Djilba Newsletter out now

Our latest newsletter will be arriving in your mailboxes soon, or you can download a copy here.

This issue has an update on our pre-incorporation meetings that are happening now, and the work our initial directors have already begun. We have two more meetings left, for Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar and South West Boojarah. Please come to these meetings if you’re eligible. This is your chance to be part of the establishment of our regional corporations from the beginning, and help make them work for the benefit of all Noongar people.

We also have a story about the visits to inspect land parcels, and we talk to our regional officer Michelle Winmar about the feedback she’s had from people who’ve gone on these visits.

We also have an update on the progress of the Aboriginal Heritage Act, which the WA government is seeking to table in parliament. We will be speaking more about the Bill and the campaign to improve it over the coming months.

Yued regional pre-incorporation meeting

On Saturday 7th August the Yued Agreement Group held its regional pre-incorporation meeting to officially begin the process of establishing its regional corporation.

The meeting was held at two locations - in Moora and Perth - and linked up via video.

All of the resolutions were successful and four initial directors were declared elected. Congratulations to Gregory Stephen Narrier, Diane Joyce Yappo, Mark Bruno Borinelli (Taylor) and Trevor Lewis Walley who will steer the corporation through the next stages towards its establishment.

Thank you to everyone who came to these meetings and contributed to a positive and productive day.

We look forward to the rest of the meetings over the next few months, and we hope to see you there.

If you have any questions, or need any documents for the meetings, click here for more details.

Call for new members of the Noongar Boodja Trust Nominations Committee

The Trustee of the Noongar Boodja Trust, Perpetual, is seeking a Noongar member of the Nominations Committee.  

If you are a leader in your field, an experienced director and have a genuine desire to contribute to the social and economic advancement of the Noongar community, please lodge your expression of interest by 23 August 2021.

Your application should include:

•      a current CV; and

•      a short letter which confirms you meet eligibility requirements and addressing the selection criteria 

Download a nomination form here.

New date for Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar pre-incorporation meeting

The Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar pre-incorporation meeting will now be held on:

Saturday 11 September, 10am-4pm
(registration desk opens at 9:00am or you can register in advance here)

Gnowangerup Town Hall, Yougenup Rd, Gnowangerup
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

The Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar pre-incorporation meetings will be conducted simultaneously at the two venues. The venues will be linked via video, so that you can view proceedings in both locations. You may attend either meeting.

You’ll be sent all the necessary documents for the SWALSC Ward you’re registered with at least 21 days before the meeting. However you may also attend a regional pre-incorporation meeting for any of the agreement groups that you have a connection with. To get copies of the meeting documents for any other agreement group you can:

• download them here,

• pick up a copy at SWALSC regional offices, or

• call SWALSC on 9358 7400 to have them mailed to you.

For more info see the regional pre-incorporation page here.

Saturday’s Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar Preincorporation Meeting postponed

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Saturday’s Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar meeting will be postponed until a later date. This applies to both the Gnowangerup and Perth venues.

Pre-incorporation meetings for the other agreement groups will continue as scheduled here.

We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause, and will announce a new date for the Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar meeting as soon as we can.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at SWALSC on 9358 7400.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR CASUAL VACANCIES IN BALLARDONG AND SOUTH WEST BOOJARAH

Nominations are now open for casual vacancies for initial directors of the Ballardong and South West Boojarah regional corporations. These positions will be voted for at the pre-incorporation meetings for each region. Click here to download a nomination pack.

One vacancy to be filled in Ballardong, nominations close: 30 July 2021

Two vacancies to be filled in South West Boojarah, nominations close: 13 August 2021

As the time-frame is very short, nominations must include all supporting documents by close of nominations. There is not enough time to grant extensions for outstanding documents.

Your nomination must include:

• a fully completed nomination form

• a current CV

• a current national police certificate (a lodgement of application receipt will not be sufficient for this new round of nominations)

• a candidate profile (180 words max. confined to biographical information about you, your policies and/or beliefs)

• (optional) a photograph to be included with your candidate profile in the notice of meeting to agreement group members

Click here to download a nomination pack.

