25.

The outstation has a full time teacher, Simone de Smit and an assistant, Avril. They are working hard on students’ English skills, reading Henny Penny and doing a lot of maths.

Thriving Malkala community

Milyakburra students Esmerelda Wurramara and Maxzelda Mamarika fly from Bickerton Island to Groote each week to attend Alyangula Area School for two days.“We like Alyangula School— we have made lots of friends,” Maxzelda said.

Esmerelda said: “Alyangula School helps us learn English, I like science and we are happy at the school.”

Principal Kirsten Morey said the experience was preparing them for mainstream education.

“Alyangula provides an environment where students have greater exposure to English and opportunities for cross cultural learning.”

Flying to school

Recycling in school garden

INNOVATION: Keranson Wurramara, Holly Yangtarrnga and Letasha Lalara work hard to get some palms ready for sale.

Students are learning to run a business and M i l y a k b u r r a is becoming al l the more beautiful for it.

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LAND & SEA

Enena ayakwa wurr inmininkulangwa wurraj i ja, wurruwarda akwa wurrubujigeda. Gemba ngagurruwa akamarr irrukayj inama ngagurrulangwa Rangers garrangwanjajiniyada wurrukala wurrajija, wurruwarda, wurrubujigeda alikamiyada enenuwa ayangidawba.

PROTECTION: Ranger Ray Roberts and volunteer vet, Linda Bradbury, sterilise a pet cat in a bid to help reduce problems in the community.

Ranger Elma Yantarrnga said many people didn’t realise how much harm a little “pet” could do.

“This island is virtually pest free aside from cats, we’ve got no buf-falo, no cane toads, no pigs,” she said. “But it only takes someone to bring something onto the island for big problems to start.”

She urged carers also to watch that children didn’t bring animals ashore.

Ranger Kristyne Love said domestic animals were pests because they threatened native wildlife by spreading disease, competing for food and shelter or preying on them.

“They are also bad for the landscape and waterways because they damage or destroy native vegetation and pollute waterways,” she said.

“For example pigs root things up which causes weed issues. Cats predate on small mammals.

“The cost of managing and controlling pest animals is expensive and the more help we get from the community, the more we can spend this money on better programs.”

Ranger Gavin Enever said introducing an animal or plant damaged the structure of the environment.

“We have the most intact biodiversity in the NT,” he said.

“We have very few invasive plants and animals. You’ve just got to look at this island for a reflection of what the NT was like 400 years ago. That needs to be protected.”

Feral animal warningReports of domestic and feral animals being brought on Eylandt by charter planes and boats have sparked new warnings from local rangers.

GPS tracking for endangered quollAnindilyakwa rangers are working with the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology on what is the first major research project on the small marsupial.

ALC Ranger Gavin Enever said while the quoll was at almost plague proportions on Groote, it had been substantially reduced on the mainland and was now classed as critically endangered.

“They are endangered as a result of cane toads and competition with other feral animals, habitat loss and direct conflict with humans,” he said.

“But the research work on Groote will hopefully help protect the species on the mainland.”

Ten quolls were fitted with GPS tracking devices in March to help rangers see how they moved about the island.

“Once we had the quolls trapped within the cage traps, they were fitted with collars to track their movements using a combination of GPS and VFH radio tracking,” Gavin said.

Scientists are returning to the Eylandt from May 24 until June 7 with 10 new collars and to microchip a further 50.

Research on the quolls will involve cage trapping, remote infrared cameras, hair funnel analysis, scat collection, soil plot analysis, animal footprint tracks and sighting information collected throughout the community education program.

A new research project will help protect the endangered northern quoll.

TRACKING: Scientists are returning to the Eylandt from May 24 with 10 new collars and to microchip a further 50 northern quolls.

The East Arnhem Shire vet went house to house in Angurugu mid-April to desex and treat many dogs and cats.

Emma said with the help of volunteers, Dr Linda Bradbury and vet student Anna Sri, and ALC Rangers, the week was a huge success.

“Desexing operations stop animals from breeding, which results in a smaller population of dogs and cats that are easier to manage, healthier to live amongst, cheaper to feed, safer

in the community, and cause less humbug,” she said.

