For our Olabud Doogethu staff, and our clients, getting out on Country is important. Nature’s classroom offers a wealth of learnings, and these experiences vary throughout the year, as do the seasons. At this time of year with most of the water holes dry, land is exposed that is under water for much of the year. The rocks which sit in the river and creek beds are now accessible, some made perfectly smooth by the running of the water, and some made angular with sharp edges, caused by being tumbled and cracked against each other by the fast flowing waters after a big wet season. The kids collected up some of the rocks discussing howthe smooth ones can be used for grinding bush seeds and nuts into powder, and the sharp ones can be used for cutting foliage and make spear heads.
The theme to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2022 was get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and our team did just that. On Monday 4 July locals and visitors alike took to the streets for the annual NAIDOC March, arriving to the Shire of Halls Creek Oval for a Smoking Ceremony performed by Elders Stewart Morton, and our very own Dean Mosquito. The party then gathered for a Welcome to Country spoken in both Gija and Jaru language, as well as English by Elders Stewart Morton and Josey Farrah, sharing traditional language and expressing their feelings on what NAIDOC, Language and culture means to them both.
The music got going, delivered by PRK Radio Halls Creek, and our team provided Roo Tail cooked up in the Googan hole at the Mens Tribal Centre. Everyone enjoyed the feed and the afternoon sun, followed by a live performance by Halls Creek band the Dodge City Boys.
On Friday 8 July to round the week out our Day Crew ran a t-shirt design workshop, where kids could make their own custom t-shits using paints and stencils, and also a Boomerang display and Boomerang throwing workshop. The Olabud team have a great collection of artefacts including boomerangs, tapping sticks and traditional tools, some very old, and some made by our team and the young mob we engage with. Kids got involved in Boomerang throwing, with painted targets to practice their techniques.
In June our Case Management team and Alternative Education team worked together to take clients out on country for an overnight camping trip. The clients both teams work with are those with some of the most complex needs, have been left behind by the mainstream education system and come from diverse familial and home environments. As part of Olabud Doogethu’s 2022-2023 forward planning sessions, camps were identified as a way to engage kids in a neutral environment, away from potential distractions and disruptions. Starting with a small group from both Programs for an overnight trip, our staff were able to spend one on one time with clients and also lead group discussions and activities.
After considering a few different locations, the teams settled upon the picturesque Lake Komaterpillar. At this location, they were able to make the most of the proximity to water, flat space for setting up camp and lots of land to explore. As a group, they took part in camp set up, food preparation, boomerang making, collecting wood and camp fire supper and yarning.
The camp was enjoyed by all, and considered a success by our Program staff, giving them the confidence to forward plan for more camps, with more kids and for longer periods of time.
Travel to and from the Kimberley is typically an expensive venture, and can be a real limitation for locals living in remote WA. Whether its to go on a holiday, visit family or to access services, just getting to Perth and back can be very pricey, and in some cases, unaffordable for our mob. There is some good news in this space…the WA Government has entered into a Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme with all of the airlines that service this part of the world.
From 1 July 2022 flights to Perth for Kimberley residents will be capped at $299. The airlines can not charge more than this for a one-way ticket to Perth from Kununurra or Broome.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW…
To be eligible to purchase Residential Fares, you must be a member of the individual airlines loyalty program and list your Kimberley address.
Since COVID-19 reached the Kimberley, organisations, businesses and service providers have had to operate differently. To date there have been over 200 positive cases in Halls Creek town and the surrounding Communities. Social distancing and isolating at home can look quite different for remote communities such as ours.
We have been working hard to continue to support all of the individuals and families we provide services to, assisting with connection to other service and health-care providers where relevant, helping to arrange provisions such as food, COVID-19 test kits, cleaning products and care packages, and generally ensuring COVID safe practices while operating our Programs
Our staff are diligently temperature testing and signing in every morning and evening, testing for COVID at the first sign of symptoms, and always wearing masks and using hand sanitiser. It has not been ideal for service provision, as has been the case for so many organisations around Australia and the world, but we remain committed to our focus; designing, delivering, assisting or supporting programs that build stronger families, improve our quality of life, and champion our proud heritage.
