Rirratjingu Members Nominated for Australian of the Year Awards 2024

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) and the Rirratjingu clan are incredibly proud to announce that two members of the community have been nominated for the Australian of the Year Awards in 2024 as Northern Territory recipients. Witiyana Marika and Yalmay Yunupiŋu are dedicated senior Rirratjingu elders and Aboriginal activists in North East Arnhem Land.

Australians are shortlisted for the award by making a significant contribution to the Australian community and nation. The nominees are highly-respected in their region and work to inspire discussion and change nationally. It is a privilege for our RAC members to be recognised for a prestigious National award. 

Guided by the values of the Rirratjingu forefathers, Witiyana and Yalmay work to build a stronger, healthier, and secure future for North East Arnhem Land. They uphold the history, culture, and principles of the wider Yolŋu people in their work. Their achievements have led them to be role models to the communities in the Gove Peninsula region and beyond.

The Australian of the Year awards, sponsored by the National Australia Day Council will be broadcast from a National stage in Canberra on 25th January. RAC staff members will travel to Canberra with Witiyana and Yalmay to support and celebrate their nominations as eminent Australians.

Witiyana Marika

Witiyana Marika - Australian of the Year Awards - 2024 NT Local Hero

Witiyana Marika was born in Yirrkala and is a prominent elder in the Rirratjingu clan. His contribution to both RAC and the community is outstanding. A Director of RAC and RAC business arms, Rirratjingu Mining and Rirratjingu Investments, Witiyana's achievements also include teaching his culture through music and film.

Ceremonial Leader

Witiyana is a valued member of the RAC board and is a role model for our ceremonial program. As a leader of the clan, he conducts traditional Buŋgul for events and ceremonies and teaches songlines to the next generation. The cultural ceremony is a remarkable celebration of music, dance, and ritual that brings the heart and soul of the clan together in a world that is continually changing.

Musician

Beyond his contributions to the local community, Witiyana has found fame across Australia through his music. He is a founding member of the famous rock band, Yothu Yindi who have brought traditional Yolŋu music to the forefront of the industry for decades. Incorporating clan songs of the Yolŋu people, known as manikay, bilma (clapstick instruments), and traditional dances, Yothu Yindu represents the Gove Peninsula on national stages. With hit albums and singles including Treaty, Djapana (Sunset Dreaming), Tribal Voice, and more, the band has been nominated for 12 ARIA Awards and won eight. 

Filmmaker

Witiyana has also brought significant awareness and education to broader Australia on the history of massacres and colonial violence against Indigenous people. He was a co-producer, Senior Cultural Advisor, and also starred in the 2020 Australian film, High Ground. The film was directed by Stephen Maxwell who filmed Yothu Yindi's music video. Although fictional, the film is based on true events in the 1930s NT massacres, including Witiyana's own Grandmother's clan. The film took an Aboriginal story to the World's screens and respectfully depicts the historical truth and emotional past of Australia.

Community

The Rirratjingu Elder's achievements have put the Gove Peninsula on the map. It is an honour to watch him gain well-deserved recognition at the Australian of the Year awards. Witiyana is a generous, positive, and inclusive clan member who treats every person with respect and integrity. His cultural knowledge is invaluable to RAC and he is always a huge supporter of our work for the communities. He has been a local hero in our eyes for decades and will remain a local hero for years to come after the Australian of the Year awards.

I wish to carry on my father’s legacy of protecting this country and our culture, and sharing

Yolŋu culture with the world.

We want our voice to be heard, because our culture, language and people have been on this

land since time immemorial and we continue to survive until now.

Our language and culture is what makes us people, and I want to ensure that the next

generation can stand their ground and continue practicing their culture and continue this

legacy.

Between touring the world with Yothu Yindi, making films, and writing books I have lived my

entire life in Yirrkala and have seen the fight that my people have been fighting.

In my culture, things are done differently. We are a spiritual people. Without my culture, I

would be lost. I would be no one, just a piece of paper. Still and lifeless.

I want to make sure that this continues until long after I’m gone.

• Witiyana Marika

Yalmay Yunupiŋu

Yalmay Yunupiŋu - Australian of the Year Awards - 2024 NT Senior Australian

Yalmay Yunupiŋu is one of the Northern Territory recipients of the Senior Australian of the Year award. Yet, her work for Aboriginal education in the Gove Peninsula can resonate with Indigenous people across all Australia. She has been a significant and prominent Rirratjingu clan leader in North East Arnhem Land for decades. Most notably, she has forged changes to the region's education program through her integrity and commitment to the Yolŋu language and culture.

