Community Profile - RAHC

1 Top End West Community Profile Wadeye 1st edition March 2010. Funded by the Australian Government This Community Profile provides you with information specific to the Top End West Region of the Northern Territory. The information has been compiled though a number of text and internet resources, and consultations with members of the local communities. The first version of this Community Profile was prepared for RAHC by The Echidna Group and we acknowledge and thank Dr Terri Farrelly and Ms Bronwyn Lumby for their contribution. Other sources include: RAHC would also like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the Aboriginal people of the Top End West Region who have so generously shared aspects of their culture and communities for use in this Profile .

2 *Please note: The information provided in this Community Profile is correct, to the best of RAHC's knowledge, at the time of printing. This Community Profile will be regularly updated as new information comes to hand. If you have any further information about this Community that would be useful to add to this Profile please contact RAHC via: or call 1300 MYRAHC. 2. Photographs used in this Community Profile are copyright of the Remote Area Health Corps. Permission was sought from all individuals or guardians of individuals, before photography commenced. Copyright Remote Area Health Corps, 2010.

3 The Northern Territory This map of the Northern Territory, divided into regions, has been adapted from the Office for Aboriginal and Torres 3. Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) Program Management & Implementation Section (2008) Map of the Northern Territory. The depicted areas are for the purpose of the Remote Area Health Corps Community Profiles alone, and do not represent any Aboriginal language group, land or cultural group boundaries. Top End West Area Profile This map of the Darwin area has been taken from the map of the Northern Territory, Major Communities adapted from the OATSIH Program Management & Implementation Section (2008).

4 Map of the Northern Territory. Name Population Resource Centre Wadeye 2200 Victoria-Daly Shire Council Nganmarriyanga 430. Peppimenarti 230. Daly River 450. (Nauiyu ). Daly River Pine Creek 100 Pine Creek Aboriginal Progress Association Wadeye *The population figures refer to the number of Aboriginal peoples living in the Community , and are estimates only. It should be noted that in many Aboriginal communities, population figures can fluctuate dramatically, due to a number of factors including seasonal changes (wet and dry seasons), and ceremonial activity. Communities can also known by several names this may include the European name given to it after colonisation, and several Aboriginal names.

5 Languages in the Region The below languages are present in the East-Arnhem region. However it should be noted that as a result of colonisation, the growth of towns, and the transient nature of some Aboriginal peoples, there may be many different Aboriginal languages evident in a given area. Larrakia Kriol Kriol is the contact language now spoken as a first language by most Aboriginal people across the region. Kriol is spoken in the Barkly and further north, but not generally far south of Tennant Creek. Aboriginal Interpreter Service NT Dept of Local Govt & Housing Central booking service 08 8999 8353.

6 The AIS Provides 24 hours 7 days a week central booking service. 4. Wadeye Population: 2200 2300. History Wadeye (pronounced Wad-air) was formerly known (and is still often referred to) as Port Keats. The town is remote and situated on the western edge of the Daly River Reserve approx 220 km by air south west of Darwin, with road access being cut off by flooding during the wet season. Year round access is via light aircraft or coastal barge only. Wadeye (Port Keats) was founded by Catholic missionaries in 1935. A mission station was founded by Roman Catholic Father Richard Docherty in 1935 at Werntek Nganayi (Old Mission), and subsequently moved to the new location with its' superior water, gardening, building sites and a landing place.

7 In 1941 the Catholic Missionaries started Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School. Today Wadeye is a vibrant Community made up of different language groups with a modern Health Centre, Traditional Credit Union, Community Club and an Arts and Crafts Centre. Wadeye is mainly inhabited by Aboriginal people, in fact it is the largest indigenous Community in the Northern Territory. It has also been said that from the perspective of the tradional owners The Diminin/Murrin-Patha, clan groups that have come to Wadeye since the establishment of the Catholic mission in 1935 include; Rak Angileni, Rak Kirnmu, Rak Kubiyirr, Rak Kulingmirr, Rak Kungarlbarl, Rak Kuy, Rak Merrepen, Rak Nardirri, Rak Nemarluk, Rak Nganthawudi, Rak Nuthunthu, Rak Thinti, Rak Perreder, Rak Wudipuli, Yek Diminin, Yek Maninh, Yek Nangu, Yek Ngudanimarn, Yek Wunh, and Yek Yederr.

8 Governance The Victoria Daly Shire, Wadeye Shire Service Centre provides a range of services including: Rubbish collection, Waste manage- ment, Parks and Gardens, Civil and Road Works, Swimming Pool, Library and Museum, Cemetery Maintenance, Environmental Health, Housing Maintenance & Management, Sport and Recreation, Aged Care, CDEP, RIBS (Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Service), Homelands Management, Customer Services and Emergency Services. Wadeye (Thamarrur Regional) Council: Back in the early 1970s, there was only one group that formed the Council and that was the Kardu Numida, which actually means one group of people'.

9 The formal establishment of the Thamarrurr Regional Council can be traced to the collapse of Kardu Numida Council in 1994 and the subsequent search for a more appropriate and sustain- able governance structure. 5. Infrastructure and Community Life Services: There is a local school catering for students from 4 years old to 19 years of age. There is also a Health Centre, Centrelink office, banking / credit union, club, airline office and airport, store/supermarket, takeaway food store, public library, a church, arts centre, police station and a courthouse. A regular Barge service operates to Darwin for freight.

10 Murin Travel and Freight provide a freight service as well as Perkins Shipping Barge who deliver goods to Wadeye once a fortnight all year round and QAL. Transport operate a road train to Wadeye weekly during the dry season when road conditions are sufficient to accommodate the weight. School: Thamarrur Our Lady of the Sacred Heart' (Catholic), Ph: (08) 89782477. Postal: Wadeye, Port Keats, via Winnellie, NT, 0822. Activities: AFL Football, fishing, with charter tours available, camping and outdoor pursuits, bushwalking and annual rodeo. Nearby attractions include the beaches, waterholes and the Fitzmaurice River.