Yamba resident and proud Yaegl woman, Diane Randall, elected to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as the North Coast representative

 

Australian Rural & Regional News, 20 March 2024:

Yamba resident and proud Yaegl woman, Diane Randall, has been elected to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as the North Coast representative, one of two new faces on the council elected to protect the interests and further the aspirations of its members and the Aboriginal community.

The NSW Electoral Commission officially declared the outcome of the statewide election last Tuesday, with Ms Randall joined on the Land Council by new member, Ray Kelly, who represents the Sydney/Newcastle areas.

In her first nomination as North Coast representative, Ms Randall defeated incumbent North Coast member, Dallas Donnelly, and Tina Williams in the ballot.

“When I thought about running, I thought I would just have a go, because I knew that I was up against my cousin Tina Williams and Dallas Donnelly,” she said.

“After it was announced that I was the new North Coast Councillor I felt a lot of emotions, but I was mainly excited for the new challenge ahead.”

As a councillor for the North Coast, Ms Randall said she will represent 13 Local Aboriginal Land Councils where she has family: Baryulgil Square, Birrigan Gargle, Bogal, Casino-Boolangle, Grafton Ngerrie, Gugun Gudduba, Jali, Jana Ngalee, Jubullum, Muli Muli, Ngulingah, Tweed/Byron, and Yaegl.

Through her community involvement over the years, Ms Randall has been on boards including the Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, the Birrigan Gargle LALC, the Yaegl Elders Aboriginal Corporation and the Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation.

Ms Randall was also on the board of the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council LALC for nine years and was the Birrigan Gargle LALCs chairperson for eight years, which she said provided her with invaluable knowledge on LALCs she intends to apply in her position as North Coast councillor.....

The remains of five Ancestors have been returned to the Yaegl people of the Clarence Valley, NSW

 

NSW Dept.of Planning and Environment, News & Media, 7 July 2023:

Honouring the Past, Healing the Present: Yaegl Ancestors Finally Rest on Country

7 July 2023

Yaegl Repatriation 
Credit: Jamie Williams Photography

The remains of 5 ancestors have been returned to the Yaegl people of northern New South Wales, with a significant cultural ceremony honouring their repatriation back to Country.

Yaegl Repatriation

The repatriation ceremony took place at the Yaegl Nature Reserve, just north of Grafton near Maclean, which was the designated burial site identified by the Yaegl community.

The repatriation follows the Australian Museum's decision to release 3 Ancestors to be returned to Yaegl country for a proper burial, along with 2 Ancestors who were voluntarily handed over to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) by a local landowner who expressed the importance of ensuring their proper care.

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (registered Native Title Group and nominated representatives) led the repatriation of their Old Peoples remains to ensure the burial was in line with their traditions and cultural practices.

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation worked closely with Heritage NSW, which provided assistance in the planning stages of returning the remains and coordinating the repatriation.

The repatriation is a significant occasion, marking a milestone in the ongoing reconciliation and healing process, and honouring the ancestral connection between the Yaegl people and their traditional lands.

Billy Walker, General Manager for Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of Yaegl Elders group:

"The Yaegl people witnessed the return and repatriation of our Ancestors. Our Ancestors are at eternal rest now they have been returned to their traditional lands."

Sam Kidman, Executive Director Heritage NSW:

"The repatriation of the Yaegl Ancestors stands as a testament to the importance of recognising the rights and aspirations of Indigenous peoples, their cultural heritage, and the fundamental connection between land, people, and spirit."

Laura McBride, Director, First Nations, Australian Museum:

"The Australian Museum is committed to be a cultural leader and advocate for First Nations history and peoples, and as part of this commitment has identified the repatriation of Ancestral Remains as a corporate strategic priority. We are honoured to have helped facilitate the return of Yaegl Ancestors and continue to support First Nations communities to get their Old People home."

Maclean Pump Station: grafitti vandal failed in his/her aim

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 7 June 2023:

Artist Austin NITSUA with the new mural of Yaegl elder Uncle Ron Herron on the River Street pump station in Maclean. Image: Rodney Stevens

When artist Austin NITSUA got word that his stunning portrait of Yaegl elder Uncle Ron Herron that he painted on a River Street Maclean pump station had been graffitied with light coloured paint in August last year he was ‘gutted’.

