ICV News ICV News
Amazing in Lajamanu True Fellas Allinta Rose catch up Like a Crown for a King
December 2007
indigenous community
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volunteers
In this issue News in Brief National Aboriginal & Islander − Days of Celebration
From the CEO
1 2-3
Amazing in Lajamanu − The becoming of Naparrula Fogarty 4-5 6-8
Catch up with Allinta Rose Culture Corner − Like a Crown for a King
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Volunteering with Indigenous communities
True Fellas
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Front cover photo: Naomi wears ICV temporary tattoos at NAIDOC celebrations—image by Nick Ellis Inside front cover photo: Paul Tyrrell (CEO) photo by Nick Ellis
Inside back cover photos: Allinta Rose and the MAYSAR facilities—photos by Nick Ellis Back cover photo: The Torres Strait Islander Headdress hanging in the ICV Canberra office —images by Emma Zoller and Nick Ellis INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS ABN 900 9312 3418 Editing: Nick Ellis Stories: Paul Collis, Tim Lehã, Nick Ellis Design: Virginnia Du Toit Symbol: Vicki-Lee Weldon (representing ICV’s three way partnership—Indigenous Communities, Volunteers and Corporate Australia)
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper using vegetable based inks. If you would like to be included on or removed from our mailing list, please contact the ICV communications team on (02) 6122 6444 or email marketing@icv.com.au
As 2007 draws to an end, we reflect on the year past and the coming festive season. I feel honoured to be part of ICV, an organisation that has dedicated and professional staff who work tirelessly to build positive and cooperative partnerships with Indigenous communities and organisations across the country. In addition, the volunteers have a remarkable generosity of spirit and great pools of energy, which they share with our Indigenous partners. I am constantly amazed at the diversity of skills transfer projects that are designed by our Indigenous partners and successfully carried out with the efforts of our volunteers. A snapshot in any one day of ICV would show volunteers and communities sharing their skills in writing, cooking, painting, building, knitting, involved with strategic planning, health and well being, information technology, governance, land management, tourism, education to name a few. Please continue to spread the word about ICV within your community and amongst your friends, and encourage them to become involved in our program. This newsletter focuses on projects, from all corners of the country, encompassing skills from construction through to business and marketing. Also covered is ICV’s participation in NAIDOC celebrations across Australia. I welcome Rob McPhee as the new Regional Manager for the Western Region. I look forward to working with Rob and his WA team in the coming year. Congratulations go to Jennifer Standish-White for her nomination as the Northern Territory finalist in the Telstra Business Woman’s Award. I wish all our readers and their families a happy and peaceful Christmas and best wishes for 2008. Paul Tyrrell Chief Executive Officer
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A quick look at what has been going on at ICV Raylene Snow and ICV’s Maryam Blizard at Marra Dreaming. Photo by Tina McDonald.
ICV promotions are in overdrive.
It was a knockout.
From the Land and Sea Management Conference in Cardwell, North Queensland, to the Tarerer Music Festival, in Killarney, South-West Victoria, ICV staff have been hitting the road to let people know about the great work going on. In the second half of 2007, ICV have reached diverse groups including car enthusiasts, creative urban designers and builders, performing artists, sports and footy buffs, public servants, Indigenous groups, and women’s groups—all potential volunteer or community projects.
The 37th NSW Annual Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout, that is. A four day carnival, held over the October long weekend, attended by twenty six Indigenous Rugby League teams, thousands of spectators and ICV. ICV was there to spread the word about skills transfer and take in a little footy. Congratulations go to the Wollumbin Warriors, who were able to pull out three tries in the last seventeen minutes to clinch the final. Well done fellas and we hope to see everyone again next year.
You never know where we might turn up.
You may have seen us gracing your tv screen recently. ICV have updated and relaunched our television ads, or as they’re known in the business, our community service announcements (CSAs). The CSAs have been spruced up in preparation for completely new versions that will be shot over the next couple of months. Keep your eye out, and who knows, you might just end up in one.
Databases are a bit like tyres, not the most glamorous part of the operation, but you can’t get very far without them. Like tyres, databases often need replacing, or at least a re-tread. The ICV database, having served us well, is about due for an alignment, which is currently going on. We hope to launch the new database towards the end of the year, so send in your volunteer and community applications.
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National Aboriginal and Isl Days
Naomi wears ICV temporary tattoos at NAIDOC celebrations. Photo by Nick Ellis.