Linguist

Yalmay's exceptional career started with a tireless dedication to translating Dr Seuss's books into Yolŋu Matha language for the community library. It has always been important for Yalmay to pass on the historic and cultural language to children. Her goal was for young Australian students to feel represented in their education.

Teacher

Following the translations, Yalmay qualified as a teacher, along with her Yothu Yindi famous husband, Dr Mandawuy Yunupiŋu. Together they championed the first bilingual curriculum for Yirrkala Bilingual School.

Over four decades, Yalmay became the "mother of Yirrkala School". She encouraged children to have self-worth and confidence in their culture. Yalmay introduced the "Garma Curriculum", which is a Yolŋu philosophy and teaches Yolŋu history, knowledge, and culture. Her devotion even led her to speak up against a Labour Government policy in 2009. It stated that all Northern Territory schools should teach only English for the first four hours. With the school's support, she stood firm. The Yirrkala bilingual school remained a proud champion of Indigenous Bilingual curriculums.

In 2005, Yalmay received the Teacher of Excellence award from the Northern Territory Department of Education. She was also an Honorary University Fellow at Charles Darwin University. Her contribution to the region's education goes beyond excellence, it touches the heart of the community. It inspires the next generation to represent and celebrate their culture in a modern world.

Traditional Healing

Even though she retired from the school in 2023, Yalmay's contribution to the community is far from over. She is a respected elder with an immense amount of knowledge. She continues to share this through consultations, projects, and traditional bush medicine healing.

Community

She is an outstanding role model to the Rirratjingu clan and the wider Yolŋu communities, especially to the next generation of women. Throughout all her achievements, Yalmay has remained a generous, funny, and kind person who RAC and all clan members respect. Beyond the Australian of the Year awards, her educational contributions will remain close to our hearts. We know it will continue to inspire for decades to come.

My birth name Marika means lightning and thunder. So when I speak to people it’s with a quiet lightning and thunder called Murradakthun. This is my personality, how I would express myself.
 

Education and the Yirrkala Bilingual School have always been my passion, and my most treasured accomplishment in life, besides my family and community.

 

I might have retired from school, but I haven’t stopped wanting to educate people to see the benefit in both worlds way of working. Yolŋu ga Balanda education.

 

Goŋ-Djambutj.  Yolŋu healing. Ancient bush medicine. Ancient bush food. To heal people.

 

It’s time Australia learns about this.

• Yalmay Yunupiŋu

Recognition for the Rirratjingu Community

The well-earned nominations for the Australian of the Year awards shine a light on Witiyana and Yalmay's clan. Rirratjingu has a steep history of contributing to Indigenous Australian success.

The Rirratjingu forefathers, in particular Roy Marika and Milirrpum Marika, are known for the birth of Australian Lands Rights by creating the first Bark Petitions in 1963. Their dedication to gaining the rights to their traditional land led to the official Aboriginal Lands Rights Act in 1976. It gave power and strength to all Aboriginal clans across Australia and is still seeing benefits decades later.

Today, the Rirratjingu clan is continually guided by their forefather's vision, values, and devotion:

• to hold tightly to our culture and tradition,

• to be firm and strong for our land and our culture

• to protect and care for our people, and

• to stay united and stand tall.

Witiyana Marika and Yalmay Yunupiŋu bring an immense amount of pride to the Rirratjingu clan. They represent the principles and spirit of all clan members and it is amazing to watch the Yolŋu community touch the heart of the National Australia Day council and the public. We are excited to see what these awards will inspire our young people to achieve in North East Arnhem Land. RAC will continue to celebrate Witiyana and Yalmay as local heroes in the community.

How to follow the Australian of the Year Awards Show

The Australian of the Year Awards will be broadcast from the National Arboretum in Canberra on ABCTV and ABC iview on 25th January 2024 at 7:30pm,. If you miss the live stream, you will be able to watch on catch-up on ABC iview.

It will be an honour for RAC to attend the awards with our Rirratjingu elders nominated. We will celebrate them and keep the community informed on our social media pages. To keep up to date and support our local heroes, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin.

RAC host Artist Aly de Groot for School Holidays Beach Debris Weaving Workshops

Last week RAC hosted Artist Aly de Groot for a School Holidays activity of Beach Debris Weaving Workshops. The Workshops ran over three days with a different focus each day. 

