What’s On
editor@arafuratimes.com.au
EDITOR’S NOTE: If you have an upcoming event, please let us know by email to editor@arafuratimes.com.au or phone Marjo Hallowell on 1300 088 000. Wed 21 to Fri, Apr 20, 2012. Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club – 2011-2012 XXXX Gold Billfish Tournament. Wed 21 to Fri, Jan 27, 2012. Nhulunbuy Community Neighbourhood Centre - Holiday Happening programme. 7.30am - 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. Ph 8987 2191. Fri 23. Santa at IGA 4-5pm. Sun 25. Rotary Santa’s Lolly Run on Christmas Day starts about 8am Christmas morning and distributes lollies and good cheer to Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Biritjimi, Galupa and Marngarr. Help is more than welcome.
To the town of Nhulunbuy. Recently our daughter Sara Hampel passed away whilst living in your town. We wish to thank the community of Nhulunbuy for their support, love and the friendship that you had shown both Sara and her husband Matthew. We were very grateful for the many people who called around to offer their sympathy and help, to drop in the cooked meals that we enjoyed and also the little extras like
Tue 3. Nhulunbuy Community Library school Holiday activities - National Year of Reading Project - writing postcards- from 10am. Numbers Limited and bookings essential. Ph 8987 0860. Thu 5. Anglicare School Holiday Program - activities for 12-17-year-olds. Tue 10. Nhulunbuy Community Library school Holiday activities - Cook up a storm with no baking involved from 10am. Numbers Limited and bookings essential. Ph 8987 0860. Wed 11. Anglicare Circus Workshop with juggling, poi, hoola hoop, unicycle at the Town Hall - activities for 12-17-year-olds. Sat 14. Nhulunbuy Motorcycle Club - Working Bee. Sun 15. Nhulunbuy Motorcycle Club - first meeting of the year. Tue 17. Nhulunbuy Community Library school Holiday activities - Let’s get crafty - make your own masterpieces - from 10am. Numbers Limited and bookings essential. Ph 8987 0860. Tue 17. Anglicare - boys jam session - activities for 12-17-year-olds. Thu 19. Anglicare in conjunction with Arafura Dance hip hop classes - activities for 12-17-year-olds. Wed 25. Anglicare in conjunction with Arafura Dance hip hop classes - activities for 12-17-year-olds.
Electoral News
by NT Member for Nhulunbuy LYNNE WALKER
Tue 7. Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club Monthly General Meeting. Fri 17. Rotary Quiz Night. Sat 18. Nhulunbuy Corporation Art and Craft Market hosted by Highland Dance Group. Date to be confirmed: Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club - Junior Fishing Clinic and Family Competition. Clinic Saturday - competition Sunday.
NT HEALTH Minister Kon Vatskalis is visiting today (Wednesday, December 21) to officially open the six new units of accommodation at Gove Hospital and inspect the newly refurbished
Tue 6. Nhulunbuy Regional Sports Fishing Club Monthly General Meeting. Sat 24. Nhulunbuy Corporation Art and Craft Market hosted by NPS Year 6 Canberra Excursion Group. TBA: AFANT Ladies Fishing Clinic - 2pm Sunday afternoon. TBA: Airnorth Ladies Fishing Tournament - Ladies 2 day Tournament. TBA: Airnorth Ladies Fishing Tournament - Presentation Dinner.
