ICV NEWS 1

news

New DirectionCommunity Development

A message from the CEO

Economic Development Cowboy World

Cultural Awareness Thalanyji

... and much more

i ICV NEWS

From the CEO:Our new community development approach

ICV has a vision to be the peak development NGO for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Through our former skills transfer focus, we have contributed to the lives of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Skills transfer is one means of community development. We will continue to use this tool. But it is limited and not a panacea for helping people and communities to grow and prosper. Nor is it a universal remedy for ‘closing the gap’ on Indigenous disadvantage.

ICV’s Board decided in August to reform and deepen our program approach from skills transfer to community and human development. A more comprehensive and evidenced-based methodology is critical if we are to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to reach their full human potential and help ‘close the gap’.

Targeting our investments of time and resources on the evidence of what works is also essential. Our programs are focusing on key evidence-based building blocks for addressing disadvantage: community and family safety, early childhood development, education, health, healthy homes, governance, and economic development. We are underpinning these by focusing on the important foundational issues of gender, reconciliation and cultural preservation.

We are also focusing our investments to benefit those who are most disadvantaged. Around three-quarters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians live in urban and regional areas. And their urban infant mortality rates are higher than in the bush. So we are working to ensure an appropriate program balance between urban, regional and remote communities.

Reconciliation is a very important outcome of ICV’s work. Apart from directly improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, we are building bridges of understanding and friendship between them and mainstream Australia. Across the world, reconciliation has proven to be an ingredient for the development of peaceful and prosperous societies.

01Cowboy World

03 Tweed Heads Knockout

05KALACC Festival

07

Building on the Past

09 Thalanyji - Indigenous Awareness Workshop

12 New Look Cross Cultural Training

Culture Corner Didg

OctOber 2008 IcV NeWS

Front cover photo - Two Bardy, WA Dancers, KALACC Festival 2008

Margaret Ross

INDIGeNOUS cOMMUNItY VOLUNteerS

ABN 900 9312 3418

Editing: Nick Ellis

Stories: Paul Collis, Margaret Ross, Nick Ellis

Design: Jessica Johnson

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

ICV NEWS ii

restructuring to meet our clients needsICV recently restructured its regional network to better meet the needs of our clients. We closed our office in Alice Springs and are opening an office in Darwin to connect more effectively with the major population centres across the Top End. We will retain a presence in Alice Springs through the appointment of a regional coordinator, whose time will be fully dedicated to communities in the Central Deserts region. The former Alice Springs office was attempting to meet the needs of over 72,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the entire NT and SA area. This was not sustainable.

We would like to thank all the Alice staff for all their hard work in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the NT and SA.

Going westThe ICV Dubbo office is moving from the city centre to West Dubbo, Project Officer Lee Willis-Ardler explains why. “West Dubbo has been populated heavily with Aboriginal people from the far western towns of NSW, and has been unfairly branded as the bad side of town; however I am proud to say that my family just purchased a house there. Moving ICV’s Dubbo office West will mark our solidarity with the people we are charged with serving.”

IcV AuditThe Department of Finance Office of Evaluations for Indigenous Programs is currently conducting a performance audit on ICV. While other funding sources are growing, the majority of ICV’s resources come from Commonwealth Government grants. The auditors are examining our processes and policies with the aim of ensuring that we invest tax payers’ monies as efficiently and effectively as possible. This is critical if we are to make a significant contribution to ‘closing the gap’. The auditors have visited communities to see our projects and have also met with a number of our volunteers. We are looking forward to the outcomes of the audit which will provide us with suggestions on how we can improve our efficacy and achieve more for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. One thing that we have already identified is the need to align our project and volunteer management processes more closely. We are currently examining ways of achieving this as we also implement our new community and human development agenda.

A quick look at what has been going on at ICV

PHOTOS Tina McDonald & Margaret Ross

1 ICV NEWS

When a rodeo bull comes out of the gate he’s doing everything he can to throw you off. He heads one way, doubles back, heads another, spins, turns again, spins, bucks and eventually, if you’re still on his back, you’ve lost all sense of where you came from and have very little idea of where you’re headed.

Talking to Dave McLennan is a similar experience.

Dave McLennan is a Torres Strait Island man who runs Cowboy World among other small businesses. And while the experience of talking with Dave can be likened to riding a bull, his good nature and enthusiasm mean that the ride, while energetic and possibly confusing, is a lot more fun.