The street artist and mural creator, who has painted his distinctive illustrations all over Australia, from Byron Bay to giant examples of silo art in South Australia, said he was ready to repaint the mural the week after it was defaced, but the development application process through council delayed progress.

“I was ready to repaint the mural three days after it got hit, but the process has taken nine months to get to this stage,” he said.

Despite this delay, as soon as Nitsua got the go ahead, he and his partner Monique, armed with a ute full of spray paint cans got to work to repaint the mural on Sunday, May 28.

“Originally, before painting the first mural, I went and took photos of Uncle Ron and I had photos of him that were quite similar to the last mural, but I chose this image because he just had a bit more of a grin on his face,” he said.

“I thought it was quite suitable too, to come back with a bit of a grinning smile saying you paint over me, and I’ve come back with a vengeance this time with a warrior ochre.

“I asked the Yaegl mob what the best sort of ochre was I could do, and that is what I’ve done.”

The mural features respected Yaegl Elder Uncle Ron Herron, who has degrees in archaeology and anthropology and lectured at Southern Cross University for 10 years and was awarded a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) by Macquarie University in 2014….

Full article here.

A Stunning Collection Of Twenty Five Black And White Portraits Of Yaegl Elders on Exhibition at Old Kirk-Yamba Museum in River Street from Monday 4 July to Sunday 24 July 2022

 

‘KEEPING OUR STORIES 'PORTRAITS OF YAEGL ELDERS'

A STUNNING COLLECTION OF TWENTY FIVE BLACK AND WHITE PORTRAITS OF YAEGL ELDER

On exhibition at the Old Kirk-Yamba Museum, River Street, Yamba NSW.

From Monday 4th July to Sunday 24th July 2022.

Official book launch Friday 22nd July 10.30am 

Note: 

Images (left to right)

Top Row Middle: Mrs Lillian Williams.

Bottom Row Middle and Far Right: Reverend Lenore Parker-Randall & Mrs. Lois Birk

New Yaegl signage as Clarence Valley enters a new year

People driving south down the Pacific Highway in past years will remember the sign welcoming people to Yaegl Country. Well now there are six new signs being erected to properly reflect the Yaegl people's recognised connection to Country.... 

(l-r) Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC CEO William (Billy) Walker, YTOAC director and manager Dianne Chapman and artist Charlene Williams. Image: Geoff Helisma.Clarence Valley Independent

 

The Daily Telegraph, 29 December 2020: 

Colourful new signs are popping up on roads along the east coast in what local Indigenous leaders hope will be a precedent across the state. 

Minister Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the statewide pilot of the new signs kicked off this week on Yaegl Country in the NSW Northern Rivers region. 

“Many of the transport routes we take for granted today follow traditional Aboriginal Songlines, trade routes and ceremonial paths in Country followed by Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years,” Mr Toole said. 

“These include roads, rail lines and water crossings around the state, so it’s a step forward to recognise the lands these routes cross by incorporating the new Acknowledgement of Country signs at important locations.” ......

Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC CEO Bill Walker said: “Yaegl people always have and always will have the physical and spiritual connection to the land, rivers and sea and will keep maintaining their culture through Caring For Country”. Transport for NSW has also worked closely with other Aboriginal Nations to roll out similar signs across the state.

IMAGE: NBN News

This logo will be displayed at six sites along the Pacific Highway and Big River Way commencing at the northern and southern boundaries of Yaegl Country.

Young storytelling in the Clarence Valley: ‘Yaegl Biirrinba' (This Is Our River) and 'River to the Sea'

https://youtu.be/srBp_713-5g

‘Yaegl Biirrinba' (This Is Our River) was created in June 2018, the result of a five day Desert Pea Media storytelling workshop. Co-written by, and starring, an incredibly talented group of Indigenous young people enrolled at Maclean High School, community members and local Elders - with support from DPM staff and local services.

https://youtu.be/sHZlCtpbZgM

‘River To The Sea' was created in December 2018, the result of a five-day Desert Pea Media storytelling workshop. Co-written by, and starring, an incredibly talented group of young people, community members and local Elders from Maclean and Yamba NSW - with support from the DPM team and Maclean High School Staff.

