Gumala News Issue 1 2014 by Gumala Aboriginal Corporation

Autumn 2014

News

When reading this publication and sharing it with family and friends, please be mindful that it may contain images and/or names of people who have since passed away

Chairman’s Comment Thanarru! It’s the start of a new year and 2014 looks to be Gumala Aboriginal Corporation’s (GAC’s) best year yet, the corporation is enjoying great success in the critical areas of Education and Community Development and Members are set to benefit with improved programs and service delivery. It gives me great pleasure to see Gumala come of age as a corporation, for the past seventeen years Gumala has grown from a small Trust started by ‘a couple of blackfellas’ with the foresight to create the Yandi Land Use Agreement with Rio Tinto, into a thriving and successful Foundation with multiple business streams and assets. The past two years have been a great learning experience for us all, both Members and staff; the Yandi Land Use Agreement Review by Chaney and Lennon has opened our eyes to changes that must happen within the Foundation for the betterment of the Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyaparli people long after the mining boom has finished. With this in mind GAC will be consolidating its administration costs and boosting programs in an effort to put more in the hands of Members. Employment, Education, Business and Community Development remain our chief focus at GAC and we know that the keys to success are creating opportunities for Members so they may determine their own futures. Creating a sustainable future is not without its challenges, but by working together and heading toward the same goals we can be leaders in addressing real change for our Membership. We have a great chance here and now to set the standard for Aboriginal Corporations right across Australia. GAC’s programs in Education and Community Development are beginning to be noticed by governments and private companies who are starting to see that GAC’s approach to Indigenous education and housing are making a real difference.

The Education Team have secured a $416,000 grant from The Parental and Community Engagement Programme (PaCE) to deliver its 3A Program to more remote areas in the Pilbara, this is a big win for GAC as it allows the 3A Program to reach more and more Members in remote areas and on Homeland communities, allowing our children to get the best possible start in life. GAC’s Community Development Team continues to work hard on multiple projects that promise to improve the overall standard of housing. By providing safe and well-built, culturally sensitive homes we will improve the living standards of our Members and begin to address one of Australia’s biggest Indigenous issues – poverty in remote communities. Gumala Enterprises (GEPL) is making huge strides in winning mining contracts, creating employment and training opportunities, the company has also returned a profit to the Trust for the first time. Like most businesses GEPL has had to work hard over time to achieve success, but GEPL has definitely turned a corner and gone are the days of it being dependent on GAC. I am also very proud of GEPL’s new business; Pilbara Light Vehicle Maintenance (PLVM), a joint-venture between Perth’s DVG Group and GEPL that offers mechanical trade training and vehicle maintenance to mine sites. Trainees will be offered auto mechanical trade training and given the opportunity to work on specialised vehicles such as haulpaks and other large mining equipment. Providing opportunities for Indigenous people while maintaining a connection to Country and Culture can be done and we are doing it. More and more employment and training opportunities will be made available in the future and it is my greatest wish that these programs are full of Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyaparli people.

Best Wishes, GAC Chairman Charles Smith

CONTENTS PAGE Chairman’s Comment 2 Protecting Culture

Lore time offers link to culture and identity................4-5 Nyiyaparli Elder’s story.................................................6-7 Five generations of artists............................................8-9 What can save language?.........................................10-11 Timeline of the Stolen Generation...........................12-13 The other side of Australia Day.....................................14 Wakuthuni kids get Recognised....................................15 Honouring all warriors...................................................16

GIPL NEWS

GIPL welcomes new chair..............................................17

GUMALA ENTERPRISES

GEPL wins second contract with FMG..........................18 Guiding students into sustainable careers...................19 $50M in contracts just the beginning............................20

EDUCATION UPDATE

Gumala hosts world teaching expert............................21 Computer assistance brings family closer..............22-23 Peter maps out his future..............................................24 Fresh start beckons four Banyjima boys......................25 Shaikera bats for WA in Manila......................................26 Record number sign up for Enrichment Centre...........27

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GEPL trainee graduates on to apprenticeship.............28 Western Mulga CATIII approved....................................30 New careers on Country................................................31 Isaiah raps into local music industry............................32 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT More room at Karijini.....................................................33 Landmark agreement signed with Healthabitat..........34 GUMALA STAFF SHINE Increasing cultural awareness........................................35 GUMALA RADIO BLOG

36 - 37

MEMBER SERVICES UPDATE

38-39

COVER: Banyjima Elder Alec Tucker at Lore Celebrations.

News

is a Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2744) publication

To contribute to Gumala News call 1800 486 252 or email: news@gumala.com.au Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) 1 Stadium Road Tom Price, WA , 6751 165 Adelaide Terrace East Perth, WA, 6004

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Lore Time offers an important Every year young Indigenous men make the journey from childhood to adulthood through a set of gruelling tests that have been passed down through the generations in the Pilbara since man started marking time.

Lore marks an important step for Indigenous men to take as it begins their life’s journey in respecting and honouring their culture. In the Dreamtime (since the last Ice Age) Lore was a huge family moment and tribal event, it meant young boys would become proud men of the tribe, husbands, hunters and the protectors of their families.

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Nowadays Lore is a priceless link to

the past that allows families to come together and celebrate their culture and for men to be taught the ways of their Elders, so they may teach their sons and be proud in their identities as members of the Banyjima, Innawonga or Nyiyaparli tribes.

This past summer in the Pilbara Gumala’s three language groups continued to honour that tradition, with families travelling to Lore Grounds from as far away as Perth, Broome and Port Hedland to visit and stay at Onslow, Wakuthuni, Wirrilimarra, Tom Price or South Hedland to take part in

celebrations and rituals that have been kept secret for centuries.

Sometimes Lore is a punishment for men who have not learned an important life lesson and Lore can often be repeated until that lesson is learned.

A Family Event With the importance of Lore to every Language Group at Gumala it’s vital to make sure people can attend Lore ceremonies. The Lore and Culture Travel Assistance Program helps Members buy food, fuel, find and pay for accommodation and even buy car tyres. Check with Gumala’s Member Solutions Team to see if you qualify. Older brothers or cousins of the Lore Boy are responsible for his welfare while he is in the bush so making sure a family member is present is an important part of the ceremony.

Lore Grounds Gumala provides funding and support for Lore Ground maintenance and provides

Young warrior Leroy Cook with a hand made boomerang. GUMALA NEWS

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link to culture and identity “We have to keep our Lore and Culture alive. A lot of young ones today aren’t interested in going through Lore and Culture and I worry that in five or six years from now it won’t exist anymore. We have to keep it going” Uncle Gordon Yuline Nyiyaparli Lore Man

assistance with the building of camping grounds, toilets and showers to make sure people of any age can access the Lore ceremonies in comfort. Elders and legal custodians of Lore Grounds may only apply for Lore Ground assistance.

Bough Sheds

The sheds also provide shade and a cool place to stay for the many family members who come to see their sons, brothers, cousins and uncles go through Lore.

Ceremonies There are opening and closing ceremonies for each Language Group’s Lore Time, that include singing, dancing and smoking ceremonies to cleanse bad spirits and to keep Lore Boys safe. When the Lore Boys are conducting Lore Business in the bush, women and

A smoking ceremony takes place at Wakuthuni during Lore time to cleanse spirits. children must stay at the camp site and not walk around.

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Fifteen is the youngest age a male can begin Lore

Non-Indigenous people may be invited to watch Lore ceremonies, but must stay in special areas and respect the traditions of the Elder’s and people.

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When a Lore Man has returned after his initiation he may have to stay in traditional clothing and paint for days, unable to touch his mother or family

Facts About Lore: •

•

Lore Boys are “stolen” by Elders from their mothers in a custom where the mothers then mourn the loss of their boys, but celebrate them on return as men Lore Season is only stopped when a Senior Lore Man passes away out of a sign of respect

Why Bother With Lore? Lore is an important part of being Innawonga, Banyjima or Nyiyaparli and allows young people to reconnect with their ancient cultural roots with so much Indigenous culture in Australia lost, it is important Aboriginal people are allowed to preserve what is left. l GUMALA NEWS

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Every year Gumala provides assistance to communities to build traditional Bough Sheds, the sheds are made of native tree branches or spinifex to provide shade for the boys during Lore. While in the Bough Sheds the initiates may be required to not look at or speak to certain people.

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Uncle David Stock at the Yandicoogina Mine.

Nyiyaparli Elder’s Story David Stock is currently the oldest Lore man Elder in the Gumala Membership. As well as being a respected Lore man, Uncle David is one of the original claimants of the Native Title registered claim number WC 96/97 and signatories of the Yandi Land Use Agreement in 1996.

Speaking to Gumala News David talks about growing up on his country, culture and being an original signatory of the Yandi Land Use Agreement.

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Where is your traditional homeland?

I grew up in the ‘station days’. I was born and raised on Roy Hill Station where my family lived and worked mustering the horses, sheep and cattle on the land for twelve months at a time before we went away around the countryside at Christmas time. GUMALA NEWS

We worked and stayed at Roy Hill. We didn’t go anywhere else, we just stayed put on the land for twelve months until Christmas. Sometimes we used to go to Jigalong and Newman, where my Mum’s side came from. She was Niyayparli. We would also go to Mulga Downs where my Dad’s side are from. He was Banyjima. We liked bush life. We would go back to the station around March and muster the sheep, horses and cattle and stay another twelve months before we went off again. We were never paid with money for our work on the stations. The station owners paid us with trousers, a blanket and food. The Elders were the only ones that were allowed to be paid with money and they would get two pounds a week only, which wasn’t a lot of money. In those days we used to get our dinner given to us at the back of the house through a window. The window had

a hole like a pigeon hole in it and we would put our plate through that and they would serve us dinner and give it back to us through the hole because we weren’t allowed in the kitchen.

What area do you live in now? I have lived in South Hedland for about eight years. I moved to South Hedland because our Elders are sick and they went and stayed there because the main hospital is there.

Are there any special childhood memories about growing up on country that you would like to share? When I was younger I did my cultural schooling and finished Lore. It was very strict and you couldn’t get a woman anywhere, you had to be given one. Once I had finished Lore I was told I had to find a woman. It was very funny to me because I was a young fella. I was told to get a woman and I thought that a woman might not follow me.

