Gumala News - August 2012 - Community Edition
Gumala News - August 2012 - Community Edition
Gumala News - August 2012 - Community Edition
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GUMALA NEWS<br />
COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA<br />
Aboriginal<br />
Corporation<br />
ICN 2744<br />
<strong>2012</strong>-15 Strategic Plan unveiled<br />
<strong>Community</strong> centre’s official opening<br />
Achievements across <strong>Gumala</strong>’s<br />
Member Services Division<br />
Yandi mine expansion<br />
Traditional Owner success stories<br />
NAIDOC Week celebrations<br />
Disclaimer: 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
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
The success story of Australia’s<br />
fastest growing Aboriginal<br />
corporation rolls on<br />
It is an exciting time to be the Chief<br />
Executive Officer (CEO) of <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Aboriginal Corporation (GAC).<br />
Against the backdrop of being one<br />
of the biggest and fastest growing<br />
Aboriginal corporations in Australia,<br />
GAC has celebrated many successes<br />
in the last few months, some of<br />
which you will read about in the<br />
forthcoming pages.<br />
EXPANSION OF MEMBER<br />
SERVICES PROGRAMS<br />
At the beginning of the <strong>2012</strong>-13<br />
Financial Year, GAC introduced<br />
new programs and initiatives to our<br />
Member Services Programs portfolio.<br />
This includes the Early Childhood<br />
program, Country Week Assistance,<br />
Telstra Bill Assistance and Business<br />
Development initiatives.<br />
These programs add to our already<br />
extensive range of over 20 programs<br />
that assist our Members and their<br />
children.<br />
HOUSING STRATEGY<br />
In addition to our growing<br />
portfolio of Member Programs, our<br />
projects team have been very busy<br />
progressing a range of initiatives<br />
that are resulting in better local<br />
communities in which our Members<br />
and their families live.<br />
This includes our multi-million dollar<br />
Housing project. GAC has reached<br />
a critical stage in the expansion of<br />
its Housing Strategy, which will see<br />
new <strong>Gumala</strong> houses built in South<br />
Hedland this year.<br />
This will be followed by the<br />
construction of <strong>Gumala</strong> homes<br />
Steve Mav<br />
in Tom Price. Our Members are<br />
currently being consulted on the<br />
type of homes that will suit the<br />
needs of the Traditional Owners.<br />
NAIDOC WEEK<br />
NAIDOC Week is an important<br />
event in the <strong>Gumala</strong> calendar.<br />
Every year when it rolls around, it<br />
gives us an opportunity to celebrate<br />
our Members’ culture, history<br />
and the invaluable contributions<br />
that Indigenous people make to<br />
Australian national identity.<br />
This year, <strong>Gumala</strong> joined the Tom<br />
Price community in celebrating<br />
NAIDOC Week. <strong>Gumala</strong> hosted<br />
a popular stall which showcased<br />
traditional artefacts, a Banyjima<br />
(one of our three language groups)<br />
language display, art activities and<br />
traditional bush tucker (cooking and<br />
tastings).<br />
By Steve Mav, CEO, <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
COMMUNITY CENTRE<br />
OPENING<br />
The official opening of a community<br />
centre at one of our local<br />
communities – Bellary Springs –<br />
took place recently.<br />
This project (funding support,<br />
design and construction) would not<br />
have been possible if it were not for<br />
the partnerships between <strong>Gumala</strong>,<br />
community members, the University<br />
of Melbourne, Lotterywest and Rio<br />
Tinto.<br />
It is a partnership that has resulted<br />
in the Bellary Springs community<br />
having a modern and culturally<br />
appropriate building that has a<br />
range of uses including community<br />
meetings, health clinics, education<br />
and support programs.<br />
In exactly the same manner as the<br />
design and construction the Early<br />
Childhood Centre in Wakuthuni<br />
community last year, the design and<br />
construction of the Bellary Springs<br />
<strong>Community</strong> Centre project was<br />
delivered on-time and within budget.<br />
LONG TERM SUCCESS<br />
As we move ahead throughout the<br />
year we remain mindful that the<br />
growth of <strong>Gumala</strong> stems from the<br />
historic land use agreement reached<br />
15 years ago with Elders, some of<br />
whom are sadly no longer with us<br />
today.<br />
Current and future generations<br />
will always be grateful for the<br />
foundations that have been laid to<br />
ensure the long term success of one<br />
of Australia’s largest Indigenous<br />
corporations. – Steve Mav<br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Board appoints new<br />
Chairman and Secretary<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation’s<br />
(GAC) Board of Directors has<br />
appointed Director Stephen<br />
Peterson as the new Chairman of<br />
GAC.<br />
Mr Peterson is a Nyiyaparli<br />
Traditional Owner. His role<br />
on the GAC Board prior to his<br />
STEPHEN PETERSON<br />
Chairman - Nyiyaparli<br />
ARCHIE TUCKER<br />
Director - Banyjima<br />
CECIL PARKER<br />
Director - Innawonga<br />
DAVID STOCK<br />
Director - Nyiyaparli<br />
appointment as Chairman was that<br />
of Secretary.<br />
The GAC Board appointed Mr<br />
Peterson as Chairman on Monday<br />
June 25, <strong>2012</strong>. On the same day,<br />
the GAC Board also appointed<br />
Director David MacLean as<br />
Secretary.<br />
Stuart Ingie Snr<br />
Deputy Chair - Innawonga<br />
SLIM PARKER<br />
Director - Banyjima<br />
DOREEN JAMES<br />
Director - Innawonga<br />
KEITH HALL<br />
Director - Nyiyaparli<br />
The Board and Management of<br />
GAC wish Mr Peterson and Mr<br />
MacLean successful terms in their<br />
respective office bearer roles,<br />
and wish to thank Keith Hall<br />
for his tireless work and many<br />
achievements during his time as<br />
Chairman.<br />
DAVID MACLEAN<br />
Secretary - Banyjima<br />
SHANE DERSCHOW<br />
Director - Banyjima<br />
NICHOLAS COOK<br />
Director - Innawonga<br />
NATALIE PARKER<br />
Director - Nyiyaparli<br />
Page 2<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 3
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
Bellary Springs celebrates official opening of new community centre<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
(GAC) has continued to break<br />
new ground in the advancement<br />
of important developments for the<br />
benefit of <strong>Gumala</strong> Members with the<br />
opening of a community centre in<br />
Bellary Springs at the end of June.<br />
Representatives of GAC, the<br />
University of Melbourne, and other<br />
special guests, joined the Bellary<br />
Springs community to celebrate the<br />
official opening of the state-of-theart<br />
building on 29 June <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
Officially opened by GAC’s Deputy<br />
Chairman and respected Innawonga<br />
Elder, Stuart Ingie Snr, the project<br />
was made possible thanks to GAC’s<br />
innovative partnership with the<br />
University of Melbourne and funding<br />
from Lotterywest. Significant in-kind<br />
assistance was also provided by Rio<br />
Tinto.<br />
GAC and the University of<br />
Melbourne are building a successful<br />
partnership. In 2011, GAC<br />
partnered with the School of<br />
Architecture, Building and Planning<br />
for the construction of an Early<br />
Childhood Centre in Wakuthuni. In<br />
<strong>2012</strong>, they have teamed up again<br />
to construct a community centre in<br />
Bellary Springs.<br />
Earlier this year GAC and the<br />
University of Melbourne worked<br />
closely together with the Bellary<br />
Spring community on all stages<br />
and aspects of the research and<br />
development process to deliver<br />
outcomes based on an agreed and<br />
shared vision.<br />
As the community originally had<br />
no shared space to gather for<br />
community functions and gettogethers,<br />
the project involved the<br />
design and construction of a centre<br />
where the community will be able to<br />
host community functions, provide<br />
office space for learning facilities and<br />
enable support programs to take<br />
place for: dental health; paediatric<br />
support; and cultural and education<br />
programs.<br />
GAC Chairman, Stephen Peterson<br />
said: “<strong>Gumala</strong> worked closely with<br />
the community members to decide<br />
on the location for the community<br />
centre. It is important for the<br />
community members that the<br />
centre had a view of the mountains<br />
in northeast Bellary Springs. The<br />
mountain range has a particular<br />