RESCHEDULED DATE: Yued People’s Meeting for the Yued Charitable Trust

All Yued people are invited to attend a Yued People’s Meeting for the Yued Charitable Trust.

This meeting will be held at the Mills Park Function Centre, Beckenham on the 23rd July 2021. Download a meeting agenda here.

Nominations for the Yued Trust Advisory Committee – Yued Charitable Trust will also open on the 1 July and close 1 November 2021. There will 6 positions open for nomination, to replace 6 current TAC positions whose terms will expire 9 January 2022.

Download a nomination form here.

SWALSC plays no role in the management of the Yued Trust, but are posting this as part of our commitment to keeping the Noongar community informed of important events.

Extended invitation for all Noongar people to attend the SWALSC general meeting as observers

Kaya,

As you may know, SWALSC is holding a general meeting on Thursday, 27 May 2021 at the South Perth Community Centre. To see the notice and agenda that SWALSC provided to all members, click here.

Pursuant to our rule book, general meetings are open to all members of SWALSC. However on this occasion the directors have extended a wider invitation to all Noongar people who are beneficiaries of the Noongar Charitable Trust, to attend as observers.

Noongar people who attend as observers will not be permitted to comment or ask questions. Additionally, while we fully expect the venue to have room for everyone, if COVID restrictions are exceeded, SWALSC members will be given priority.

Should you have any questions as to if you are a beneficiary, please contact SWALSC on 9358 7400.

Thanking you

Brendan Moore, Chairperson

Nominations re-opened for Noongar Directors for the Noongar Advisory Company

The Nominations Committee has re-opened nominations for two (2) Noongar Directors for the Noongar Advisory Company.

The Noongar Advisory Company will guide the operations of the Noongar Boodja Trust. If you are a leader in your field, a director with at least five years’ experience, and have a genuine desire to contribute to the social and economic advancement of the Noongar Community, please lodge your expression of interest by 5pm on 4 June 2021.

These positions are currently only open to Noongar People. Please follow the link below to find the application pack with further information.

To download the application pack with further information click here.

Call for nominations for regional corporation initial directors

As part of the process towards pre-incorporation, SWALSC is conducting a 2nd round of nominations for the initial directors of each of the six regional corporations.

Nominations close: 4 June 2021

Click here to download a nomination pack.

Six pre-incorporation meetings will be held later this year, following a series of rulebook workshops and 16 community information sessions held by SWALSC over the last few months.

Nominees will put their names forward to be considered by the pre-incorporation meetings as the ‘initial directors’ of the regional corporations. These initial directors will be responsible for opening up the regional corporations for new members to join.

The initial directors will then call elections for the first four ‘member-elected directors’. Those member-elected directors will appoint one of them to be the chairperson of their regional corporation. They will then appoint two more directors, known as ‘expert directors’ who will bring additional skills to the boards of the regional corporations.

Nominations are open to any eligible member who is interested in putting their name forward to be considered by the pre-incorporation meetings. All directors must meet high standards of experience and suitability, as set out in the ILUAs and the draft rule books (available on the SWALSC website).

In 2018, SWALSC facilitated the first round of nominations for the initial directors. The people who nominated and were found to be eligible will remain as ‘director nominees’ to be considered for selection at the pre-incorporation meetings. They do NOT need to lodge a new nomination.

Click here to download a nomination pack, and call SWALSC on 9358 7400 if you wish to discuss your eligibility or ask any other questions.

Notice of SWALSC general meeting

Date: Thursday, 27 May 2021

Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm

Venue: South Perth Community Centre, South Terrace & Sandgate Street, South Perth

AGENDA

Welcome and opening

Presentation of findings from independent review and valuation of El Caballo properties

Questions and comments

Meeting closure

Note: The general meeting has been called in response to a written request from a number of members dated 8 January 2021 under section 201-5 of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006. No resolutions will be moved at the meeting.

The general meeting is for members of the corporation only and any non-member wishing to attend as an observer must apply in writing to the corporation and be approved to attend by a resolution of the directors. Pursuant to rule 8.12, a member is not entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf at a general meeting.

No travel allowance is available to attend the general meeting. Light refreshments provided.