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I was nervous but it was all right because she was young too and she knew her culture. It worked out. After we got married I brought her to Roy Hill. We had four children; three daughters and a late son. My daughters live in Roebourne and I now have grandsons and granddaughters. After Roy Hill I moved around the country a bit. I used to work in Nullagine and after Nullagine I went to Marillana, Bonney Downs station and then back to Nullagine again. When I went back to Nullagine I worked in the hotel as a cleaner for something to do. I used to clean up all the mess and the rubbish for twenty dollars a week, which wasn’t a lot of money. After that I went back to Mulga Downs before I moved on to Onslow where I worked on Mount Stuart Station mustering sheep. Mount Stuart was a big sheep station in those days. After Mount Stuart station I went back to Onslow. When I got back to Onslow I was told that there was a town being made in Tom Price. So we went to Tom Price and there was a mining town being built. We spent a day there before going back to Onslow. We also heard that there was a town being developed in Mount Newman and so we went there. I returned again to Onslow before travelling to Port Hedland where all the Elders were and on to Jigalong and Marble Bar. While I was in Onslow my wife left so I went back to Marble Bar and started a new life. I stayed around Onslow and then I met a new woman, Hilda. She is now my second wife. She has one daughter and a son. We eventually ended up in Port Hedland and we got married around 30 years ago. I stopped drinking once we got married, it never did me any good.

How are things different today compared to growing up? When we were growing up we used to muster our cattle around Yandicoogina and practiced Lore and Culture. That’s still the same. Today, we get together and talk about it with all the tribes. The language has changed. Young people today talk in different languages and some don’t keep their language.

What is important to you in terms of Lore and Culture? My culture is important to me. We have kept Lore and Culture going by meeting every year, practicing it and we get together and discuss it. It is important to keep it strong because if we haven’t got it then we have nothing. We do not have a leg to stand on.

What are your hopes for future and current generations of Gumala Members? I would like to see the next generation continue with the Lore and Culture and continue to speak the language. I would also like to see more language taught in the schools. I don’t want the young people to forget all about it.

What does being an Elder mean to you? Being an Elder is important in a cultural sense because it is teaching and training the young people the culture. But they have to be interested and want to learn the culture.

How did you become one of the original signatories of the Yandi Land Use Agreement and how does it feel? After Marble Bar, I was living in 12 Mile in Port Hedland when a man came along from Karratha looking for the right Nyiyaparli people who came from the Nyiyaparli country area to sign the Memorandum of Understanding and the Yandi Land Use Agreement papers so that they could do work on the area. I told him that he was talking to the right person because my father’s mother, my grandmother, passed away in the Yandicoogina Creek. He said that through Native Title I was the right man,

so I could sign the papers. We were working together, not like once upon a time when we weren’t allowed to have a say over the land. It feels good to be an original signatory.

In what ways has Gumala benefited the community? It has been good in helping young Members get access to schooling, to help keep our culture and it has also helped us to go back to country. In the near future, David Stock hopes to write a book about his life journey so that he can share his knowledge of Aboriginal customs and traditions from the Nyiyaparli people with the membership and the wider community. l

WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY: Gumala Aboriginal Corporation recognises the critical importance and need for Gumala members, in particular its Elders to transfer their encyclopedic knowledge of their customs, traditions, land and genealogy and record it. Banyjima Elder and Gumala Member, Dawn Hicks strongly supports the idea of Gumala Members and Elders recording and archiving their language and history for the future generations of Gumala Members to learn about their history, stories, culture and genealogy. “I as an Elder would like to see genealogies and histories of every members family within Gumala recorded. I would like to see Gumala set up a Gumala Membership library to hold information of Elders in the past and the present to leave behind a historical library for the future generation to come so that they have a footprint left by the Elders like myself and all the Elders from the Innawonga, Nyiyaparli and Banyjima tribes.” Gumala wants to speak to as many Gumala Elders as possible from our three language groups, in order to capture your stories. To get the ball rolling, please call Gumala’s PR & Communications team on 1800 GUMALA (1800 486 252)  GUMALA NEWS

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The Elders told me to go to Onslow where they knew of a young girl. She had been taught the culture from her grandmother and grandfather. The Elders took me to Onslow and we got married on Mount Stuart station. Those were the good old days and all the people were still alive.

Five generations of Nyiyaparli artists left to right: Isaiah Ward, Arron Yarran, Zac Conway and Uncle Gordon Yuline

Five generations of Artists A proud family came together to discuss how an artistic gene has been passed on through five generations of their family earlier this year.

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Highly respected Elder, Gordon Yuline, his niece, Arron Yarran and her two grandchildren, Isaiah Ward and his brother, Zac Conway are all artists in their own right. Gordon Yuline can remember clearly the days of growing up on his Homeland. As a young man living on country he worked as a stockman with his own team of horses and made leather stock whips as a trade. Immersed in his culture and a fluent

GUMALA NEWS

Nyiyaparli language speaker, Uncle Gordon’s artistic talent at making cultural artifacts was first developed before his cultural schooling in Lore and Culture, but he couldn’t make them until he had completed Lore. “As a young man we had to go through Lore and Culture before we could make boomerangs and spears. We have to be made a man before we can make these things,” said Gordon. After Gordon became a man, the Elders taught him how to make wood work including spears which were used for killing animals and how to make and curve boomerangs so that they would come back to the owner once they had thrown them. “You have to bend the wood into a

half circle shape so that they can come back to you when you throw them. Then you have to make a fire and place the wood in the hot sand and coals and rub kangaroo fat on the bottom of it so it softens the wood. You then twist the wood around so that when you throw it, it will come back to you,” said Gordon. Once young men have completed their Lore and Culture it is important for them to learn how to make cultural artifacts and wood work to ensure that they know their culture and are able to pass it on to the next generation. It is a part of becoming a man. “We have to keep our Lore and Culture alive. A lot of young ones today aren’t interested in going through Lore and Culture and I worry that in five or six

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Arron Yarran Nyiyaparli Traditional Owner years from now it won’t exist anymore. We have to keep it going.

it to international tourists arriving by cruise ships over the summer.

“If young people don’t want to learn then that is too bad,” he added.

Since then, she has built upon the success of developing her business through the help of Gumala’s Business Development and is now gearing up for two big exhibitions.

Gordon believes that it is also important for Traditional Owners to know that they can only make artifacts on their Traditional Homeland and not on the Homeland of other language groups. “I can only make boomerangs and spears in Nyiyaparli land. I can’t make them anywhere else except Nyiyaparli land. If I do, I have to get permission from the Elders from the other language groups land. I can’t make boomerangs here in Perth without the Elders permission and they can’t make them in Nyiyaparli land,” said Gordon. Gordon’s artistic hand doesn’t end there. Today he continues to pursue his passion and trade in leather work. While he may have hung up his boots on making stock whips, he continues to make leather chin straps. Holding several examples of his red and black leather chin straps that he had masterfully completed in the morning, Gordon reflected: “Leather work was my trade but leather chin straps and stock whips aren’t from our culture, they’re from the European culture. I have to keep it alive while I am alive.”

Second Generation: Arron Yarran A well-known Gumala Member and Aboriginal artist, Arron Yarran, is the second generation artist in the family. When Gumala News interviewed Arron in late 2012, she was busy preparing to take her art to the world stage, selling

“Since I developed my business in 2012, I have spent the last year continuing with my paintings and focusing on networking. I have been studying towards my Certificate III in micro business and I am currently in the process of putting steel works together planning an exhibition for the steel works. I am also working towards “The Stolen Ones” exhibition which had to be postponed due to family and business commitments last year,” Arron said. Arron has been building her portfolio of paintings about the Stolen Generation which she hopes to exhibit in her exhibition “The Stolen Ones” later this year in Kings Park. The exhibition will focus on stories about the Stolen Generation with stories inspired by her family history including those of her Mother and Grandmother. Arron’s Grandmother was stolen from Roy Hill and put in Mogumba in the Moore River Settlement. Her Mother was stolen from Geraldton and put into Sister Kate’s Home. “The stories in my artwork are from the heart. They’re stories I have been told and there is a lot of emotion behind and in the stories especially in The Stolen Ones with what happened to my Mum and my Grandmother,”added Arron. While Arron reflects on the sadness of the Stolen Generation she admits that

painting the stories have helped her heal. “Painting these stories has helped me heal. Growing up I saw Mum cry a lot and ask questions about why this has happened. Painting her stories has helped both my Mum and I because of what happened. “When I have the exhibition at Kings Park I think I will be crying as I tell the stories behind the paintings and let people know what happened and why. Stories like how they told my Mum that her parents had passed away but when her parents turned up at Sister Kate’s the nuns told them both not to come back. It’s just sad what happened,” reflects Arron.

Fifth generation: Zac Conway Arron’s painting has also caught the attention of her grandson, eight year old Zac Conway. Following in his Nana’s footsteps, Zac also enjoys painting. Over the years he has created around five large and numerous small canvases with his Nana who teaches him the culture as they paint. Over the Christmas school holidays, Zac helped his Nana paint her latest painting which included painting his hand prints on the canvas. “It is fun. I like painting with Nana, it gives me something to do. I like learning about the culture,” said Zac. “I think the artistic side of our family has come from both sides of my family. My Mum’s side are Noongar and she was an artist too, my Dad’s family are from the Pilbara but he wasn’t an artist. On my father’s side it has been passed down from Uncle Gordon, to me, to my grandchildren,” reflected Arron. It doesn’t end there. Zac’s older brother, fifteen year old Isaiah Ward, is an emerging rap artist who released his first album in February. “I am quite proud of my grandchildren. I think all grandparents are proud when their grandchildren achieve something,” added Arron. 

SEE ISAIAH’S STORY ON PAGE 32 GUMALA NEWS

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“When I have the exhibition at Kings Park I think I will be crying as I tell the stories behind the paintings and let people know what happened and why. Stories like how they told my Mum that her parents had passed away but when her parents turned up at Sister Kate’s the nuns told them both not to come back. It’s just sad what happened”

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what can save language? It is estimated that around the globe there are 80 dominant languages including the English language which are spoken daily by 80 per cent of the world’s population. As these front running languages continue to dominate the globe, they force native tongues to be declared endangered or extinct.

Since 1950, 230 languages worldwide have been declared extinct. With the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) projecting that there over 2,500 endangered languages worldwide. Sadly, many more languages will continue to become extinct, un-noticed by the rest of the world. In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, one of 31 Pilbara Aboriginal language groups are under threat with less than four speakers of the language left in 2004. Today, without action, the language native to the Innawonga people will be lost forever. The decline in the use of the Innawonga language dates as far back as the arrival of the early pastoralists to the Pilbara in the 1800s. Traditionally, the Innawonga people’s Homeland was in the area south east to the town of Onslow including the Angelo River, Ashburton River, Hardey River Kunderong Range, Mount Vernon Station, Rocklea and Turee Creek.

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When the European pastoralists first met the Innawonga people, they removed them from their land to allow for farming. While many Aboriginal people were forced to move on from their land, some were forcibly held and used as slave labour and were forced to speak English instead of their traditional dialect.