importance to many community<br />
members.”<br />
For ten days, 16 University of<br />
Melbourne students, two staff,<br />
GAC’s facilities and maintenance<br />
employee, Bruce Mahy, and<br />
contractors worked 10 hours a day<br />
to get the project finished on time.<br />
“On behalf of <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal<br />
Corporation, I would like to thank<br />
Lotterywest for their funding<br />
support that helped make this<br />
fantastic community centre project<br />
a reality. Thanks should also go<br />
to the University of Melbourne<br />
for their ongoing commitment to<br />
working with GAC and Rio Tinto for<br />
their significant in-kind assistance,”<br />
Stephen added.<br />
“The community had no shared<br />
space to gather for community<br />
functions and get-togethers. GAC,<br />
the Bellary Springs residents and<br />
the University of Melbourne have<br />
worked together with the support of<br />
Lotterywest to give the community a<br />
place to go and give the residents a<br />
sense of community spirit.”<br />
Above: The Bellary Springs <strong>Community</strong> Centre (photo taken on the day of the official<br />
opening: June 29, <strong>2012</strong>). Inset: Image taken during the construction phase<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Elder and Bellary Springs resident Ken Ingie Snr and University of<br />
Melbourne’s David O’Brien<br />
Stuart Ingie Snr during the ribbon cutting ceremony, officially opening<br />
the community centre. GAC’s CEO Steve Mav was the MC for the event<br />
Rio Tinto’s Lauren Heinritz pictured with GAC Elder<br />
and Deputy Chairman Stuart Ingie Snr<br />
GAC’s Indigenous Coordinator/Mentor<br />
Ronnelle Hicks<br />
Over 60 guests and community members<br />
attended the opening ceremony<br />
Lauren Heinritz (Rio Tinto) flanked by GAC’s Chairman and CEO Stephen<br />
Peterson (left) and Steve Mav (right)<br />
Cr Cecilia Fernandez (Shire of Ashburton and IBN)<br />
was one of many guests of honour at the event<br />
Page 4<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 5
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> pays tribute to University of Melbourne’s team of students from the School of Architecture,<br />
Building and Planning for their skills and hard work on the Bellary Springs <strong>Community</strong> Centre<br />
Sarah Anderson Andrew Nicoll Nick Pappas<br />
Decking, playground and Wall framing and angle Roof structure and septic tank<br />
trimming<br />
grinding<br />
Dayne Beacom Alejandra Cordova Matt Breen<br />
Roof structure<br />
Ramp and painting<br />
Roof structure and shading structure<br />
Shajia (Kathy) Zhao<br />
Ramp and decking<br />
Johnathan Lovell<br />
Joinery, flooring and ceiling<br />
Angie Darby<br />
Entry facade, seats and<br />
cabinetry<br />
Ian Hince<br />
Decking<br />
Saumya Karwshik<br />
Painting and grinding<br />
Meng (Josh) Ho<br />
Floor decking and painting<br />
Kathryn Finck<br />
Bench, painting and<br />
documenter<br />
Steph Kitingan<br />
Deck and sewage pit<br />
Sam Franklin<br />
Front facade, painting and<br />
flooring<br />
Tamara Burton<br />
Finishes, ceiling<br />
and bathroom<br />
Page 6<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 7
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
Rio Tinto to invest<br />
US$1.7 billion into<br />
the Yandi mine<br />
Rio Tinto has announced that it will invest US$1.7 billion to extend the<br />
life of the Yandicoogina (Yandi) mine to 2021.<br />
The investment is part of a bigger US$3.7 billion package to expand<br />
iron-ore production in the Pilbara region.<br />
Rio Tinto plans to expand production on the Yandi mine to 56 million<br />
tonnes a year. The company also plans to add a wet processing plant.<br />
The announcement coincided with the 15 year anniversary of the signing<br />
of the ground-breaking Yandi Land Use Agreement (YLUA) between<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) and Hamersley Iron (a wholly<br />
owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto).<br />
The original signatories (the Founding Members of GAC) negotiated in<br />
good faith with Hamersley Iron to secure the agreement. The process<br />
involved many months of tough negotiating and numerous meetings. The<br />
YLUA was finally ratified by a community meeting and signed in Tom<br />
Price on March 1, 1997. The agreement effectively paved the way for<br />
the development of the Yandi mine.<br />
The first regional land use agreement for a major resource project, it<br />
provided a comprehensive framework for protecting Aboriginal culture<br />
and promoting economic development.<br />
If it were not for the YLUA, GAC would not be in existence. GAC<br />
is proud of the many successes (economic, social and community<br />
developmental solutions for many generations of Traditional Owners) it<br />
has been able to bring to fruition as a result of the land use agreement.<br />
GAC continues to maintain a strong, positive and transparent relationship<br />
with its key stakeholder, Rio Tinto.<br />
The Rio Tinto Iron Ore operated Yandicoogina (Yandi) Mine has become<br />
Australia’s biggest producing iron ore mine, with a current output of 53 million<br />
tonnes per annum (mtpa). Rio Tinto has announced it is set to ramp up production<br />
to 56 mtpa and extend the life-of-mine to 2021. Image courtesy of Rio Tinto<br />
Wakuthuni<br />
receives special<br />
visit from<br />
education expert<br />
Well known author, parenting and<br />
education expert Maggie Dent<br />
concluded her visit to the Tom<br />
Price area in late June by visiting the<br />
Wakuthuni Early Learning Centre.<br />
The Wakuthuni community had<br />
been informed of her visit and<br />
more than ten children with their<br />
parents attended. After speaking<br />
to individual parents and enjoying<br />
the home baked morning tea,<br />
Maggie took the opportunity to talk<br />
to the adults about child rearing.<br />
Her amusing stories and gentle<br />
manner quickly endeared her to<br />
the young, all Aboriginal audience.<br />
She talked about her connections<br />
with the Aboriginal community and<br />
highlighted the positive practises<br />
of promoting independence and<br />
resilience in their children.<br />
She also challenged them to consider<br />
increasing their interactions and<br />
to monitor the behaviour of their<br />
children. Maggie endeared herself<br />
to the community and very kindly<br />
donated signed copies of her book<br />
and DVD, ‘Real kids in an Unreal<br />
world’.<br />
Teachers Rochelle Hooper and<br />
Mary Rice were delighted that<br />
Maggie Dent took time to impart<br />
some of her considerable wisdom<br />
and experiences to the Wakuthuni<br />
community.<br />
(L-R) Warrick Chad, Early Learning<br />
Childhood Teacher Mary Rice, GAC’s<br />
CEO Steve Mav, Maggie Dent, Louwena<br />
James and Lisa Wedge.<br />
Young designer a big hit at Perth<br />
fashion week<br />
A <strong>Gumala</strong> Member hit the runway<br />
with a ground breaking showcase of<br />
her Pilbara inspired fashion label at<br />
the Perth Convention Centre during<br />
Perth Fashion Week earlier this year.<br />
Lilla Gagliano showcased her fashion<br />
label “Kaninda Designs” as part of<br />
the ‘Dreamtime Showcase’ section<br />
for the first time. After eight weeks<br />
of hard work in preparing and<br />
designing the garments, Lilla unveiled<br />
15 garments from her collection on<br />
the runway.<br />
“What I put down on the runway<br />
was a striking easily recognisable<br />
collection, something that all<br />
designers hope to achieve. This is<br />
something that comes naturally to<br />
me, being inspired by my culture,<br />
land and people - this is what sets me<br />
apart from the rest.”<br />
The Dreamtime Showcase is the<br />
first section of its kind in the<br />
fashion industry in Australia to give<br />
Aboriginal designers an opportunity<br />
to stage their talent at fashion week.<br />
While it is a milestone for the<br />
industry, being able to attend fashion<br />
week has boosted Lilla’s confidence<br />
in both her business and herself.<br />
Over the five days, Lilla was able to<br />
meet, interact and stand alongside<br />
both leading international and<br />
national designers.<br />
“To stand next to Australian and<br />
international designers and know that<br />
I am just as good as them. Knowing<br />
that I can produce garments at their<br />
level even in such a remote area as<br />
the Pilbara with limited resources,<br />
I am so proud of what I have<br />
achieved.”<br />
However, it was her originality that<br />
moved the audience and gained<br />
her a lot of attention from famous<br />
International designers including<br />
South African designer, Hendrik<br />
Vermeulen.<br />