There isn’t a National Aborigines and Islanders Day, but it doesn’t seem to bother anyone. Because why worry about a day, when you can have a week? In the first full week of July, from Sunday to Sunday, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around the country celebrate NAIDOC week. NAIDOC week was named after the National Aborigines and Islander Day Organising Committee. The committee was established to further the work of activists such as William Cooper and William Ferguson, who had been organising days to observe efforts to establish and recognise Aboriginal rights. The National Aborigines Day Organising Committee was established in 1957, with the name being changed in 1988 to the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Organising Committee, to formally include Torres Strait Islanders in the celebrations. Over the years the various National Aborigines Day celebrations have taken place in January, July and September, and the Day was stretched into eight. It seems only fitting then, that ICV reports on its involvement in NAIDOC celebrations some six months after attending them.
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The ICV Board convened for a meeting in Darwin, to coincide with national celebrations. Darwin was this year’s national focus city, with the national NAIDOC ball being held, thematically, on Black Friday, the 13th of July. Canberra staff member Glynis Whitfield joined the Board and Central Region staff. Regional Manager Jennifer StandishWhite and Glynis manned a stall at the NAIDOC Family Day at Mindil beach. “Our stall was set up beside a stall where they sold and played Aboriginal music CDs all day.
At various times during the day I would be taken by something playing and I’d ask “What’s that one?” until at the end of the day I had to buy two CDs —a Saltwater CD and an Archie Roach CD. I have to say I can’t understand much of what’s sung on the Saltwater CD, but I really enjoy the music.” The ICV Perth staff were also busy attending events in Fremantle and Perth including a celebration at the Fremantle Arts Museum and the Ashfield Reserve NAIDOC day.
lander
of Celebration
By Nick Ellis
Tim Leha and I headed down to Melbourne to man a stall at the fifth annual NAIDOC Family Day Football Match, played between the local Indigenous and Police Force teams. The boys from the Indigenous team put in a good effort, but unfortunately weren’t able to match the Police. That said, everyone had a great time, with a sausage sizzle, races, face painting, and even a petting zoo for the kids. Tim stayed on in Melbourne to attend the traditional Elders luncheon, organised by the Aboriginal Advancement League, while I headed back to Canberra, just in time to catch AIATSIS’ celebrations on the Acton peninsula. AIATSIS put on a free, full day event of bush tucker, markets and information stalls and a concert featuring local and interstate musicians, headlined by local hip-hop duo, Koolism. Over in Adelaide, another Canberran staff member, Taita Viri, was helping out our Port Augusta Project Officer, Shazza Mallie, with manning more stalls and attending the local NAIDOC ball.
“My best moment would have to be the two community applications we got from two people in less than an hour. Just helping them fill out the form and answering their questions gave me a feeling that these mob are hungry for volunteers.
Skills that we city folk take for granted are high demand in our Indigenous communities.” Brisbane staff were also on the move, attending events not only in their home town, but as far down as Sydney and even Melbourne. With attendance and participation in NAIDOC events right around the country, we here at ICV are proud of our efforts in NAIDOC week (even if we are a little slow to share the news). However we’re not much for sitting on our laurels, so expect bigger and better things next year. We’ll see you then, for days of celebration.
NAIDOC celebrations in Canberra. Photo by Nick Ellis.
Sharon Brook and ICV’s Tim Leha
Colleen Marion in Melbourne
NAIDOC celebrations in Brisbane
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Amazing in Lajamanu: The becoming of Naparrula Fogarty This wasn’t Mary Fogarty’s first time as an ICV Volunteer. Back in 2005 she’d done a spell in Narrogin, southeast of Perth, helping CDEP managers improve their management and reporting skills. This time round her volunteering’s taken her to Warlpiri land 500 kms out of Katherine. At five weeks it’s been her longest yet. I suspect it won’t be her last. Established 58 years ago, Lajamanu was the result of relocating Warlpiri people from Yuendemu to what was then known as Hooker Creek station. It’s a strongly traditional community; English is spoken as a second language, traditional custom is practiced and in many ways dominates the thinking and running of the community. “Going to Lajamanu was so different to Narrogin and home in Sydney” says Mary. “In Lajamanu you never speak about black and white, you talk about ‘yapa and kardia’.”