On the first day, Tuesday 5th October, Aly taught the participants how to create a jellyfish using the rope debris and recycled t-shirt yarn. The second day focused on the ghost net sourced from Middle Beach in Yirrkala. Participants were supported by Aly to make bags, hats, hanging plant holders and more. Thursday 7th October was unfortunately the last day of the workshop but was arguably the most creative, with people using their weaving skills they’d developed from the past two days towards making turtles of all sizes. The creation of turtles was significant as they are an important animal for the Rirratjingu clan who are traditional owners of the Yirrkala and Nhulunbuy areas.

RAC are appreciative of the support Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) provided the project; a workspace, catering, transportation for participants and sourcing beach debris through the Dhimurru Rangers. 

RAC would also like to thank the Northern Territory Government for funding the project through the Gove Peninsular Youth Activities 2020 – 2022 Program. 

The project generated a lot of interest within the community and was strongly endorsed by Elders. RAC were approached by ABC Radio Darwin and Aly de Groot was interviewed live on air at the conclusion of the workshops. 

Overall, considering the positive feedback from the community, the effective collaboration with other service providers, and the successful engagement with the children and young adults throughout the three days, RAC conclude the workshops were a success and are excited for how the project can evolve going into the future.

RAC attend Police Remembrance Day 2021

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation attended the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services (NTPFES) National Police Remembrance Day 2021 at Nhulunbuy Police Station on 29th September 2021.

 
RAC were proud to perform a Welcome to Country Buŋgul to commence the proceedings. Fabian Marika delivered the Welcome to Country and Djuwalpi Marika provided the opening address. 

Djuwalpi Marika and Djalinda Ulamari laid a wreath on behalf of RAC honouring all Australian Police Officers killed in the line of duty. 

RAC Directors continue to value their strong relationship with the Nhulunbuy Police.

RAC’s Emerging Leaders enjoy a site tour of the new Aged Care Centre in Nhulunbuy

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation's Emerging Leaders and Director Gurruminbuy Marika were excited to experience a tour of the new purpose-built, culturally appropriate Aged Care facility being built in Nhulunbuy. This facility is the first of its kind in Australia and thanks to Terese Marchesi and Sue Fraser from Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Ltd (ARRCS) the project has been designed with extensive consultation with Yolngu stakeholders across East Arnhem Land including RAC’s Emerging Leaders.  

The facility is scheduled to open April 2022. The first eight residents will be Yolngu elders currently based in Aged Care in Darwin due to the lack of facilities in East Arnhem Land. The elders are eager to get back to their homelands and families. 

ARRCS have also been working with our young leaders to develop a design for the entrance gate to the facility. The brief is ‘to signify that this is Rirratjingu land and all yolngu people are welcome’.

We are so grateful to Terese and Sue for working with our people to create a fit for purpose facility for Yolngu Elders in East Arnhem Land.

RAC SUPPORTS MIWATJ VACCINATION CLINIC

RAC were excited to support the Yirrkala Miwatj Clinic by providing 100 x $20 Voucher’s for the Yirrkala General Store to incentivise the local Yirrkala Yolngu population to get vaccinated. 

Miwatj set up a pop-up clinic out the front of the Yirrkala General Store with the hopes of engaging with the community about the importance of vaccinations and to encourage any adults who had not yet been vaccinated to get the jab.

The population of Yirrkala are now sitting at 45% vaccinated (2 x doses). Miwatj are aiming for a 90% vaccination rate. Miwatj are hoping the incentive of vouchers will be a good way to increase vaccination numbers and allow them to reach the vaccination goals in the community. 

RAC EXCITED TO CELEBRATE BUSINESS CENTRE OPEN DAY

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) were excited to hold an Open Day on 9th September to showcase the plans for a Business Centre, which is a refurbishment of the old Wet Mess Building in Nhulunbuy. The community have been very interested in how this building will be utilised now Rio Tinto are no longer using it.

The Open Day was a resounding success with attendees varying from; locals interested in the project for the community, businesses interested in leasing office space, contractors seeking information for the construction tender and many members of the Marika family excited to see another Rirratjingu business enterprise.

Rirratjingu Cutural leaders led the family in a smoking and cleansing ceremony. On completion of the ceremony Wanyubi and Witiyana Marika welcomed all attendees onto their land and into the building and expressed their excitement for the future of the project.