“The feedback I received from<br />
the audience who attended the<br />
Dreamtime Showcase is that<br />
they were amazed, excited and<br />
emotionally moved to witness such<br />
high quality creations coming from<br />
an unknown Aboriginal designer.<br />
“I had international designers coming<br />
up and looking at my collection.<br />
They could instantly see the quality<br />
and beauty of my hand painted silk<br />
and they were only too happy to<br />
tell me that I was creating something<br />
special,” she said.<br />
Whilst it was a first for the fashion<br />
world to introduce Indigenous<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member Lilla Gagliano<br />
designers, it was also the first time<br />
that <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
(GAC) was able to fund a Member<br />
to attend fashion week. Lilla received<br />
assistance from GAC’s new Business<br />
Development initiative to attend and<br />
present at the show.<br />
GAC Business Development<br />
Manager, Paul Avery, had the<br />
privilege of seeing her clothes being<br />
modelled at fashion week. Paul<br />
Avery: “Lilla stood out amongst the<br />
Indigenous Dreamtime Showcase<br />
with her striking and colourful<br />
designs.”<br />
Lilla is now working with <strong>Gumala</strong>’s<br />
Business Development department to<br />
grow her business and develop her<br />
business plan.<br />
“Now that I have received the<br />
exposure and have showcased a<br />
successful collection, I believe that<br />
with the continued support from<br />
GAC the Kaninda label is ready<br />
to stamp its place in the fashion<br />
industry.”<br />
Page 8<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 9
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GAC continues to invest in the<br />
future of its Members<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
(GAC), has continued to focus on<br />
investing in our Members’ futures<br />
by introducing new programs to<br />
add to an already extensive range of<br />
Member Services programs.<br />
Over the last few years, GAC has<br />
been providing a range of programs<br />
tailor-made to assist our Members<br />
and their children. However, in the<br />
new (<strong>2012</strong>-13) financial year, new<br />
education programs and initiatives<br />
have been introduced.<br />
Over the last three years GAC has<br />
placed a strong emphasis on investing<br />
in our future generation through<br />
education. This has resulted in a<br />
dramatic “education revolution”.<br />
From 2009 to <strong>2012</strong>, the number<br />
of Traditional Owners we have<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> continues to<br />
invest in new programs,<br />
including education<br />
programs, for the benefit<br />
of current and future<br />
generations of Traditional<br />
Owners<br />
provided funding opportunities to<br />
has boomed from approximately 50<br />
to 750. This includes about 450<br />
primary school children, more than<br />
170 secondary school children,<br />
over 60 scholarships, and about two<br />
dozen tertiary students.<br />
Now in the <strong>2012</strong>-13 financial year<br />
we have introduced a wide range of<br />
new programs in the education area.<br />
For example, the Early Childhood<br />
Program has been launched. This<br />
program caters for 0-5 year old<br />
children, including the following<br />
funding opportunities: attending<br />
high quality Early Childhood<br />
Education programs and registered<br />
day care centres; educational items<br />
such as learning games and books;<br />
clothing costs, clothing required for<br />
attendance at programs or activities;<br />
activities conducted by other<br />
organisations (such as playgroup,<br />
swimming lessons, kinder gym, baby<br />
music classes); and Special baby<br />
needs.<br />
OTHER NEW PROGRAMS<br />
The Country Week Assistance<br />
program is a new initiative that<br />
covers camp fees, uniforms and<br />
equipment fees for rural and<br />
remotely situated <strong>Gumala</strong> secondary<br />
students who are pursuing excellence<br />
within their school’s sporting, dance<br />
and debating programs, and who<br />
have been selected to represent their<br />
school in Country Week activities in<br />
the various sporting disciplines.<br />
In addition to education scholarships<br />
that GAC already provides, GAC<br />
has now extended its scholarship<br />
opportunities for students in<br />
sporting, music and arts pursuits.<br />
Other programs GAC has<br />
introduced in the <strong>2012</strong>-13 financial<br />
year include the The Telstra Bill<br />
Assistance Program, as well as<br />
Business Development initiatives.<br />
These compliment GAC’s already<br />
highly successful portfolio of<br />
Member Services programs, which<br />
include:<br />
• Healthy living program<br />
• Medical program<br />
• Critically ill patient support<br />
• Educational programs<br />
• Computer support<br />
• Sports program<br />
• Funeral programs<br />
• Headstone program<br />
• Lore and Culture programs<br />
• Emergency Housing support<br />
• Natural Disaster Relief support<br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
Re-invigorated <strong>Gumala</strong> Enterprises<br />
secures major projects<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Enterprises Pty Ltd (GEPL)<br />
has secured two new major projects<br />
that will significantly increase the<br />
company’s turnover and capability<br />
over the next 12 months.<br />
GEPL commenced work in mid-June<br />
on the $1.7 billion Yandi Sustaining<br />
Project, providing ancillary civil<br />
works and other support services.<br />
GEPL expects to have between 20<br />
and 30 personnel onsite for the<br />
two-year duration of the project,<br />
which will extend the life of the<br />
Yandicoogina mine to 2021. Being<br />
at Yandi, where we have our Land<br />
Use Agreement, this is a very<br />
important project.<br />
GEPL has also been awarded the<br />
$37 million Mesa J TSF4 project<br />
near Pannawonica in conjunction<br />
with its joint venture partner<br />
Georgiou Group. This follows on<br />
from the successful completion of<br />
the TSF3 tailings dam expansion by<br />
the <strong>Gumala</strong> Georgiou JV earlier this<br />
year. Work on TSF4 will commence<br />
in early July.<br />
In addition to securing and<br />
successfully delivering projects, GEPL<br />
is also making strides in the area<br />
of health and safety, and is looking<br />
forward to celebrating 500 days<br />
Lost Time Injury free in just under a<br />
fortnight.<br />
This significant milestone could<br />
not have been reached without the<br />
involvement of all personnel across<br />
all its operations, and GEPL is very<br />
proud of it employees for putting<br />
safety first at all times.<br />
A NEW DIRECTION FOR<br />
GEPL – LIGHT VEHICLE<br />
SERVICING<br />
Not content with just winning more<br />
contracts in civil construction, GEPL<br />
is also looking at branching out into<br />
light vehicle servicing through a<br />
Left to right: GEPL Deputy Chairperson Natalie Parker, GEPL Chairman Sam Galati, GEPL<br />
Commercial Manager Jose Castillo, Georgiou Group CEO John Georgiou, and Georgiou Group<br />
Executive Officer John Galvin signing the contract for the Mesa J TSF4 contract<br />
partnership with a major motoring<br />
group, DVG.<br />
Utilising space in its existing<br />
workshop in Tom Price, GEPL will<br />
be ready to start servicing light<br />
vehicles as early as July under the<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> DVG JV banner.<br />
The partnership with DVG is an<br />
excellent opportunity for GEPL’s<br />
personnel to receive training from<br />
DVG’s specialised mechanics.<br />
It will also mean that people from<br />
Tom Price and Paraburdoo who<br />
own a range of cars – from Toyotas<br />
to Hyundais – will no longer have<br />
to go all the way to Karratha or<br />
Port Hedland to get their vehicles<br />
serviced; they’ll be able to do it<br />
much closer to home.<br />
The new light vehicle servicing and<br />
repair centre will also create far<br />
greater training and employment<br />
opportunities for <strong>Gumala</strong> Members<br />
in the automotive trades.<br />
Lore camp<br />
upgrades<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal<br />
Corporation (GAC) has<br />
purchased two new generators<br />
to help support our Members’<br />
lore activities as part of<br />
GAC’s Lore Camp Upgrade<br />
program.<br />
These generators will be<br />
kept and maintained by<br />
GAC and moved within the<br />
communities of Bellary and<br />
Wakuthuni when required for<br />
lore activities. Peedamulla,<br />
Wirrilimarra and Youngaleena<br />
have already benefited from<br />