Yaegl Aboriginal cultural heritage areas in the Clarence Valley to be mapped

Clarence Valley Council, media release:

Mayor: Jim Simmons LOCKED BAG 23 GRAFTON NSW 2460

General Manager: Ashley Lindsay Telephone: (02) 6643 0200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2019

Mapping areas of Yaegl Aboriginal cultural heritage

A PROJECT that aims to help protect areas of cultural value to the Aboriginal community is about to get under way in the Clarence Valley.

Representatives of the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, the Office of Environment and Heritage and Clarence Valley Council recently signed a memorandum of understanding for a cultural mapping project of the Clarence.

The project aims to identify and map known and “high potential” areas of Aboriginal heritage to ensure culturally appropriate information is used to inform conservation and local plans.

The MoU says plans, which include cultural heritage management initiatives, are intended to better protect Aboriginal heritage within or adjacent to all mapped areas.

“Assessment of the Aboriginal Heritage Information Management System data and extensive field surveys in company with nominated cultural representatives to validate and record data is also a necessary project component,” it says.

The project aims to produce 1:25,000 scale topographic maps for the Yaegl Native Title Claimed Area, annotated with “known” and “high potential” areas of Aboriginal cultural heritage, within and immediately adjacent to the Clarence Valley local government area.

Once complete, a training program will be developed for Yaegl site officers, Clarence Valley Council staff and other appropriate agencies.

Release ends.

Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation expressing their opposition to a proposed cruise ship terminal at Yamba

The following media release was sent to NSW Minister for Maritime, Roads and Freight Melinda Pavey by way of her Twitter account at 7:15pm on 30 November 2017.

See https://twitter.com/NTSCORP_NSW/status/936145703474098176

Ntscorp Ltd 

Please see the following Press release from the Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation expressing their opposition to a proposed cruise ship terminal at Yamba.

Press release

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC wish to respond to recent media reports about a proposed cruise ship terminal at Yamba, which is part of the draft Future Transport 2056 Strategy. Yaegl People are concerned about the lack of consultation that has occurred with the Corporation and the potential damage that the proposal will cause to significant sites.

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC does not support the construction of a cruise ship terminal at Yamba. The Yaegl People’s native title rights to the land and waters within the lower Clarence River, as well as over much of the land within their traditional country, was recognised by the Federal Court of Australia on 25 June 2015. The Yaegl People’s native title rights over their sea country was recognised by the Federal Court in 31 August 2017.

Any activities which may impact on the exercise of native title rights must be properly notified in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), and native title holders must be afforded certain procedural rights, including rights to comment, rights to be consulted and rights to negotiate.

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC is concerned that to date, no-one has approached the Corporation to discuss the proposal.

The Chairperson of the Corporation, Billy Walker, said ‘It appears as though decisions such as the construction of a cruise ship terminal, are being considered without any attempt to engage with or consult The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. The Corporation is responsible for ensuring that the Dirrungan, one of Yaegl People’s most significant sites, at the mouth of the Clarence River, is protected. There are also other sites of significance to the Yaegl People within the Clarence River, which would be damaged by the proposal.’

The recent Yaegl People’s native title determination over sea country included increased protections for the Dirrungan, including a 350 metre buffer zone to protect the Dirrungan from developments such as the cruise ship proposal.

The Corporation’s Office Manager and Yaegl man, Michael Randall, said ‘We haven’t been consulted yet. We have native title rights over the land and waters at the mouth of the Clarence River, including extending out to sea. It’s a requirement that we be consulted. We are opposed to any actions which might damage the Dirrungan. The State Government has agreed through our sea determination to protect the Dirrungan from destruction.’