“Treatments to kill and prevent worms, scabies mange, ticks and fleas is also very important to ensure pets stay healthy, and don’t transfer sickness onto people.”

During the week, 35 dogs and 33 cats were desexed, 105 parasite treatments were given, plus 35 cats and 31 dogs had other treatments.

The next visit will be in the next few months to treat those pets that missed out.

Vet desexes dogs and catsHaving healthy, happy, desexed pets helps to make a happy, healthy community. That’s the word from vet, Dr Emma Kennedy.

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LAND & SEA

Ghosts arrive with the tides

Every year, hundreds of discarded nets, some several ki lometres long, find their way into the gulf and onto local beaches. They threaten marine life such as dolphins, whales, sharks and, most tragically, endanger marine turtles that live and breed in these waters.

The Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers work with Ghost Nets Australia to find and remove the discarded nets that drift down from south east Asian fishing operations.

The rangers spend several days each month trekking the island in search of nets.

Ranger Kristyne Love said the nets get stuck in an endless rinse cycle of currents that carry them in a clockwise direction around the gulf.

“Even when they have washed ashore, ghost nets often wash back into the sea during a storm and threaten more marine creatures,” she said.

“One day the male rangers rescued two turtles, a hawksbill and a flatback,” she said. “But on the worst day, they found three turtles in the one net, all dead.”

Anyone who finds a ghost net on the beach should take it to the tip or call the rangers.

“While it’s on that beach, it’s a danger to animals,” ranger Elma Yantarrnga said.

Aboriginal traditional owners in North Arnhem Land first raised concern about ghost nets and in 2004, the Anindilyakwa rangers were one of the first ranger groups to start work with Ghost Nets Australia.

Local rangers have worked hard to help remove more than 5000 ‘ghost nets’ from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the past three years but they say the work is ongoing.

DEADLY: Ghost nets often wash back into the sea during a storm and threaten more marine creatures.

Did you know?• The fishing industry is being encouraged to employ techniques to reduce by-catch eg fitting

trawl nets with devices that help turtles escape.

• Fishing line takes over 600 years to break down in the ocean. Glass takes one million years and orange peel takes an incredible 30 years.

• Less than 10% of ghost nets found on Australian shores have been attributed to Australian fisheries.

• Nearly all (90%) of the marine debris entering the coastal regions of northern Australia is of a fishing nature and originates from all parts of South East Asia.

• Most nets arrive during the monsoonal season from November to March but on the western shores of the Gulf of Carpentaria the nets get swept in during the south east trade winds mainly between May - September.

SECOND CHANCE: Local rangers work hard to save what animals they can and were glad to help this turtle (left) swim away. Rangers spend several days each month collecting, identifying and removing nets from beaches (right).

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LAND & SEA

Xavier Hoenner has been tracking the turtles with the help of Anindilyakwa rangers for three years.

They have found that the turtles aren’t migrating far from the Groote area.

“We wanted to find out whether they were going to Indonesia where they could be caught by fishermen,” Xavier said. “But they don’t seem to go a long way away.”

This means it may be easier to manage the dwindling turtle population.

“If we can find out more about how they nest and how they migrate, we can help to preserve their habitats,” Xavier said.

“It makes it easier if you don’t have to deal with people internationally.”

Hawksbill turtles were once hunted worldwide for their colourful shells to make jewellery causing a dramatic decline in numbers.

Xavier plans to return to the area in August for another week of tracking with local rangers.

Ranger Gavin Enever said in the past two years they attached satellite transmitters to turtles and tagged about 80 per cent of the population.

“Now we’re getting recurrent resting data,” Gavin said. “The tracking was originally to better understand their ecology.

“Now we can pick up recurrent data. We can answer questions such as: ‘Are they coming back to the same beaches?’ ‘Are they coming back to the same islands.’”

In a world-first, the team also recorded dive profiles

of turtles.

“Without dive profiles, we wouldn’t have been

able to see what habitats they are moving in.

Now if we see they’ve gone south and have been

at about eight to 10 feet deep, we know that they

are sitting on the seagrass,” Gavin said.

Xavier will analyse the data from the last three years

and publish results of the research, which is the first

of hawksbills in the NT.

The outcomes will be used to provide data to help

conserve hawksbill turtle habitats in the NT and to

educate children in local schools.