Some of our staff and their families have been directly affected by COVID-19, having to seek medical assistance in some cases and isolating at home if returning a positive test. We commend our staff’s commitment to following COVID safe guidelines while remaining motivated to continue the good work, and return to respective roles and Programs as soon as it is safe to do so.
By working together, towards a common goal, we have remained resilient in the face of COVID-19.
The first Halls Creek Vax-a-thon was hosted by Yura Yungi Medical Service. This was an opportunity for Olabud Doogethu staff to receive their first COVID-19 vaccination.
The first Halls Creek Vax-A-Thon was held on 26 October 2021 at the Halls Creek Aquatic and Recreational Centre, hosted by Yura Yungi Medical Service (YYMS).
The Vax-a-thon also featured local Halls Creek AFL stars -Jy Farrar, Ashley Johnson, and Sam Petrevski-Seton.
The Olabud Doogethu staff joined in the Vax-a-Thon by providing photographs for the event, as well as three new staff members — Michaela, Joel, and Jamal — getting their first COVID-19 vaccination jab.
Halls Creek has one of the lowest vaccination rates across the state, with concerns that the state re-opening the borders will put the communities in the East Kimberley at severe risk of getting COVID-19.
The Vax-a-thon was highly successful with more than 70 people getting their first vaccine at the Vax-a-thon and another being planned for November 2021.
Currently, a majority of Olabud Doogethu staff have already been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Michaela Malay, one of Olabud Doogethu’s newest Youth Development Officers, received her first vaccination at the Vax-a-Thon.
While Michaela was initially hesitant about the vaccine, she felt more comfortable once more people from her church were getting vaccinated.
‘Once people from church were getting vaccinated, and then learning that my Mum was already vaccinated, I decided that I should just go for it and do my part,’ said Michaela.
Two other recent additions to the Olabud Doogethu team is Jamal Dixon and Joel Nauta – who received their first vaccinations too.
‘I was pretty nervous, but all of the Olabud Doogethu team were supportive and it was good to get the jab with Joel,’ said Jamal.
Joel agreed: ‘People were happy to be there. There was live music, and lots of people bringing their friends and families, so it had a good community vibe to it.’
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations will be essential for Olabud Doogethu staff members from 31 November 2021.
Olabud Doogethu's Mibala Learning on Country was featured by the ABC News across national television, radio, and online in October 2021.
In October 2021, Olabud Doogethu was featured by the ABC News across national television, radio, and online focusing on the Youth Engagement Night Officer (YENO) program and the latest addition, Mibala (‘us together’ in Kriol).
Mibala is Olabud Doogethu’s alternative education program, supporting young people who have disengaged with the traditional education system by placing Aboriginal knowledge and history at the front of children’s learning.
The ABC News coverage highlighted the poor school attendance rate (35%) in Halls Creek, which has resulted in most children in Halls Creek having less than average numeracy and literacy skills, compared to the rest of Australia.
Arron Little, a local Kija man and the Coordinator of the Mibala Program, feels that too many Aboriginal kids don’t have a connection to their Aboriginal culture and identity, and so they find it difficult to navigate between the two worlds they find themselves in – the blackfella and whitefella world.
‘Our greatest strength as people who are leading this program is that we ourselves have gone through similar experiences that the kids have gone through. We can relate on a level no kardiya can understand, and I think that’s what makes Mibala unique. It’s done by local people and our Elders, who have lived these lives too,’ said Arron.
Funding for Olabud Doogethu was also highlighted by the ABC News, highlighting that if the program is to remain innovative, governments need to back locally-led Aboriginal solutions for the long-term.
Dean Mosquito, Olabud Doogethu’s Executive Officer of Culture and Transformation and local Kija and Jaru Elder spoke on the importance of listening to local mob – local solutions for local problems.
‘They’ve [white institutions] have been doing it for the last 30 years their way; time to turn the tables and do it our way.’
To access the ABC News coverage, you can read the article here, or watch the full story here.