Media contact: Michael Bennett (DM via NTSCORP Facebook)

Clarence Valley Council decides to open its door wide to the cruise ship industry

On 21 November 2017 at Clarence Valley Council’s ordinary monthly meeting Mayor Jim Simmons, Deputy Mayor Jason Kingsley and Crs. Richie Williamson, Arthur Lysaught, and Andrew Baker voted in effect to open council’s doors to the cruise ship industry by indicating in principal support for the Port of Yamba to be a designated cruise ship destination, with the possibility of establishing an international cruise ship terminal within the Clarence River estuary.

The debate in the chamber indicated that councillors received a number of emails on this subject from valley residents and that the majority of these expressed concerns about this Berejiklian Government proposal.

However, community concern was virtually ignored by both council administration and this group of five councillors hell-bent on doing Sydney's bidding after Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis had reportedly lobbied on behalf of the proposal.

As usual Cr. Baker excelled himself when it came to the number of inaccurate statements he could pack into his participation in debate.

Concerned Iluka and Yamba residents now await this…….

Facebook, ABC North Coast, 21 November 2017:

Billy Walker The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation held a meeting last week where this issue was raised. Keep an eye out for our response in the local papers in the next week or so.

The persistence and quiet dignity of the Yaegl community in their long struggle to achieve Native Title over traditional land and waters has seen Part B of Yaegl People #2 claim determined in their favour

Map showing Native Title area surrounding Dirrangun

ABC News, 31 August 2017:

History has been made on the New South Wales north coast today with the granting of a native title claim over the ocean.

The Yaegl people of the lower Clarence first started native title proceedings more than 20 years ago and two years ago the land was granted but now, for the first time in NSW, their rights to a stretch of sea have also been recognised.

The claim involves more than 90 kilometres of coastline between Woody Head and Wooli and extends 200 metres out to sea.

The decision means native title holders cannot be prohibited or restricted from carrying out fishing for personal, non-commercial needs.

It does not affect commercial fishing operations or public access to beaches.

What does this native title allow?

The right to access, traverse and remain on the ocean

The taking, using, offering, sharing and exchanging of resources in the area for non-commercial purposes

The right to maintain and protect places, objects and areas of importance under traditional laws and customs

The right to be accompanied by others on those areas

Claimant spokesperson and Yaegl man Billy Walker said the granting of native title means freedom and independence for the Yaegl people.

"The Yaegl people can proudly say I'm going to go fishing, I'm going to go worming. I'm going to go and get pippies," he said.

"I'm going to do what I can on the foreshores and out at sea without anybody looking over our shoulders telling us what to do and what we can't do.

"It's … a very historic day not only for the Yaegl people but also sets a precedent for other claim groups up and down the east coast of NSW."

Mr Walker said the result gave protection to the Dirrangan reef, at the mouth of the Clarence, which "we've always wanted to protect from day one".....

NTS Corp, the native title provider in NSW, said the Yaegl people will continue to self-regulate their fishing to ensure the sustainability of the fisheries as they have for thousands of years.

Note:

Part B of Yaegl People #2 was resolved by consent determination on 31 August 2017. The applicants on behalf of the Yaegl People were Lillian Williams, Ron Heron, Vivienne King, Eileen Mcleay, Judy Breckenridge, Deidre Ann Randall, William Walker, Noeline Kapeen, Ferlin Lee Laurie, Clarence Randall, Ken Laurie. View orders  with all four maps.

The Yaegl Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC has consented in writing to hold the rights and interests comprising the native title in trust for the common law holders and to perform the functions of a registered native title body corporate under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth)

Majority of Yaegl Traditional Owners Corporation board members vote to boycott August meeting with Des Euen concerning his Yamba mega port proposal

Clarence Valley Independent, Wednesday 3 August 2016.

In awe of the strength of first peoples protecting land

Sometimes two sentences hold a wealth of meaning.....

Post on the Facebook page No Yamba Mega Port announcing that the corporation which manages the two Native Titles over the Clarence River on behalf of the Yaegl People will not support Australian Infrastructure Development's scheme to industrialize the high environmental and cultural value Clarence River estuary.

