Anindilyakwa Land Council’s

Ayakwa

One People. One Voice. anindilyakwa.com.au

30 Bougainvillea DrivePO Box 172Alyangula NT 0885

TOURISM is expected to get a boost after Groote Eylandt was featured on Channel 10 over three weeks.

Constantine Mamarika and his sons worked with the All4Adventure television program to show off some of the remotest corners of the island.

Constantine said he hopes to develop a tourism business and the shows would help spark interest in the region.

All4Adventure follows two modern-day adventurers, Jase Andrews and Simon Anderson on rugged expeditions into some of Australia’s wildest frontiers.

Television show to boost island tourism

INSIDE THIS ISSUE• Fishing show,

page 3

• Boarding school, page 4

• Water parks planned, page 4

• New timber mill, page 7

• Bush kids get fit, page 8

SPARKING INTEREST: Azariah Lalara, Tyeese Wurramarrba, Jermaine Wurramarrba and Ben Mamarika were some of the local mob featured in the television shows.

Continued Page 7.

| Newsletter February/March 2018

ABOUT 640 tonnes of so-called ghost nets are abandoned in oceans worldwide every year.

Many of these discarded fishing nets are found and removed from remote beaches and seas by local ALC Rangers, often entangled with dead and alive animals.

Anindilyakwa women have been weaving them into unique baskets using bush dyed and recycled fabric. Artist Vera Lalara said it was a creative way to use them, while sharing about the environmental issue. “We stop these nets from becoming landfill or releasing poisonous greenhouse gases when they

are burnt,” she said.

Women on Groote Eylandt first started weaving with ghost nets in 2011, when Darwin artist, Aly de Groot, was invited by Ghost Nets Australia to hold weaving workshops at Anindilyakwa Art Centre.

This year de Groot started full time with the centre, working with the artists using traditional knowledge and contemporary fibre art processes to create new designs.

The centre held a successful exhibition at Aboriginal Bush Traders in Darwin late last year, which featured many ghost net works. Aboriginal Bush Traders provides avenues for Indigenous people wanting to engage in economic activities in a sustainable way.

GROOTE staff joined Indigenous people from around the world to talk about traditional languages and their work in keeping them alive.

Staff of the Groote Eylandt Language Centre gave a presentation at the Puliima National Indigenous Languages and Technology Forum in Cairns.

The Puliima Forum is the main national event for Australian Indigenous languages and was attended by delegates and presenters from around Australia, the Torres Strait Islands, New Zealand, Canada and Hawaii. Staff presented the goals, strategy and progress so far on the Centre’s Ajamurnda project.

Language staff speak at national conference

DIVERSITY: Groote Eylandt Language Centre staff, Sylvia Tkac, Carolyn Fletcher, Judy Lalara, Melainie Collins, Carol Wurramara and David Nathan, get inspiration to protect, preserve and celebrate Indigenous languages.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: Anindilyakwa baskets on show at an exhibition at Aboriginal Bush Traders. Photo: Aboriginal Bush Traders

Anindilyakwa art on display at Darwin exhibition

| February/March 2018 Page 2

AFL star Patrick Dangerfield and Groote fishing enthusiast Bomber Farrell venture into some of the country’s best fishing waters off Groote Eylandt, in their new TV show, The Last Cast.

The four-part series will air on Channel 7 and Channel 7 MATE. It will follow the intrepid duo as they conquer the island’s largely unfished waters and discover its raw beauty aboard a six-metre Northbank boat.

Along the way, they meet with traditional owners, including Lionel Jaragba who issues them with a recreational permit, Constantine Mamarika who shows them rock art and turtles at Dalumba Bay and Anindilyakwa women doing basket weaving. Bomber, whose forte is landing sailfish, says he can’t wait to show off the archipelago’s lush natural coastlines, abundant wildlife and pristine waters teeming with pelagic and reef fish to a

national audience.

“This would have to be one of the greatest platforms to promote Groote to the rest of Australia,” Bomber said. “People who are fortunate enough to ever have lived or travelled here know what a special place this is with most rare and unique landscapes.”

“In this day and age where everything has been explored,

it is such a remote and isolated place that it is a true last frontier with the most amazing rock art, fish not even touched by recreational fishers, and so much more.”

The show will run over four consecutive weeks from Sunday, April 22 on Channel 7 in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and on 7mate in Brisbane and Sydney.

Ferry removes rubbish from communities Television series explores unfished waters

EPIC: Patrick Dangerfield and Bomber Farrell will share their angling escapades around Groote Eylandt.

PROUD MOMENT: Jermaine Wurramara gets ready for his first day at Guildford Grammar School.