RAC AND THE YIRRKALA COMMUNITY PROUD TO HOST ANNUAL YARRAPAY FESTIVAL

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) were excited to once again put on the annual Yarrapay Festival on the Roy Marika Stage at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka Art Centre in Yirrkala on 26th June. This year we were lucky enough to host the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band, Yirrmal, East Journey and Yirrkala’s biggest success story - Yolngu band Yothu Yindi. 

Yarrapay Festival provides a space for Indigenous and non-Indigneous people to enjoy Yolngu music and dance. RAC opened the night by performing a special Morning Star Bunggul. The event was MC’ed by RAC Director Witiyana Marika, who also sung with his son Yirrmal and performed as a founding member of Yothu Yindi.

The festival drew in approximately 600 people to Yirrkala, combining people from community, Nhulunbuy and other surrounding communities and homelands. Hot food and cold drinks were served from the Yirrkala store. The Yirralka rangers provided complimentary hot drinks and bush products for purchase. 

EMERGING LEADERS HEAD TO CDU

On 19th July seven of RAC’s Young Leaders headed to CDU to learn about the opportunities and support available to them if they choose to study at CDU. The Young Leaders were great at engaging with the presenters and contributing their thoughts and experiences in each session. The tour included;

• CDU Art Collection and Art Gallery – the curator Dr Joanna Barrkman talked the group through the current exhibition and how it focused on the mistreatment of Indigenous people alongside the effects of coal extraction and capitalism throughout Australian history. She also took the group into the Art Collection storeroom where the group were able to find pieces completed by their family members.

• The Nurse’s teaching space – The group enjoyed learning about the dummies used to teach the Nursing students throughout their course and even got to pass around the dummy babies and give soon-to-be Dad Djay some practice.

• Health Immersive Virtual Education (HIVE) – The group enjoyed seeing the inside of a Heart, Brain and Lungs via Virtual Reality Technology. The presenter was able to show what healthy lungs looked like in comparison to the stages of Smoker’s lungs.

• Indigenous Support Services – The group were able to spend time in the support centre hearing about the different types of support and assistance they can receive when studying with CDU including; Tutor Support, ‘Away from Base’ Travel for study support, Academic Support and Scholarships.

• Northern Institute – is a regional leader in high quality social and public policy research. Several presenters showed the group the research and information that had been compiled on Yolngu people and language as well as explaining how the Young Leaders could get involved in community research.

The Young Leaders all expressed that they found the visit valuable. We hope they now feel empowered to pursue further education if it aligns with their interests and passions.

RAC PROUD TO SIGN MUTUAL RESPECT AGREEMENT WITH POLICE AND COUNCIL

Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, represented by Wanyubi Marika (Chairman) and Mandaka Marika (Director), were honoured to sign the Yirrkala Mutual Respect Agreement with the Northern Territory Police Force and East Arnhem Regional Council at the NAIDOC Day celebrations at Gove Peninsular Surf Lifesaving Club on Tuesday 6th July 2021. The Nhulunbuy Police were represented by Senior Sargent Michael Milde, and East Arnhem Regional Council were represented by Chairman Djuwalpi Marika. All men spoke about how important good relations within the community were to them.

The Yirrkala Mutual Respect Agreement affirms that all people are equal before the law and are entitled to equal protection. The agreement involves monthly meetings between Police and Yirrkala Leaders for regular consultation on crime, safety, law and justice issues within the community.

RIRRATJINGU HOSTED BY RICHMOND TIGERS

Our Manager | Culture & Community, Hayden Rickard, spent a week on a professional development opportunity viewing the machinations of High Performance sporting entity the Richmond Football Club. The visit came about through former NT Thunder Senior Coach and ex-AFL Player Xavier Clarke who is a highly regarded Development Coach at Tigerland. Clarke has often hosted Territorians to ensure industry knowledge filters back to the Northern Territory at any opportunity. RAC asked Hayden how his visit went.

RAC:

How long were you at the Club?

Hayden:

I spent the week viewing how the club went about its business. After landing in Melbourne late Monday I went to the club on Tuesday morning. Players were working in their particular lines and assessing their individual performances. Later, the coaching staff reviewed the Hawthorn game with the whole Football Department in their theatre which has its own screen. Discussion went back and forward between the coaches and the playing groups, basically looking for things they done well or could improve. Thursday was the heavy training day and the squad trained for how it wanted to approach Essendon for the Dreamtime match on the Saturday. Friday was a theatre session with the Senior Coach Damien Hardwick followed by some more fine-tuning on the track. Saturday was Game Day. I was fortunate to sit in on the VFL Mens Game build up. A win at Punt Rd then across to the MCG for the AFL clash.

