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Ganyu - ALPA Newsletter Issue 33, December 2017
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Ganyu Newsletter October / November 2021

In this issue: ALPA shares our festival highlights of 2021 and also our biggest housing project development to date through Bukmak Constructions.

Bukmak Constructions working across the Northern Territory


This year, Bukmak Constructions have expanded their operational footprint, working outside of Arnhemland, and venturing south. Works are now complete for remediation works on NIAA GEC dwellings in over 10 remote communities, totalling over $2 million.

After hearing of works completed by Bukmak for the Minjilang GEC in 2019, Jones Lang Lasalle invited Bukmak to submit a tender response for remediation works to dwellings in Galiwinku, Ramingining and Gunbalanya. These works included replacing all internal wall and ceiling linings along with kitchen cabinetry and soft window furnishings.

Bukmak was successful in their tender for the works and were formally engaged by JLL on the 27th of January, with teams mobilising to each community at the end of February to commence. JLL (Jones Lang Lasalle) is the nominated Project Manager for Federal Government Building and Infrastructure Upgrades. Following the successful completion of the 3 sites for JLL, NIAA (National Australia Indigenous Agency) had the confidence to engage directly with Bukmak to provide a tender response for a further 11 locations across the Territory.

Bukmak was awarded 3 separate contracts by NIAA. The locations were prioritised and carried out in phases.
• Phase 1 – JLL Sites, Galiwinku, Ramingining & Gunbalanya
• Phase 2 – Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Peppimenarti and Palumpa.
• Phase 3 – Nauiyu, Robinson River, Ngukurr & Numbulwar
• Phase 4 – Bulla, Pirlangimpi and Yirrkala

Bukmak mobilised teams of 2 tradesmen to each location to carry out the works, in each of the communities Bukmak engaged with the local CDP provider and were able to employ up to 2 local CDP participants in each respective location to assist with the execution of the works.

9 out of the 11 locations were travelled to by road, with an approximate distance travelled more than 10,000 kilometres.

Whilst carrying out the contracted works, Bukmak were approached by NIAA to provide another tender response for the supply, delivery, and assembly of the required hard and soft furnishings for 10 communities, ranging from office furniture to couches, dining settings, towels, and linen.

Bukmak was awarded the contract in August, and commenced procurement of all the items, due to Covid -19 some delays were experienced as most of the items had to be delivered from warehouses located interstate. Once all items were received in Darwin, teams were mobilised to pick up the items for each location, travel to site and assemble furniture and have each building move in ready.

A highlight for Bukmak was being able to employ more than 15 local workers across the 11 remote communities with reports detailing the high level of engagement by everyone. We thank JLL and NIAA for the opportunity to carry out these works.

A word from our CEO: Alastair King


Hello everyone,
 
I trust this finds you well and safe. 
 
As you will find in this Ganyu edition, ALPA does not slow down and the team continues to make a difference every day in the remote communities we serve.
 
We are fortunate to have so many dedicated and talented people that are part of the ALPA journey to contribute to the wellbeing, skills,  economic development & community care programs that are at ALPA’s core.
 
Covid-19 continues to challenge all of us across the country and we send out regards and best wishes to our New South Wales and Victorian cousins that are now out of lockdown as their vaccination rates are above 80%, and in some cases over 90%. Well done to you as the rest of Australia chase those targets.

In the Territory, our Chief Health Officer mandated the vaccination, if you worked with vulnerable people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are considered vulnerable, so all our team needed to comply with the vaccination mandate. The mandate meant that our entire team needed to have had their first vaccination by the 13th of November and be double vaccinated by the 24th of December or could not work until they did.

At the time of the mandate, ALPA’s vaccination rate across the group was just 14%. We had 2 and a half weeks to convince the team to not only get their first dose of the vaccination by the 13th of November or we were facing not being able to operate if we did not have sufficient staff. I am happy to say that we reached 94% vaccination rates across the group before the deadline.
 