The mistreatment of Aboriginal people continued until the Strike of 1946 when Aboriginal people banded together and walked off the stations in protest for better pay and living conditions. GUMALA NEWS

Onslow Exmouth

Banyjima

Paraburdoo

Innawonga Nyiyaparli All languages are part of the Ngayarta Family

A map of the Pilbara language groups Innawonga women “The decline “The voices of the and Gumala started when the last speakers of many pastoralists forced Members, Lorraine Injie and June languages are now fading the Innawonga Injie, have been people off their away, never to be heard working with the land, they forced again," Wangka Maya English as the only Pilbara Aboriginal speaking language Linguist Dr. David Harrison Language Centre on the Elders in South Hedland instead of their to record the history of the Innawonga traditional language. Then because language for 20 years. the Elders were speaking English, the children started speaking English instead Speaking to Gumala News about of learning their natural dialect.” the deterioration in the amount of Innawonga speakers, Lorraine said:

In the early 1900s many Aboriginal

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Lorraine Injie children including those of mixed descent were forcibly removed from their homes and families and sent to missions and homes where they were forced to speak English as their main language and lost the native language and their connection to Innawonga culture. In October 2009, Wangka Maya Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre employed two historical researchers, Dr Malcolm Allbrook and Dr Mary Anne Jebb to research the hidden histories of the Pilbara. Their research Hidden Histories: Conflict, massacres and colonisation of the Pilbara revealed that during the 1800s – 1900s there were “large scale massacres of Aboriginal people” along the De Grey River at Flying Foam Passage and along the Upper Ashburton River which led to a reduction in the population taking with it many fluent speakers of one of the oldest spoken languages in Australian history. The Innawonga people are not alone. Assistant Professor of Linguistics at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and author of the book When Languages Die, Dr David Harrison told Gumala News: “When ideas go extinct, we all grow poorer. The voices of the last speakers of many languages are now fading away, never to be heard again. Linguists like me, too few in number, rush to record these tongues, while a few native communities struggle to revive them.”

The last of the Innawonga speakers Today the last of the remaining Innawonga speakers reside on their homeland community of Bellary Springs. Among the younger generation, there are a small number of Innawonga people who have a passive understanding of the language although they don’t speak it fluently.

June Injie was raised by her parents to speak the language and can remember a time when everyone was fluent in Innawonga.

are interested in sharing and recording their stories on Gumala Radio and for Gumala News either in language or in English.

“When I was growing up everyone spoke the language. When we came home from school in Onslow we always spoke our language so that we wouldn’t lose it. Today a lot of people don’t speak the language. A lot of people my age and their children don’t speak it but some can understand it. My mum was disappointed about it. When people ask them questions in Innawonga what will they say?”

Innawonga Elder and Deputy Chairman, Stuart Injie supports the recording of stories and said that the board needs to focus on looking after the language. “I would like to see maintenance of the language and the development of the language and looking after it. Most of the words I use in the language are sacred and most of the songs are in language,” he said.

One Aboriginal language resource centre in the Pilbara has been working with the Innawonga people to record their stories. June Injie has worked with linguists at Wangka Maya Pilbara “We were never able to record the Aboriginal full grammar of the Language Centre to “There were less than language so I can’t four speakers of the record the language say what it would look and stories so that like compared to the Innawonga language in it continues on in to Banyjima language,” 2004” the future. said Lorraine. Lorraine was also raised to speak both the Innawonga and Banyjima language but says she wouldn’t be able to write the Innawonga language.

Last year she Wangka Maya Pilbara “A lot of people share Aboriginal Language Centre released her the Banyjima language first book Gurri because people married Watharrigu into the Banyjima Magaragu: The girl is looking for her language group so people are learning little brother. Banyjima,” added June. “I would say the younger generation today in their 20s and teenage years, they probably have a better understanding of parts of the Innawonga language and culture because they have lived on country and been taught by the Elders about a lot of the place names, flora, fauna and dream time stories “There needs to be a critical mass of people who speak the language and that this point in time I don’t think there is. “The people that do speak it need to teach it more to the younger generation. I think in time it will become extinct,” Lorraine added.

Protecting the language for the future So how can we record and preserve the language before it’s too late? Gumala Aboriginal Corporation and Gumala Radio are interested in hearing from Gumala Elders and Members who

She is due to publish a second book in the near future. The book has been issued an ISBN number and has been made available through Wangka Maya’s shop and website, as well as being deposited with the National and the State libraries. Depending on the level of permission the author has given (some are only accessible to the immediate family, or Innawonga Traditional Owners, or the general public), the Traditional Owners recordings and documents will be left for others to access it once the language has ceased to be spoken. “My children understand most of the Innawonga language and they speak some of it. But I am going to teach it to my grandchildren. At Lore they have to sing and dance in language and when people tell the stories about rock carvings it’s in language. The Innawonga language has got to be handed down from one generation to the next to keep it going,” insisted June.  GUMALA NEWS

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“The people that do speak it need to teach it more to the younger generation. I think in time it will become extinct,”

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TIMELINE - Remembering THE

1814 - 1897:

States beginning with VIC, QLD, WA, SA, NT and NSW introduce numerous ‘Protection Acts’. The Aboriginal Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act allowed the Chief Protector to remove Aboriginal people in between reserves and place children in dormitories.

1969:

1937:

The government adopts assimilations as its national policy. The assimilation policy is confirmed as ‘native welfare’ measures in 1951 at the third Commonwealth/ State Conference.

Anthropologist Norman Tindale pictured with a stolen child, advised A. O Neville ‘the devil’ who was Chief Protector of all Aboriginal people from 1915

All states have repealed the legislation which allows for children to be forcibly removed under the policy of ‘protection’. Aboriginal and Island Child Care Agencies are set up to protect and contest applications to remove children.

Children at Moore River a settlement where ‘half-caste’ children were sent for training to become servants.

An advert in the NT News in the 1930s advertises ‘half-caste children to good homes’

1983:

The Northern Territory incorporates the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle into its welfare legislation. Indigenous children are to be placed with Indigenous families when adoption or fostering is necessary. WA adopts the legislation in 2006.

THIRTY YEARS PASS

1967:

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1905:

The Western Australia Aborigines Act was passed, stating that the Chief Protector was the legal guardian for all Aboriginal people under 16 year’s old and all ‘half caste’ children. Children who were removed from their parents were put into an institution such as a mission, or were fostered or adopted either before or after spending time in a mission. GUMALA NEWS

The constitution is amended. The Commonwealth is bestowed with the power to make laws for Aboriginal people. Aborigines are included in the census for the first time.

1975:

The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 is passed by the Commonwealth Government.

1984:

Numerous “Link Up” Aboriginal Corporations were established nationwide including seven in WA in 2001.

may go home but we cannot “Werelive our childhoods. We may

reunite with our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunties, uncles, communities, but we cannot relive the 20, 30, 40 years we spent without their love and care, and they cannot undo the grief and mourning they felt when we were separated from them

”

Children line up to be selected as foster and adoptive children to white parents

Submission to Human Rights Inquiry, quoted in Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Bringing Them Home: Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children From Their Families, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, April 1997

protecting culture

THE STOLEN GENERATION 2002:

1995:

The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families is established by the Commonwealth Government.

1997-1998:

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) reveals the findings from the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families. Parliament and Governments of WA, NSW, VIC, TAS and SA all apologise to the Stolen Generations. HREOC releases the Social Justice Report 1998. The report includes responses to the inquiry’s recommendations from churches and non-Indigenous communities.

1999:

The federal Parliament states its ‘deep and sincere regret over the removal of Aboriginal children from their parents.’

2000:

The Commonwealth Government is condemned for its poor response to the recommendations from the Bringing them Home report. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in Bringing them Home start an inquiry into the Federal Government’s Implementation of the Recommendations.

2003:

Crowds gather to watch the first official Apology for the treatment of Indigenous people from an Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd in 2008

2008:

2004:

The Commonwealth Government sets up a memorial to the Stolen Generations in Canberra.

The Ministerial Council for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs presents an independent evaluation of Government and non-Government responses to the Bringing them home Report. The Aboriginal and Social Justice Commissioner states that the Government has failed to provide financial compensation, and an apology to the Stolen Generations.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologises to Australia’s first people in Parliament House in Canberra.

2005:

The National Sorry Day Committee declares that Sorry Day will be a National Day of healing for all Australians.

A sculpture of a grieving mother by artist Silvio Apponyi at Colebrook Reconciliation Park, Eden Hills, Adelaide, South Australia. Photo: Kerry Fletcher GUMALA NEWS

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The Taking of the Children - Great Australian Clock, 1999 Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, by artist Chris Cook

The Social Justice Report 2001 and Native Title Report 2001 are issued to the Commonwealth Parliament expressing concerns about the progress of Indigenous rights. Compensation is awarded to the first member of the ‘Stolen Generations’ in New South Wales.

protecting culture

The other side of Australia Day: Survival Day While many Non-Indigenous Australians celebrated Australia Day on the 26 January this year, many Aboriginal people across the country were observing the day under the name Survival Day. Survival Day is observed annually to mark the day that the First Fleet arrived in Australia on 26 January 1788 under the command of Captain Arthur Phillips. The arrival of the First Fleet followed the discovery of Australia by Captain Cook in 1770 who had already formally declared Australia as “Terra Nullius” and formally declared New South Wales as property of Britain’s King George III despite strict orders to take possession of the land if it is uninhabited or gain consent from the Natives.

This marked the beginning of a long battle for recognition for Australia’s first people, the Aboriginal people, who had inhabited the land as Traditional and Sovereign Owners for thousands of years before the British’s arrival.

issue. While many Australian’s celebrate the day as Australia Day, for many Aboriginal people it is a day of mourning for the loss of their sovereign rights, their land, family and culture to the European settlers.

Captain Phillips mission was to establish a penal colony and to colonise Australia. On 26 January 1788, the First Fleet landed and raised the British flag for the first time in Sydney Cove.

Instead, many Aboriginal people call the day ‘Invasion Day’, a ‘Day of Mourning’, and ‘Aboriginal Sovereignty Day.’

While Captain Phillips had conquered Australia, the Aboriginal people were marginalised by the British who argued that their acquisition of the land was justified as the Aboriginal people were too primitive to be the Traditional and Sovereign owners of Australia. This marked the beginning of a long journey towards equality for Australia’s first people. For many Aboriginal people, Survival Day is a controversial

Australia observes sixth National Apology Day

In 1935 all states and territories unified in the celebrations of the day under the name ‘Australia Day’. In 1994, Australia Day was officially celebrated as a public holiday At the heart of Survival Day, is the coming together of communities, towns and cities to reflect on what Australia has achieved and for Australian’s to feel proud of their country. In Perth, Survival concerts have been held since 2000. 

The sixth annual National Apology Day was observed on 13 February. The National Apology Day marks the anniversary of the Apology to Indigenous Australians and the Stolen Generation in the house of Representatives on 13 February 2008 by former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd. In his apology, Mr Rudd apologised for past laws, policies and practices that have had a major impact on Australia’s first people. The Opposition supported the apology and it was passed through both houses in Parliament.