generators provided under<br />
GAC’s Lore Camp Upgrade<br />
program.<br />
Page 10<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 11
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation (ICN 2744)<br />
<strong>2012</strong> – 2015 Strategic Plan<br />
To become the leading Indigenous development organisation within Australia.<br />
To alleviate poverty through proactive measures to achieve economic, social and community<br />
development, while promoting and protecting cultural values of the Traditional Owners.<br />
To provide direct relief from poverty, sickness, suffering, destitution, misfortune and homelessness<br />
to all Aboriginal people living in Australia who are members of the Banyjima, Innawonga and<br />
Nyiyaparli language groups without discrimination.<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
Build self-determination by increasing<br />
stakeholder capability through:<br />
Members’ involvement<br />
Elders’ program<br />
Reconciliation Action Plan<br />
Strategically engage with stakeholders<br />
critical to the growth of the organisation<br />
Ensure good governance practices through<br />
establishing and maintaining agreed<br />
processes endorsed by the GAC Board and<br />
executed by the CEO through:<br />
Management Systems<br />
Regulatory<br />
CEO DIVISION<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
Increased participation by <strong>Gumala</strong> Members in the activities<br />
of the Corporation, including developing an increased<br />
knowledge and understanding of the role and responsibilities<br />
of the Corporation.<br />
Empower and support GAC elders to play a greater role in the<br />
community and the Corporation and to reinforce the<br />
guidance and leadership they provide.<br />
Develop a GAC Reconciliation Action Plan that includes an<br />
Indigenous recruitment and career development strategy and<br />
cultural and cross-cultural awareness training.<br />
Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with key<br />
stakeholders especially Rio Tinto Iron Ore and the Trustee of<br />
the General <strong>Gumala</strong> Foundation, <strong>Gumala</strong> Investments (GIPL).<br />
Ensure comprehensive internal GAC management systems,<br />
policies and procedures are established including through<br />
annual reports, audit acquittals, delegations and reporting.<br />
Ensure that GAC policies and procedures are systematic and<br />
operate in accordance with the requirements of the CATSI<br />
Act, GGF Trust Fund, GAC Rule Book etc.<br />
Indirect assistance from<br />
GAC through<br />
coordinating actions and<br />
activities with key<br />
organisations:<br />
i.e. Rio Tinto and other<br />
Indigenous Corporations.<br />
Direct assistance from GAC with the<br />
provision of:<br />
> GAC Programs; and<br />
> GAC Projects.<br />
Indirect assistance<br />
from GAC through<br />
representing Members'<br />
issues and interests to:<br />
government agencies,<br />
not for profit and<br />
philanthropic<br />
organisations.<br />
1<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
Secure funding certainty by developing plans<br />
to strategically engage with new potential<br />
funders and maintain strong relationships<br />
with current funding bodies as follows:<br />
Identify, engage and lobby new potential<br />
funders<br />
Maintain strong relationships with current<br />
funding bodies<br />
Optimise program development through<br />
ensuring alignment with Members’ needs<br />
and desires using agreed and established<br />
mechanisms and evidence based business<br />
cases through:<br />
New projects<br />
Measuring ongoing projects<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
Research funding opportunities for government, philanthropic<br />
or joint venture opportunities.<br />
Develop funding submissions to secure funding for specific<br />
projects and/or programs.<br />
Ensure that GAC programs and actions are in accordance<br />
with its requirements as “manager” under the GGF Trust<br />
Deed and other agreed GGF policies.<br />
Ensure that the mechanisms and processes by which new<br />
projects are green-lighted are in accordance with GGF and<br />
GAC policies and procedures.<br />
Define effective measurement metrics to verify and enable<br />
best practice in the delivery and review of programs.<br />
Page 12 G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 13 2
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
To improve the living standards of <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members through the provision of support,<br />
maintenance and construction of the<br />
following community infrastructure:<br />
Housing<br />
Homeland Movement<br />
Project Management<br />
MEMBER SERVICES DIVISION<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
To provide affordable and sustainable accommodation<br />
options for the benefit of <strong>Gumala</strong> Members throughout the<br />
Pilbara region and beyond.<br />
Develop and deliver programs that assist GAC Members in<br />
accessing and maintaining stable, affordable and appropriate<br />
accommodation options.<br />
To enable <strong>Gumala</strong> Members in asserting and maintaining<br />
their traditional rights to land in the claim area.<br />
To assess the viability of different models for delivery of<br />
localised health services within the Pilbara.<br />
To deliver complex / high risk infrastructure projects meeting<br />
the objectives of the General <strong>Gumala</strong> Foundation.<br />
To improve vocational outcomes for <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members and beneficiaries through the<br />
access to targeted training programs and<br />
initiatives<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
Establish and maintain the highest level of<br />
financial standards to support the GAC Board<br />
and management in achieving the goals and<br />
aspirations of GAC<br />
Develop and implement a training model that addresses<br />
vocational opportunities for <strong>Gumala</strong> Members and<br />
beneficiaries.<br />
Increased participation of <strong>Gumala</strong> Members and beneficiaries<br />
in traineeships and other vocational opportunities.<br />
SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
To provide best practice services for the provision of financial<br />
management, standards and financial services for the<br />
corporation.<br />
Establish and maintain financial frameworks to govern<br />
financial processes and their interface with GAC accounting<br />
and operating systems.<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
To improve the economic independence of<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Members<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
To improve health outcomes of <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members and beneficiaries through<br />
facilitating access to health and medical<br />
services<br />
To contribute to overall wellbeing of<br />
Members through promoting healthy living<br />
outcomes<br />
To assist in maintaining, protecting and<br />
enhancing the traditional life and culture of<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Members<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
To establish strong linkages with service providers able to<br />
provide “value adding” services and capacity building for<br />
Members wishing to establish a new business or restructure<br />
an existing business.<br />
To initiate profit generating business projects providing direct<br />
Member benefit and employment and training opportunities<br />
for Members.<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
Develop innovative programs targeting health and medical<br />
needs of the Members.<br />
Develop partnerships with external health and medical<br />
service providers that provide additional health benefits to<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Members.<br />
Develop and deliver wellbeing programs that demonstrably<br />
improve Members’ general living conditions and quality of<br />
life.<br />
Develop an effective service delivery model that meets the<br />
cultural needs of the Members especially for culturally<br />
significant activities and ceremonies.<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
To deliver Pilbara based outcomes<br />
To provide localised support for GAC projects<br />
and activities in the Pilbara region<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
Maintain professional standards across the<br />
workforce with high performance levels<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
To provide constant radio broadcasting services to Members<br />
in GAC homeland communities and the wider Pilbara region.<br />
To research and collect heritage material pertinent to the<br />