I would like to thank all our team for getting the jab, all of our managers and the DSO teams that supported and encouraged people to get vaccinated. You all took up what looked like an impossible challenge and got it done, thank you
 
Most recently, many of you would have seen the Covid-19 outbreak in Darwin, Katherine, Robinson River, Binjari and Rockhole. At the time of writing this, Darwin is clear, Katherine is still in lockdown, Robinson River is now in a lockout, Binjari and Rockhole are in hard lockdown with people not able to leave their homes. ALPA operates the store in Robinson River and has been working with the Northern Territory’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to prepare for Covid-19 and disrupting store operations.

Firstly I want to commend our store manager, Wayne Lorimer,  at Robinson River for doing whatever was necessary to support the community with his small team to ensure food security to the community. He is a quiet achiever committed to looking after his community and just getting on with the task at hand.

Then a positive case went into the store and the Governments Rapid Assessment team closed the store. This necessitated the activation of our first deployment team into a remote community in lockdown. Rob Mitchell (Team Leader), Peter Beaven, Ben Cocker and Craig Hanaran were deployed to assist the Government to issue and deliver emergency care packs and other critical goods. Yet another example of the exceptional people we have in ALPA.
 
I would like to think this outbreak is close to being controlled but we know the issues of overcrowded housing and extended families in our communities challenges any spread. We can only keep working together for the best resolution however our fear is that community vaccination rates are being taken up too slowly.
 
I think our race to the end of the year will continue to be busy and challenging.
 
Good health and best wishes to you all!

Alastair King, CEO
 

Yolngu Historical Photographic Exhibition Underway


ALPA and the Museum Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) have partnered up to create a photographic exhibition of the ALPA story.

The project was signed off in an MOU earlier this year after ALPA was awarded funding from the Restart Investment Sustain and Expand (RISE) Arts grant created by the Australian Government.

The funding will be used to create a Yolngu photographic exhibition in 2022 as well as an art object exhibition in 2022/2023 (location to be confirmed).

Art pieces will be commissioned from various Aboriginal artists and Manapan Furniture while a team of Yolngu consultants are employed to create the photographic art exhibition and consult with families out bush about particular dhawul (stories) to be shared.

ALPA and its Board of Directors would like to thank the Australian Government RISE team and MAGNT for allowing us to create a significant exhibition that will share our history and culture through art and photographs.

Office of the Arts:

The RISE Fund is supporting the arts and entertainment sector to reactivate. The program is targeting funding towards the arts and entertainment sector organisations to assist in the presentation of cultural and creative projects, activities and events to rebuild confidence amongst investors, producers and consumers. Projects that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas will also be taken into account, as well as projects that involve tours and use local regional pre-production and production, services and support acts.


 

ALPA Higher Education Hub helping Yolŋu Teachers reach their goals.


For the past year, the Nhulunbuy Higher Education Hub has been collaborating on the Community Based Assistant Teacher Education (C-BATE) project with Yirrkala School and Laynhapuy Homelands School.

Funded by the Cotton On Foundation, the C-BATE project is specifically designed to support Assistant Teachers and other Yolŋu staff in gaining qualifications whilst living and working in their own community.

The schools identified TAFE QLD and James Cook University (JCU) as a model of best practice for their staff, having delivered, community-based, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teacher education pathways since 1990.

Through extensive consultation with Co-Principals Katrina Hudson and Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs and Principal Haidee Dentith, it was identified that the Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) levels of some staff were a focus for gaining entry into the  Certificate III and Diploma in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.

“It’s changed everything” commented Katrina Hudson, Co-Principal of Yirrkala School. “People are seeing themselves as successful.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Music brings the kids to school


For Milingimbi community member/clan leader, and Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) employee Tony Batju, the Gattjirrk festival is more than a battle of the bands in the middle of the bush. It's a chance for the community to observe the power of music.  

We caught up with Tony Batju who says, 'we want to give the children a good way to express themselves, in his after school music programs leading up to the concerts.

Read more from Tony's full article  HERE.

 

RSAS continues to get kids to school


The Remote Strategy Scheme (RSAS) has been conducting some exciting projects to promote better engagement with students and families to get kids to school. 