First payments to Noongar Boodja Trust welcomed

The first contributions from the State of Western Australia to the Noongar Boodja Trust under the historic South West Native Title Agreement have been made.

Acknowledging the payments, South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation Chairperson, Brendan Moore, said it was a significant milestone for the Noongar Nation.

“The payments that have been made by the State to the Noongar Boodja Trust on 22 April 2021 are the first of many benefits that will flow to Noongar people under the settlement,” Mr Moore said.

“The first of twelve annual payments of $50 million have been paid into the Future Fund. This money is managed by the Perpetual Trustee Company and will be protected so that all future Noongar generations will be able to benefit from the settlement,” Mr Moore said.

A further $10 million has been deposited into the Operations Fund—an annual payment also for 12 years.

The money paid into the Operations Fund will be used to fund the operations of the six Noongar regional corporations and the central services corporation that will be established as part of the settlement.

These payments integrate Noongar into the mainstream economy as never before and provide opportunities for economic development and a greater role in decision making about land.

SWALSC is currently holding community information meetings across the South West to progress the establishment of the six regional corporations and the central services corporation.

“I encourage all Noongar people to attend these meetings to find out more about the settlement and the establishment of the regional corporations and central services corporation,” Mr Moore said.

It is anticipated the six Regional Corporations will be established by September 2021.

New leadership team at SWALSC

The South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chair and its new CEO.

Brendan Moore has been elected as the new chairperson of SWALSC following the resignation of Vanessa Kickett to take up an opportunity as the Implementation Manager at SWALSC.

Mr Moore is the member director for the Yued ward and was elected on 27 February 2021. He previously served for a term as a director until 2017. He was born and raised on Yued country and attributes his commitment to social justice to his elders, particularly his grandmother.

“I would like to thank Vanessa Kickett for her leadership at an important time in the implementation of the South West Settlement and wish her all the best in her new role,” Mr Moore said. “I also want to thank my fellow directors for their confidence in me. I will be working to ensure that the full benefits of the settlement are delivered for Noongar people.”

SWALSC is also pleased to announce the appointment of Ed Armstrong as its CEO. Mr Armstrong has extensive experience as a CEO and Chief Operating Officer and brings skills and experience that are critical to ensuring the successful transition of SWALSC to the central services corporation. He has previously worked with the Noongar community across the Great Southern Region in the training sector.

In accepting the position Mr Armstrong said, “I am excited and honoured to lead SWALSC through the implementation of the South West Settlement and the building of a central services corporation that will provide efficient and effective services to the Noongar regional corporations”. “I am personally looking forward to reconnecting with Noongar colleagues and friends along with developing new relationships across the broader Noongar community and key stakeholders”.

Mr Armstrong commences with SWALSC on Monday, 3 May 2021.

Media contact: Anthony Beven 0419 218 518.

Noongar Boodja Trust deed signed

On Monday, 29 March 2021, the directors of the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation (SWALSC) came together with representatives of the WA Government and Perpetual Trustees to sign the deed for the Noongar Boodja Trust.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of The Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia, at Government House and Noongar elders who have committed decades of their lives’ work to the pursuit of justice for the Noongar community.

During the ceremony, the settlor for the trust deed, Mr Bill Lawrie; the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC; and SWALSC representatives Vanessa Kickett and Barry Winmar signed the trust deed and security deed documents.

The signing of the trust deed documents officially appoints Perpetual Trustees as the trustee for the Noongar Boodja Trust and signifies the trust effective date, or the date the trust commences.

The commencement of trust enables the benefits under the South West native title agreement to start flowing into the trust.

Following the signing of the documents, SWALSC Chairperson Vanessa Kickett made the following remarks:

“While the signing of the trust deed is a significant achievement, our work in creating the governance structures that will guide the implementation of the South West native title agreement has just begun.

“There is a lot more work for SWALSC to do in the next six months to establish the six Noongar regional corporations and gain the support of the Noongar community for SWALSC to become the central services corporation.”

“Today, I remember the Noongar elders who fought so long to win justice for our people and who passed before they were able to see this day come to pass.