history of GAC and its Members and record and preserve<br />
historically important GAC documents for future generations<br />
of GAC Members.<br />
To establish a training centre for GAC Members that supports<br />
education, training, employment and overall lifestyles<br />
changes.<br />
To establish and maintain an extensive network of local<br />
contacts and stakeholders to assist GAC to provide high<br />
quality projects and activities in the Pilbara region.<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
Establish best practise HR frameworks to recruit, manage and<br />
retain quality staff who meet organisational requirements.<br />
Provide systems and frameworks to support a productive,<br />
safe and healthy work environment.<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES:<br />
To improve educational outcomes for<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Members and beneficiaries<br />
encompassing early childhood to adulthood<br />
ASSOCIATED STRATEGIES:<br />
Increased number of <strong>Gumala</strong> Members and beneficiaries<br />
accessing educational opportunities within and beyond the<br />
Pilbara region for primary, secondary and tertiary education.<br />
Develop a model for the delivery of early childhood programs<br />
and infrastructure for replication especially within the Pilbara<br />
region.<br />
Support the provision of best practice service<br />
delivery and facilities for Tom Price and Perth<br />
offices<br />
Provide the necessary technology, equipment and support<br />
systems to enable the workforce to perform their tasks for the<br />
Members to the highest standard.<br />
Ensure that GAC has competitive and appropriate service<br />
levels, contracts, agreements and services which provide best<br />
value for the organisational requirements.<br />
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<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 15<br />
4
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
Praise from<br />
WA Premier<br />
The Premier of Western Australia<br />
recently acknowledged <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Aboriginal Corporation’s (GAC’s)<br />
important developments for its<br />
Members. In a letter addressed to<br />
the GAC Chairman in June, the<br />
State Premier, Colin Barnett, said<br />
that he recognised the investments<br />
GAC has made in developing<br />
community infrastructure for its<br />
Members in the Pilbara.<br />
“I have noted the focus of GAC’s<br />
independent investment strategy<br />
outcomes in 2011 which show<br />
important developments for the<br />
benefit of <strong>Gumala</strong> Members<br />
through the establishment of the<br />
early childhood centre, the GAC<br />
housing strategy and the elderly<br />
complex,” Mr Barnett said.<br />
“This builds on what I have been<br />
advised is part of a larger <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
investment program that has<br />
operated over a number of years<br />
that has sought to address many<br />
issues faced by <strong>Gumala</strong> Members.”<br />
Elderly Complex<br />
architects appointed<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
has appointed NBC Aboriginal<br />
Corporation as the architects<br />
responsible for developing the site<br />
layout and planning information<br />
for the proposed Tom Price Elderly<br />
Complex.<br />
Consultation with selected <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members was held in July to ensure<br />
that the layout of the proposed<br />
units on the site best represents the<br />
cultural and practical preferences of<br />
GAC Members.<br />
Following development of the design<br />
information, it is anticipated that<br />
the final design and construction of<br />
the units will be tendered. There<br />
will be further opportunities for<br />
more detailed consultation once a<br />
preferred tenderer is appointed.<br />
Hard work pays off<br />
for <strong>Gumala</strong> scholarship<br />
student<br />
A <strong>Gumala</strong> student is excelling<br />
in boarding school life through<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong>’s Scholarship Assistance<br />
Programme.<br />
Brooke Parker (16), is sowing the<br />
seeds for her future and excelling<br />
at Geraldton Residential College<br />
(where she boards) and Geraldton<br />
Senior College (where she studies).<br />
Brooke joined the school in year<br />
11 at the beginning of <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
There was no forcing her to go to<br />
boarding school. It was a decision<br />
that she made on her own and one<br />
that was supported by her proud<br />
grandparents, Trevor and Doris<br />
Parker, who believe that education<br />
and having a dream is important.<br />
Brooke Parker<br />
“I told her she will never disappoint<br />
us. If she wants to go to Boarding<br />
School she should do it,”said Mrs<br />
Parker.<br />
With the encouragement and<br />
emotional support of her<br />
grandparents back home, it has<br />
been a decision that Brooke has not<br />
regretted. The new experience of<br />
being away from home in a boarding<br />
environment and a new school has<br />
not been difficult for Brooke.<br />
“From the day she went there she<br />
has never rung up and wanted to<br />
come home. It was a really easy<br />
transition,” said Mrs Parker.<br />
Geraldton Senior College’s College<br />
<strong>Community</strong> Liaison Officer, Kath<br />
Haythornthwaite, said: “Brooke likes<br />
being a boarder. She appreciates<br />
the opportunity to socialise with<br />
fellow students and participates in<br />
scheduled activities such as sand<br />
boarding, ‘sing star’ and basketball.”<br />
This year she is studying English,<br />
History, Maths, Human Biology,<br />
Practical Office Skills and Design<br />
Graphics.<br />
Already half way through her first<br />
year, Brooke has her heart set on<br />
taking a gap year after she graduates<br />
from High School before going to<br />
University where she plans to study<br />
law and be involved in youth work.<br />
It is a dream she has had since she<br />
was in Primary School. A dream that<br />
is within her reach.<br />
Whilst Brooke’s transition into<br />
boarding and school life has been<br />
smooth, Mrs Parker realises that it<br />
can be a different story for other<br />
children who may get homesick<br />
when they are away from their<br />
parents and families. However, Mrs<br />
Parker’s advice for other children<br />
considering going to boarding school<br />
is simple:<br />
“If you get the opportunity to go to<br />
Boarding School, go for it. A lot of<br />
the students get homesick but go and<br />
give it a try. If you have a dream,<br />
go for it. Even if you just go to High<br />
School, there will always be jobs<br />
when you come home. You got a<br />
dream. Do it!”.<br />
“It (Boarding School) does teach<br />
them (the kids) to be independent<br />
and the kids mature a lot while they<br />
are away from their parents and<br />
family.”<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member forges<br />
mining career in the<br />
Pilbara<br />
A determined Banyjima woman has<br />
worked hard to create a career off<br />
the modern day mining boom and<br />
encourages young Members to seek<br />
a career path early in life.<br />
Karratha based <strong>Gumala</strong> Member,<br />
Denise Hubert, has landed on her<br />
feet and paved a career for herself in<br />
Western Australia’s mining industry.<br />
Denise took her first step into<br />
a career in the mining industry<br />
when she signed up for a “work<br />
start program” with Rio Tinto.<br />
Commuting from Onslow to<br />
Pannawonica, Denise started out in<br />
admin roles but moved up to jobs<br />
with Portacom Pty Ltd and Rapley<br />
Wilkinson, which introduced her to<br />
construction work.<br />
Although she had always dreamt<br />
of driving trucks, the work start<br />
program introduced her to the<br />
beginning of a career that she<br />
had never seen herself going into.<br />
Following the work start program<br />
with Rio Tinto, Denise undertook<br />
a second work start program with<br />
Eastern Guruma.<br />
While on the work start program,<br />
TAFE sent her to work as a “peggy”<br />
(cleaner), on the Western Turner<br />
Syncline mining project, located<br />
approximately 35km from Tom<br />
Price.<br />
“I worked as a cleaner because I<br />
didn’t have my full HR licence at the<br />
time,” said Denise.<br />
After getting her HR licence, Denise<br />
went on to a second work start<br />
program with Chevron working for<br />
Leighton’s as a Trade Assistant for<br />
four months last year. As a Trade<br />
Assistant, she did Tig Mig and Stick<br />
welding, gained tickets for elevator<br />
platforms and fork lifting, and<br />