ALPA recently negotiated with our funder to allow us to use underspends in other areas to be redirected into activities. As a result, since July, we have been able to run a range of programs and activities that deliver multiple benefits to the community.  
 

Recently Funded Activities:

      • Video making
      • Fold Back Media delivered drumming, circus and hip hop song creations.
      • Deadly Hair Dude runs a hairdressing barber workshop.
      •  Claymation productions
      • A skateboard ramp
      • Sister Buffalo (vintage clothing boutique in Nightcliff) ran sewing and fashion/modelling activities
      • Lantern-making workshops 
      • Craft workshops
      • Tshirt making workshops with MOPRA
      • Music workshops

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
 








 

ALPA, ARDS and Miwatj Clinic work together to assist during Covid-19


In the weeks leading up to the Northern Territory's vaccination mandate (stage 1- 12/11/21), ALPA 's Kath Boyne and ARDS Yolngu Matha translator, Jamie Mapleton held Galiwin'ku educational workshops with all ALPA teams so that our community-based staff members could make an informed decision about whether to get the  Covid-19 vaccine or not.
 
In just one week alone, the team engaged with more than 100 community members and saw 200+ community members roll up their sleeves for the vaccine.

We thank all our stakeholders for being so open and supportive during these workshops. We are now focusing our efforts on following up with those that will need their 2nd dose by Christmas Eve.

Welcome to Ramingining


Dinybulu Regional Services would like to welcome Rebecca Bolster and Nahuel Mieres. Rebecca is the new Lodge Supervisor and Workshop Administration Assistant and Nahuel is joining the Workshop as a Mechanic. We reached out to find out their story on the big move from New South Wales to Ramingining.

Rebecca says,  “Back home Nahuel was working in the mines whilst I was a full-time uni student, one day he sent me a job listing offering to finish his apprenticeship in the bush, so within a month we had packed up all our stuff and left, much to the surprise of our friends and family. We have a lovely little house in Ramo (Ramingining) and now we have even adopted street cat called Ed".

" My lodge staff are wonderful, and Na goes hunting on the weekend with the mechanic boys, plus we have an adopted grandmother and grandfather. We love it here, but the heat doesn’t get easier”

Dinybulu can’t wait to see more of what Rebecca and Nahuel bring to team as they are already making such a positive impact. If you are in Ramingining, make sure you say hi to these friendly faces!
 

 

Infection Control Training delivered at Gunbalanya.

ALPA Trainers Kate Seebeck and Lyndsey Doherty delivered two separate workshops in Gunbalanya, one was held at the CDP ALPA site and the other at the ALPA Women’s Activity Centre. 

The students enjoyed this training which gave them a greater understanding and appreciation for correct hand hygiene and sanitation practices.

Trainers Kate Seebeck and Lyndsey Doherty (ALPA Training) delivered two Infection Control Training workshops in Gunbalanya and at the Women's CDP activity site.

The ALPA employees at Gunbalanya jumped on board to complete the training which ensured they were compliant with infection control and prevention for Covid-19 safety.

The students learned safe health practices to follow which will assist in stopping the spread of infection not only in their workplace but in their personal lives also. 
 

The unit consists of an online theory component and a practical cleaning/hand hygiene component.

After completing the online questioning, the students put their acquired knowledge into practice. They successfully cleaned the workplace starting from the simulated highly contaminated area to the low-risk areas

The students then lathered up with Glow Germ lotion and utilised handwashing techniques. As a group, we then checked the results using the Glow Germ Lamp, which highlights any missed areas. 

The students enjoyed this exercise which gave them a greater understanding and appreciation for correct hand hygiene. 

The students found the course engaging and informative and enjoyed learning about such a relative subject. 

New Carpark for Ramingining Customers


At our Ramingining Community Store in East Arnhem Land, improvements for the community continue. Recently ALPA engaged Bukmak Constructions to improve the carpark at the Store.  The new shared zone car park provides all vehicle access to the front of the store for pedestrians, cars, buses and tour operators. 

There is also undercover parking, and this shared space can also be used for community events, barbeques, and markets. 
The adjacent shady green space is a nice place to relax and play. 