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The road to a national apology from the Government was a long and rocky road with previous apologies rejected because they did not contain the word ‘sorry’.

GUMALA NEWS

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Uncle Greg Tucker Honoured by Rio Tinto Rio Tinto has honoured Banyjima Elder ‘Kayuna’ Greg Tucker with a tribute to the Traditional Owner taking pride of place at the miner’s administration building located around 95 kilometres north-west of Newman in Western Australia.

The monument honouring Greg Tucker was unveiled by his brother Archie Tucker on 4 February 2014. It was an emotional moment for the Traditional Owners in attendance and for the Gumala and Rio Tinto staff who had worked with Greg over the years. Rio Tinto General Manager of the Yandicoogina Mine, Alex Bates said Uncle Greg Tucker made a significant contribution in preserving the cultural heritage of his land and country while he held the position of Liaison Officer under the Yandi Land Use Agreement for the past ten years.

Wakuthuni kids get recognised!

As discussions continue in Parliament to introduce a referendum to recognise Aboriginal people in the Constitution, several children from a local community were given the opportunity to make their mark on changing history to support the recognition of Australia’s first people in the Constitution.

The yacht sail, decorated with the painted hand prints of children from the community and all around Australia, was set sail on Fremantle Harbour in March at the grand opening of the Fremantle Aboriginal Cultural Centre and a walk for recognition for Recognise. “Arriving in Wakuthuni, it was great to see all the kids get involved, stamping

The Recognise Yacht making sail at Fremantle Harbour in March, Wakuthuni children were among indigenous children from right around Australia to decorate the sail. Image courtesy of Recognise their hand prints onto the sail. We’re so pleased to have the contribution of the Wakuthuni community to mark this special day, said Recognise campaigner, Martha Tattersall. The Recognise Crew visited the community on their epic Australian road trip towards the Journey

to Recognition, a momentum towards a referendum to change in recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in the constitution. Wakuthuni was one pit stop on their 15,859km epic relay across the country.  GUMALA NEWS

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Children at the Wakuthui placed painted hand prints on a large yacht sail when the crew from Recognise visited their community in October last year.

protecting culture

Honouring All Warriors This year’s NAIDOC Week will honour all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women who have fought in defence of Country.

It is a little known piece of Australian history that Aboriginal tribes across the country organised themselves and fought against European settlement from 1788 in what is known as Frontier Warfare. The tribes of the Pilbara and Kimberley were among the fiercest fighters and withstood European counter attacks with their modern weaponry until the 1920s. Tribes held their own against guns and cavalry (horse) warfare defending themselves with their superior bush knowledge and spears in some cases for 30 years or more. Around the time of the mid-19th century many Aboriginal people were “employed” as guides and “black trackers” under often terrible conditions. It is interesting to note that during this time many Aboriginal men signed up to fight for Australia in the Boer War in South Africa, their skills in tracking were prized and many Indigenous soldiers searched, found and fought Boer Commandos, who were Dutch Afrikaners fighting against British rule. Many Boer War Indigenous soldiers returned home from the fighting in Africa, only to be treated as second class citizens themselves in their own country.

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By World War I non-Europeans were not allowed to serve in the Australian Armed Forces, but over 500 Indigenous men were enlisted as being “white enough” to fight for King and Country.

There are many documented cases of Indigenous men being enlisted regardless of colour after Australia and England suffered heavy losses in the war, recruiting officers would not record GUMALA NEWS

WWII Aboriginal servicemen Fredrick (left) and Clive (right) Beale enlisted in 1941, they were captured by the Japanese along with their brother George (not pictured), who was worked to death in a Japanese steel mill. Fredrick was released in 1943 as Prisoner of War. Image courtesy of the Australian War Memorial a new recruit’s ethnicity meaning the true number of Aboriginal soldiers may never be known.

awards or mentions in history. Some were lucky enough to receive awards for outstanding actions of heroism.

It may seem strange that so many Indigenous men willingly served a country that did not recognise them as citizens or treat them as the true owners of the land, but the reasons men enlisted were to help the plight of Aboriginal people by showing Europeans they were worthy of being citizens, many joined to be with their brothers and mates and others believed the war effort was a just fight for Australia’s survival.

It is estimated by the Australian Defence Force that around one third of all Indigenous soldiers died in battle, some were sent home with terrible wounds and some were captured by German doctors where they became the subjects of anthropological studies and medical experiments.

On the battlefields of Europe Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian soldiers fought side by side, putting racism aside to fight a common enemy, many friendships were made in the trenches and on horseback in the Light Horse brigades. Unfortunately most Indigenous soldiers were declared Anonymous Men and never received their rightful bravery

After World War I returning to Australia was difficult for all surviving soldiers, but for Indigenous soldiers it was very hard. Returning Aboriginal men in 1918 to 1920 were not given the same benefits as other soldier’s as they were not considered Australian citizens. Racism continued for war veterans, they were not offered soldier settler blocks (free land parcels given to returned soldiers) and were still ruled under the various Protection Acts that imposed strict control over Aboriginal people’s lives.

protecting culture

Racism was still a daily part of life for most World War II Aboriginal soldiers, they were usually not paid the same as their non-Indigenous counterparts unless in the Navy or Air Force. Men in uniform were refused service in pubs and endured taunts from other soldiers, but many did forge lasting relationships with fellow non-Indigenous soldiers. The number of Aboriginal soldiers who served in World War II is estimated to be around 3,000 most in specially organised Indigenous Units. Special Indigenous Units served to protect the Torres Strait and some were

sent to Papua New Guinea but only received half the pay of their nonIndigenous counterparts. It took forty years of campaigning to have these soldier’s back paid for their sacrifices. Again despite their willingness to fight and defend Australia, on return Indigenous soldiers were still denied the right to drink in a pub with the rest of their battalions, but were allowed to march alongside their mates in parades. More Indigenous men were enlisted to fight in the Korean and Vietnam wars of the 1950s and 1960s with one Aboriginal soldier Corporal Norman Womal who while serving in South Vietnam was shot in the throat by the enemy. The young Corporal held his injured throat and led enemy fire away from his mates, dying of his wounds, he saved his entire unit. He was recognised for his bravery with a posthumous Mention in

Dispatches. Many Indigenous soldiers made similar heroic sacrifices and acted bravely in the face of the enemy. Today Indigenous men and women still serve in the Australian Armed Forces, in Queensland, the Northern Territory, the Pilbara and the North West there are regiments that are the “eyes and ears” of the northern land forces and invaluable to the security of Australia. NAIDOC Week 2014 will proudly highlight and recognise the role all warriors have played in shaping Indigenous identity and pause to reflect on their sacrifice. Gumala will help celebrate and honour their priceless contribution to our nation, if you have a military past or have family who served in the Frontier Wars or military we want to hear from you. Contact Kristy on 1800 486 252 or email news@gumala.com.au 

GIPL welcomes new chair and director

Experienced board member Professor Colleen Hayward has accepted the position of Chairperson of the Gumala Investment Pty Ltd (GIPL) Board to oversee the Investment Trust’s operations. Colleen has an extensive background in a range of areas including health, education, training, employment, housing, child protection and law and justice, as well as significant experience in policy and management. In much of this work, she draws on her qualifications including Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Applied Science in Aboriginal Community Management and Development and a Post Graduate Certificate in Cross Sector Partnerships from Cambridge University.

GIPL NEWS

2014 NAB Women's Agenda Leadership Award, a 2013 Westpac Community Leaders Award; she is also a 2013 Mary Reibey scholarship winner and a 2013 Australian Financial Review Women of Influence award winner.

New GIPL Chairperson Colleen Hayward administrative and research roles, to the advancement of the rights of Indigenous people, particularly in the areas of social welfare, law and justice and children's health.

The new GIPL Board member has served as the CEO of the AILC since 2009, in that time the organisation has achieved a range of important milestones including; tripling its annual revenue, the development of new courses including Australia’s most advanced Indigenous leadership qualification; the Advanced Diploma of Indigenous Leadership and a new course in governance, Indigenous mentoring and cultural awareness.

In 2011 Colleen completed her term as a foundation member of the inaugural Board of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.

The GIPL Board has also welcomed a new director to the table; Rachelle Towart, a proud Wonnarura woman who has taken up the important role to add more value to GIPL.

The AILC has also developed a comprehensive Indigenous leadership learning pathway, including the establishment of Australia’s most advanced qualification in Indigenous leadership; the Advanced Diploma of Indigenous Leadership.

In June 2012 Colleen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to tertiary education through

Rachelle is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre (AILC) and has been awarded the

Rachelle is also a member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee to the Gandel Foundation.  GUMALA NEWS

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When World War II broke out in 1939 hundreds of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders signed up to fight, it was easy for Indigenous men and women to enlist until 1940, then the Government toughened up rules around race, but many Indigenous people got around “the colour bar”.

GUMALA ENTERPRISES - GEPL

Operations at FMG’s Pilbara mine. Image courtesy of FMG

GEPL wins second contract with fmg

A new joint venture between Gumala Enterprises Pty Ltd (GEPL) and the DVG Automotive Group will see Gumala Members employed and trained to provide mechanical services for light vehicles on Western Australian minesites has announced its second major contract win. Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) signed an agreement in February with the new GEPL joint venture, known as Pilbara Light Vehicle Maintenance or PLVM, for work at the Christmas Creek iron ore mine.

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Gumala Enterprises General Manager Daryl Smith said the new joint venture was a breakthrough business that allows Gumala Members to access sustainable work and career options locally.

“Our key purpose is to deliver real work opportunities to Traditional Owners in the Pilbara, by partnering with DVG who bring with them a long history of automotive business excellence and proven training mechanical trade GUMALA NEWS

GEPL, we offer opportunities for programs, we can offer our Membership sustainable career opportunities on indigenous people and FMG receives a their homelands to capitalise on mining safety conscious, reliable, professional operations in sub-contractor the region,” Mr that meets its “It is a real win-win Smith said. participation and situation for everyone local business “The venture is involved; FMG, DVG agreements so they exciting because and GEPL, we offer may truly give back it meets our opportunities for Indigenous to communities they commitment to assist in people and FMG receives a operate in.” Indigenous safety conscious, reliable, GEPL won its economic first light vehicle professional independence maintenance sub-contractor that meets contract in January and DVG shares this its participation and local with UK-based commitment business agreements so mining giant to make a real Tinto at its they may truly give back to Rio difference. Yandicoogna Mine Wining our communities they operate near Tom Price. second contract in” The joint venture in this industry established a Daryl Smith is further proof modern workshop that Indigenous at the site enterprises are where workers use and learn skills in succeeding,” he said. mechanics to provide maintenance services to the mine’s light vehicle “It is a real win-win situation for everyone involved; FMG, DVG and fleet.