Research to protect endangered turtle

Search and Rescue aircrafts, helicopters and boats were used to help locate the man, who was rescued south-east of Groote Eylandt in April.

Senior Sergeant Peter Schiller said the man was in good health and glad to be back on land. “He did the right thing by letting someone know of his plans before heading out onto the water,” Snr Sgt Schiller said. “The marine environment in the NT can be very unpredictable…which is why it is crucial to inform someone where you are

headed and when you expect to return.

“Make sure you carry the correct safety gear, carry plenty of water and sufficient food, and have a good communications plan. “When people do the right thing and run into trouble, they have a better chance of being safely recovered in a short period of time.”

Boaters are also encouraged to use the free packs they have been given by ALC rangers, which include an ephirb, flares and other items to make their time on the water safer.

Dramatic rescue prompts boating safety warningPolice are reminding boaters to be safe after a 64-year-old man spent two tumultuous days adrift at sea off Bickerton Island.

UNDER OBSERVATION: A hawksbill youngster (left) and an adult being tracked by GPS (right).

A PHD student’s study of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle is showing important findings.

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Girls bounce into basketball program

Several ladies have been training twice a week in preparation for a local competition which started in Angurugu on April 22 and the recent May Day carnival.

Now they are putting their skills to the test in an inter-community competition on Saturday afternoons.

Basketballer Shianne Amagula said she used to play for the Angurugu team and took it very seriously.

“Now I do it for exercise and fun,” she said.

Jackie Lauff from Basketball NT said new players were always welcome.

“Beginners can join in too,” Jackie said. “We go through drills - dribbling, layups and 3-on-3 drills. This is for basics for anyone who wants to start learning how to play basketball.

“It’s a good opportunity for the

women to get their skills ready for the next level.”

Jackie said there were lots of ways anyone could get involved in basketballing - not just women.

“Due to the demand for basketball coaching, we are doing in-school clinics, school carnivals, mums and bubs sessions and a series of coaching and officiat ing workshops,” she said.

In other exciting basketball news, two students are being sent to the School Sport NT U18s basketball development camp in Darwin from June 3-5 and at least one senior women’s team is going to the Barunga festival from June 11-13.

The basketball program is delivered by Basketball Australia together with Basketball NT and funded by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet until the end of the June.

Women are putting the bounce back into their day with a basketball program that’s keeping them fit.

Year 3/4 girls and 4/5 boys from Angurugu School have been enjoying their swimming program at Alyangula with swim teacher, Jessica Cooke.

WAY TO GO (clockwise from top left): Randon Nunggumadjbarr; Dayron Pascoe and Kurtis Lalara; Jayrickson Amagula; Dayron Pascoe; and Jayefano Lalara have fun underwater. Photos by Chris LaRosa.

Underwater action

COMPETITION: Christinal Lalara, Roxannia Amagula and Shianne Amagula put their new skills to the test.

SPORT

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Tigers strike hard in grand final match

They battled it out against the Crocs, also from Angurugu and came out from the nailbiting game, with a solid 30 point lead.

The undefeated Crocs had played good football all season. The Tigers started the season slowly but improved each week. Both teams went into the game confident of victory.

Fortunately the rain which had been pouring down for the past fortnight stayed away for the big day and the crowd was close to the action.

Groote Eylandt AFL Manager Ian Brown said the first quarter was a tight struggle with both teams a little nervous because of the big occasion.

“The Tigers had their supporters cheering early with the first goal of the game and went into the quarter time break with a lead of six points,” he said.

The second quarter was similar to the first with both teams applying good pressure and goals were hard to score. But it was the Tigers who seemed to settle better and at half time they were ahead by 20 points.

The half time break gave the Crocs the chance to review their tactics to fight their way back into the game. They did manage to do this in the third quarter by keeping the Tigers goal-less while scoring two goals of their own.

So with one quarter to go, the Tigers led by 10 points but the Crocs were close enough to win.

“The Tigers scored the first goal of the last quarter to increase their lead but the Crocs quickly replied with a goal of their own to reduce the lead again.”

With the game up for grabs it was the Tigers who booted the last three goals of the game.