The community and ALPA’s board of directors wanted this improvement to stop potholes and large puddles in the wet, and to reduce dust in the dry.  Previously the carpark would be graded in the dry however when the big rains came the grading would deteriorate and puddles and potholes would develop and create new problems. 

The new bitumen has decreased the amount of dust in the air, and also decreased dirt coming into the store by foot traffic. 

We will also see a ramp for wheelchair access being completed this month.

Ininti T-Shirts


ALPA working together with MCAC have produced an exciting new uniform for the Ininti Store of the Mutitjulu Community, located at the base of Uluru.  The MCAC board of directors expressed their wish to have the Ininti Store uniform reflect pride in local artwork and culture.  After consultation with Walkatjara Art, the exquisite artwork “Mai Wiru (Bush Foods)“ by Theresa Taylor was provided as the inspiration.  Inspired by the art and concept provided by the board of directors, ALPA’s in house Marketing and graphic designer expert got to work and the resulting design, approved and delivered, is now being proudly worn in the Ininti Store.

“Mai Wiru (Bush Foods)“ by Theresa Taylor
Minyma tjuta ankupai putikutu piti wanatjara. Paluru tjana mai kutjupa kutjupa tjuta mantjilpai tjitji tjutaku. Waltjangku wirura palyara nyinantjaku.'
The women go out into the bush with their bowls and digging sticks. They collect all sorts of bush foods for the children.
Some of the delicious fruits found out in the bush include:
Kampurarpa- the bush tomato plant, fruits after good rains and have a piquant spicy taste. They and can be eaten fresh from the bush or after they have dried and dropped to the ground. The dried fruits can also be ground and mixed with a little water to form a 'fruit patty'.
Unturngu- the bush banana. It is a slender creeper whose fruits are eaten raw when young, or baken when older.
Mangata - the fruit of the Quandong tree (Santalum acuminatum). It is sometimes called bush peaches are sweet and deep red in colour when they are ready for picking in spring. The fruits have a hard seed inside which Anangu women paint beautiful designs on. These are then used to make bracelet and necklaces. Traditionally the kernel inside this seed could be used both medicinally and as a hair conditioner.
Tjanmata - Bush Onions-The small bulbs of the bush onion are baked in hot sand and ashes then eaten, once the papery covering (nyiri) is removed.
Anangu say that by painting and talking about bush foods it guarantees that supplies will be plentiful all year round!


 

ALPA Finance Team are one step closer to completing their CPA (Certified Practicing Accountant)


Three of ALPA's finance team all recently received results that they had passed yet another CPA module, which means one step closer to be recognised as Certified Practicing Accounts (CPA). 

It is great to see that ALPA is continuing to support their team to upskill and grow in their fields. Tara who has been working with ALPA for over 7 years says, "It's great to work for an employer of choice who supports my growth and professional development. I appreciate the opportunity to bring my learned skills and put them into practice in my role as a finance manager."

ALPA strongly believes in growing its people, not only to enrich employees careers but to also ensure that we continue to deliver great service to our clients. 
 

Clan leader Peter Gumbung reflects on the Ramingining Bakbidi'di festival

The Bakbididi festival saw a blast from the past. One of Ramingining's most senior bands 'Dupal' performed a short set for the first time in more than five years. 

The Dupal band consists of no less than four senior cultural leaders and two emerging leaders. To see the festival be a mechanism to bring these senior leaders together was a real highlight. We recently caught up with Peter Gumbung Gaykamangu to reflect on the festival.

Peter, Why did the band decide to get together again for the festival?

-   It has been a challenging year in Ramingining. We have lost many senior cultural leaders. There has been a lot of worry about COVID-19, we just thought it would be
 an excellent opportunity to get up and have some fun while showing the rest of the community that if we can celebrate the festival, everyone should enjoy themselves.

For more of Peter Gumbung's interview please read FULL ARTICLE HERE

 



 

PhD Student helping Dinybulu Lodge


Haoyi Li is a PhD student who has been living in Ramingining and working at Dinybulu for the past few months. She is currently studying anthropological linguistics and came to Ramingining to discuss with Yolŋu elders and community members potential projects on art and Ganalbiŋu language.