GUMALA ENTERPRISES - GEPL

Guiding students into sustainable careers

LEFT TO RIGHT: Curtis Drummond and Dan Falconer at GEPL’s Vehicle Maintenance Workshop, Lauren Lyndon and Tasma Cook at GEPL. BELOW: Kristi-Lee Quince at PLVM doing her Certificate III in Administration

GEPL Project Manager Mark Thomson recently attended Tom Price Senior High School’s Independent Review Panel to discuss with work experience students why it’s so important to attend school, how they can become attractive to employers and how they can assess if a work experience opportunity will be short term or lead to a long term career. Tom Price High School students and Gumala Members Tasma Cook (Innawonga) and Lauren Lyndon (Banyjima) have both been given work experience at GEPL’s Tom Price operations and have been offered support and encouragement in their choice of careers.

The two young ladies have had a range of experiences from working in Administration at GEPL to helping out at PLVM and GEPL’s Heavy Vehicle Maintenance businesses to get a taste of what different kinds of work are on offer for young people. Banyjima Member and fellow Tom Price High student Curtis Drummond has begun work experience with GEPL’s new business Pilbara Light Vehicle Maintenance (PLVM) on Mondays and Fridays and now works alongside Nyiyaparli Member Kristi-Lee Quince who is completing her Certificate III in Administration at PLVM. Mark said there will more opportunities for Members in the future with different Traineeships and Apprenticeships on offer.

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IN AN effort to better use resources and engage young people, GAC and GEPL are working together with Tom Price Senior High School to offer Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyaparli students a chance to work while still studying.

“I would encourage Members to keep up to date with the latest vacancies through the GAC and GEPL websites,” Mr Thomson said.  GUMALA NEWS

GUMALA ENTERPRISES - GEPL

$50 million in contracts is just the beginning GEPL General Manager Daryl Smith told Gumala News the next few months at Gumala’s enterprise business will be very busy with the company tendering for over $50 million in contracts, ranging from vehicle maintenance services to minesite dewatering and rehabilitation works. Daryl said the company’s Pilbara Light Vehicle Maintenance business may expand to include heavy vehicles, which will be a big win for GEPL, as heavy vehicles are a specialist area that will give trainees valuable skills that will mean long term career options for Members. Gumala’s business arm has signed its second contract with Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) to provide dewatering services to the Christmas Creek mine located on Nyiyaparli land. Dewatering includes the pumping or draining water from areas so construction can begin, or so mine pits and shafts can be extended deeper into the earth. Mobilisation of equipment and staff is in progress with a Nyiyaparli Indigenous Engagement Officer needed for the FMG Christmas Creek contract. GEPL is also in discussions with Downer Mining to begin a mine rehabilitation service business that restores the land after a mining operation has finished. “I am very excited about the opportunities that could come out of a contract with Downer Mining, it could allow our Members to be the ones to restore their country to its former glory after a mine has closed down,” Daryl said. “Having experience in environmental management and mine rehabilitation will be valuable and important skills of the future in Western Australia, so having our Members ready for that upcoming demand as the mining winds down is critical,” he said. Knowledge of country is becoming more valuable in the mining industry and Members are set to benefit.

If you, or know someone interested in becoming involved in GEPL’s businesses or are a Nyiyaparli Member wanting to work at Christmas Creek, please contact: 1800 486 252. l

celebrating GEPL’s Industry Award nomination

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Gumala’s independent business arm Gumala Enterprises or GEPL, was honoured to receive an award nomination from the Civil Contractors Federation’s (CCF’s) Training and Industry Awards in February.

Nominated in the Indigenous Development Award category GEPL faced tough competition from civil contractor Brierty, who won the top prize for their ongoing work with Indigenous people. The company increased its number of Indigenous workers to make up over 12% of GUMALA NEWS

their total workforce. GEPL’s General Manager Daryl Smith said the award nomination was a great experience for GEPL to begin to be recognised for its work within the civil construction industry. “Being nominated for such a prestigious award among civil construction industry peers was a great confirmation of the work we are doing here at GEPL. Next year we hope to do more and hopefully win in the Indigenous Development Award category,” Mr Smith said. Chief Executive of CCF WA Jeff Miller said the Industry and Training Awards began in 2010, and interest in the event has grown every year and in this, their

fourth year, however, the Awards really come of age, with unprecedented interest and a record number of nominations. “I want to thank all the finalists, both individuals and companies, for helping to make these awards our best ever. I’m told the judges had a very difficult time choosing the winners,” Mr Miller said. “CCF WA was happy to welcome Gumala as a member last year and it’s great to see them getting involved in our Awards. They’re a company that’s making a real difference in increasing Aboriginal participation in the civil construction industry,” he said. l

EDUCATION UPDATE

Gumala hosts WoRLD Teaching expert

American early learning expert and Abecedarian Approach inventor Professor Joe Sparling was in Tom Price in February to see Gumala’s 3A Early Learning Program in action. Professor Sparling visited the 3A Learning Centre at Wakuthuni and at Paraburdoo Primary School where the program is also being put into practice. He was particularly impressed with how Gumala has taken the lead in Western Australia by making Early Learning for Indigenous children a priority.

“Gumala’s model is a playgroup model with a link to traditional schools, this strategy is a very successful one that is starting to get the attention of the government and other organisations. There is clear evidence that the 3A students are much more likely to go to university, more likely to succeed and even parents feel benefits, particularly single mothers, who see their child advance and want to do better too,” Mr Sparling said. “Some unexpected benefits that we have found in the past 30 years include health benefits such as lower rates of high cholesterol, hypertension and obesity compared to children who have not been exposed to the program,” he said. Gumala’s General Manager of Education Lynne Beckingham said the program was created in response to the significant unmet need in early childhood education among Aboriginal communities. “Gumala saw that communities in

Professor Joe Sparling, Ailiayah Smith and her father Justin. the Pilbara had no access to early childhood programs and there were no resources for children (aged from 0 to 5 years) and their parents to help them socialise or develop positive life trajectories and learning behaviours, we sought to remedy this by establishing a partnership with University of Melbourne to implement the Abecedarian approach pioneered by Professor Joe Sparling,” Lynne said. “We are hoping to collaborate with a range of parties to ensure all children have access to this program,” she said. Principal of Paraburdoo Primary School Troy Withers said the 3A program will greatly increase the school readiness of our future students. “3A creates a positive relationship with the Aboriginal community, all of the young families in town and the school. It will break down perceived barriers that can encourage students to engage in and attend school,” Mr Withers said. “I hope that it will grow from its early beginnings into being a successful program that supports the town, kids and families. Hopefully these families will become a part of the Paraburdoo Primary School community and they will

be school ready by the time they are able to start their formal education,” he said. Gumala began a partnership in 2011 with the University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education, with Professor Collette Taylor, to develop a custom made program that addresses the unique needs of parents and children in remote areas to access quality early childhood programs and improve the region’s education outcomes. In 2012 WA Education Minister Peter Collier signed a partnership agreement with Gumala to work with local primary schools in the Pilbara to facilitate this strategy. Today the program boasts four 3A Centres, operated in collaboration with local schools by Gumala, with more centres opening in the Pilbara soon. Joe Sparling is an early childhood educator with 50 years’ experience, an Emeritus Professor at the University of North Carolina, an Honorary Professor at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne and the author of Learning Games and the Creative Curriculum. GUMALA NEWS

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“Gumala is currently the only group using the program in Western Australia and has made very good progress. I visited two centres today and was happy to see parents who are engaged with their children and heard the Primary School is noticing a difference in the children who have attended 3A opposed to the children who haven’t, so the early signs are very promising,” Joe Sparling said.

EDUCATION UPDATE

COMPUTER ASSISTANCE BRINGS Technology has brought a close knit family together in a special way, allowing a mother with a tumour to access services and her children to communicate with her as they focused on their education in Geraldton last year. Meet the Thomas family. Mum, Rachel Tomas, her two sons Jamie Thomas (13) and Kieran Thomas (16) and their Nana, Gladys McEwan. The Thomas family have been through a rough patch over the last twelve months but have managed to find the silver lining and bind closer together as a family through the use of technology. In 2013 Rachel was diagnosed with a tumour. In July she began making regular on and off trips with her mother Gladys by her side from Geraldton to Perth for regular check-ups and operations. For Rachel the ordeal of facing her treatment and leaving her sons in Geraldton with a family friend so that they could continue to focus on their education was a lot to cope with. That’s when she decided to access Gumala’s Computer Support Program. Through the program Rachel was given a laptop so that she and could communicate with the boys on their home laptop purchased by Gumala previously which enabled them to be in regular contact while she was away from home.

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They would communicate via Skype which Rachel says was a sense of relief to know that she could see her boys.

“I didn’t want to disrupt the boy’s routine of going to school every day. I believe that education is important so I was thankful that they could stay with a family friend and continue to go to school while I was in Perth. “With the assistance of Gumala it made GUMALA NEWS

Video chatting helped the Thomas family stay close after some bad news. it so much easier for us to communicate and it took the stress off me and made it easier for me to be in Perth while they were in Geraldton. “Gumala has also provided a lot of support to me through the Critically Ill Patient Support which I was able to access. When I was sick there was a lot less stress because of what was provided to me. Even the

accommodation would have been more than we could have afforded,” said Rachel. While their mum was in hospital the boys managed to stay focused on their education. Last year Rachel had an operation and has to return to the doctors for a check-up at the end of the year. In the

EDUCATION UPDATE

the THOMAS FAMILY CLOSER prestigious universities - the University of Western Australia (UWA). At just 16 years old, the young man will study a three year bachelor of Science and majoring in Computer Science and Engineering Science. He wants to further his studies with a Masters in Professional Engineering afterwards. Aboriginal Liaison Officer at St Catherine’s, Lynne Webber said: “Kieran is the youngest Indigenous resident to be a Member at St Catherine’s.” His early entrance into University began when in year 8 he started doing stage 2 physics and chemistry and then in year 9 did the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) exams in physics and chemistry. In year 11 and 12 he sat WACE exams in his other subjects including English and Maths. Last year he was accepted into UWA. “I am very glad I have been accepted. I always wanted to go on to University after school and to know that I can go on straight away is awesome,” he said. Kieran’s advice to other members wanting to go to university is to give it a go and keep trying.

meantime, not only have the family of four grown closer, to Rachel and her mother’s credit, the boys have excelled academically while coping through a difficult time in their family. Education is something that Rachel and her mother, Gladys, have always encouraged the boys to focus on and to continue with.

Jamie is currently in Year 9 at Geraldton Grammar school and has his sights on becoming either a doctor or a vet.

“It is a credit to Gumala for the educational assistance that they have provided. Gumala has walked beside me all year last year. My boys have been in private schooling which has helped them get ahead,” added Rachel.