To get help funnelling all his energy, Dave McLennan applied for a volunteer with ICV, we sent Dave a list of potential volunteers. Dave chose Peter Field, who grew up in Perth, now lives in Melbourne and has worked all around the world.

Peter’s résumé includes stints with IBM, installing particle accelerators at the ANU in Canberra and teaching physics, so a cowboy gear store is possibly the last place you would expect to find him. However, sitting with Dave in the office of Cowboy World, on the outskirts of Bendigo (in the cowboy shirt that Dave makes sure he wears), Peter looks right at home. As well as Cowboy World, Dave has also put together the Australian

“He’s a mate now, we’ll be friends for life,” Dave says.Indigenous Rodeo Corporation, which is now recognised around the country as a key rodeo body. But as with all small businesses, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, a bad month can mean big trouble.

To help stave this off, and to help shape Dave’s energy and plans, Peter

cowboy woRLDecONOMIc DeVeLOpMeNt

economic Development is a critical ingredient for Aboriginal and torres Strait Islander peoples long term prosperity and wellbeing. Helping people to harness opportunities available to them is fundamental to the asset-based community Development approach that IcV is pursuing.

ICV NEWS 2

PHOTOS Nick Ellis

has been working with Dave on business planning and they have been putting together some strategic documents.

We have been writing up all these business plans, vision statements, project statements, and, with the number of projects we’ve got on the go, we’ve done them as a combined project and separate projects, able to be integrated,” says Dave.

Dave has plans to get Cowboy World products into Indigenous community stores across the country (hopefully helping local employment along the way), to expand the Australian Indigenous Rodeo Corporation, and many more related ventures. Keeping these plans organised and pointed in

the right direction is tricky in itself, but often the proposals need outside funding or loans. Peter has been helping Dave rework the applications so that they are in the right format, or address the right questions.

“I’m asking Dave questions and then explaining to Dave why I’m asking some of these questions, questions funding bodies might ask,” says Peter.

“And they were good things to ask, because he was teaching me without even knowing,” says Dave. “Sometimes I’d go to him and he’d go, ‘oh, you did listen’, didn’t you?” Peter laughs and agrees.

“He’s also given us the confidence to do things ourselves.” says Dave, “I registered two corporations, which is

fifty pages of paperwork, and before [Peter coming], I couldn’t do that, but I’ve done it now, all by myself.”

Since working with Peter, Dave has registered new projects with ICV and is confident that with the right help, he can keep his business running and moving forward. But perhaps the most important aspect of the project has been the friendship that has developed between two people from vastly different backgrounds.

“He’s a mate now, we’ll be friends for life,” Dave says.

3 ICV NEWS

tweeD heaDs

sUPPoRtING & eNGaGING coMMUNItIes

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While most league fans turned their attention to Sydney this October long weekend, thousands of people made their way to the Annual NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knock-Out. ICV sponsored the Wollumbin Warriors, the 2007 defending champions and hosts of the Knock-Out. An incredible field of 33 senior teams and more than 20 junior and women’s league teams battled it out for the title.

The Knock-Out attracts some high profile Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander celebrities on the field and in the grand stands with names like Dean Widders, Anthony Mundine, Nathan Merritt and Linda Burney (who was most definitely in the stands not on the field!). ICV staff were also present to spread the word about ICV projects and volunteers.

Wollumbin made a determined start to their 2008 campaign, running in two tries in the dying minutes against

a determined Toomelah Tigers side. The next day saw Wollumbin matched up against the towering side from BAC Walgett featuring Jamal Idris an upcoming star from the Bulldogs NRL team. After some strong play in some punishing weather the Warriors conceded a few tries lead by the hard hitting Idris and in the end could not overcome the disciplined BAC Walgett side.

In an impressive show of courage, the Narwin Eels of Armidale went on to overcome the La Perouse Panthers and win the 2008 Knock-Out. The semi final brought the Eels some heartbreaking news with the passing of Narwin Eels prop Alf Atkinson. Alf was a respected footballer and family man and will be sorely missed by his community and all those who knew him.

PHOTOS Margaret Ross & Taita Viri

“The Knockout was an excellent opportunity for ICV to engage community people... The outcome of this has been consistent feedback from family and friends at how they didn’t even know that ICV existed, and that they would now like to take full advantage of our services.”Lee Willis, Project Officer ICV

5 ICV NEWS

aboRIGINaL Law aND cULtURe ceNtRe FestIVaL

ICV NEWS 6

aboRIGINaL Law aND cULtURe ceNtRe FestIVaL

As the dust settles on the Old Gibb River Road, another KALACC Festival comes to an end. The Kimberley Aboriginal Language, Arts and Culture Centre (KALACC) began in 1984 as an idea put forward by the Kimberley Land Council (KLC) and was incorporated in 1985.