Yaegl elder Ron Heron honoured by Macquarie University on 23 September 2014

Macquarie University media release:

Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton, Mr (Uncle) Ronald Heron (Doctor of Letters), and Deputy Chancellor Elizabeth Crouch

Senior Indigenous elder Uncle Ron Heron receives honorary doctorate

23 September 2014

Ronald Heron, a highly respected senior elder of the of the Yaegl Aboriginal people of Northern New South Wales, and an anthropologist, historian and former university lecturer, will be recognised with a Doctor of Letters honoris causa from Macquarie University on Tuesday, 23 September.

The award will be granted in an afternoon graduation ceremony for students of the Faculty of Science, with Heron’s family and friends coming to Sydney for this special occasion.

“We are delighted to confer this award upon Uncle Ron, who has contributed so much to the endeavours of this University through science, education and leadership,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor S. Bruce Dowton. “He provides a remarkable example of the power of education; not only in his own life but in how he has touched and shaped so many others.”

Since 2002, Uncle Ron – as he is known – has worked with Macquarie University researchers on a cooperative project studying and testing medicines made from native plants. With Heron as a key supporter, the Macquarie team started education programs in local schools aimed at providing pathways through high school and tertiary study, now a national initiative in the National Indigenous Science Experience Program.

“This award is a great honour and means so much, not only for myself, but for all of my people of Yaegl and Bundjalung Country,” says Heron. “I feel enormous pride – I have come a long way from a tin hut.  It is up there with the very best.  I thank Macquarie University for this opportunity.”

Born in the Clarence Valley in 1947, Heron was schooled in the prevailing mission system of the day. He worked until his early thirties cutting and burning cane and picking peas before moving into a role as an Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol counsellor.

He moved to Canberra and graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Letters, by thesis (now Masters of Letters), in prehistory and anthropology. Heron then lectured for 10 years at Southern Cross University, Lismore in Indigenous Studies. As an academic he has contributed to many publications, including ethnographic books on the North Coast Aboriginal peoples, and remains a frequently cited researcher.

Heron has contributed to extensive research at Macquarie University including on bush medicines, has been a contributing author on books on Yaegl bush resources in international scientific journals, has presented lectures and storytelling at Macquarie led National Science Week activities and has co-developed the long running and successful River of Learning celebrations at Maclean High School.

“As part of our initial consultations with Uncle Ron and the Yaegl and Bundjalung communities, they told us that we could help them run science and youth leadership activities. Now that the program has gone nationally, they’re even running their own part of it in the fabulous cultural immersion program.”

Despite advancing age, Heron’s drive has not diminished and in the last few years he has successfully studied for TAFE certification in Tourism and Guiding and has started taking tourists around the Clarence region.

Desmond John Thomas Euen wants a sea port

Readers may have noticed that rumours have resurfaced about the Port of Yamba being targeted as a coal terminal at the end of a west-east rail line linking north-western NSW with the coast.

This plan was first mooted by some of the people involved in unsuccessful lobbying to dam and divert water from the Clarence River catchment system for the benefit of irrigators and mining corporations in the Murray Darling Basin and, at the time was estimated to cost at least $3.5 billion to achieve.

Though the latest manifestation of these rumours owes little to Mal Peters & Co and more to an ‘entrepreneur’ from Booval in Queensland.

According to ASIC documents Desmond John Thomas Euen is the only director, shareholder and company secretary in a $1-1 share company registered in New South Wales on 31 August 2012, Australian Infrastructure Developments Pty Ltd, and elsewhere he has variously described himself as the company’s Managing Director and Executive Director.

Mr. Euen also has a website which appears to be locked or parked:

Whois http://whois.domaintools.com/australianinfrastructuredevelopments.com.au

Domain Name:                     australianinfrastructuredevelopments.com.au
Registrar ID:                    WAR
Registrar Name:                  Web Address Registration
Status:                          ok

Registrant:                      LYNX BUSINESS SERVICES PTY LTD
Registrant ID:                   ABN 56146166574
Eligibility Type:                Company

Registrant Contact ID:           R-006499331-SN
Registrant Contact Name:         Des Euen
Registrant Contact Email:        Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Tech Contact ID:                 C-001573771-SN
Tech Contact Name:               Des Euen
Tech Contact Email:              Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web based WhoIs

Name Server:                     ns1.designandhost.net
Name Server:                     ns2.designandhost.net

On doing a Google search of the second company which appears to be associated with Desmond Euen, I found this:

As well as this as yet unexplained and possibly unrelated notice.