AN ANINDILYAKWA boy has been accepted into a prestigious Perth school.Jermaine Wurramara, 12, was offered an Indigenous Scholarship at the Guildford Grammar School for his high school education. His mother, Katerina Bara, said she believes very strongly in a good education. Katerina graduated from St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth. Jermaine is following in the footsteps of his uncle, Bradley Bara, who graduated from Guildford Grammar School.GEBIE can help Anindilyakwa royalty recipients with education tuition, boarding and uniforms.For more information phone the GEBIE Social Program office on 8987 4500.

School scholarship for Jermaine

| February/March 2018 Page 3

TEACHING life skills is as important as academics at Tiwi College, its former principal said at a meeting with Anindilyakwa traditional owners.

Ian Smith led the boarding school located at Pickataramoor on Melville Island for six years and still serves on its board. He was on Groote in late January to speak with the Community School Reference Group, which is looking at setting up a similar school in the Groote archipelago.

Ian said Tiwi College was located far from the communities so that disruptions and distractions were minimal. “The Tiwi wanted to have their students in a boarding setting, away from noise and dysfunctional aspects of community life and to set up a school of quality,” Ian said. “The boarding experience allows kids to come to school and focus on being at school during the week, and come home on weekends so they have that balance of still immersing in culture.” Students are housed in family group homes and the college helped them become “work ready”, he said.

ALC chair Tony Wurramarrba said the

Reference Group was looking at options to “save” Anindilyakwa youth. “Our school attendance is still terrible and we need to do all we can to ensure our young people have a future,” he said. He said the current school system on Groote was not working as many families did not send their children to school every day. “We want to find something that works for our people,” he said.

A boarding school would be set up so parents that wanted to visit children could go there and stay. The group discussed a remote location on Bickerton Island.

Water parks to get children activeCOMMUNITIES are getting excited about new

water play facilities being constructed in the

three Groote communities.

Architectural firm NS Projects is designing the

water parks, which work both with and without

water. Local art will inject colour and life into

the design. The project includes installation of

bores to provide water and water purifications

systems. ALC chair Tony Wurramarrba said

the water parks were designed to get children

active and provide fun activities for families

to do together. The water parks are a part

of a $5.7million plan by the ALC to improve

sport and recreation facilities in the Groote

archipelago.

TIWI COLLEGE PRINCIPAL SHARES BOARDING SCHOOL VISION

FUTURE: The Community School Reference Group meets for the second time to discuss setting up a remote boarding school in the Groote archipelago.

| February/March 2018 Page 4

Grant to develop language, cultural collection

GROOTE residents are being urged to report sightings of two dolphin breeds – the killer whale and false killer whale.

The archipelago is an important area for these mammals, which are the biggest and second biggest dolphins in the world. Little is known about killer whales in the tropical waters, and nearly all the sightings from NT water have been recorded around Groote Archipelago.

Department of Environment senior scientist Dr Carol Palmer said false killer whales are generally thought to be deep water ocean going dolphins but in the NT they regularly use coastal waters. Four false killer whales satellite tagged in 2013 near Cobourg Peninsula travelled 5000-7000 kilometres over 105 days chasing fish in NT and Commonwealth waters.

“They are like the Olympic swimmers of the NT,” Dr Carol said. She said there was

little information on the dolphins in the tropical waters of northern Australia and sightings were rare. “Sightings of all dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs (termed marine megafauna) are really important – we call it Citizen Science,” Dr Carol said.

Residents can report sightings (with images) to Marine WildWatch on 1800 453 941 or at wildwatch.nt.gov.au

LITTLE INFORMATION: Killer whales spotted off Groote Eylandt.

Open recreational areas THE following Groote Eylandt recreational areas are currently open:

Marble Point/Hanging Rock | Rats Cove | Jagged Head/Hemple Bay | Picnic Beach | Leske Pools Amagula River | Cave Paintings | Naked Pools | Angurugu River Mouth | Motorbike Track | Pole 24

Dugong Resort Rec Area Go to the ALC website for the most up to date information as closures change regularly.

www.anindilyakwa.com.au

Department calls on residents to report sightings

A GROOTE project that builds an innovative catalogue of Anindilyakwa language resources has received a boost.

Groote Eylandt Language Centre won a big grant from the national Department of Communication and the Arts. Linguist David Nathan said it was the first time the centre has received the grant, which recognised the status of the

centre and could potentially lead to ongoing funding.

The goal of Ajamurnda is to give access to the centre’s digital collections of existing, repatriated and newly recorded language and other cultural and historical resources. A big focus of the project is to build a catalogue which will give the Anindilyakwa community access to resources, through a

computer app, which is easy to use and protects access to sensitive or restricted materials.

The catalogue will be available for the Groote communities as well as Anindilyakwa people living in other areas and other interested users. For more information go to anindilyakwa.org.au/collection/ajamurnda

| February/March 2018 Page 5

RECYCLABLES will be shipped by barge for free to be recycled in Darwin for the next two years.

Ferry operator Sea Swift will remove the rubbish from the nine East Arnhem Regional Council communities, including Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra.

