Yamatji Region News

Congratulations to Miss NAIDOC winner Ashlea Walley

Posted: June 5th, 2014

Filed under: Miss NAIDOC, NAIDOC, Nyiyaparli, Yamatji.

On Saturday 24th May Noongar/Yamatji woman Ashlea Walley was announced as 2014 Miss NAIDOC Perth at the final ceremony held in the Perth Concert Hall.

Ashlea joined nine other finalists from across the state including Yamatji woman Jaimee Coster and Noongar/Nyiyaparli woman Amy Groves in celebrating the completion of the Miss NAIDOC leadership and empowerment program.

YMAC would like to congratulate Ashlea and all the Miss NAIDOC finalist on their achievement.

Book Talk with Malgana elder Ada Fossa

Posted: May 20th, 2014

Filed under: Ada Fossa, City of Greater Geraldton, Malgana, Shark Bay

Join Malgana elder Ada Fossa as she speaks about her book “Stories Laughter and Tears through Bygone Years in Shark Bay” this Saturday in Geraldton.

“My name is Ada Mary Fossá, born Ada Mary Poland on the 8th November 1934. I am a 6th generation Indigenous resident of Shark Bay and also a Malgana elder.
This book is a collection of stories from my memories of growing up and living in Shark Bay with input from some old time residents also included.
There are no airs and graces, no research about this book, just telling it the way it was when we were young and remembering what our parents and grandparents taught us and the places they took us to. It might give an insight into how privileged this present generation is compared to ours many years ago.”

The book is available for purchase from http://www.acashic.com/stories-laughter-tears-shark-bay/ 

Free online training at the Geraldton Digital Hub

Posted: May 12th, 2014

Filed under: City of Greater Geraldton, Digital Hub, Free Event, Geraldton, Training

As part of their Digital Hub the City of Greater Geraldton will be holding free interactive training sessions to learn about the internet. The sessions will take participants through a step-by-step to discover the online world. The sessions available are group sessions and maximum numbers are between 6-8 on each session. Book soon to avoid missing out.

For more information visit the Digital Hub Website here or call the Digital Hub on (08) 99656749.

Durack Institute of Technology Class of 2013

Posted: May 9th, 2014

Filed under: Carnarvon, Durack Institute of Technology, Education, Exmouth, Geraldton, Graduation, Indigenous Education

On Friday 28th March, Durack Institute of Technology held its annual ceremony for the graduating students and award winners at Geraldton Grammar School.

The Class of 2013 saw almost 2000 students graduate with from  a range of courses with graduates coming from towns across the west coast including Geraldton, Carnarvon and Exmouth.

As part of the celebrations a number of awards were presented to students, including the Aboriginal Student of the Year Award. Among four finalist Regina Richardson was named the winner of the 2013 Rio Tinto Aboriginal Student of the Year.

Congratulations to Regina and all the 2013 Graduates from Durack Institute of Technology.

For more information the Durack Institute of Technology visit their website.

The West Australian Indigenous Story Book

Posted: May 6th, 2014

Filed under: Esperance, Goldfields, Great Southern, Kimberley, Midwest, Peel, Perth, Pilbara, The Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia, West Australian Indigenous Story Book

The Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia began West Australian Indigenous Story Book project since 2011. Four editions have been released so far; the Kimberley and Pilbara edition, the Perth and Peel regions edition, the Pilbara and Midwest edition and the Goldfields/Esperance and Great Southern edition.

Each edition is a collection good news stories from indigenous, and sometimes non-indigenous, people who have contributed to social, economic, health and environmental outcomes for their communities.

For more information or to access the stories visit the PHAIWA website.

Two YMAC Staff achieve Scholarship to Oxford

Posted: May 5th, 2014

Filed under: Charlie Perkins Scholarship Trust, Edith Cowan University, Graduate, Indigenous Scholarships., Oxford University., University of Western Australia

YMAC would like to congratulate staff members Tamara Murdock and Jessyca Hutchens on receiving the Charlie Perkins Scholarship.

The Scholarship was launched in 2009 in memory of Aboriginal leader and activist Dr Charlie Perkins who was the first Indigenous Australian man to graduate from university.

Both Tamara and Jessyca will be undertaking their studies at Oxford University. Jessyca will be studying a DPhil in Fine Arts and Tamara will be studying a Master’s of Science in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management.

Everyone at YMAC is very proud of Tamara and Jessica, and we wish them the very best with their studies in the UK.

Download the full media release here. 

Bundiyarra stories on film

Posted: May 2nd, 2014

Filed under: Bundiyarra, Film, Film and Television Institute (FTI), Indigenous Community Stories, NITV

The Bundiyarra people’s story of working towards recognition, the issues and obstacles that they faced was captured on film as part of the Indigenous Community Stories project.

Since the completion of the film a VIP roof top screening was held in Perth for the Bundiyarra founding members and the community to view their story on the big screen.

NITV will show the film soon and it will be available online for viewing later in the year. To hear more about the experiences of the Bundiyarra people in making the film and the VIP roof top screening click here. To learn more about the Indigenous Community Stories project visit the FTI WA website.

Congratulations to the Badimia people and the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre

Posted: April 11th, 2014

Filed under: Badimaya Dictionary, Badimia, Bundiyarra Irra Wanga language program, Kirkalocka Station, language, Mt Magnet, Ollie George, Yamaji Language Centre

Badimia elder Ollie George and Bundiyarra linguist James Bednell at the launch of the Badimaya Dictionary

YMAC congratulates the Badimia people and the Bundiyarra-Irra Wangga Language Centre on the launch of the new Badimaya Dictionary. Badimia people can be proud that their culture and language is being preserved and developed into educational resources that can be shared across generations.

Several Badimia families, led by elder Ollie George, have worked on this project over the last 20 years. In the early 1990s initial preservation work was started by The Yamaji Language Centre, and the project was transferred to Bundiyarra – Irra Wangga Language Centre in 2005. Since 2012, Bundiyarra has collected more than 60 hours of audio and 10 hours of video recordings.
The dictionary was launched at a celebration on Badimia country at Kirkalocka station on 10 April. A Badimaya Guwaga wordlist and Alphabet Poster have also been developed alongside the dictionary, and will now join other Badimia language resources available from Bundiyarra, including story books, a photographic calendar and a picture book. For more information and to order any of these resources visit www.bundiyarra.org.au.

Tykeira Ward at the launch of the Badimaya Dictionary

Joan, Louwana and Alan Walsh at the launch of the Badimaya Dictiona

Free Into Business workshops

Posted: March 14th, 2014

Filed under: Carnarvon, Geraldton, Ideas, Indigenous Business Australia, Management, Opportunities, Planning

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) are holding free Into Business workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are interested in turning a business idea into reality.

Over a series of three self-paced workshops you will have the opportunity to assess whether your idea can be developed into a commercially viable business.

The Into Business one-day workshops are held several weeks apart and cover the following broad topics:
Workshop A – your business idea, goals and expectations
Workshop B – marketing and managing your business
Workshop C – financial planning and management.

The next workshop A’s are at:

• Carnarvon – 18 March 2014 – 8:30am – 4:30pm
• Geraldton – 19 March 2014 – 8:30am – 4:30pm     

For future dates and further information please contact Indigenous Business Australia on  1800 107 107 or visit www.iba.gov.au/itb