“We pay our respects to their memory and honour the legacy they leave for our people.

“The path to date has brought many challenges, but we remain focused on honouring the vision of our ancestors, our elders and our communities, whose guidance and dignity inspire us to be strong and proud.

Media contact: Jai Wilson 0427 690 053.

Community Information Sessions

PURPOSE OF THE COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS

Commencing early April, the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation (SWALSC) will convene sixteen community information sessions throughout the south west to provide information on the implementation of the Noongar settlement agreement. These are not decision-making meetings, they are informational only.

These sessions will cover the agreement and transition process. Multiple meetings will be held for each of the six Noongar agreement group areas and you only need to attend one of the meetings.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The community information sessions are open to all Noongar people, including those who are not members of SWALSC. You must only attend the community information sessions for the agreement group areas that you identify with.

Meeting dates

Each Noongar agreement group area will have multiple sessions in a few different places. There will be multiple sessions for each agreement group, but the content presented will be the same at each so you only need to attend one.

All meetings are from 10am till 4pm.

WAGYL KAIP AND SOUTHERN NOONGAR MEETINGS

KATANNING Wednesday, 7 April
Katanning Leisure Centre, 4 Pemble St, Katanning

ALBANY Thursday, 8 April
Centennial Stadium, 156 Lockyer Ave, Albany

PERTH Thursday, 15 April
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St, Beckenham

SOUTH WEST BOOJARAH MEETINGS

BUSSELTON Monday, 12 April
Esplanade Hotel, 30-38 Marine Tce, Busselton

MANJIMUP Tuesday, 13 April
The Roundhouse, 80 Rose St, Manjimup

PERTH Thursday, 22 April
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St, Beckenham

YUED MEETINGS

MOORA Monday, 19 April
Moora Recreation Centre, Roberts St, Moora

PERTH Tuesday, 20 April
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St, Beckenham

GNAALA KARLA BOOJA MEETINGS

BUNBURY Wednesday, 28 April
SW Italian Club, 13 – 19 White St, East Bunbury

NARROGIN Thursday, 29 April
John Higgins Community Centre, 50 Clayton Rd

PERTH Thursday, 6 May
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St, Beckenham

WHADJUK MEETINGS

CANNINGTON Monday, 3 May
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St Beckenham

BIBRA LAKE Wednesday, 5 May
Wetlands Centre, 184 Hope Rd, Bibra Lake

BALLARDONG MEETINGS

BROOKTON Monday, 10 May
WB Eva Pavilion, Brookton Highway, Brookton

KELLERBERRIN Tuesday, 11 May
Kellerberrin Rec Centre, 94 Massingham St

PERTH Thursday, 13 May
Mills Park Centre, 86 Brixton St, Beckenham

AGENDA ITEMS

10.00AM WELCOME AND APOLOGIES

• Nomination and appointment of Chair

• Opening and welcome

• Acknowledgements and one minute silence

• Code of conduct

10.10AM

• Introduction and meeting protocols

• Photographs and video permission

• Importance of feedback on the meeting

10.20AM TRANSITION PROCESS

• Timeline of settlement agreement

10.40AM REGIONAL CORPORATIONS

• Rule book workshop feedback

• Cultural advice policy

• Interim directors—nomination, appointment and role

• Membership drive

12.30 LUNCH

1.00PM NOONGAR BOODJA TRUST UPDATE

• Trust effective date

• Terms of trust deed, including trustee remuneration

• Noongar Advisory Company and trust committees

2.30PM CENTRAL SERVICES CORPORATION (CSC)

• CSC transition program

• Draft CSC cultural consultation policy

• Membership drive

• Staff recruitment

• CSC rule book

• CSC report

3.45PM GENERAL BUSINESS

• Question and answers

• Next steps

4.00PM MEETING CLOSED

Light refreshments will be provided at the sessions.

If you have any queries about the community information sessions, please contact the SWALSC office on (08) 9358 7400.

We look forward to seeing you at this important community information session.

Baldivis Farms Information Meeting

INFORMATION MEETING

An information meeting is being held for all Noongar people on Wednesday, 31 March 2021 regarding Noongar opportunities at Baldivis Farms.