Council president Banambi Wunungmurra said without the help of Sea Swift, it would not be possible for island-based communities to deal with their own recycling. “This relationship enables the council to

focus on improving environmental management of our landfill operations and creating a more sustainable future for this generation and for generations to come”, Banambi said.

He said he was excited about the increased recycling efforts across the region.

“Partnerships like these with Sea Swift and schools play a big role in helping the council to recycle the past to preserve our communities and the environment’s future,” he said

Ferry removes rubbish from communities

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT: The recyclables, from bottles to batteries, are prepared to be transported to Darwin where they can be sent to a recycling depot.

LINK: A new ferry service is connecting Groote Eylandt and Numbulwar. GEAT manager Keshena Wilson said the new Numbulwar link provides easier access for festivals, ceremonies, funerals and family visits and is being operated by Sealink.

Ferry operating to Numbulwar

WINNER: Groote Eylandt’s football coach has taken out a major award at the National AFL Staff Awards in Melbourne. Joel Ikupu (pictured with school students) took out the Play With Passion award, up against more than 250 nominations in six categories.

Big win for football coach

| February/March 2018 Page 6

Continued from Page 1.

They drove to Nhulunbuy, took the barge to Groote Eylandt, and then under the guidance of Constantine, drove to Bartalumba Bay, speared in shallow waters, drove to Marngkala Caves, heard the stories of the Anindilyakwa people’s early contact with Macassans, visited billabongs and fished for Southern saratoga.

Jase said he loved travelling to Groote. “It was an extremely humbling

experience to have Constantine show me his country,” he said.

Simon said visiting Groote was his favourite part of the series. “I feel very privileged travelling to Groote, it was a highlight for me,” he said.

The shows were watched by more than 250,000 people each, earlier this year.

The ALC hopes to screen the episodes for communities in the new cultural centres.

| February/March 2018

THE deafening din of a sawmill can be heard at Pole 13 where trees are being “slabbed” to create furniture.

The Lucas mill has been on Groote Eylandt since November and has been set up next to the Amangarra Warehouse.

Men’s shed coordinator Ian O’Malley said local men were learning to use it and had started milling logs.

“From these beginnings we are looking at working with GEAT Market Garden and others to create a space to have the mill and employ staff to work it,” Ian said. “One of the wishes of the senior men has been for the young men to have real work like they had back when they were young when they farmed, cut trees and milled them,” Ian said. “While it is going to be hard work for those employed, it will give great satisfaction and personal gratification.”

Timbers currently being milled are the salvaged African mahogany, tamarind, mango and stringy bark. GEBIE CDP Training Shed participants have been using the milled timbers to make tables.

The ALC has a vision to stop prime saw logs being sent to the burn pile and to instead turn the archipelago into a timber-making industry.

Page 7

Mill opens doors for timber industry

FEATURED: Constantine Mamarika (right) stops off at Marnggala Caves with Jase Andrews and Simon Anderson.

SUPPLY: The new Lucas mill will prepare local timbers for furniture making.

Ph 08 8987 4010Fax 08 8987 4098info@anindilyakwa.com.au For editorial contributions email danielacooper@outlook.com.au

30 Bougainvillea DrivePO Box 172Alyangula NT 0885

anindilyakwa.com.au

Published by

THE new school year promises plenty of excitement for Groote Eylandt children, with the launch of Bush Fit Mob.

The ALC-funded program uses sport and recreation to help keep children in school. It means children are getting active and enjoying school, which is helping to create a more positive atmosphere in the local communities.

Bush Fit Mob will run sporting activities on school grounds in the morning before classes start, and again during lunch breaks.

Director Nick Kenny said at other times, teachers could send children to Bush Fit Mob trainers as a reward, or to help re-engage children who are struggling to stay focused.

“The trainers can help to provide some extra one-on-one attention and help children to debrief or unpack any personal issues in a fun, safe and positive chillout space,” he said.

“There haven’t been enough active opportunities on offer for

kids in community, so we’re going to be a constant presence in each of the schools.”

Bush Fit Mob will also engage peak sporting bodies such as Athletics Australia, Milo Cricket, Swimming Australia and Netball Australia to attend Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra to help deliver specialised, skill-development programs.

“Our goal is to help expose the children in community to a variety of different sports that they may not have tried before,” Nick said.

“We will also be using our funding

to extend the visits of various service providers who come to Groote as part of the School Sports Voucher Schemes. This will enable us to really start embedding these programs in community.”

Bush Fit Mob will also provide pathways and support for talented youths to go on to compete at both regional and state championships.

Program manager Atnas Maeko has had great success running a youth sport and recreation program in Gapuwiyak over the last five years.

Page 8

Sport keeps children in schools

CONSTANT PRESENCE: A hip hop program was one of the first youth activities offered by Bush Fit Mob.

| February/March 2018