certificates in basic computing and<br />
Denise Hubert<br />
First Aid. For Denise, the work<br />
start programs enabled her to gain<br />
qualifications in the mining industry<br />
and gave her a boost in confidence<br />
to further a career in the field.<br />
Looking back, she wishes she had<br />
taken up a career in mining earlier.<br />
“I should have done this year’s back<br />
so I could have worked anywhere,”<br />
she said.<br />
It is a lesson that she wants to pass<br />
on to other GAC Members: that<br />
you can do anything if you take the<br />
opportunities that are presented to<br />
you.<br />
“You can reach for the stars. The<br />
world is your oyster and there are<br />
lots of opportunities out there. If<br />
you take the opportunities that are<br />
given to you, then doors will open<br />
for you,” she said.<br />
Earlier this year she started working<br />
on the Gorgon Project on Barrow<br />
Island for Leighton Contracting in<br />
Health and Safety. Although her<br />
new role as a FIFO includes 28 days<br />
straight with 9 days off, Denise is<br />
positive about the role and enjoys<br />
the work.<br />
“Shortly I will be taking on an<br />
environmental role for Leighton in<br />
the field rather than office based,”<br />
she said.<br />
Mabo<br />
facts<br />
• Sunday June 3, <strong>2012</strong> marked<br />
a very important day in the<br />
history of Australia: the 20 year<br />
anniversary of the day the High<br />
Court of Australia changed forever<br />
the rights of Aboriginal and<br />
Torres Straits Islander peoples by<br />
recognising Native Title.<br />
• The man who led the legal<br />
challenge for land rights - Eddie<br />
Mabo - has gone down in history<br />
as a hero.<br />
• Eddie’s journey started in 1982,<br />
when he began a legal claim for<br />
ownership of his traditional land.<br />
• Ten years after beginning the<br />
legal fight to claim what was<br />
rightfully his, the High Court held<br />
that British possession had not<br />
eliminated his title. The myth of<br />
“Terra nullius” (land belonging to<br />
no-one) was finally dispelled.<br />
• The High Court ruling paved<br />
the way for the Native Title Act,<br />
which recognises and protects<br />
Native Title and sets up processes<br />
by which claims for Native Title<br />
can be determined.<br />
• After the Native Title Act was<br />
passed by parliament, <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Aboriginal Corporation was<br />
established in order to represent<br />
the Innawonga, Banyjima and<br />
Nyiyaparli peoples to negotiate the<br />
Yandi Land Use Agreement.<br />
That historic agreement would not<br />
had been possible if it were not for<br />
a great man called Eddie Mabo,<br />
who won that David and Goliath<br />
fight in the High Court. What a<br />
tragedy that he died a few months<br />
before the High Court decision<br />
was handed down. Eddie Mabo - a<br />
true hero and an inspiration for<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation’s<br />
Members and Staff.<br />
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GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> helps Tom Price<br />
celebrate NAIDOC Week<br />
NAIDOC <strong>2012</strong> images from Tom Price<br />
Story: Ronnelle Hicks; Images: Elly Lukale<br />
Damper<br />
Dawn Hicks during her ‘welcome to country’<br />
Above (centre): <strong>Gumala</strong> employees<br />
Kimicka Tucker and Georgina Keegan<br />
Ceramic Painting<br />
NAIDOC Week is a celebration for<br />
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders<br />
and is an opportunity for Indigenous<br />
and non-Indigenous Australians<br />
to join together to recognise the<br />
valuable contribution Indigenous<br />
people make to the Australian<br />
national identity.<br />
The theme NAIDOC <strong>2012</strong> was<br />
“Spirit of the Tent Embassy: 40<br />
years on” This was not only a<br />
celebration of the 40th anniversary<br />
of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, but<br />
also an acknowledgement of the key<br />
contributors to its long history.<br />
This year’s theme celebrated the<br />
champions who lived to renew the<br />
spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait<br />
Islander peoples’ Tent Embassy in<br />
1972. Forty years ago, the embassy<br />
became a powerful symbol of unity.<br />
NAIDOC IN TOM PRICE<br />
Local Traditional Banyjima Elder<br />
and owner and <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal<br />
Corporation (GAC) Member, Dawn<br />
Hicks, along with her sister-in-law<br />
Dawn Hubert (Yindarbarndi person)<br />
cooked traditional styles of damper<br />
cooking.<br />
Dwayne Galby, Innawonga<br />
Traditional Owner and GAC<br />
Member, cooked Kangaroo tails<br />
traditionally in the burn pit.<br />
The bush food cooking activity<br />
was to promote Aboriginal culture<br />
and provide awareness to the<br />
community.<br />
Local members who volunteered<br />
their time to this event included<br />
Banyjima Traditional owners Ethan<br />
Hicks and Delvene Hicks, along with<br />
Johnelle Parker, Cecila Parker and<br />
Hainse Parker.<br />
The theme of our NAIDOC<br />
celebration in Tom Price was<br />
“Gurrma-mayda Yulungga” - this<br />
language is the Banyjima language<br />
and was worded and granted by local<br />
Banyjima Elder, Traditional Owner<br />
and GAC Member Dawn Hicks for<br />
our NAIDOC celebration.<br />
The English translation of which<br />
is “We are together on Country”.<br />
Kangaroo cooking<br />
This theme was selected by the<br />
NAIDOC Committee to represent<br />
sharing of Country in and around<br />
the town of Tom Price. The official<br />
opening ceremony was conducted<br />
by Wayne Steves (Eastern Gurruma<br />
Traditional Owner) with Dawn Hicks<br />
to promote the theme “Sharing of<br />
Country”.<br />
The flag raising ceremony of the<br />
Aboriginal flag was conducted by<br />
Ethan Hicks and Innawonga Member<br />
Nathaniel Black<br />
Kyam Cook. GAC held a stall to<br />
promote local Aboriginal culture of<br />
Traditional Owners during the Tom<br />
Price NAIDOC celebration.<br />
Within the stall, art activities were<br />
conducted by <strong>Gumala</strong> staff members<br />
in implementing the activities,<br />
hand print painting and ceramic art<br />
painting on an assortment of ceramic<br />
plates and cups to share with the<br />
local community.<br />
The stall also displayed traditional<br />
Skye Cook<br />
artefacts along with a Banyjima<br />
language display and the promotion<br />
of <strong>Gumala</strong> merchandise given out to<br />
the wider community.<br />
During the NAIDOC celebration<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
provided traditional bush food<br />
cooking.<br />
Bush tucker tastings were also<br />
provided for the Tom Price<br />
community.<br />
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<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 19
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
Top flight footy player and <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Member takes Aboriginal youth<br />
under his wings<br />
A West Coast Eagles player and<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member is encouraging<br />
young Aboriginal people to “leave<br />
no stone unturned” when following<br />
their dreams.<br />
Gerrick Weedon, (21), has been<br />
putting his best foot forward off the<br />
footy field to train in a second field,<br />
mentoring groups of teenagers and<br />
young adults.<br />
A year and a half ago, Gerrick began<br />
studying a mentoring course through<br />
the Wirrpanda Foundation. As a<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member, he was able to<br />
receive financial assistance for the<br />
course through <strong>Gumala</strong>.<br />
Every Tuesday morning about 20<br />
young people and adults meet<br />
with Gerrick for mentoring. In the<br />
afternoon he takes the group to play<br />
sports and do other activities.<br />
The hands-on approach gives him<br />
the chance to mentor a variety<br />
of young people by changing the<br />
groups around every two months.<br />
For the traditional Banyjima man,<br />
the road to success has not been<br />
easy.<br />
It is from his own journey that he<br />
offers his words of advice to <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members: Follow your dreams.<br />
“Follow your dreams and sacrifices<br />
such as living away from home,<br />
training and hard work gets you<br />
where you want to be. Leave no<br />
stone unturned and there are no<br />
limits to what you can do.”<br />
It is words of wisdom that mirror<br />
his success story. Gerrick moved to<br />
Perth five years ago and was signed<br />
up to play for the West Coast Eagles<br />