The Angurugu Tigers remained calm under pressure to boot the last three goals that won them the sought-after 2011 Wet Season Football Premiership in early April.

Michael Joshua kicked all four of the Crocs’ goals while the Tigers had seven different goal kickers and on the day played the better team game.

Nathan Bara was awarded the best player for the game.

Other award winners for the 2011 wet season were: Leading Goal Kicker: Robbie Murrungun, Crocs; Best and Fairest: Rowan Bonson, Crocs and Benuel Mamarika, Dockers.

The second last game of the wet season competition was played between the Tigers and Mikbamurra Dockers.

The Tigers got in front early in the game and

although the Dockers tried hard, the Tigers were able to stay in front. Ian said the game was played very fairly. “It was very good to see all the players from both teams congratulate each other in the middle of the field when the game finished,” he said.

“Congratulations to both Angurugu teams for making the grand final. Also well done to the teams from Umbakumba who have gone from two to three teams. This means that there are less players in each team. The dry season should see some fantastic football.”

ALC Chairman Tony Wurramarrba congratulated the teams on a great season and the two finalists on a terrific grand final game.

HIGHLIGHTS (clockwise from top left): Players battle it out in the heated third quarter; Davis Mamarika, Nathan Bara, Trenton Mirniyowan and Alston Ponto are elated after a big match; Neville Nungumadjbarr passes quickly; Davian Murrungun (pictured with David Scott Mangurra) in winning spirit; and the Tigers celebrate after the impressive win.

ANTICIPATION: Crocs supporter Nicolas Wurramarrba cheers on his previously undefeated heroes at the quarter time break.

SPORT

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DAY OUT: Johnny Lalara and Benjamin Lalara enjoy a leisurely morning at Mungkadinamanja Flexible Aged Care Centre.

BUSY: Roger Lalara and Peter Wurramara working at a job on Taylor Street in Alyangula.

KEEN: Ian Brown took this photo of young Croc supporters at the wet season footy grand final in Angurugu. Ian wins a $20 shopping voucher.

WIN! Have you taken some photos while out and about? Please email them to [email protected] with the names of everyone in the photos and we’ll try to get them into the next Ayawka (make sure you have permission if taking photos of children!). The best photo each issue wins a prize. Get snapping!

DECISION-MAKING: Two youngsters at the last Housing Reference Group (HRG) meeting in Milyakburra.

The community was advised that two new houses had been built and five houses had been fixed up to make the bathrooms and kitchens safer and healthier. Participants were told that most houses in Milyakburra were going to be refurbished.

HRGs have been set up in each community for locals to have a say on decisions about housing in their community.

STAR PHOTO

BIG NIGHT: These youngsters are having fun at a disco organised by GEMYDU with the help of GEMCO (donating food and staff time and organising fun games), NT Police and East Arnhem Shire. Barbora Ramlah from GEMYDU said discos were enjoyed by children in all communities and were a fun activity.

WINNER: Katelynn Bara from Umbakumba wins the Walkabout Chef Encouragement Award for an Indigenous student in Cert I in Hospitality.

OUT & ABOUT / QUIZ

QUIZQuestions1. Which Victorian girls school has an exchange program with Angurugu?

2. When is the new Umbakumba Road expected to be finished?

3. What is the Education Board’s highest priority?

4. How soon could households be paying for their own electricity?

5. What is the dream of GCC boss Andy Irvine?

6. Which television station is broadcasting a show on Groote?

7. What creative projects will be taught for people who want to start businesses?

8. What does GEBIE’s new boss do to keep fit?

9. What is the big change happening at the Aged Care Centre?

10. What are Milyakburra students making from recycled newspaper?

11. Who will be prioritised to get a new house as part of SIHIP?

Answers1. Firbank Grammar School

2. By Christmas

3. School attendance

4. In the first half of 2012.

5. See dozens of employees in new workshop

6. SBS 1 and SBS 2

7. Pottery and sewing

8. Running at night

9. Taking patients overnight

10. Pots for plants

11. People with MJD

HUNTING: Angurugu boy, Dayron Pascoe went hiking with his school class, looking for bush tucker. Photo by Chris LaRosa.

ilearn with ipads, say students · life on spill crew.....10 getting into ... regional partnership...

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