It appears to be Mr. Euen’s current goal in life to turn a small working port, on which the local fishing and tourism industries also heavily rely, into a generic freight hub at the end of a phantom west-east rail line and, in the process destroy a significant Yaegl cultural and spiritual site, Dirrangun reef.

He rather arrogantly asserted to one journalist that; the local indigenous population would be handsomely compensated and provided with jobs.

Dirrungun reef and the Clarence River below Harwood Bridge fall within two registered native title claims by the Yaegl people of the Clarence Valley.

Desmond Euen has created a power point presentation to support his grandiose plan but has not yet submitted a proposal to the O’Farrell Government.

He appears to be having trouble getting a hearing from relevant federal and state ministers. Indeed, to date the only ‘meeting’ he seems to have achieved has been a very short one with a senior staffer from the NSW Roads and Ports Minister’s office and it resulted in this statement:

“A proposal of this nature is highly unlikely in the current market environment and the government has no plans for the Port of Yamba”

The ever hopeful Mr. Euen has approached at least one local newspaper and, The Daily Examiner reported on 1 August 2013:

In the wake of a recent story on speculation the Port of Yamba was to be converted into a coal freight hub, the managing director of ADI, Desmond J T Euen contacted the paper.

Mr Euen said he was upset rumours were circulating a coal hub was on the agenda and said in fact his organisation had been speaking to the State Government about converting the Port of Yamba into a freight hub.

He said the development would bring billions of dollars worth of investment and thousands of jobs to the area.

Mr Euen also said a funding deal, from the private sector, was in advanced stages.

By 2 August Mr. Euen had reportedly become insistent "I'll tell you this; the Yamba Port is going to be developed in exactly the way I'm saying it will," Mr Euen said. "And it's got nothing to do with coal" and Clarence Valley Mayor Richie Williamson was showing his usual fence sitting skills when it comes to Lower Clarence issues "We would welcome responsible and sustainable development and jobs in the Clarence Valley….And any proposal that reflects that should be given due consideration on its merit."

If Clarence Valley Council management or its executive has given Mr. Euen any form of encouragement they have seriously misjudged the aspirations and priorities of the Yamba community.

Yaegl people claim native title over Crown land & water in an area covering 1,400 sq kms on the NSW North Coast

A fifth native title claim covering traditional lands on the NSW North Coast has been lodged with the National Native Title Tribunal.

This claim covers approximately 1,400 sq kilometres and appears to be the second claim involving the Yaegl People of the Clarence Valley.

The first co-claim (with the Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr peoples) which primarily involves waters of the Clarence River, from below Harwood Bridge to the sea, is yet to be determined

National Native Title Tribunal
Notice of an application for determination of native title in the State of New South Wales
Notification day: 27 July 2011

This is an application by a native title claim group who are asking the Federal Court to determine that the group hold native title in the area described below.
A person who wants to become a party to this application must write to the Registrar of the Federal Court, Level 17, Law Courts Building, Queens Square, Sydney NSW 2000, on or before 26 October 2011.
After 26 October 2011, the Federal Court’s permission to become a party is required.
Under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) there can be only one determination of native title for a particular area. If a person with native title rights and interests does not become a party to this application, there may be no other opportunity for the Federal Court, in making its determination, to take into account those native title rights and interests in relation to the area concerned.


Application name: Yaegl People #2
Federal Court File No: NSD168/2011
Date filed: 23 February 2011
Registration test status: The Native Title Registrar has accepted this application for registration.
Description: The application covers areas of Crown land and water in the vicinity of the towns of Maclean, Yamba and Wooli.
The application excludes: freehold land, other areas where native title has been extinguished and the area covered by NSD6052/1998 Yaegl People #1.
The application falls within the Local Government Authority of Clarence Valley Council.

Data statement: claimant application boundary compiled by the NNTT.
For assistance and further information about this application, call Nicole Maher on freecall 1800 640 501 or visit www.nntt.gov.au.