The KALACC Festival is held every two to three years at the remote abandoned settlement of the Old Mount Barnett Station. This year the festival was held from 21 – 26 September, it is said to attract up to 3,000 people from all over the Kimberley and includes traditional story telling, arts, singing and dancing. As well as the cultural activities the people of the Kimberley engage directly in the social and political

events held at KALACC, namely the annual general meetings of the KLC, KALACC and the Kimberley Language Resource Centre.

ICV was invited to attend the KALACC Festival to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Kimberley Land Council and to learn more about the people and communities of the Kimberley Region. Regional Manager West, Anthony Culbong, Senior Project Officer Doyen Radcliffe and Communications Officer Margaret Ross combined their efforts and fought back the heat and dust to run the ICV information stall over the festival. We spoke to many interesting and enthusiastic people, communities and potential volunteers as well as some familiar faces, volunteers past and present… it’s a small world! It was

an inspirational trip and an amazing cultural experience; we wish the staff of KALACC and the people of the Kimberley every success for the future.

ICV was invited to attend the KALACC Festival to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Kimberley Land Council...

PHOTOS Margaret Ross & Anthony Culbong

7 ICV NEWS

ICV NEWS 8

The community had gained new skills, Ray had a rare cultural experience and the project, and even the memorial itself, have been a strong reminder of the value of reconciliation.

The memorial was unveiled on August 20, 80 years after the Coniston Massacre. The Aboriginal community performed traditional dances, keen to share the event and proud of the memorial they had put together with a little help from their friends.

With construction booming and tradesmen working at full pace, it can be hard enough finding a construction worker in a city like Sydney or Melbourne, let alone two hundred km north east of Alice Springs, in the red centre of Australia.

So when the Ali Curung Aboriginal Community Council needed to build a memorial, they decided people from their own community were the best people for the job. But without construction skills it was pretty clear that they needed help. Ali Curung called Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV), which put together a project with them and suggested a number of volunteers. The community invited Ray Davis, a retired builder from just outside Melbourne. Traditional owner Ned Kelly, Alston, Sylvester and Creed Nelson, Clive Wilson, Angus Scrutton and Jason Lane all worked with Ray to build the memorial.

The memorial was being built to commemorate and pay respects to a number of Kaytetye and Walpiri

people (official records state 31 people died, some historians put the figure at over twice that) who were shot over a period of time from August 1928, after a dingo hunter was found dead.

The site of the memorial, Yurrkuru, or Brooks Soak, is miles away from any accommodation or creature comforts, so Ray and the men bedded down in swags and mosquito nets not far from where they were building. Ray was also treated to the local delicacy; barbecued kangaroo tail, cooked in a pit of hot ashes.

After they had surveyed and cleared the area, Ray showed the men how to lay the first concrete slab. They then built up around this foundation with decorative red blocks, laying more concrete inside as they went.

The final memorial was to have a special rock placed on top of the plinth, with a brass plate explaining its significance, but placing the rock was proving to be tricky. However with an improvised concreting solution everyone left the job happy.

PHOTOS Ray Davis

ReMeMbeRING the Past aND

9 ICV NEWS

By Paul Collis

I left cold Canberra with ICV’s National Volunteer and Communications Manager, Tina McDonald and arrived the next day in Karratha. A hire car took us through some of the most magnificent country I have ever had the privilege to see. Nothing could have prepared me for the beauty that is Pilbara desert in full bloom. Wild flowers everywhere, swayed like old time dancers in the soft afternoon breeze as we raced towards Onslow. The red earth was dotted with lime green bushes that clung to the soft sand and presented a lovely contrast. Through plateau country and distant mountains of purple and blue, and past thousands of one to two metre termite mounds, I thought of what

the people I’d come to meet and their town, might be like.

Thalanyji women from Onslow, in Western Australia’s magnificent Pilbara region, had approached ICV for support in developing their Cultural Awareness Workshop, which they could use to promote and celebrate their country and culture. Tina and I were on our way, this time as ICV volunteers.

We finally arrived in Onslow in the late afternoon and rested well that night.