"I’ve now spent three months here and it has been an absolute privilege to have been welcomed by community members and to be generously taught by them every day", she says.

When asked about what she enjoyed while working at Dinybulu, Haoyi said, "Getting to know the Yolŋu cleaners and working with them every day was the highlight of my experience here".

Haoyi is also keen to visit other communities, but Ramingining will be her home base. 

Regional Meeting in Ramingining for the Guŋga'yunga Djamarrkuḻiny program

As part of The East Arnhem Land Youth Model (Guŋga'yunga Djamarrkuḻiny program), all four communities across our region came together to participate in a 4-day regional meeting in Ramingining in September.


The first Regional Meeting since the program's inception, and thus logistically managing four remote communities and 20 staff to attend, was a lesson in itself. Despite some hiccups at the start, we enjoyed a really impactful week of getting to know each other, learning from each other, sharing stories and focussing on the strategic side of the program and how to realise this in each community in the best ways possible. We also had some training around meeting facilitation and how we get groups to work together to achieve positive outcomes for our children and the wider community.

Of course, good food and a constant flow of tea kept everyone happy and energised throughout the day. But most of all, the value of bringing together senior Yolngu leaders from four remote communities and observing the wisdom and power multiplied in one room was one of our most significant achievements of the program yet.

These Regional meetings are added to our local meetings in each community, and we will continue to do them so we can make sure the program receives the most support across the region and the model is cohesive and effective.
The group left revitalised and with an immense sense of mutual support and encouragement, and we cannot wait to hold the next Regional Meeting at the end of this year in a different location.

Milingimbi Gattjirrk Festival celebrates 39 years


We recently had the opportunity to catch up with ALPA Director Mr Keith Dhammarandji Lapulung during the Gartjirrk Festival.
The festival holds a special place in Keith’s heart as he was a founding member of the festival in 1982.

Keith proudly told us that this was the 39th anniversary of the Garjirrk festival and he can't wait for it to hit 40 years in 2022.

"The foundation of the festival was to give musicians from all the camp areas on the island an opportunity to perform together".

Up until the Gatjirrik festival, the only opportunity for singers and dancers (of traditional Bungul) to perform was at ceremonies and funerals. The founding members thought that if everyone had an opportunity to perform together that all the singers and dancers could celebrate culture without the reverence of being performed at a culturally significant ceremony.

“it allowed us to perform for the fun of it. To show off our dancing skills in a fun environment."


READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Rulku's very own on Yolŋu Radio


Last month, Rulku Lodge helped support the Milingimbi Festival by providing accommodation for festival goers. The good news is that the Lodge was fully booked for the duration of the festival and the team are very happy and proud to have served all new and returning guests.

The Lodge’s Supervisor, Josephine Baker also featured on ARDS Yolŋu Radio alongside Ben Grimes, the CEO of ARDS. Jo interviewed a range of people from community members to visitors of Milingimbi. Not only did she feature on the radio in Milingimbi, but Jo also presented on Yolŋu Radio in Ramingining for the Bak’Bididi festival. Thanks to the Milingimbi Rangers who were able to transport Jo via barge.

Jo interviewed all the performers that came off the stage after they played. “Wirringa Band (Lapulung’s Band) is always my favourite because I been growing up watching them. But my new upcoming favourite is the new Arafura Swamp Band from Ramo”. Jo said when asked who her favourites were.

Jo also said, “They had sung about the history of Mili and Ramo, and everything in between, they were fun and exciting”.

Rulku is very proud of Jo and for getting involved and assisting Yolŋu Radio during both festivals. Next year will be 40 years of the Milingimbi Gattjirrk Festival and we are excited for what is to come.

Exciting New Partnership for Finance Team


Our Finance team has been branching out and looking to partner with and provide accounting services to other Aboriginal corporations and not-for-profits. We’re delighted to announce that we recently started working with the Aboriginal Resource & Development Services Aboriginal Corporation (ARDS), assisting them with a range of accounting and bookkeeping services.