in the 2010 National Draft. Since<br />
then he has played for Claremont<br />
and was a key part of the Claremont<br />
premiership winning team last year.<br />
Gerrick Weedon photographed recently at a WAFL game at Claremont oval<br />
However, his dedication to his<br />
dream career in professional<br />
football has meant that he has had<br />
to sacrifice being able return to the<br />
Pilbara often to visit his family.<br />
Yet, he knows that such sacrifices<br />
have continued to pay off in many<br />
different ways. Mentoring has given<br />
back to Gerrick as much as he has<br />
given to the young people that he<br />
has worked with.<br />
“Mentoring has given me<br />
confidence, life skills, confidence in<br />
talking to other people and public<br />
speaking,” he said.<br />
For now, although Gerrick is<br />
inspiring the youth of today, his<br />
focus continues on his first love…<br />
Aussie Rules.<br />
He says his main focus for the rest<br />
of the year is to improve his fitness,<br />
remain injury free and continue to<br />
play good football.<br />
“We will see what happens at the<br />
end of the year…” he said.<br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member’s life mission<br />
to educate Australians about<br />
“Culture Bound Syndrome”<br />
A <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation<br />
(GAC) Member is breaking down<br />
the barriers to educate Australians<br />
about culture bound syndrome<br />
that is affecting the Aboriginal<br />
community today.<br />
Mental Health Worker, Estelle<br />
Stacey Ingie, is on a life mission to<br />
give back to her community and<br />
educate people about culture bound<br />
syndrome. Culture bound syndrome<br />
is best described by Wikipedia<br />
as “a combination of psychiatric<br />
and somatic symptoms that are<br />
considered to be a recognizable<br />
disease only within a specific society<br />
or culture.”<br />
In 2008, the Australian Bureau<br />
of Statistics stated that Aboriginal<br />
people experienced a 200 percent<br />
increase in hospital admission for<br />
mental health illness, compared to<br />
non-aboriginal people due to culture<br />
bound syndrome and alcohol and<br />
drug psychosis (dual diagnosis).<br />
Working as a co-morbidity counsellor<br />
at Graylands hospital in Perth, Estelle<br />
is often presented with Aboriginal<br />
patients who present themselves with<br />
psychotic symptoms such as hearing<br />
or seeing things.<br />
“An Aboriginal person may speak<br />
about their spirit, their connection to<br />
country and communicate with our<br />
ancestors and elders in content and<br />
spiritual beliefs,” she said.<br />
As part of her role, Estelle consults<br />
the client to determine whether<br />
the patient is suffering from culture<br />
bound syndrome rather than a<br />
mental illness, alcohol or drug<br />
psychosis. It’s a symptom that Estelle<br />
believes is too often dismissed and<br />
patients are often misdiagnosed as<br />
having a mental illness.<br />
“An Aboriginal person who<br />
may be experiencing forms of<br />
communications that would be seen<br />
as ‘mad,’ would then be labelled<br />
for having some form of mental<br />
disorder or illness which often leads<br />
to misdiagnosis compared to a non-<br />
Aboriginal people whose religion is<br />
acceptable within today’s society.”<br />
However, in 90 percent of the cases<br />
Estelle deals with, her patients are<br />
diagnosed with dual diagnosis where<br />
the patient is experiencing psychotic<br />
symptoms alongside another disorder<br />
such as having another physical<br />
illness such as diabetes which also<br />
needs to be taken into account.<br />
A proud Innawonga woman, Estelle<br />
knows all too well about the grief,<br />
loss and trauma that the Aboriginal<br />
community has endured. Born in<br />
Perth but raised in Onslow, Estelle<br />
has witnessed her own family deal<br />
with the trauma shared by the<br />
community.<br />
“I have witnessed the grief, loss and<br />
trauma my family has to deal with.<br />
Still to this day, there are a lot of<br />
unresolved questions and they may<br />
never receive the answers,” said<br />
Estelle.<br />
It is a trauma that has stemmed<br />
through generations of Aboriginal<br />
families and the questions raised in<br />
recent years on how to close the gap<br />
on a now trans-generational problem<br />
ignited Estelle’s passion for health<br />
and mental health.<br />
A calling that has led her on to a<br />
life changing career specialising in<br />
dual diagnosis and culture bound<br />
syndrome.<br />
Alongside her work with diagnosing<br />
clients with dual diagnosis and<br />
culture bound syndrome, Estelle is<br />
Above: Estelle Ingie<br />
educating doctors at the hospital<br />
about the reality of the syndrome.<br />
Estelle’s calling into a career in<br />
health began in 2004 when she<br />
started working as a counsellor in<br />
Tom Price. Two years later she<br />
graduated with her first degree in<br />
psychotherapy and counselling from<br />
Notre Dame University, Broome.<br />
After graduation she had the honour<br />
of moving to the Kimberley region<br />
for six years where she was able to<br />
bring her skills to the community.<br />
“I had the privilege to work in<br />
the Pilbara and Kimberley region<br />
as a Mental Health Worker. I have<br />
worked for WA Country Health for<br />
the last 7 years in Mental Health. I<br />
now have a greater understanding of<br />
mental health and how it impacts all<br />
of us as individuals, family and the<br />
whole community.”<br />
Today she is in her third year of a<br />
health science (mental health) degree<br />
specialising in dual diagnosis at<br />
Charles Sturt University.<br />
With only two more blocks to<br />
complete until she graduates with her<br />
second degree, Estelle is hopeful that<br />
one day she will return to Tom Price<br />
and conduct workshops in alcohol<br />
and drug intervention and prevention<br />
within the community.<br />
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<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 21
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Radio<br />
transmitter<br />
upgrades<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio has recently<br />
completed important transmitter<br />
upgrades at various towns and<br />
communities, including upgrades at<br />
Karijini National Park and Karijini<br />
Eco Retreat.<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio Broadcaster Tadam<br />
(John) Lockyer and Technician<br />
Mike Ryan switched on the <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Radio transmitter at the Ranger’s<br />
headquarters at Karijini National<br />
Park in late June. This involved<br />
crawling around roofs and dongas,<br />
putting up the antennas and installing<br />
the equipment.<br />
The new transmitter broadcasts<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio over a 10 km<br />
radius, which covers the Rangers<br />
headquarters (HQ). It also provides<br />
a signal in the park between Karijini<br />
Drive and the Visitor’s Centre.<br />
People driving into the park can<br />
pick up <strong>Gumala</strong> Radio about 10 km<br />
after entering the park and receive<br />
it almost all the way to Tom Price<br />
along Karijini Drive, providing they<br />
have a good car radio.<br />
There is a small gap (about 5 km)<br />
where the signal from the Ranger’s<br />
transmitter drops out and the signal<br />
from Tom Price isn’t available.<br />
Another transmitter is being installed<br />
at the Karijini Eco Retreat which<br />
will also cover a 10 km radius. This<br />
should allow people to pick up the<br />
signal pretty much all the way from<br />
Tom Price to the Eco Retreat as<br />
well as between the Visitor’s Centre<br />
and the Eco Retreat. All three<br />
transmitters (Tom Price; Ranger’s<br />
HQ and Eco Resort) are on the<br />
same channel: 106.5 FM.<br />
Outdoor broadcast a<br />
big hit in Onslow<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio Broadcaster John (Tadam) Lockyer performed a live outdoor<br />
broadcast from Onslow <strong>Community</strong> Gardens in late June. Many Onslow<br />
residents and their children (including <strong>Gumala</strong> kids) turned up to listen to the<br />
broadcast while others were interviewed.<br />
Residents also enjoyed a BBQ of cooked sausages and steak put on by the<br />
Shire of Ashburton.<br />
Tadam: “This was a typical <strong>Gumala</strong> Radio outdoor broadcast in that it was<br />
both educational and entertaining for everyone in the local community who<br />
came along.<br />
“It’s community engagement events like this one that act as a reconciliation<br />