The following day Tina and I finally got to begin what we’d come such a long way for. We were to begin our ICV Project with the Thalanyji people. It became immediately obvious to us both, just how important this project was to the Thalanyji mob when we were

met by the Co-ordinator, Glynis Haynes, her two sisters, Shirley and Karen (and Karen’s two beautiful and mischievous twins) and her cousin sister Ann, who informed us that their Elders would be along directly. Brief, but determined conversations between us took place as we introduced ourselves to each other.

Thalanyji elders, the ‘Aunties’ (as Glynis called them) and their two senior men, Uncle Les and Uncle Albert, joined us for lunch. The senior men, as is their way, sat apart and ate alone, whilst Tina and I ate with the women. I felt privileged and honoured to be invited by such esteemed company and was made to feel relaxed and appreciated. The first afternoon turned out to be

ICV NEWS 10

very important as the Thalanyji women laid down their protocols to us.

Uncle Les and Uncle Albert, having finished their lunch, as well as being satisfied that everything was going to plan, left us to work, while the Aunties stayed. They listened patiently, occasionally nodding and whispering quietly to one another, as Tina and I explained our task regarding the project. These senior Thalanyji women had invested heavily in the success of this project, and in the communications skills and intellect of their daughters to ‘get it right,’ for they are the traditional owners of that place. The afternoon drifted slowly on, and though eyes were beginning to tire, the Aunties were determined to stay to see the whole day through. Finally, we decided to call

time, and agreed to meet at 9am the next day at the old Children’s Hostel to continue our work.

Onslow clings tenaciously to the coast, and is directly in what is known as ‘cyclone alley’. Tina and I decided to walk and take in the scenery of the town before dinner that night. We found ourselves ambling along the boardwalk, overlooking the sea. A very strong smell rose from the beachfront as we stopped to look at the ship loader that runs for approximately 400 metres off shore. We noticed a familiar face approaching us, lo and behold, it was Miles, another West Australian man who we had met in Canberra on ICV’s own Cultural Workshop a couple of months ago! Talk about a small world!

“Hey mate!” I said, when I recognised Miles, “Where’d ya get that cap from, bro?”

Miles’ face lit up like a roman candle when he recognised Tina and me. Hand shakes and back slaps took place between us before Miles said that the smell was coming from a dead humpback whale that had been washed up on the beach the day before and had quickly become a focal point of interest to the locals and visitors alike.

It was reported to have been attacked by large tiger sharks! I decided I didn’t want to go any where near it, either in the water or on the sand. A Bourke boy like me gets very ‘windy’ with anything that can eat a human! We

Indigenous awareness workshop. PHOTOS Nick Ellis

11 ICV NEWS

were soon to learn also that crocodiles had been spotted in the area again after having not been seen in that area for approximately 50 years. A coloured photo in the only store in town, confirmed indeed a large croc at the popular swimming hole. Someone at the pub said to keep an eye out for taipan snakes that were moving around at this time of year.

“Oh, great!” I heard a tiny voice deep inside me groan. I am real frightened of snakes.

Luckily for me, being the brave man of the bush that I am (not!) I had Tina and the Thalanyji women to guide me through all possible dilemmas that I might encounter over the next 2 weeks.

The following day, the eldest Haynes sister, Trudy, arrived to assist in their Cultural Awareness Workshop development from her new home in Pt. Headland. “But this place, Onslow, is my real home.” Trudy told us. “I’m living in Pt. Headland because this place hasn’t got a high school, and my youngest one is still at school there.” The following days were spent with Trudy, Shirley, Glynis and Ann in an earnest attempt to develop a Cultural Workshop that was both informative and interesting for their intended audiences. We discussed the intricacies of almost every point and issue, and slowly, but surely a comprehensive Workshop began to appear.

The Thalanyji women told us, in passing, some of the difficulties in accessing Government services suiting their needs and helped their community development efforts in such a remote part of the country. “That’s what’s been so good about ICV” Trudy said. “We only had to make a phone call to ICV and in no time at all, this volunteer project has happened. ICV helps us cut through a lot of that Government red tape. We can get what we need from ICV in terms of access to skills developed without much trouble at all” she continued after a sip of cool water. It seemed to me like summer was on its way early there, a pleasant surprise

for me after coming from the minus temperatures in Canberra. We were all enjoying the beautiful weather and made good headway with the tasks at hand. Shirley, Ann and Glynis spoke about the power that they expected their new Workshop would have for them.

“It will be a good thing to teach other people about the traditional owners of this land here, and it will help us when we teach them about our traditional protocols to the miners and others who come here to live and work,” Glynis said.