Office: Arafura Ink Unit Trust trading as Arafura Times, ABN 47 262 634 576, PO Box 261, Port Douglas, Qld 4877
8 – Arafura Times
the biscuits and cake. Also to the girls from Manfield Colair for cleaning the house after we had left and the furniture was packed up. To Cross Survey and Rio Tinto for organising the shift with the least amount of worry to Matthew. And to the town of Nhulunbuy for their generous donations to Mia for her continuing care and welllbeing. We are overwhelmed with everything your town has done for our family. Chas
dental clinic. Modern facilities are a top priority in attracting health professionals to remote areas for delivery of patient services. I’m also really pleased that these projects were undertaken by local contractors. Brett Grieves (BIG Carpentry) constructed the accommodation and Zen Bajraktari (Zenco Constructions) completed works at the clinic. THE Australian Government has announced funding of $176 million to build trade training centres in five remote schools including three in the electorate of Nhulunbuy; Yirrkala School, Nhulunbuy High and Shepherdson College on Elcho Island. Gapuwiyak and Ntaria (Central Australia)
who will have the full support of Yolngu clan leaders. We wish to actively reconcile any ill feelings this incident may cause between members of our shared community. In the future our leaders will work together to promote our Ngarra rom for good conduct, respect of others and peace in the spirit of this land. Yours Sincerely, Timmy Djawa Burarrwanga Gumatj Clan
commented 18 months ago when we visited Sara in Nhulunbuy, that if you could transport your town to anywhere in Australia what a wonderful country we would have. Be proud of yourselves and know that we are forever grateful for the wonderful support you have given us all in our time of loss. We will always have fond memories of your town and the wonderful people who live there. Chas and Cheryl Nokes
are also part of the pool. Building opportunities and pathways for students between education, training and employers is critical to strengthening our regional and Territory economy and addressing what is a nationwide skills shortage. I WAS heartened to see the rapid progress of the housing programme at Elcho last week with dozens of new homes on the new subdivision at lock-up stage and ready for handover. YIRRKALA remains one of the last communities in the NT to reach lease agreement to enable the SIHIP programme to roll out. Upon agreement, planning will commence for the $16 million Yirrkala housing package which
Our bonny baby
March
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We feel your pain. We Yolngu want all people to feel safe and protected in Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala, Ski Beach and Wallaby Beach and we will work harder to ensure this. We understand words are limited in trying to repair the damage done, but we want to publicly say sorry to the family. There are laws to protect all people in this country and we respect these laws. We will leave this matter with the authorities
Hospital accommodation opens in Gove
February
The Arafura Times is published every Wednesday, with a circulation of 1300 copies sold across Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala. Editor’s phone: 08 8987 1798 Editor’s mobile: 0413 457 694 All Advertising / Accounts enquiries please call 1300 0880 00 or 07 4099 4633 or fax 1300 787 248
Yolngu system about relationships among all people, beings and things in the world. Mawul rom is the law of peacemaking. We Yolngu want to live in peace with others and share the goodness of our ways. Under Yolngu Law this recent tragedy is against Ngarra rom and it is deeply shameful for us. We leaders want to express our feelings to the family members suffering at the moment and to all Nhulunbuy residents.
Town rallied around father and baby daughter
2012 January
NEWS FOR EAST ARNHEM LAND, INCLUDING NHULUNBUY AND YIRRKALA
Yolngu leaders feel shame over attack To the families and the residents of Nhulunbuy, All of the Leaders of the Yolngu clans would like to express our remorse and to extend our deepest sympathy over the recent event that has devastated a family in Nhulunbuy. We are part of that pain and we are very very sad to have to write this letter. We Yolngu have our Ngarra rom which is our law. Ngarra, or hidden knowledge, holds the
DECEMBER
Arafura Times
letters to the editor
Jordon Krohn was born at Gove District Hospital on September 22. He is a son for Kadek Sukerti and John Krohn and a brother for Jennifer. He weighed 3.77kg.
Contacts & Deadlines
Publisher’s Details
EDITOR: Marjo Hallowell editor@arafuratimes.com.au AD DESIGN: Sharon Gallery ads@arafuratimes.com.au
Publishers of the Arafura Times
ADVERTISING DEADLINES – Box ad bookings: NOON, FRIDAYS Box ad material: 5PM, FRIDAYS Line Classifieds: 10AM, MONDAYS EDITORIAL DEADLINES – General copy: 5PM, FRIDAYS (pics, stories, letters, etc) Sports columns: 10AM, MONDAYS
21 - 27 December 2011
will deliver new and refurbished housing. FoR those of us still doing the last minute Christmas shopping, step into our local shops and support local businesses and jobs in our community. I’m looking forward to spending Christmas with my family in Nhulunbuy as I’ve done for many years, and then taking off for a break in Bali in the New Year, returning to work on January 16. My office will be in the capable hands of my electorate officer, Karen Cislowski, and will be open with the exception of public holidays. Best wishes to all for a safe and happy festive season and a prosperous New Year.
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CHAIRMAN: Mark Bousen chairman@regionalandremote.com.au PUBLISHER: Corey Bousen publisher@regionalandremote.com.au
MANAGING EDITOR: Grant Banks editor@regionalandremote.com.au ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Craig Burkill associate.publisher@regionalandremote.com.au ACCOUNTS: Cathy Nicholson accounts@arafuratimes.com.au
Letters to the editor Letters to the Editor are published as a free community service and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Arafura Times nor its management. Letters must be legible, preferably less than 250 words, carry a name and address, and be signed. A telephone number or similar identification must also be provided. Unsigned and anonymous letters, or use of a nom de plume, eg Concerned Citizen, etc will not be accepted. Names withheld on discretion of the publisher. Letters may be edited for space or content or omitted altogether at the discretion of the editor. Mail to PO Box 1120, Nhulunbuy, NT 0881, fax 1300 787 248 or email editor@arafuratimes.com.au.