Accepted into University at just 16 years old

Applications for the Computer Support Program can be accessed on the Gumala website:

Earlier this year, Kieran was directly accepted into one of Western Australia’s

For more information visit: www. gumala.com.au/member-services.  GUMALA NEWS

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“Keep trying, chances are these Universities will want you and your teachers will help you along the way. Just go for it, don’t worry about being knocked back because they will probably want you. Work hard but don’t be afraid to take a break every now and then, just keep at it,” he added.

EDUCATION UPDATE

Peter maps out his future A Gumala Scholarship student has embarked on a Graduate program with a leading contracting company following the completion of a Bachelor of Science (Mining and Engineering Surveying) degree at Curtin University.

something that he would really enjoy doing and surveyors are in high demand.”

“Surveying is a job were you work both in the office and on the field, so you’re not at a desk all day which breaks the day up and makes the job more enjoyable,” said Peter.

Ronald (Peter) Hall has commenced work on the Graduate program with Leighton Contractors a leading Australian contracting company that provides services to the infrastructure, mining, telecommunications, civil construction, industrial and energy sectors.

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Peter Hall GUMALA NEWS

“They always told me that once you go to University it will open up so many doors for me and I will have more opportunities available and it has,” he said. Peter hopes that his story will be able to inspire other Members who are thinking of going to University or are not sure about going.

On the Graduate program Peter works on an eight and six FIFO roster from Perth to the Solomon Hub Mine where he shadows Peter Hall surveying on sight with Leighton Contractors. surveyors learning about pit pickups, On the field experience drill holes set and other daily tasks that a surveyor completes. Peter’s career with Leighton Contractors and Henry Walker Eltin (HWE) began The 21 year old from Port Hedland in 2011 when he started working as has received assistance as part of an Undergraduate at Cockatoo Island the Gumala Education Scholarship near Derby as part of the companies assistance program since he began Cadetship Programs. Last year he spent studying in 2010. Peter chose a his mid-year break working at the career in surveying because “it was Solomon Mine near Tom Price.

“They always told me that once you go to University it will open up so many doors for me and I will have more opportunities available and it has.”

never saw himself doing. “I never thought I would go to University. I didn’t want to finish High School. I wanted to leave during Year 10 when I was at Hedland High School but my parents encouraged me to get my High School Certificate and go on to University.

“Working with Leighton Contractors and HWE while studying was good, as it helped me apply the surveying theory that I learned at University to real world situations,” he added. For the Banyjima man from Port Hedland, attending and completing University was something he initially

“Even though it can get tough at times you just have to go for it. I never thought I would go to University but now that I have completed my first degree I now know there are more options out there for me to choose from. Without the support from the Gumala Education Scholarship the four years of University would have been so much harder so I thank them for all of their support,” he added. Peter’s next goal is to complete his second degree a Bachelor of Science (Surveying) and build upon his experience in the industry and work towards becoming an authorised mine surveyor. Applications for a Scholarship & Tertiary Education Assistance Program can be accessed on the Gumala website. For more information visit http://www. gumala.com.au/member-services/.

EDUCATION UPDATE

Fresh start beckons four banyjima boys

Four Banyjima brothers have moved from the country to the big smoke in order to further their high school education at La Salle College in Perth. Wesley Lockyer (15), Maverick Eaton (14), William Eaton (13) and Claude Eaton (15) along with their mother, Banyjima woman Denise Smith, made the move from Roebourne to Perth earlier this year to start their new educational journey.

Denise is a mother of eight and believes that the family’s move to Perth will be a positive step on the journey to new education and career opportunities for her children.

Left to right: Wesley Lockyer, Maverick Eaton, William Eaton and Claude Eaton

“We were blown away by how many sporting opportunities there were on offer for the boys.

Up until the carnival the boys trained each Tuesday and were coached by Arron and Des.

“ I am very proud of my children for getting through the move from Roebourne and being out of their comfort zone.

“The boys are just blown away that they could try out for the cup in March and they got in.

“They’re doing well even though they are missing their friends and family back home,” said Denise.

Fresh starts and new opportunities: Nicky Winmar Carnival In their first weeks at La Salle College the boys were put forward by the school to try out to play for Swan District Football Club’s Colts and for the 2014 Nicky Winmar Carnival where they met famous and inspirational footballers including Des Headland and Arron Davies. The football carnival is held each March with a minimum of 10 teams from both regional and metro WA competing against each other to take the Indigenous football honour.

“I am proud of them. I was blown away to see them do well at footy and basketball training here in Perth, there aren’t really places for young people to train in the Pilbara,” added Denise. Claude Eaton said: “I am excited to play in the Nicky Winmar Carnival.” Gumala have assisted Wesley Lockyer, Maverick Eaton, William Eaton and Claude Eaton with their education pursuits through the Secondary Education Assistance. Applications for Gumala Education Scholarships can be accessed on the Gumala website: www.gumala.com.au/ member-services. 

Gumala’s Education Assistance ProgramS: Gumala Members and their children can access quality education through Gumala’s education funding assistance. The Education Assistance programs help with the cost of educational items such as fees, book lists, stationery, uniforms and school lunches. This funding support spans the following individual programs: •

Early Childhood Assistance

•

Primary Education Assistance

•

Secondary Education Assistance

•

Tertiary Education Assistance

•

Scholarship Assistance

•

Country Week Assistance GUMALA NEWS

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“In Perth there are so many more opportunities than they had back home in Roebourne. It was really hard to make the decision to move away from our country and it was hard to leave our friends and family but I had to do it for their future.

EDUCATION UPDATE

Shaikera bats for WA in Manila “When I found out that I had been selected for the team I was very excited and honoured to have made the Under 19s Perth All Stars team. The tournament in Manila was a step in the door for me to showcase my talent” Shakiera Cabales

Home run lands in the Perth All Stars team The young Banyjima student was accepted into the Perth All Stars team after she attended the State try outs in Perth last year. “Trying out in Perth was an awesome experience. I learned new techniques and methods that have helped me become a better softball player. The highlight of these trips was meeting players from Western Flames, who are professional softball players and have represented Australia,” she said.

Batting towards a softball career All-Star Banyjima Baseballer Shaikera.

A Port Hedland softball player made her first international trip to play in the Perth All Stars under 19s team in the South East Asia Youth Baseball and Softball Tournament in Manila earlier this year.

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Sixteen year old Shaikera Cabales along with four fellow Port Hedland girls made the trip to the Philippines capital city to play in the tournament against competitive players from Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Manila for one week.

“When I found out that I had been selected for the team I was very excited and honoured to have made the Under 19s Perth All Stars team. The tournament in Manila was a step in the door for me to showcase my talent,” said Shaikera. GUMALA NEWS

Shaikera who has been playing softball for the last three years has always been athletic having competed in various sports including taekwondo, swimming, baseball and played ‘A’ Grade for the Jets Softball Club. Shaikera is currently in Year 11 and is concentrating on graduating High School before she pursues her dream of professional softball. “I am determined to be a part of the state softball team and would ultimately like to become a professional player and represent Australia,” she added. Shaikera’s Mum, Banyjima woman, Janeen Lockyer, travelled with her daughter and the team to support her on her latest achievement. “I have always supported Shaikera with her sporting activities and I am very proud of her achievements. There are not many children around Port Hedland that get the chance to experience a tournament like this. Shaikera’s entire family are proud of her.”

‘Stay determined, it will pay off’ Shaikera’s advice to other young Gumala Members who want to achieve their sporting goals is to stay in school, get involved in all sports until you find something that you like and keep trying no matter what setbacks you might encounter because if you stay determined it will pay off. Shaikera received funding assistance through Education Scholarship Assistance. For more information about Gumala's Education Assistance Programs visit www.gumala.com.au/ member-services/educationprograms/education-supportand-gumala-scholarshipprograms/or call 1800 GUMALA (1800 486 252).

EDUCATION UPDATE

Record number sign up for Enrichment Centre

This year’s signing broke all previous records with over 80 students committing to the Enrichment Centre Program. Students, families, Program Coordinators and stakeholders like Gumala all sign the contract and commit

to ensure that all students who use the Enrichment Centre will be given every opportunity to succeed in their studies.

The Enrichment Centre is a joint initiative between Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, Rio Tinto, Tom Price Senior High School, the WA Department of Education and the Graham Polly Farmer Foundation and has been operating for the past 12 years. The Centre is focused on assisting Indigenous students succeeding in education so they may go on to further studies or enter employment within local industry. Tom Price Senior High School Program Coordinator Joe Manning said it was a great turnout for the signing and the largest in three years. “It’s great to have so many students and families commit to their children’s education and get the support they need to do well,” Mr Manning said. 

Parents and students sign the Enrichment Centre contract that assists young people in becoming model students at Tom Price Senior High School GUMALA NEWS

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The Tom Price Enrichment Centre again hosted its annual signing event and welcome BBQ on 19 March where students and families sign up for another year of services from the joint initiative that provides students at Tom Price Senior High School access to after-school tutors, monitoring of school progress and attendance as well as providing a place for students to establish positive links with the community.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

GEPL trainee graduates on to apprenticeship One of Gumala Aboriginal Corporation’s trainees has become the first Member to be offered an apprenticeship as a Heavy Diesel Fitter at the GEPL Yard in Tom Price earlier this year.

Gumala Member Dan Falconer (Nyiyaparli) was offered the apprenticeship after he successfully completed a traineeship through Gumala to work for GEPL on the Yandicoogina iron ore mine. Trainee Dan Falconer

Prior to Dan starting his traineeship

with GEPL late last year, he was an apprentice mechanic which he always maintained he would like to finish once he had completed his traineeship. “It’s been a huge learning experience being out on country completing a traineeship. I am really looking forward to starting my apprenticeship. I am glad to be continuing my studies as a mechanic and being able to work with GEPL,” said Daniel. His advice to other Members considering undertaking a traineeship is that “It’s not easy but if you stick it out and work hard it will pay off in the long run.”

Kaamaron gets traineeship with Gumala Enterprises

Kaamaron Mckenzie is a young Banyjima man who commenced a traineeship with GEPL through Gumala on the Yandicoogina mine in early 2014.

Prior to undertaking his traineeship, Kaamaron worked on a crab boat in Carnarvon and worked as a general gardener.

Trainee Kaamaron McKenzie.

Kaamaron said he is looking forward to starting his traineeship with GEPL and gaining experience and learning about diesel fitting and light vehicle maintenance. After his traineeship he hopes to gain a FIFO role in the Pilbara. Members interested in traineeships or employment should contact Member Services on 1800 486 252.

Gumala advances health in the pilbara Gumala is advancing its mission towards addressing Indigenous health issues in the Pilbara by holding its first Health Committee meeting for 2014 in the Pilbara in January.