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By Tim Lehā
With a general population of 1000, during her stay it’s likely Mary propped the kardia (non-Indigenous) level up to around 41. Mary came to volunteer with ICV with a rich history of work in the area of community development. She’d worked overseas as a volunteer in Papua New Guinea, in Australia as a nurse, and also in child care and disability support. Now she advocates for refugees and internally displaced people via her job at AustCare. “In Lajamanu my task was to help the art centre to attain incorporation so it could be listed as an NGO (non-government organisation). The art centre and the artists were well known up until 2000. Back then a member of the community, an artist, passed away in the centre.” This had a major impact within Lajamanu and it is only recently that the centre has reopened.
“There was a cleansing ceremony to go back in there. The artists had still been painting over the period but their works had been sold for a pittance. In some cases the women were being paid in food. It was really important for them to go (back) to the art centre and do some painting”. Monica (Nic) Marsham is Coordinator of Warnayaka and has been working with Mary. “We’re taking it one step at a time. Incorporation enables the members, who are artists, to be artists and the business side of things to be controlled by a Warlpiri committee. The members are committed to the business. They’re not painting at home anymore, they’re coming into the centre and they’re committed to culturally strong, authenticated artwork and the new Warnayaka Art and Cultural Aboriginal Corporation.” The talented artists of Lajamanu sit cross-legged on the ground as they paint. “It just flows from them. The colour, the paintings come from their dreaming”. As she recounts her time in the territory you get the impression that for a project geared at the business end of organisational structure, not all of Mary’s time was spent buried in paperwork. “I wasn’t there to be a tourist. I was there to be a part of the art centre—if just for a small time. ”Central to Mary’s philosophy was ensuring the art centre was being established on rules that the community really wanted. “To assure that would happen, they needed to get to know me.”
This notion took Mary outside the community. “We went out bush, slept under the stars which was magnificent. Going out to find wood for nulla nullas and coolamons was a great experience and I got a lot out of it.” Back at the art centre Mary was fitting in like one of the family. “I was helping to prime canvasses and get them ready to work on. They’d given me a skin name and when they needed more paint they’d call out ‘Naparulla, more paint!’ That was just so special.” Nic explains “In the Warlpiri culture, reference to someone who has passed is not appropriate and a culturally suitable name may be given to individuals that enter the community. It predominantly is a skin name”. “There was only one (other) Naparulla” notes Mary. “She was in her late 70’s. She put her arm around me and called me her sister. They just called me mother, sister, or daughter. It was so warming. It was just amazing.” It’s over a month since ‘Naparulla’ Fogarty returned home and the memories are strong in her mind. She’s kept in touch with Nic who’s now finalising the incorporation and as for Warnayaka, AC it’s going from strength to strength. “Now that we’re selling a few paintings” Nic says, “we’ve had about seven new artists in the last few weeks. It’s encouraging the community to paint in the art centre.” This was Mary’s first visit to Lajamanu. I suspect it won’t be her last.
For further info regarding Warnayaka Art Centre contact: Lajamanu Community Council 08 8975 0886 Warnayaka Art Centre 0437 917 632 7
True Fellas
Working on the site. Photo by Magali MacDuffie
“Blackfella, Whitefella… It doesn’t matter, what your colour As long as you… Are true fella…” When I was a just a young boy, my Grandfather taught me things about the world. To me, he had always been an old man who was kind, patient and wise. One thing I remember him saying to me was, “You gotta watch that old wind, Son. She’s the strongest message carrier, that one! Stronger than Telecom! But you gotta be quiet and still to know what the wind is trying to tell you, Boy.” At Balginjirr Aboriginal community Station, about an hour south of Derby (of which half an hour is along the beautiful soft, red dirt road that is as fine as talcum powder), Hector Waddell was supervising the construction of the huge Majala Wilderness Centre. Hector and his wife, Margaret, were both on an ICV project in the heart of the magnificent Kimberley region of Western Australia. It was there that my Grandfather’s words came back to remind me of the power of nature and of that ‘old message carrier’, the wind. 8
By Paul Collis Hector had been meticulous in setting up the angle grinder for a younger worker to cut some steel for the job. He had payed particular attention to which way the wind was blowing so as to not endanger lives or limbs by setting the dry Spinifex grass afire. The Kimberley region is in its dry season and the threat of bush fires is ever present in the mind of the wise people who know the country and who observe nature as their guide. The outside temperature was hovering around 100 degrees in the old scale, a dangerous time to be ‘playin’ with fire’ in the bush. When satisfied that the risk of setting the bush on fire was minimal, Hector gave the ok to go ahead with the cutting. Although the sparks were being directed away from the prevailing wind, thanks to the wind’s unpredictability one ended up in the dry grass and ‘up she (the bush) went’ in an instant! Everyone scurried to contain the potential life threatening, building destroying blaze.