BACKGROUND

Baldivis Farms is located on Eighty Road, Baldivis and consists of a greenhouse, packing shed and 21.7 hectares of irrigated agricultural land in the Gnaala Karla Booja agreement group area. The Commonwealth’s Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) purchased Baldivis Farms in 2020 and leased the greenhouse to Abundance Fresh Farms Pty Ltd (AFF) in September 2020.

Abundance Fresh Farms is owned by Abundance Produce Australia Pty Ltd (80%) and the Aboriginal Housing Recovery Centre Limited (20%). 

Abundance Produce is a majority owned Aboriginal agriculture and food supply business established in 2014 and has a 12,000sqm distribution centre in Canning Vale. It supplies and supports some of Australia’s largest companies such as Coles, Woolworths, Compass, Sodexo, Civeo, Brightwater and Qantas, and ten per cent of its workforce are Indigenous people.

The ILSC’s intention is to divest its interest in Baldivis Farms to an eligible Aboriginal community controlled entity.

PURPOSE OF THE INFORMATION 

The purpose of the meeting is to provide information to Noongar people regarding Baldivis Farms and consult with the Gnaala Karla Booja people regarding divestment of the properties. No decisions will be made at the meeting.

All Noongar people are welcome to attend but consultation regarding the divestment of Baldivis Farms will be restricted to those people identifying as Gnaala Karla Booja Noongar people, as defined in Gnaala Karla Booja Native Title Agreement Group Description - from Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreement (Schedule 2) of the Gnaala Karla Booja Indigenous Land Use Agreement.

WHERE

• Carnaby Hall, Mary Davies Library and Community Centre, 17 Settlers Avenue, BALDIVIS WA 6107 (map)

WHEN

• 11.30am - 2.00pm, Wednesday, 31 March 2021 

AGENDA 

1. The acquisition and ownership of Baldivis Farms (ILSC and SWALSC)

2. The management of Baldivis Farms and employment opportunities (Abundance Fresh Farms)

3. Consultation about the divestment of Baldivis Farms to an eligible Aboriginal community controlled entity (ILSC and SWALSC)

4. Visit to Baldivis Farms, Eighty Road, Baldivis (optional and own transport required). Directions and instructions on visiting Baldivis Farms will be provided at the meeting. (Abundance Fresh Farms)

Light refreshments provided. 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there are limitations at the venue on the number of people able to attend the meeting. Priority will be given to Gnaala Karla Booja Noongar people and then to other Noongar people on a first arrived basis.

This meeting is facilitated by South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council Aboriginal Corporation (SWALSC), Abundance Fresh Farms and the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation.

Regional corporation rule book workshops

The next round of community meetings will be rule book workshops to consult with each of the six Noongar agreement groups about the name of their regional corporation and its rule book.

The rule book sets out the name of the corporation and governs how a corporation can be run—for example, how to elect directors and hold valid meetings. Having a rule book that is carefully followed and works well for a regional corporation is essential to maintaining good governance.

The rule book workshops will be convened for consultation purposes only, therefore no decisions will be made at the workshops. The purpose of the workshops is to assist the agreement groups to make amendments where necessary to ensure the draft rule books are relevant and reflect the agreement groups’ current aspirations. A series of community information meetings will follow the workshops to explain the draft rule books and other matters.

The rule book workshops are open to all Noongar people including those Noongar people who are not members of the SWALSC. As the workshops will be discussing the rule books for each regional corporation, you must only attend the meetings for the agreement group areas that you identify with. Light refreshments will be provided at the workshops.

If you have any queries about the rule book workshops please contact our office on (08) 9358 7400.

Wagyl Kaip & Southern Noongar rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Tuesday, 16 March 2021.

South West Boojarah rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Wednesday, 17 March 2021.

Ballardong rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Monday, 22 March 2021.

Yued rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Tuesday 23 March 2021.

Gnaala Karla Booja rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Thursday, 18 March 2021.

Whadjuk rule book workshop

• 10am - 3pm, Wednesday, 24 March 2021.

Further details about the locations and agendas for rule book workshops, are found at the links in the calendar above.