Marngarr has the Gumatj Association as its parent company,and is based in Gunyungara, about 12 kms from Nhulubuy. Gumatj is a local clan up here, quite a powerful one due to tribal hierarchies and a major recipient of mine royalties. The Gumatj leader is Galarrwuy Yunupingu, who incidently wrote an article in the Australian two weekends ago about economic participation for the Yolgnu people and the work that the community is doing in setting up a self sustaining timber mill and cattle station. I don’t know enough about the politics up here, but as a newcomer it seems a good thing to support as it will help the Yolgnu live the way they want to, and will provide resources for the community and real job choices.
Anyway, its nearly the end of my first week, and the 7am mornings have been difficult to adjust to! But I have met some great people and the program is slowly getting on its feet. The past few days have been all about paperwork and ticking federal government boxes. Its a great experience for me, esp. coming from a central agency where I am so far away from how things work on the ground... The thing I keep thinking about is how the timing is fairly ridiculous if the government wants to get quality outcomes happening. To get some substantial change out here will be a generational thing at the very least – the closing the gap targets are pretty ambitious if its based on the current population - even the older Yolgnu are saying so.
I do get out of the office though, and on Tuesday we drove two hours to Birany Birany (pronounced Bran Bran) to meet some program participants there... While the paperwork was being done, we played with the kids and took some great photos... One girl had a go on the camera and took some brilliant shots. I am hoping to spend some more time with them as the weeks go past and can’t wait to go to the Garma Festival in a couple of weeks with the team.
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