Built on traditional Aboriginal ceremonial grounds, the Men's Tribal Centre is Olabud Doogethu's latest initiative to bring men and young people together to find strength through Aboriginal lore and culture.
Since the Shire of Halls Creek approved the establishment of a Men’s Tribal Centre in August 2021, the Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation has begun establishing an Elder’s Reference Group, which consists of key Aboriginal Elders from the key communities in Halls Creek.
The Men’s Tribal Centre will be established on the old Halls Creek Golf Club, which is traditional ceremonial grounds for Aboriginal men. In particular, these grounds were used to prepare young Aboriginal men to enter lore.
‘This land has been handed down to us for over a thousand years… It’s for everybody to come in, no matter what skin you are, what tribe you are. It’s a very cultural area for any men to go there,’ said Larry Smith, who is overseeing the work at the Men’s Tribal Centre.
The entrance to the Men’s Tribal Centre, which is the former Halls Creek Golf Course.
Like many in the community, Larry feels that there hasn’t been any culturally-safe places for Aboriginal men to get together, to yarn, and to deal with problems with the guidance of leading Aboriginal Elders and others in the community.
‘It’s the first one for us, for a very long time… We’ve never had anything like this so far.’
An integral part to the success of the Men’s Tribal Centre is the co-development process with leading Aboriginal Elders from the Halls Creek communities.
Since the early stages, Aboriginal Elders have guided the Olabud Doogethu human rights team to ensure that the Men’s Tribal Centre is by the community, for the community.
This has so far included guidance from key Elders such as Stewart Morton (Jaru), Keith Jugarie (Kija and Jaru), Jimmy Demi (Kija and Jaru), as well as local people who want to be a part of the Men’s Tribal Centre, such as George Demi (Kija and Jaru).
For many, the Men’s Tribal Centre is an opportunity for young people to reconnect with their Aboriginal culture, history, and identities, as well as for people to come together.
Keith Jugarie is a leading Kija and Jaru Elder who has helped guide and advise the establishment of the Men’s Tribal Centre.
Keith Jugarie, a Kija and Jaru Elder from Mardiwah Loop in Halls Creek hopes that this is more than just talk, and more about action.
‘What I hate to see is just talk, and nothing gets done. But if we can get together, make a plan, and get it up and going for all of us to share, then it will be good,’ said Keith.
‘In this sort of town here, we’ve got so many different tribes here. You’ve got Jaru, Kija, Walmajarri, Bunuba, and so many from different areas who are now here… I’d like them to understand that we’ve got this thing [Men’s Tribal Centre] up and going… there’s lots of people out there with plenty of good ideas… It’s a really good starting point to get it up and going.’
Passing down knowledge and helping young Aboriginal men learn more about traditional ways is why leading Jaru Elder, Stewart Morton, wants to see the Men’s Tribal Centre be successful in Halls Creek.
Stewart Morton is a leading Jaru Elder and wants to pass on his traditional knowledge to young people.
‘It’s really about teaching. Because there’s no more Old People here. I’m the only old fella here from this Country who’s got the knowledge of the blackfella way. I learnt it from my old parents. It’s time coming. I’m getting a bit too old. I want to pass my knowledge on to the young people and take it from there,’ Stewart said, as he reflected on the legacy he wants to leave behind with the Men’s Tribal Centre.
In Halls Creek, there are major concerns from the community regarding a lost connection to Aboriginal lore and culture.
Many believe that as time goes on, there will be less Old People around to share and pass down this knowledge.
George Demi, a Kija and Jaru man, has supported Olabud Doogethu to set up the Men’s Tribal Centre, alongside his older brother and local Elder, Jimmy Demi.
George believes that the community needs to learn and gain knowledge from the Old People, while they are still around.
‘We don’t have a lot of Old People alive, so we got to pass it on to the next generation that’s growing up and put them through lore and culture – and keep them [young people] strong again,’ said George.
Eric Clyde is a Gurindji Elder from Wave Hill, Northern Territory, and fears that without a Men’s Tribal Centre, there’s a risk of Halls Creek losing its historically rich connection to Aboriginal culture.