We need more Brothers, If we’re to make it. We need more Sisters, If we’re to save it… Are you the one that’s gonna… stand up and be counted… Warumpi Band
Somewhere between two and three hours later, the exhausted men had won the battle with the fire. When all was done, they all looked with concern at the ‘Boss’; Hector.
This is the great thing about ICV—the individual and/or the Indigenous Community(s) retain the information and skills long after the Volunteers have gone.
Hector let not age nor fear deter him, standing shoulder to shoulder with the much younger men until the fire was extinguished and all were safe. Hector displayed all the qualities of good leadership. A truly courageous and caring act, considering Hector had burnt his only hand during the ‘blaze-up’. That’s right—Hector has a disability in-so-much-as he has lost the fingers of his right hand in an industrial accident many years ago.
I asked Hector, “What was the best thing about this project you’ve been working on for you, so far?”
Hector turned 79 years old last birthday! The project co-ordinator and founding member of Madjulla Inc, Anne Poelina said that the Majala Wilderness Centre will provide a chance for people to gain a unique insight into the traditions, history and contemporary life of the Nyikina people. Hector and Margaret can be well pleased with themselves for the roles that they have played in creating these opportunities through their work as Volunteers with ICV. But, while its true that buildings don’t generally get transported or moved once erected, the skills that Hector and Margaret have passed on to some of the local people, are.
“It’d be training the men with the skills on the job. They’ve all been ‘as keen as mustard’ he said without hesitation. I noticed the smile that came upon his face as he remembered the work that they had completed so far. “Well, what was the worse thing for you about this project then?” I continued. Hector thought for a second or two and then said with a wry smile, “Tryin’ not to do the work myself!” I got the impression that this man enjoyed the challenges that had come his way during the life of this project. Hector’s wife Margaret, has been by his side on this ICV project. I watched Margaret gaze at her husband through eyes that saw nothing but love and admiration for him. “I’ve really enjoyed getting over to see the job (The Wilderness Centre project), and the men hard at it in that hot heat.”
9 Ian Perdrisat, Hector Waddell and Anne Poelina at the site. Photo by Margaret Waddell.
The dust, the heat, sand flies, and the ever present threat of coming into contact with one of the deadly King Brown snakes are just a few difficulties that go to make up the reality of station life. However, for Margaret, the down side of being on the Station was when she was unable to be at the site.
“It got a little lonely at times when Hector was away at his project. He wouldn’t stop work until the end of the long day. And it was funny to hear the young men saying things like they, “couldn’t stop work either, until the ‘old man’ did. So it was hard for me being alone for so much.” Margaret said. I watched both husband and wife reach and gently hold hands. I got the impression that this ICV project meant so much more to Hector and Margaret than passing on the complex set of skills transfer they were providing the local Indigenous people. The respect shown by them for the people at Balginjirr, and the belief in the long term benefits of their skills transfer was plain for me to see. As Hector said, “There will always be a need for buildings. I’ve really enjoyed passin’ the skills onto these blokes…its been terrific, just terrific seein’ how they all got stuck in and worked so hard on the job. It’s something that they can all be very proud of. I’m proud of ‘em!”
Margaret and Hector have shown that ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’. They also refuted the notion the just because a person in ‘older’, it doesn’t mean that they are useless and not wanted or needed in society. With all the seasons that will come and that will pass in the future of the Kimberley region, the Majala Wilderness Centre, will be a shining example of what team work, knowledge, respect and commitment can bring to fruition. But as the climate temperature begins to climb through the hundred mark, indicating both the coming of an extreme summer and another wet season, Anne Poelina and her partner Ian Perrdrisat, have invited Hector and Margaret to return after they head back East for the summer. It was a wonderful experience, witnessing the relationship between Margaret and Hector, and Anne and Ian (on behalf of the Balginjirr community) being cherished and nurtured in such a tender way. The respect for the ‘other’ is obvious and sincere in their case. The fabulous Warumpi Band understood the power of such relationships when they sang: “Blackfella, Whitefella… It doesn’t matter, what your colour, As long as you… Are true fella…”
Anne, Margaret and Hector discuss the project. Photo by Nick Ellis.
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Catch with News up in Brief Allinta Rose
A quick look at what has been going on at ICV By Tim Lehā
Raylene Snow and ICV’s Maryam Blizard at Marra Dreaming. Photo by Tina McDonald.