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The Gumala Health Committee which is made up of 14 Gumala Members, met in Karratha to discuss the Health Action Plan for 2014.

The Health Action Plan for 2014 was prepared by Gumala Member and Consultant, Health Services Committee, Julie Walker. GUMALA NEWS

High on the agenda this year will be to source and secure potential partners within the medical profession including Aboriginal organisations and service providers within the Ashburton shire to build GAC’s capacity to cut rates of chronic diseases and Aboriginal primary health care including dental and oral health, mental health and wellness associated with trauma, high rate of mortality and youth suicide. Julie will continue to work closely with the committee to implement the Gumala Health Action Plan 2014.  See next page for Gumala’s new Health Committee Members

The Gumala Health committee

BevERLEY Hubert Banyjima

Ronnelle Hicks Banyjima

Ken Injie Innawonga

dawn hicks Banyjima

Shane derschow Banyjima

Rabia Ferguson Innawonga

LISA COFFIN Nyiyaparli

jOHNNELL PARKER Banyjima

churchill jones Innawonga

roma butcher Innawonga

nATALIE PARKER Nyiyaparli

Margaret Parker Banyjima

julie walker Innawonga

Frances Bung Nyiyaparli

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Western Mulga cat iii approved back on country, I gave it all in to work on country and to pass on my knowledge to others,” said Sandy. Western Mulga’s latest achievement will open doors for the company to work in the mining industry. Western Mulga business owner Sandy McEwan onsite Based in Geraldton, Sandy has managed to secure weed A one hundred percent management and environmental Indigenous owned company contracts for several Rio Tinto mine has become one of the first sites across the Pilbara, two National to become pre-qualified as an Parks (Karijini and Millstream) and environmental CAT III supplier rejuvenation projects in the Midwest and Gascoyne area. for Rio Tinto earlier this year. Over two years ago, Sandy McEwan was living the corporate life in Rio Tinto’s Geraldton office, flying in and out across the Pilbara alongside working on developing his own business in environmental protection and management, Western Mulga. “Diversity in business that still met our mission to help people was what created opportunities across industries,” said Sandy.

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In 2012 Sandy decided to swap his career in mining with Rio Tinto to get his hands dirty in the red dirt and spinifex paths of the Pilbara and develop his business further.

“I was working for Rio Tinto and I was flying all over the Pilbara as an Employment Coordinator. I have qualifications in Horticulture, a Certificate IV in Land Management, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing. With these qualifications, my passion for being on country and working with Aboriginal people, I really enjoy being GUMALA NEWS

“There are very few one hundred percent Indigenous owned environmental companies who have this status as a CAT III Supplier and now we will start to see the growth as the hard work pays off,” added Sandy. Over the past few months, he has also secured a contract commuting Rio Tinto FIFO employees out of Meekatharra using local Aboriginal employment, driving buses to Hope Downs. However, Sandy is the first to admit that owning an environmental company has its challenges. “It’s a hard environment because it’s seasonal work. We have secure work six to eight months a year and it’s hard trying to fill the gaps. I’m in the process of trying to expand into year- long contracts,” he said. Since Sandy started focusing solely on his business, he has employed five Aboriginal people with up to ten people in the peak time and up to four Gumala Members.

“I see it as building a family not a workforce. I see it as my responsibility to look after the family and to expand safely. The Aboriginal workers have families and I want to think about them and make sure that there is enough work for the company to continue and expand safely.” For the Banyjima person, the country is not only an important lineage to his family and ancestors, he also feels that environmental work is a field he was destined for with all of his paths leading down the spinifex road into environmental work. Sandy’s late grandmother guided him to Gumala when the organisation first was established in 1997 to work as a Horticulturist for two years. “The company’s core foundation is to follow in the footsteps of our old people. It is our mission to make them proud. The spinifex tracks that they have walked have now created opportunities that enable us to make a difference. That’s what drives us,” added Sandy. Today, he credits some of his recent success to Gumala through the establishment of its Business Development program Sandy has been able to accelerate the growth of his company. “Western Mulga has succeeded well ahead of schedule in expanding its operations. This is thanks to the support of Gumala’s Business Development program. Gumala has assisted Western Mulga with its growth. It is ‘from Country for Country’ so I hope to have more Gumala Members that share our vision be employed with us and working for something that means something to all of us… our country,” he added. Sandy received funding assistance from Gumala through the Business Development Program. If you have a business idea of your own visit www.gumala.com.au/memberservices. 

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

New Careers on Country Dale’s Gorge at Karijini National Park. Image courtesy of Bjorn Torrissen

The recent signing of a funding agreement for a Ranger Coordinator at Tom Price is the first step in the establishment of a Ranger Team that will focus on the management of key threatened fauna species and priority biodiversity assets in the area. Rangelands NRM, with funding from the Australian Government, are embarking on an exciting new two year partnership with the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) to promote the establishment of the Aboriginal Ranger team. Anthony Ryan, General Manager - Operations at GAC anticipates that

the partnership will ensure that local Aboriginal Rangers can realise aspirations for getting back to their traditional country, passing on their knowledge and culture to younger generations and to actively work on country to make it healthy.

“Sustained employment with appropriate training will provide the community-based Aboriginal Rangers regular work, income, and the opportunity to manage their traditional lands that will give them a sense of self-worth and the economic ability to maintain an appropriate lifestyle in the Pilbara rangelands,” Dr Ryan said. Rangelands NRM Program Manager (Pilbara), Dr Bill Cotching said discussions have been held with Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) in Karratha about integration of a Ranger Team into activity on Karijini National Park and the concept has been received enthusiastically.

“A current model for this partnership exists as Rangelands NRM has been facilitating the development of a Ranger Team with the Ngurrawaana Community over a number of years,” Dr Cotching said. “These Rangers are becoming a committed and enthusiastic Team that is undertaking work on country to control weeds, improve facilities at their Community and provide services to the Department of Parks and Wildlife on Millstream Chichester National Park.” The Ngurrawaana Ranger Team has a mix of permanent and part-time Indigenous ranger positions and provide a model of how successful such a Team can be and also what is required to make the Team operational. Rangelands NRM has found that the employment of a Ranger Coordinator is critical to the success of a Ranger Team. Continued on next page GUMALA NEWS

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By Teresa Belcher Communications Manager Rangelands NRM

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

“A Ranger Coordinator is required to develop work plans, supervise the Rangers on a daily basis, source funding and ensure facilities and equipment are operational and maintained,” Dr Cotching said. Work will be undertaken through active on ground management by Traditional Owners implementing both traditional and contemporary NRM practices to reduce critical threats.

These are likely to include population monitoring for introduced predators/ herbivores and native species, identification of threatened species habitats, fire and weed management, and introduced predator/herbivore control. “The desired outcomes of the project are that the Traditional Owners are able to undertake land management to protect and conserve threatened

species in the Fortescue catchment, Traditional Owners’ connection with their country is built, and effective management is achieved of threats to the biodiversity assets of the Fortescue river catchment and surrounding country through control of fire and invasive weeds,” Dr Cotching said. For more information contact Business Development on 1800 486 252 or visit the Rangelands NRM website. l

Isaiah raps his way into local music industry An aspiring rap artist has taken the initiative to find his own way into the music industry having released his first album in February.

Nyiyaparli teenager, Isaiah Ward, first became involved in the music industry in 2011 when he met his producer Ray who has since encouraged and guided him into the industry. “The CD is a (Swan City Youth Centre) SCYC mixed tape. I got involved in music in 2011 through the producer named Ray who came and talked to me and told me what I had to do to get involved with music but I was already interested in music.” The album features two of Isaiah’s songs “Fresh Jordon’s on my Feet” which was inspired by his passion for shoes and “From the Heart” which is a song guys can play for their girlfriends.

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Isaiah’s music is based on expressing himself and his emotions by telling stories about what he has seen in his home town, Midland in Perth.

At just fifteen, he has already entertained audiences, having performed live at the Ashfield NAIDOC concert last year and was even interviewed on Gumala Radio before GUMALA NEWS

Emerging rap artist Isaiah Ward the launch of his CD earlier this year. “Ashfield was my first concert, I was pretty nervous,” he said. Isaiah’s advice to other Gumala Members who are interested in music or want to break into the music industry but may be too nervous is;

“I was really nervous too but give it a go. ” If you missed Isaiah’s interview on Gumala Radio you can listen to the interview via the Gumala Radio website http://www.gumala.com.au/aboutus/our-organisation/gumala-radio/ community-interactions/.l

community DEVELOPMENT

More Room at Karijini The Community Development Team is powering ahead with projects this year, signing a contract with remote building specialists Murray River North to provide a modular accommodation solution for Gumala employees at the Karijini Eco Retreat. The staff accommodation will be part of the ongoing project at Karijini that will see a new amphitheatre built, along with new dorm-style accommodation for backpackers and students. General Manager of Community Development Grant Divall said the new buildings will house staff from the Eco Retreat rather than using the deluxe tents.”

The new staff accommodation buildings are expected to be completed by the middle of the year and will allow the

Modular housing will enable tourism to thrive at Karijini Eco Retreat Karijini Eco Retreat to refocus on the upcoming tourism season. The ongoing partnership with Murray River North will see Gumala’s capacity and scope extended with the employment of more Traditional Owners. “When completed the new look Karijini Eco Retreat will

become a place not only for tourists, but a place for Traditional Owners to learn valuable skills while construction is taking place and when that’s finished it can be used for training in all aspects of tourism.” l

Planning starts for new program to improve housing The Community Development Team are in the planning stages of a new program to improve the standard of Member housing in homeland communities. The initial aim of the program is focussed on healthy living with Gumala currently creating a Pilbara based housing maintenance team. This team, which will be comprised of skilled building contractors, will address Member’s housing maintenance issues. There will be opportunities for Members to be employed working on upgrading the houses Please refer to Gumala’s website for up-to-date recruitment information. l GUMALA NEWS

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“Up until now it has been a real challenge providing student accommodation for staff at the Karijini Eco Retreat. The new student accommodation will be a great step toward retaining employees, cutting down on travel and also giving staff a place for some respite,” Grant said.

community DEVELOPMENT

Local participation is the key to the Healthabitat’s Housing for Health Program, the team (pictured) hard at work in Wakuthuni fixing bathrooms. Photo by Elly Lukale

“This program is a National standard with a proven history of success and we at Gumala are very proud to be partnering with the group to deliver better housing for Members by properly addressing maintenance issues”

New agreement signed with Healhabitat and gumala

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Gumala’s Community Development Team has signed a landmark agreement with Healthabitat to roll out their Housing for Health Program for Gumala Member communities.