ARDS are one of the Territory’s most respected organisations and have been providing a range of services to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Arnhem Land and throughout the NT, including language and cultural workshops, resource development, tours, and running Yolngu Radio.

ALPA and ARDS have been working together for many years to assist one another in service delivery, and the finance team are excited to have the opportunity to further strengthen this relationship

 

Corporate Services helping out at Community Festivals


Tara Townsend, our Finance Manager for our Enterprise division, recently spent a week in Ramingining to support the remote team to deliver the Bak’bididi festival. She shared the below words about her experience.

Tara Townsend says,

"as a finance manager I don’t get to community nowhere near as much as I would like, so jumped at the chance to support our operational teams to deliver the Bak’bididi Festival in Ramingining. It was a huge week which I thoroughly enjoyed. I helped in the store, stocking shelves, serving customers and working the takeaway. I played circus and African drums with the school kids and the Foldback Media crew, but what I valued the most was the many hours sitting under the mango and bush apple trees having important conversations with our community members.

"I truly love what I do and the amazing people I do it for, and alongside and I can't wait to get more opportunities to spend time on the country.
And what a privilege to get private concerts from the old music men and the Arafura Swap bands whilst they prepped for the concert nights."

Additionally, Drishti Paponi, the senior accountant for community services spent time out in Galiwinku for the festival. This is her account of her time there.

Drishti Paponi says,

" Working with ALPA, I had the opportunity to fly out to Galiwin’ku for the festival. I was told that it’s been almost 8 years since the last festival took place so people in the community were very excited about it and so was I!"

"Everyone including the ALPA team was very welcoming. We made 120kg of coleslaw to include healthy food for the festivals, made some amazing tee-shirts and got the chance to see some artists at work designing the tee-shirt prints. Got a chance to stock up shelves, go to schools to see the Remote School Attendance Strategy Program and was also very fortunate to be there around the time of COVID educational drives held by Richard Trudgen.The best part for me was when some of the ladies were proudly telling me they had been fully vaccinated."

"My trip was cut short due to the Covid-19 lock-out that was announced in Darwin, and I had to be flown back, so I missed the main festival night, but it was still an incredible experience for me. I look forward to more opportunities to go back.
Such a beautiful place with so many beautiful people!"



 

Finance heads to the Gattjirrk Festival 2021



My name is Ruby Jones Hayes. I work at ALPA as an Indigenous Finance Officer Trainee. I recently had the opportunity to attend the Gattjirrk festival in the Milingimbi community.

The experience was amazing and the people were so welcoming to all our new faces, not to mention the beauty of the Milingimbi community which is surrounded by the magnificent Arafura Sea.

On our first night at the festival, we helped prepare and set up the food which was enjoyed along with a film about the Yolgnu culture.  This film night was held at the art Centre which is located right in front of the beach. The art centre was filled with amazing local art.

On our second day, there was more food prepping to be done, a traditional shelter was made, and the stage was set up.
All the crew who helped set up the area for that night enjoy a good feed together under the shelter that was completed earlier that day. Once the sunset and everyone were fed the music was on and the kids were dancing up a storm.

The ALPA crew had the difficult job of choosing the best dancers to receive a prize, a $20 store voucher. Hard decisions were made as there were so many talented dancers.

On my final day at the Gattjirrk festival, I had the honour of being interviewed for Yolgnu Radio. The interview was such a great experience, not to mention we were located right at the waterfront sitting on a mat with a refreshing breeze and the sound of kids swimming in the ocean behind us.

There was some more food prep to be done, not as much as the day before because the rangers were cooking up a Hangi. The rangers went hunting and supplied fresh meat. 

The entertainment this night was also a very special treat. The Arafura Swamp Rangers were playing and heaps of people turned up to see them perform. Their music embodied saltwater reggae. When the band finished their set, the night wasn’t over as the music was played well into the night.

Unfortunately, I was leaving the following day, however, the view from the plane over Arnhem Land is truly magnificent. Looking at all the bodies of water twisting through the land. Spectacular!

I am very grateful for the opportunity, the people I met and the memories I made.
 
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