Eric Clyde, a Gurindji Elder from Wave Hill, Northern Territory, hopes that the Men’s Tribal Centre can bring young and old people together.
Eric grew up with many of the Elders in Halls Creek today and lives between Wave Hill and Halls Creek. For Eric, he’s noticed that there aren’t many Old People left in Wave Hill either and that the fear of lost cultural connections is real.
‘On our side [Wave Hill], there aren’t many Old People who live. I’ve only seen a couple of them around, but their sons and daughters aren’t into it. They’re all gone,’ said Eric.
‘I hope the young fellas can come here to this place and start working with the Old People. That’ll make good for everybody, because if the young people want to take over… it will also be good for young fellas to come together [at the Men’s Tribal Centre] and get a sense of how other young fellas are doing in the remotes – like Balgo and Mulan.’
There is a wide consensus among locals that a lack of culture and identity is the reason why a lot of young people get in to trouble with the law.
The local Elders who are working on the Men’s Tribal Centre hope that this initiative will help guide young people along and help them create a better future for themselves and for the next generation of Halls Creek.
‘Our generation used to listen to the Old People… We need them [young people] to understand about where they come from and who they are
It’s very important for young people to get their culture back, because if you don’t have any culture, you won’t have any future,’ said Larry.
It's time to pass on Aboriginal lore and culture to the next generation, says Jaru Elder, Stewart Morton.
Stewart Morton is one of the last local Jaru Elders in Halls Creek, where he’s working with Olabud Doogethu to help set up a Men’s Tribal Centre.
‘Today, while I’m still alive – still here, I’d like to see them catch the corroboree, get it into them, and take it forward from there, you know?’ said Stewart.
‘It’s really about teaching. Because there’s no more Old People here. I’m the only old fella here from this Country who’s got the knowledge of blackfella way. I learnt from my old parents. Its time coming, I’m getting a bit too old. I want to pass my knowledge on to the young people and take it from there and I hope you can take it along‘.
The Men’s Tribal Centre is located on Halls Creek’s former golf course, which is historically a traditional Aboriginal ceremonial grounds. The Men’s Tribal Centre will be a culturally safe space for Aboriginal men to come together, for young people to learn from local Elders, and for non-Aboriginal people to connect with the timeless Aboriginal cultures in the area.
The Men’s Tribal Centre is an initiative led by Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation, the Shire of Halls Creek, and the Elder’s Reference Group.
If you are interested in supporting Olabud Doogethu’s efforts to bring together a Men’s Tribal Centre in Halls Creek, you can contact Larry Smith on 9168 6007.
George Demi, local Kija and Jaru man, hopes that the Men's Tribal Centre can help young Aboriginal people reconnect with their culture, find their strength, and walk towards a better future.
George Demi (Kija and Jaru) is a local community leader who is working alongside Aboriginal Elders to establish a Men’s Tribal Centre in Halls Creek.
‘One thing about this place [Men’s Tribal Centre] is that we can go back to the old days again. This new generation now, when the drugs came in – we didn’t have drugs back in the days – we used to live and hunt on the land,’ said George.
‘Another thing is that we don’t have a lot of Old People alive, so we got to pass it on to the next generation that’s growing up and put them through lore and culture and keep them strong again. For lore and culture, it comes from the old parents – from their mothers and fathers, their great grandmothers, and back to the old days. [We can] teach that, that it wasn’t like this, that we never grew up like this’.
The Men’s Tribal Centre is located on Halls Creek’s former golf course, which is historically a traditional Aboriginal ceremonial grounds. The Men’s Tribal Centre will be a culturally safe space for Aboriginal men to come together, for young people to learn from local Elders, and for non-Aboriginal people to connect with the timeless Aboriginal cultures in the area.
The Men’s Tribal Centre is an initiative led by Olabud Doogethu Aboriginal Corporation, the Shire of Halls Creek, and the Elder’s Reference Group.
If you are interested in supporting Olabud Doogethu’s efforts to bring together a Men’s Tribal Centre in Halls Creek, you can contact Larry Smith on 9168 6007.