The largest and most successful North Coast claim to date was made on 29 November 2007, when the Federal Court of Australia made a consent determination recognising the Githabul People’s native title rights and interests over 1,120 sq km in nine national parks and 13 state forests in northern New South Wales.

Yaegl family on ABC's Message Stick

Last week Bloodline Series on ABC TV's Message Stick featured The Randall-Parker Family from the Clarence River area in northern NSW. The "stars' of the program were Reverend Lenore Parker, a Deacon of the Anglican Church, and her daughters Frances Belle, Susan and Catherine.

Message Stick presenter Miriam Corowa opened with:

Yet, like other Yaegl people, they draw their strength from those generations that have walked before them. I hope you enjoy Bloodlines.

The program was terrific. It provided a wonderful opportunity for viewers to gain a better understanding of how Yaegl people draw their strength from the generations that have walked before them.

Lenore and her daughters paid tribute to the pivotal role of their mother and grandmother, respectively.

Lenore Parker:

I'm a Yaegl woman, born in this beautiful part of Australia, the north-east coast of Australia, in Yaegl country, and I'm the eldest daughter of the marriage of Wallace and Jesse. And...I have nine other brothers and sisters from that union.

Frances Belle Parker:
My nan ... had a big presence, but she was so gentle, like one of the most gentle people that you could ever meet.... even now, when she's not here, her spirit always is.

Frances Belle

Susan Parker:

Nan just had the most gentle nature...she'd always make time for you ...she was happiest when she was with her family.

Susan

Catherine

Lenore with her sister Judy after Lenore's ordination

Credits: Words and images from ABC TV's Message Stick

Local film maker Pauline Clague's latest work featured on ABC TV in October 2009

Pauline Clague, originally from the Clarence Valley and with family still living there, is featuring on ABC Message Stick this month.

Pauline is now an accomplished writer and film maker - I'm sure that the documentary will be both interesting and informative as this press release suggests:

Maralinga-The Anangu Story

Producer: Pauline Clague
TX Date: Sunday 18th October, 1:30pm, ABC 1
Monday 19th October, 5:00pm, ABC 2
Friday 23rd October, 6:00pm, ABC 1

50 years ago British atomic tests were carried out on Australian soil at a place called “Maralinga” in north-western, South Australia.
Yvonne Edwards talks about her feeling on the bomb tests: “When the bomb went off. Like the spirit of the people that were buried there, went up in the bomb, and this man looked down and he is crying and all the kangaroos and emus are just skeletons around the place were the bomb went off”
Originally a Reserve for the Anangu, their mission at Ooldea was shut down, but they were not told why. They were mostly moved to new country, Yalata on the coast near the start of the nullabor plains.
Some of the Anangu people had effects from the radiation poisoning, others were workers in the seventies and eighties at Maralinga Village. Many have passed away, but some are still enduring the effects of the exposure to the poison today.
Many are still grieving the loss of their people and land from that time, Yvonne Edwards ”sometimes I cry at night. My aunties, uncles, they was young, they all died. Just like us here now, in our fifties, we got nobody over sixties and seventies in our community. Even people died when they was young. I lost a sister, when she was in her twenties, from cancer. I lost an uncle, forties, from cancer. My aunty died, from cancer”
Earlier this year a book of Anangu stories and paintings about their lives and the effects the bomb had on the Anangu people of that region was published. Christobel Mattingley the co-author, who worked alongside the Oak Valley and Yalata communities, states how she feels about the project “ The story of the injustices to the Aboriginal people, the Anangu people, through the Maralinga atomic testing are not widely known or remembered now. It’s a chapter that people have forgotten and it’s a tragic chapter and it’s an –extremely important chapter of Australian history.”
Despite the history of this area and the hardships incurred by the bombing, the Anangu are hoping that the final restricted zone, of which Maralinga Village is a part, will be returned to them in December this year. The soil may be contaminated, but it is still their home. They know they may not be able to camp in some of the areas, but like their stories they are trying to pass on to the future generation the stories and the land of their peoples.

Photograph from Australia Council for the Arts