The program aims to improve the health of people in particular children aged 0-5 years, by making sure there is proper access to safe and functioning housing, leading to improved living environments and overall health. Heathhabitat combines architecture with public health principles to create healthy homes in Indigenous communities, as these homes have GUMALA NEWS

historically fallen short of the basic requirements which has led to increased health and social issues. Healthabitat has recently published online what is widely known as the best practice model for Indigenous housing, known as Housing for Health ; The Guide. The Guide is now the national yardstick for measuring the quality of government and private housing within Indigenous communities. The Housing for Health program is unique because it engages, and relies on, local people in communities to become part of the process, as maintenance team members. These

Grant Divall

Housing for Health Team Members are over time trained to deal with maintenance issues, identify problems and keep records. Community Development Manager Grant Divall said the Housing for Health Program was a great initiative because it empowers people to improve the health of the community with training and support. “This program is a national standard with a proven history of success and we at Gumala are very proud to be partnering with the group to deliver better housing for Members by properly addressing maintenance issues,” Grant said.l

GUMALA STAFF SHINE

GAC Youth Services and Cultural Trainer Caroline Parker gives Perth business AME and education in Indigenous culture to help new employees and employers.

Increasing cultural awareness Caroline’s Cultural Awareness seminar covers Indigenous history and engagement, kinship and the importance of the family structure and the significance of culture to the tribes of the Pilbara. The Cultural Awareness seminar also addresses issues such respecting heritage and being sensitive to cultural rules and regulations and how these can impact the wider Indigenous and nonIndigenous communities.

Caroline’s educational seminar is designed to help the non-Indigenous business community to better understand the benefits and challenges of working with Indigenous people and assist in making the integration of new employees and future Gumala Member employees a seamless transition.

Asset Management Engineers or AME hosted Caroline at their Belmont Offices in March after Gumala Member Benjamin Morris, also known as BJ, won a great opportunity to work with the company as a full-time trainee Plant Assessor. AME are an engineering company that specialise in asset management services that include maintenance process auditing and development, plant and equipment condition audits, computerised maintenance management systems, plant start-up

procedures, shutdown management, classified plant inspections and plant training. AME hired Gumala Member Benjamin due to his experience in mobile plant operations, training and heavy equipment experience and is now in the process of completing a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment with the company. Gumala sourced Benjamin for AME after they saw the need to employ more Indigenous people. AME said they see great promise in BJ’s experience and his skill set. “We look forward to training and mentoring him to become an excellent future plant assessor. We love his passion for success and we are looking forward to watching him grow and achieving his dreams,” the company said. l GUMALA NEWS

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Gumala’s new Youth Services and Cultural Trainer Caroline Parker held a series of popular Cultural Awareness seminars at both the Gumala Aboriginal Corporation Offices and with external partners around the Perth area.

gumala radio blog

The Wakuthuni Media Club, Police By Tadam Lockyer and Elly Lukale Recently on a weekend visit to Karijini National Park for the second annual Karijini Experience, Elly and I came across a lovely couple who were tourists from Perth. They stopped to have a chat with me and the topic of where I worked came up, I mentioned Gumala Radio, the lady said; “Oh yes I know Gumala Radio, my son listens to it in Carnarvon.” Apparently he was working there at the time and used to tell his mum how he enjoyed listening to Gumala Radio! Random strangers who I had never met before, from all the way down south, found a connection through Gumala Radio. It inspired me to hear this feedback because sometimes working for a small community radio is not easy with technical issues and glitches in programming that need to be ironed out every day, trying to get more people involved and grow Gumala Radio to become a strong voice on Indigenous issues in the Pilbara can be challenging. Gumala Radio is not only a great avenue for storytelling and sharing information it is a great education tool and is there to inspire and give people new insights about issues they may not know about, especially within our local communities. Gumala Radio has been trying to expand and engage listeners by doing the following new projects;

Outside Broadcasts

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Gumala Radio kicked off the year with two outdoor broadcasts (OBs) at the new sports stadium in Tom Price.

The event allowed us to get some feedback from the community, through a short survey, helping us to gauge what, why, where and even when people are listening. It seems that music was the reason that most people tuned into the radio, mostly in the mornings and afternoons. GUMALA NEWS

The Wakuthuni news team filming Louwena James as an alien, cameraman Kieran Jones with Johnell Jones and Jarelle Jones. Photo by Parys Cook People were also requesting more local stories, Indigenous knowledge, culture, bush medicine as well as local history. Getting and sharing this information is where YOU come in!

connections the Banyjima people have with the country and the history of Indigenous people in the Pilbara since European settlement.

Because it’s only you, members of the Aboriginal community that can make Gumala Radio be what it can potentially be, to not only share culture but educate the younger generation.

The Karijini Experience finished up with the beautiful Opera in the Gorge evening at Kalamina Gorge where tourists and guests brought a picnic to enjoy while listening to Opera songs in the natural acoustic setting.

The Karijini Experience

New Programs

The Shire of Ashburton again held their annual Karijini Experience event at the Karijini National Park and Eco Retreat in April and Gumala Radio was there to interview celebrity chef Mark Olive who wowed guests with interactive cooking masterclass using new flavours based Indigenous ingredients.

We are constantly striving to be innovative by creating new programs and finding interesting content for our listeners but we can’t do that without your support and participation - so we need your support!

Gumala Member and Banyjima Lore Man Maitland Parker gave his inspiring Cultural Talk and Interpretive Trail Walk to tourists, explaining the deep

This year we started up the Wakuthuni Media Club. Once a week, Gumala Radio goes to Wakuthuni to spend some time with the kids teaching and creating fun videos using iPads, taking photos and getting them to capture recordings for

gumala radio blog

Roundup and the Karijini Experience Police. Listeners are welcome to email or call in with any questions they have and Sergeant Jones will try and answer them for you.

During the April school holidays we set up our Media club room, had a little film festival - watching some short videos they have made with the iPads. On another day they created their first installment of “Wakuthuni News”.

We are once again hoping to get kids involved, Elly can let you know a little bit more, as we are wanting to work closely with the Tom Price Youth Centre and a very important and special group, our Elders, we can record/film and archive their stories and knowledge.

To keep up to date and watch some of the short videos by Wakuthuni Media Club you can go to our Vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/user26283433 and also check out some pictures on our FlickR page (https://www.flickr.com/ photos/122069175@N05/) We also welcome the wider community in the region to contribute as well. We are seeing this happen with our regular Health Segment and more recently our new fortnightly Police Roundup Program, which features Sergeant Kevin Jones from the Tom Price

Gumala Radio is forging a strong online presence through various platforms, with our webpage (www.gumala.com. au/gumalaradio) but also through our Soundcloud channel (https:// soundcloud.com/gumalaradio) which allows listeners to catch up on stories and interviews, to listen to at their own leisure. We would also like to broaden our media work into film/video production, by telling your stories. Please don`t hesitate to let us know if

you have a story you would like to share. We are always wanting people to “Bring Your Passion” to Gumala Radio, as we want to include all parts of the community, whatever you`re interested in. It doesn`t take a lot of training and it`s a lot of fun. We are poised for a big year and look forward to continue to “entertain, inform and illuminate”, our listenership. We will also be doing our regular maintenance and upgrades into communities, where a lot has to be done to get some, back to service and in others, roll out the services not already there. Lastly, I`ll leave you with this: Gumala Radio “Bringing Our Communities Together”. We want that to be a true reflection on what we do. Be Safe. Take Care.l

May Byrne, Chef Mark Olive with Pine’ and Marty Byrne at Karijini National Park during the Karijini Experience weekend. GUMALA NEWS

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the radio- in other words learning to engage with all forms of media while having gun and creating their own stories.

MEMBER SERVICES UPDATE

Letters of appreciation  to Gumala   Thank you for the considerat e and supportive service

 

To all of the team at Gumala,

I would like to thank you for the computer package and prin ter that you have sent me. I am very pleased with the result. I appreciate all the effort and time it has taken to help and support me. I have received the best service and considerate and supportive service from every staff member and I really app reciate that I was listened to with kindness and patience. Most of all I am extremely gra teful that I am guided throug h the process of applying for funding and I hav e witnessed firsthand the wa y our Elders are spoken to and dealt with and I cannot fault the team for the respect and generosity of time consisten tly shown. I am very proud of our corpor ation and have come to feel more positive about the future because of the hel p I receive there. To me the funding would be tarnished if the service was not tailored to suit our cultural connections to the land and community. But I sen spirit and overarching cultur al pride from Gumala staff and se a community can only guess that you have an excellent recruit ment process where you cho ose only the nicest and most caring people. I have read and loved the arti cles in the GAC magazine! Thank you once again and ple ase keep up the good work everybody! Kind Regards,

A Grateful Member

Send your letters and feedback to Gumala Aboriginal Corporation: PO Box 28, Tom Price, WA, 6751 1 Stadium Road, Tom Price, WA, 6751

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PO Box 3167, East Perth, WA, 6892

165 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth WA 6004 Or by email to: news@gumala.com.au GUMALA NEWS

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MEMBER SERVICES UPDATE

Gumala is holding an art competition where the lucky winner will have their work featured on a front cover of a Gumala publication. Prizes to be won, in addition to the honour of having your artwork published include gift cards and special prize packs full of cool goodies. Artworks need to be A4 or A2 size and in any media from pencils and textas to crayons and paints. Be inspired by your culture, legends, stories, landscapes and spiritual places to create art that reflects Banyjima, Innawonga and Nyiyaparli people and Country. Age categories include the Young Artist Award from 12 to 18 years and the Adult Artist Award from 18 to 60 years of age. Entries close on Friday 5 June 2014, to enter simply email a picture of your artwork to news@gumala.com.au or send your entry in to PO Box 3167 East Perth WA 6892. Postage will be arranged if you send an image of your entry first. This is your chance to represent your language group and self as an artist!

The Return of the Community Bus Service! Gumala’s new and improved bus service is closer to being rolled out with the GAC Community Development Team in the process of purchasing a brand new bus. The new community bus service is designed meet the needs of members on communities and will make regular runs from Gumala’s Member communities to Tom Price and Paraburdoo. The bus service will allow Members better access to childcare and enrichments centres as well as improved access to essential services such as health care, social services and community events. Keep an eye on your phone for text messages telling you where the bus will be.

Dear Members: Don’t forget the end of the Financial Year (2014) is coming. Please make sure to submit your applications for this new Financial Year (2015) early - to allow time for processing by Member Services. Any questions call 1800 486 252.

There will be a Special Consultation Meeting at Wanangkura Stadium, Hamilton Road, South Hedland on SATURDAY 21 JUNE 2014. Members will receive a formal notice in the mail soon to register for the meeting.

Gumala are looking for artists and performers for NAIDOC Week Celebrations in Tom Price. Celebrate your culture and represent your mob with dancing, traditional arts and crafts, singing and more - we want to hear from you! Call 1800 486 252 or email news@gumala.com.au GUMALA NEWS

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Art Competition!