Anmatjere celebrated their NAIDOC Week early on Tuesday 22 June at the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) office in Ti Tree. NIADOC Week is July 4 – 11 this year but Anmatjere got in early so Ti Tree School could be involved. This year’s theme is ‘Heal Country!’

There was a great turnout for the event, including local community members from Ti Tree town, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya and Wilora, Traditional Owners, CDRC Local Authority members and Councillors, CDRC staff, Local Police and Liaison Officer and of course special guests Ti Tree School.  The school students participated heavily in the NAIDOC Art Competition and produced some fantastic artwork, with the winner to receive a prize of $20 voucher to spend at Ti Tree Farm Garden.

On 6 June, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) teams from Yuelamu, Laramba, Nturiya, Pmara Jutunta, Atitjere, and Engawala travelled to Alice Springs for three days of training in Introductory Mediation and Peacemaking.  The program was delivered by Troy Degenhardt and Matthew Panayi of Northern Territory Alternate Dispute Resolution.

Over the three days, the group discussed traditional processes of dispute resolution and peacemaking, and were surprised to find that they were so similar to a formal mediation process.

Players from Atitjere, Engawala and Laramba will travel to Ti Tree on Wednesday 23 June to play in the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Intercommunity Softball Tournament. The four communities will play in a round robin competition, with the winner to represent CDCR at the upcoming Mparntwe Shield in Alice Springs.

It is expected that there will be a big crowd and the Pmara Jutunta community will make plenty of noise to support their home team.

Games will commence at Pmara Jutunta softball oval from 11:00am, with a community BBQ from 12:30pm. There will be giveaways for participants and medals for those lucky enough to win the tournament.

Nyirripi, Engawala and Laramba now have mobile phone coverage.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) has had 4GX-lite Satellite Small Cells installed in the communities with funding assistance from the Federal Government.

The Small Cells, installed and maintained by Telstra, will give residents access to email and basic data and voice calls and text with a phone, tablet or other compatible device.  

Two new shade structures were built in Rex Patterson Park in Lajamanu last week as part of a Lajamanu Local Authority (LA) project.

The park is opposite the shop, which makes it a great location to get together and share some food or to wait for the bush bus.

Photo above: The completed shade structures with tables and benches.

Atitjere Community received a visit from Central Australian Health Services (CAHS) COVID-19 vaccination team on Monday 24 May.  All eligible members of the community were able to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

First cab off the rank in Atitjere was the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Services Coordinator Warren Kenney followed closely by CDRC Essential Services Officer Shannon White and CDRC Field Officers David Rankine and Malcolm Reiff.  The vaccine team started early to cater for community members that needed to return to work.

Two new brush cutters were brought up to Lajamanu by the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol team in their vehicle when they returned from training in Alice Springs last week, a trip of over 880 km.

They will be used by the Works crew for general tidy up (managing fire risk within the community) and keeping the grass down to keep out snakes and other pests.

Photo: Field Officer Stewart Penn taking delivery of two new brush cutters in Lajamanu.

Last week, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Development Program (CDP) spent two days planting trees in Nturiya as part of an Anmatjere Local Authority project.

Fifty trees were planted on either side of the entrance to Nturiya. The project was led by CDP Activity Supervisor Rodney Baird with Ryan Nelson and Philip Slee (CDP Client Service Officers) closely supported by CDRC Works Team Leader Alan Davis and Works Crew Elias Birch-Baird, Jake Lerm and Michael Morozak-Smith. 

Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May until 3 June every year. These dates commemorate the 27 May 1967 referendum and the 3 June 1992 High Court Mabo decision. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 To commemorate this Reconciliation Week, after four years after it came out, here is the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ as spoken by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich and Troy Cassar-Daley, with music by Midnight Oil.

Last week was Atitjere’s turn to be visited by the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Roads team and their grader for some grounds maintenance Desert Style. 

The team had spent two days at Irrerlirre and Mount Eaglebeak working on access roads and firebreaks as part of CDRC Homelands works, before moving to Atitjere.

“On Friday it was the Atitjere football oval and softball diamond that were getting a spruce up.  The roads crew were doing their own special take on circle work!” said Warren Kenney, Community Services Coordinator Atitjere.