The Haynes sisters know where they are going, and with ICV’s help, will get there too. “We’ve got bigger plans too”

the thalanyji aren’t afraid to try new methods or techniques to ensure that they maintain their cultural heritage, their rights and make a secure future for their children.

Glynis and Shirley said. Ann joined in and spoke about plans to develop cultural, river walking tours, as well as an Onslow town heritage tour.

“We’ve asked ICV to also help us with getting someone that will be able help us improve our submission writing skills. And then we want to develop a strategic plan to make all this happen,” Glynis said.

Walking back to our accommodation that afternoon, I felt that no matter what obstacles that may lie in their path, the Thalanyji people will achieve their dreams. I felt proud of them, and really pleased that ICV had made it possible for me to meet and work with such resilient and passionate people. That Mob are real heroes, and time will prove my point, I reckon.

The Thalanyji aren’t afraid to try new methods or techniques to ensure that they maintain their cultural heritage, their rights and make a secure future for their children. I know that ICV will be there to support their every effort too. Watch this space for further confirmation.

ICV NEWS 12

By Kerry Lindgren

ICV held its monthly Indigenous Cultural Workshop on 23-24 October in Canberra. In line with the Board’s recent decision for ICV to shift its focus from skills transfer to community and human development, the workshop was contributed to and given a make-over by Regional project staff Kerry Lindgren and Lee Willis in collaboration with ICV’s Canberra-based team.

The workshop changes are empowering ICV’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and allowing them to demonstrate their full potential, enhance and maintain their skills and share their

culture and experience with non-Indigenous staff and volunteers.

Senior Project Officer Kerry Lindgren said , “the workshop changes presented an opportunity for our Aboriginal project staff to work more closely with colleagues in the Central Office and importantly ensure that ICV utilises existing resources in order to guarantee the delivery of a culturally appropriate workshop.”

Changes to the workshop included a special focus on Torres Strait Islander culture, dinner at Boomanulla Oval and a field visit to the local Aboriginal Medical Service, Winnunga Nimmityjah.

Whilst at the dinner, volunteers were engaged in a lesson or two in Torres Strait Islander song and dance.

A number of volunteers participating in the workshop commented that they now had “a better understanding of the inner workings of community organisations as well as the cultural differences between Australia’s two Indigenous peoples” said Ms Lindgren.

New Look cRoss cULtURaL tRaINING

thank you...ICV is able to operate through a combination of Federal and State Government funding, corporate sponsorship and private donation. In addition we receive much support in-kind from organisations that help us provide our services by reducing our day to day operating costs.

Amongst others, we would like to thank: FaHCSIA WA Regional Initiatives Scheme

National Australia Bank Rio Tinto

Shell Australia ENI

Culture C

orner

Western AustraliaGPO Box 2571

Perth WA 6831

T: 08 6363 4502

F: 08 6363 4505

eastern StatesPO Box 1585

Fortitude Valley Qld 4006

T: 07 3121 9250

F: 07 3257 3454

Dubboregional OfficePO Box 1537

Dubbo NSW 2830

T: 02 6881 8996

F: 02 6881 8866

NationalGPO Box 2213

Canberra ACT 2601

T: 02 6122 6444

F: 02 6122 6470 Northern territoryOffice Opening soon in Darwin

info@icv.com.au Free cALL 1800 819 542 www.icv.com.au

DIDG There are few things more associated with Aboriginal culture than the didgeridoo, so it may come as a surprise that only certain Aboriginal peoples have traditionally played the didjeridu, and that the word itself (so far spelled in two separate official spellings) is not a word from any Indigenous language. Didjeridoo is a phoenetic Western word that comes from an attempt to describe the traditional breathing and playing rhythms produced when playing the instrument. Didges traditionally come from the northern parts of Australia, however in recent times their use has spread. One of the most prominent people who play the didj are the

Yolngu people of north-east Arnhem Land who play the yidaki, their traditional type of didjeridu.

Recently, ICV invited Melbourne band the Brolga Boys to play at AIATSIS’ NAIDOC on the Peninsula celebrations (where they were joined on stage by Troy Cassar-Daley). Lead singer and didg player, Russell Smith, took some time to show Andrew Horne some different traditional techniques on the didj. Andrew has played didjeridoo at ICV’s cross cultural workshops, and with Russell’s help he was soon trying out some different and interesting rhythms and sounding (even more) amazing.

PHO

TOS N

ick Ellis