RAC:

The club has a Theatre?

Hayden:

Yep. Every AFL Club will have this set-up. Part of the football growth of the elite level AFL player will be vision based. Coaches will use training and game footage to highlight areas that they view as critical to winning.

RAC:

What key learnings do you hope to bring to the Rirratjingu Football Program and Djarrak Football Club?

Hayden:

There were a tonne of lightbulb moments of ideas that can be shamelessly stolen. I think the presentation style that the coaches use in the Theatre is something that can be adopted not only here in our football department but even when we work with our internal Leaders Create Leaders program. Obviously, around the training track there were little coaching cues and language I can share with our group. One thing the club does well is it caters for every learning style. Players get to read, watch and do.

RAC:

What was a highlight of your visit?

Hayden:

The club was really authentic and genuine with its commitment and support of Indigenous players and its wider community programs. The club works closely with the Korin Gamadji Institute and I attended a luncheon at the boarding house of the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. There were a some NT students completing Year 7 before moving into a Melbourne High School in Year 8 in 2020. Hopefully we can get a Yirrkala student this opportunity one day.

RAC:

What else did you get up too whilst in Melbourne?

Hayden:

I was lucky to visit Rirratjingu Football program participant Gawiya Mununggurr who has started boarding at The Geelong College. Gawiya is doing well and is settling in nicely. She has been playing football and is developing in the small forward role and really brings her defensive pressure into her game.

RAC:

What things do you think you will pass on to your coaching staff at Djarrak FC?

Hayden:

Being fortunate to sit in on the Tigers selection meetings, I would express to our coaches if you have an idea then put it on the table. The Tigers Coaching staff had really robust discussions on why something could have a good impact here or deciding what to give and take. Coach Hardwick obviously has the final call but he explains why he may go with that angle.

RAC:

It sounds like you have gained some insights that you can implement here in Yirrkala. Is there any final thoughts on your experience?

Hayden:

I’d just like to thank Richmond Football Club for being so open with the visit. Nothing was off limits. Neil Balme runs a tight ship but had an open door policy. Coach Hardwick was comfortable having me in some really important sessions and was willing to share the Tiger way of doing things at all levels. I can’t speak highly enough of Xavier. He’s flying the flag for the Territory, and by lobbying to host my visit, will indirectly impact every coach and player at our club and program.

NEW CEO APPOINTED TO GUIDE CORPORATION FORWARD

The Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation would like to announce the appointment of John Hughes as new Chief Executive Officer of the Rirratjingu group of companies, including Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, Rirratjingu Mining Ltd, Bunuwal Investments Pty Ltd and Bunuwal Fuel. John took up the position in late December.

RAC Chairman Bakamumu Marika was very pleased with this appointment.

He said “The next few years will be critical for the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, and the Board followed a robust selection process for this important role. We were able to choose from a good number of quality candidates.  John is well-placed to take the Rirratjingu group of companies forward, given his recent experience working for government statutory organisations and for Aboriginal Corporations”. 

John worked for 18 years in private commercial and public legal practice, including at NAALAS (now NAAJA) and the NLC, before turning to management, most recently in Western Australia as CEO of Mirriuwung Gajerrong Corporation in the Kimberley and then of Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation in the Pilbara.  John is committed to capturing the opportunities promised by native title and NT Aboriginal land rights for Aboriginal group self-determination and for individual empowerment, and John is keen to build the corporate strategy of the Rirratjingu group of companies. 

Bakumumu added, “I would much like to thank Saheel Shah for fulfilling the role of acting CEO during the recruitment process.  Saheel returns to his finance portfolio and has handed John a very healthy group of companies”.

While recruiting the new CEO during the latter part of 2018, the Board was also implementing a range of reviews and adopting a new Strategic Plan.  Over the Christmas-New Year period John has been absorbing a myriad of information and is now relishing the opportunity to build relationships with staff, Directors and advisers, Rirratjingu members, and with our stakeholders in the wider community.

Hughes said “This will be one of the most interesting and satisfying roles in my career.  I am keen to put into effect the Directors’ plans to reposition the Rirratjingu group for a future after bauxite mining.  The traditional owner groups and the business and government communities here are welcoming.  They are open-minded and oriented towards progress, and they are already making the most of the many opportunities for business collaboration and to build healthy lives here in East Arnhem region. This is a very good time to be working from the Rirratjingu offices at Yirrkala, overlooking the spectacular Yirrkala bay”.