In 2005, newly graduated Allinta Rose was looking for fresh challenges in her life, rather than immediately succumbing to the full-time workforce. That’s when she applied to volunteer with ICV. It was a bold step for the young Murri woman from Brisbane and two years on it remains an invaluable and formative experience that she would recommend to any uni student. “I don’t think I really knew where I was going” Allinta says of a time when her fingers were still getting used to the feel of her Honours degree in Leisure Management in her hands. What gave her direction was that she was chosen to share her skills in an entirely unknown community thousands of kilometers away. Allinta jumped at the chance. “It was a really small project, it was only two weeks long” Allinta remembers about the project with MAYSAR (Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport And Recreation). MAYSAR is an urban, community-controlled organisation that provides the burgeoning Indigenous community of Melbourne’s inner north with a sports centre and activities and programs that help keep everyone healthy and active. Allinta fit in well. “I had a lot of skills from my degree in the sport and recreation area. We worked up a database to target funding areas, helped get the business organised and compiled resources for ongoing use.” It was a short stint, but for Allinta the project was revelatory. “Melbourne is a bustling kind of place. It seemed like there was a lot more opportunity for Indigenous people than at home in Brisbane. There’s a lot more job opportunities and opened-mindedness to Indigenous people because of the diversity in the community.” It was an education that has held her in good stead.
“ICV built my confidence in working with and engaging communities. It opened my eyes to the different challenges in communities, especially between urban and rural. In each place you have to relate to Indigenous people in a different way.” Since volunteering with ICV Allinta, found her skills in demand and did of lot traveling for work across Australia running small business workshops. “I don’t do that stuff much anymore. What I’m doing now is I run my own business called Deadly Life & Solutions. I also do a lot of work in community development and business planning, as well as mentoring Indigenous job-seekers. I’m also trying to create a bestpractice model to work and engage with Indigenous people”. And what suggestions has our budding entrepreneur for MAYSAR and other Indigenous organisations today? “Any advice I’d give now is to really be open minded when it comes to funding submissions, meeting people, and networking. Doing whatever it might be to get to support organisations and also looking outside traditional support agencies for future work.” It’s sound advice that she adheres to herself. “A lot of my work now is with non-Indigenous organisations. I had to step outside of my comfort zone and meet people and look for an opportunity in everything.” Looking back, Allinta still sees her time at MAYSAR as “...an awesome opportunity. I went into Melbourne with an open mind and l feel I learnt as much from them as they did from me.”
For further info on Deadly Life & Business Solutions head to www.deadlylife.com.au
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Volunteering with Indigenous communities is rewarding
Contact ICV 1800 819 542
or call into one of our offices.
National Office Canberra
Level 4, Novell Hse 71 Northbourne Ave Canberra City ACT 2600 GPO Box 2213 Canberra ACT 2601 (02) 6122 6444
Central Region Alice Springs Suit 4/15 Leichhardt Tce Alice Springs NT 0871 GPO Box 4936 Alice Springs NT 0871 (08) 8912 0001
Port Augusta
Culture corner Like a crown for a king In July this year, ICV bought a Torres Strait Island headdress and other cultural artefacts from craftsman George Nona. George explained that the headdresses were used in warfare amongst the islands and for ceremonial dances.
The headdress George made for ICV was deliberately general, so as not to infringe upon anyone’s heritage, but so that it gives visiting volunteers a clear idea of what a Torres Strait Island headdress is like.
“We can’t describe it (the headdresses) in a way where there’s an understanding, because it’s a sacred thing. George Nona
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volunteers
Suit 20 Plumridge Hse 36 Agnes St, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 PO Box 1585 Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 (07) 3121 9254
Dubbo
99 Wingewarra St Dubbo NSW 2830 GPO Box 1537 Dubbo NSW 2830 (02) 6881 8996
Western Region Perth
I’d describe it like a king wearing a crown. It’s the same to the Islanders.”
indigenous community
PO Box 14 Port Augusta SA 5700 (08) 8642 6706
Eastern Region Brisbane
‘I’d like people…to respect these things…it means a lot to the Torres Strait Islander people.’
George grew up among craftspeople on the Islands but never put his skills into practice until after he hurt his back while working as a carpenter.
Shop 73B, Commercial Rd Port Augusta SA 5700
1800 819 542 | www.icv.com.au
Level 5, 33 Barrack St Perth WA 6831 GPO Box 2571 Perth WA 6831 (08) 6363 4502