Day in the life of YMAC Project Officers

YMAC Project Officers: a day in the life

YMAC has two Project Officers based in its Geraldton office – Ken Capewell (Wajarri on his mother’s side and Nanda on his father’s side) and Carrum Mourambine, who is also connected to Wajarri and Nanda – and their role is a consistently diverse mix of being out in the field and office work, working with Traditional Owners as required.

Left: YMAC Project Officers Carrum Mourambine, left, and Ken Capewell. Picture: Lennelle Papertalk

Ken is the first to confess an average day is not always the same: it could change at any moment, due to whatever is needed at a particular time. “I could be in the office answering emails, talking to Traditional Owners when they need assistance at the front counter or making phone calls to inform them of the time and dates for their up-and-coming meetings,” Ken said. “On other occasions, I can be driving out on Country to assist Traditional Owners and anthropologists with their research meetings away from the office.” Ken’s work also takes him to some “really awesome places”, including Native Title conferences at the MCG and on the Sunshine Coast.

“I have been to many places in the Yamatji and Marlpa regions, including most of the small towns in and around Geraldton, my hometown Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Exmouth, Yalgoo, Mt Magnet, Cue, Meekatharra, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, Newman and Kalbarri,” Ken said.

“I’ve even been on Country where my mum’s parents grew up and worked as young people, including the different homesteads and stations they worked on.” Originally a truck driver, Ken found his way to YMAC when there were no vacancies in his field – and it was Carrum who suggested that he might be interested in the role.

“My favourite part of the job is seeing a native title process from beginning to end and also meeting new people and making the connections to other families I know in the Yamatji area,” Ken said. “The biggest challenge for me is watching divisions take place in communities because of personal issues within the native title process – people not coming together as one to regain pride and responsibility for Country.” But Ken says his most memorable experiences have been witnessing people receive their native title determinations and regaining the rights to their ancestral lands.

“Sometimes people have their own views on what a Project Officer actually does at YMAC,” Ken said. “We try our best to answer all questions and issues that arise in our Yamatji community when it comes to native title.”

Country, Culture, People, Future

About us

YMAC News is produced by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation.

We are an Aboriginal Corporation and the Native Title Representative Body for the Mid West, Murchison, Gascoyne and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.

YMAC Vision 2021–2025: Through connection to Country, Aboriginal people pursue and achieve economic, social and cultural goals and aspirations with strength and confidence.

Our mission: For current and future generations, we work with and for Australian Aboriginal people to protect rights and manage Country and opportunities.

YMAC Representative Areas

Legend

Geraldton RATSIB Pilbara RATSIB

Broome

Pilbara RATSIB

Exmouth

Carnarvon

Geraldton RATSIB

Geraldton Karratha Port Hedland

Tom Price

Newman

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Meekatharra

PERTH

Contact us: Send your questions, ideas, letters and photos to editor@ymac.org.au

Freecall: 1800 270 709

Geraldton

171 Marine Terrace Geraldton WA 6530 PO Box 2119 Geraldton WA 6531 T: 08 9965 6222

Perth

Level 8, 12 The Esplanade Perth WA 6000 PO Box 3072 249 Hay Street East Perth WA 6892 T: 08 9268 7000 F: 08 9225 4633

Hedland

8 Manganese Street Wedgefield WA 6721 PO Box 2252 South Hedland WA 6722 T: 08 9160 3800 F: 08 9140 1277

Broome

Shop 2/24 Clementson Street Broome WA 6725 PO Box 2059 Broome WA 6725

Carnarvon

4 Francis Street Carnarvon WA 6701 PO Box 1424 Carnarvon WA 6701 T: 08 9965 6222 F: 08 9964 5646

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