bridge. One fascinating part of the outdoor broadcast was interviewing a<br />
member of the local community who gave a fascinating insight into the history<br />
of Onslow, what he has witnessed in the town during his life, and what’s on<br />
the horizon for Onslow.<br />
“Overall it was a very enjoyable day, and both kids and adults alike had a<br />
great time. We are planning to do a lot more outdoor broadcasts out there<br />
in several Pilbara communities in the future, as they are a great platform for<br />
bringing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities together.”<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio is available in the following communities:<br />
Bellary Springs 101.7 FM Roebourne 102.9 FM<br />
Onslow 102.7 FM Wakuthuni 104.9 FM<br />
Youngaleena 102.1 FM Tom Price 106.5 FM<br />
Paraburdoo 102.9 FM<br />
Or listen online: www.gumala.com.au<br />
Image taken at the recent <strong>Gumala</strong> Radio outdoor broadcast in Onslow are: (left - right)<br />
Alearia Dellaporte, Kaitlyn Kelly, Tadam Lockyer (<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio Broadcaster), Cory<br />
Ellen, Kassim Ellen, Mike Ryan (<strong>Gumala</strong> Radio Technician) and Brody Kelly<br />
Champion boxer set<br />
to defend his title at<br />
the Golden Gloves<br />
A young champion boxer is back<br />
in the training ring and is set to<br />
“defend his title” at the Golden<br />
Gloves competition in Queensland<br />
next month.<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Member, Jayden Hansen<br />
(19), has upped the training with<br />
the determination to take out the<br />
Golden Gloves Competition again<br />
this year.<br />
Jayden’s come-back to the ring<br />
comes just months after he missed<br />
out on selection for the <strong>2012</strong><br />
London Olympics by a hairs breath<br />
when he finished in third place at<br />
the National Championships in<br />
Hobart (he needed to finish either<br />
first or second).<br />
However, coming third has not held<br />
Jayden back. As <strong>Gumala</strong> <strong>News</strong> was<br />
going to press (late July), Jayden<br />
was fully focused on defending his<br />
title in the lead-up to fighting some<br />
of the best boxers from across<br />
Australia, England and New Zealand<br />
in <strong>August</strong>.<br />
“I want to win the Golden Gloves<br />
again. I want to defend my title,” he<br />
said.<br />
So what does it take to be a<br />
champion boxer? Jayden has been<br />
training at Fox’s gym in Gosnells<br />
daily and is also working hard on a<br />
rigorous training program filled with<br />
running, conditioning and sparring.<br />
Let’s not forget – the intense<br />
training is complimented with a high<br />
protein and low carb diet.<br />
Like all good sportsmen, Jayden<br />
has two idols that motivate and<br />
encourage him: His mother (<strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Member and Employee), Paula<br />
White and his father Ben.<br />
“My parents are my idols”, he<br />
confessed.<br />
Jayden is a proud traditional<br />
Banyjima man. He has always held<br />
a strong interest in the corporation<br />
and one day would love to be a<br />
Director.<br />
In June, Jayden went on a two week<br />
intensive training camp in Canberra<br />
where he trained with the elite<br />
boxers from across Australia, who<br />
were preparing for the Olympics.<br />
While on the camp, he met with<br />
the boxers twice a day to practice<br />
partner work, sparring, technique,<br />
rigorous training and to motivate<br />
them.<br />
He returned to Canberra in July for<br />
one more training camp before the<br />
boxers take off for London.<br />
While the outcome of the Golden<br />
Gloves fight is yet to be determined,<br />
Jayden’s focus is not short-sighted.<br />
He is also gearing up for the<br />
National Selection Trials in 2013.<br />
He has to come first in the selection<br />
trials to qualify for the Senior World<br />
Titles Competition later in 2013.<br />
Further, after the Olympics, training<br />
squads will be held in Canberra to<br />
select a national team to represent<br />
Australia internationally.<br />
“My main goal after the Golden<br />
Gloves is to get on the team and<br />
represent Australia and to travel<br />
overseas to fight.”<br />
Jayden is one of many <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Members who receives scholarship<br />
funding from <strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal<br />
Corporation.<br />
Scholarships at <strong>Gumala</strong> are available<br />
(for our Members and Members<br />
children) for education, the arts,<br />
music, and high level sporting<br />
pursuits.<br />
GAC buys<br />
new tipper<br />
trucks for<br />
SPECIFICATIONS<br />
communities<br />
GAC has recently purchased<br />
FRR 500<br />
Tipper<br />
AUSTRALIA’S TOP SELLING TRUCK BRAND SINCE 1989. Truck tracker 2007.<br />
AT A GLANCE<br />
UPGRADE OPTIONS<br />
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY<br />
GVM four 10,400 new kg five-tonne AMT Pack: tipper - Driver airbag with seatbelt pretensioner<br />
GCM 16,000 kg<br />
- Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) - Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)<br />
Power 154 kW @ 2,600 rpm<br />
- Instrument panel multi-information display - Anti Skid Regulator (ASR)<br />
trucks for use on maintenance<br />
Torque 637 Nm @ 1,600 - 2,600 rpm - Cruise control<br />
- Hill Start Aid (HSA)<br />
- Electric mirrors<br />
work around the communities<br />
- Front stabiliser bar<br />
- ISRI 6860 seat with integrated seatbelt<br />
of Wakuthuni, Bellary Springs,<br />
Youngaleena and Wirrillimarra.<br />
These new assets will give<br />
the communities the ability<br />
to undertake a range of<br />
maintenance activities on the<br />
homeland communities and lore<br />
grounds.<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> <strong>News</strong><br />
is a <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
Aboriginal<br />
Corporation<br />
(ICN 2744)<br />
publication.<br />
Tracey Ingie, Terrance Malana and Stuart<br />
Ingie Jnr pictured at the opening of the<br />
Bellary Springs <strong>Community</strong> Centre<br />
Page 22<br />
G u m a l a A b o r i g i n a l C o r p o r a t i o n<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation Page 23
GUMALA NEWS COMMUNITY EDITION, AUGUST <strong>2012</strong><br />
<strong>Gumala</strong>’s Perth office fully<br />
relocates to prominent CBD<br />
location in Adelaide Terrace<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> Aboriginal Corporation has<br />
completed the relocation of its Perth<br />
office from Victoria Park to the<br />
Perth CBD.<br />
The relocation, to Level 1, 165<br />
Adelaide Terrace, East Perth,<br />
represents a major achievement<br />
for a growing organisation that has<br />
undergone significant growth during<br />
the last three years.<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> has also made many<br />
important executive and nonexecutive<br />
appointments during<br />
recent months. Earlier this year,<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong> appointed several specialised<br />
professionals covering specific areas<br />
of need including Member Services,<br />
Housing and <strong>Community</strong> Projects,<br />
Management, Human Resources,<br />
Indigenous Liaison Mentoring,<br />
Business Development, Finance and<br />
Communications.<br />
However, while the Perth office has<br />
seen expansion over the last few<br />
months, GAC’s CEO Steve Mav<br />
emphasised that GAC’s Head Office<br />
will always remain in Tom Price.<br />
Doris Parker, Maitland Parker and Trevor Parker visit the Members’ facilities area of<br />
<strong>Gumala</strong>’s new Perth CBD offices<br />
Steve Mav: “The heart of <strong>Gumala</strong><br />
lies in the Pilbara and the Head<br />
Office of the organisation will always<br />
remain in Tom Price. This is where<br />
our connection to country is and<br />
where our roots are. We are hopeful<br />
that with the ongoing development<br />
of the town centre, that one day<br />
in the not-so-distant future, the<br />
Tom Price office will also be able to<br />
move into a beautiful new building,<br />
much more suitable for one of the<br />
largest Aboriginal corporations in<br />
Australia.”<br />
Tom Price (Head Office):<br />
1 Stadium Road<br />
Tom Price, Western Australia<br />
Perth (Administration Office):<br />
Level 1, 165 Adelaide Terrace<br />
East Perth, Western Australia<br />
GUMALA<br />
Aboriginal<br />
Corporation<br />
ICN 2744<br />
Phone: 1800 486 252 (1800 GUMALA)<br />
Fax: (08) 9219 4555<br />
Postal Address: PO Box 3167, East Perth WA 6892<br />
Email: gac@gumala.com.au<br />
Web: www.gumala.com.au<br />
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