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Tarwangin - Talking To Me - 9 July 2008
In this edition of Tarwangin we learn about volunteers making a huge difference to communities in the Gascoyne, help you tell the story of your street, and offer a chance hear about Rob Riley's legacy.
To receive the Tarwangin Newsletter subscribe here. We welcome any feedback and/or suggestions for new stories for upcoming editions of Tarwangin. Please contact Public Affairs at DIA for further information.
Inaugural Indigenous Community Governance Forum 2008
Bringing together stakeholders from community groups, land / island councils, private industry, as well as state, territory and federal government agencies, this forward-looking forum will address the critical governance issues confronting Indigenous communities today.
The discussion will centre on community governance reform, with the focus being on learning from organisations that have advanced initiatives in place to improve the overall wellbeing of their communities.
There is no single formula for success, as initiatives need to be developed in context, addressing the specific needs of the stakeholders concerned.
There is however, much to be gained from the experiences of others. Presenters and delegates will share stories of successful strategies that have shown proven management efficacy in the delivery of services, programs and resources. More information here
National Seniors Volunteers in the Gascoyne
 The Department of Indigenous Affairs has been working very closely with the National Seniors Volunteers Group to provide support to the Burringurrah Aboriginal Community and the Mungullah town-based Community in the Gascoyne region of Western Australia.
The Project has seen two volunteers travel to each of these Communities to provide Leadership support; Governance training; administrative and financial management support and assist the Communities with their future planning.
The photograph shows Harry Tys and his wife Elaine with the Burringurrah Chairperson, Mervyn Lewis, outside the Administration Centre in the Community.
The Community Council has been very pleased with the work done, and support provided by the Tys family since their arrival.
The volunteers based at Mungullah - Wayne (Gibbo) and Anne Gibbons - have now been in town for a just under a month and are enjoying the challenges there. They have been extremely busy assisting the Community to identify options for the future for their pastoral leases (Towrana & Gilroyd Stations) and supporting them in their efforts to commence their Family Visions youth diversion project.
This project will provide opportunities for youth to become involved in cultural activities, using the stations as a camping Ground. At the end of the year, the Youth will participate in a Community Ball - sure to be an event that is joined by all.
This program provides Seniors with an amazing opportunity to experience the oldest culture in the world, and to see the magnificent sights that Western Australia has to offer. It also enables the communities to benefit from the broad ranging experiences of retired senior executives to assist with building governance and capacity in communities.
The Department of Indigenous Affairs, the Burringurrah Community and Mungullah Community all thank Karen Furnivall at National Seniors for her assistance in locating such wonderful volunteers to come to the Gascoyne.
Of course, we thank all the dedicated volunteers as well - and hope they encourage others to come and experience the West. We also acknowledge the impending arrival of two new volunteers in Carnarvon - Cliff Thurley and Elizabeth Arthur .
Both Cliff and Elizabeth will work closely with Mungullah for six to eight weeks on project-specific tasks in August/September.
DIA Puts Computers to Good Use
Recently the Department of Indigenous Affairs commenced an upgrade program for their computers and this resulted in a large number of functioning equipment items (monitors, hard disk drives, keyboards etc) becoming obsolete.
As part of their commitment to ensuring support for Indigenous communities and organisations, these items were offered free of charge to interested groups.
The Murchison-Gascoyne Region had an excellent response to their advice regarding the available equipment and over 20 computers have now been provided to community based organisations.
This includes the remote communities of Burringurrah, Yulga Jinna, Wandanooka, Pia Wadjuri and Barrell Well.
A large number of smaller organisations including womens groups; cancer support groups; mens groups; youth organisations and resource centres were also allocated equipment free of charge.
The Mungullah Aboriginal Town Based Community in Carnarvon also received two computers for use in their homework centre.
All organisations and communities have been very thankful for the donation of this equipment.
Tell the Story of Your Street
ABC Radio National’s Street Stories program wants to bring the stories of our streets together through My Street. My Street is a new multimedia project that will enable stories to be shared by everyone, no matter where they are in Australia, at abc.net.au/rn/mystreet.
Share a story from your street with My Street, from 22 June, and the best entry will win the chance to work with the Street Stories team to produce a radio documentary about your street, or another mutually agreed topic. All entries will be available to view on the My Street website as soon as they are uploaded. The competition closes on 7 November 2008.
Your story may also be broadcast on ABC Radio National. A selection of the best stories will be featured on Street Stories once a month, throughout the competition period.
Your story needs to be told in no more than seven minutes using video, audio, images or up to 700 words of text. You can record it on your mobile phone, an MP3 player, a video or digital camera. Or you could submit an animation, a story, a photo montage – the choice is yours.
ABC Radio National's Street Stories is a weekly half-hour program devoted to social documentaries. You will hear stories and experiences from across Australia and around the globe. Come with us into the places where lives are lived; lounge rooms, pubs, offices - even caves - to hear tales of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Street Stories can be heard every Sunday at 1.30pm (repeat 8pm) or as audio on demand and podcast at abc.net.au/rn/streetstories.
Nganhungu Wangga – Our Languages
Irra Wangga presents the Nganhungu Wangga – Our Languages exhibition from 4 July to 14 September 2008 at the WA Museum – Geraldton, Western Australia.
The exhibition was developed in recognition of UNESCO 2008 International Year of Languages and supported with a Department of Indigenous Affairs reconciliation grant.
Nganhungu Wangga is a tribute to those who maintain their languages in the Mid West, and gives an insight into the Aboriginal language of the region.
For more information please contact Adriano on Phone: 08 99239733 or email adriano@irrawangga.org.au
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