The man from Bohemia Downs

In most communities or towns there are one or perhaps two remarkable people who work twice as hard as the rest of us. They build their communities with wisdom and warmth. They contribute to other organisations and projects as well as working full time. They have the patience and bigness of spirit to pass on their knowledge to younger generations. They are generous, almost always to a fault. 

Mr Lawford was such a person. 

As you all know, he was the station manager at Bohemia Downs for many years. The pastoral industry is one of the hardest industries to make a living from yet despite the turmoil of politics and devastating ban on live exports, Mr Lawford was able to keep the station, his family and the community going. He worked to ensure the community and station shared resources and were fully integrated. He restored and transformed the country, using traditional and western land management techniques. 

Mr Lawford was a trailblazer, a risk-taker. Chairperson of the Kimberley Regional Fire Management Project, he was one of the first people to test early burning regimes on Bohemia Downs. The tests were a success, and not long after, neighbouring stations began to do the same thing. Now, similar fire management techniques are used across the whole of the Kimberley. Mr Lawford was never selfish with his knowledge and he shared these findings both locally and regionally, including as part of the Kimberley Appropriate Economies Roundtable Project in 2005. 

His commitment to his community didn't end here. Mr Lawford was involved in many, many other projects and took on various roles over the years in addition to managing Bohemia Downs. He sat on the West Australian Pastoral Lands Board, was the chairperson at Kupartiya, was the ranger development officer appointed to assist the Wangkatjungka and Gooniyandi Rangers, and was a graduate of both the Australian Rural Leadership Program and the Grazing for Profit School. 

Significantly, Mr Lawford was the chairperson of the Kimberley Aboriginal Pastoralists Incorporated (also known as KAPA) and had been a board member since KAPA/KAPI began. One of his greatest qualities as chairperson was his compassion. He always made sure everyone had a say and he didn't turn his back on people. He didn't ignore them.

This was a quality he also brought to his role as a teacher and a trainer. He held a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment and delivered both formal training at Billiluna and informal training. One of the informal training packages was called 'Station Business'. The course was delivered a number of times over a five-year period through Management Services Unit Aboriginal Corporation, of which he was a director. The idea of the training was to help local people in communities and people working on stations to learn about corporate governance and management. The course took an intensive seven days to complete and usually ran with a minimum of twenty people. In a testament to Mr Lawford's charisma and knowledge, he never had a single person drop out of the course. Everyone stayed the full seven days. 

Communities become strong through the sharing of knowledge. Mr Lawford was involved with the Yirriman Project, and he understood the importance of sharing stories and teaching young people how to hunt and look after country. In recent months, he was also trying to establish an art and craft workshop at Kupartiya, not as a commercial space, but as a space to involve, engage and teach young people. Although station life took up most of his time, Mr Lawford was a fine artist and even studied art for a time in Perth. Sometimes he would sketch in meetings. His drawings have been described as extraordinary. 

Recently, Mr Lawford worked as a full-time project manager with KRED Enterprises to help establish the Kimberley Aboriginal Pastoral Co-op. KRED was proud to have him onboard. He brought to this role a wealth of knowledge and expertise, with his strong sense of traditional law and culture, and his equally strong sense for business and training. He was a man who was very comfortable walking in both worlds and he shared a vision for revitalisation of the Aboriginal pastoral industry across the Kimberley. 

Mr Lawford had the quiet pride and posture of a good cattleman. Always humble, always giving, he found himself, perhaps unexpectedly, starring in documentaries, making the front page of national newspapers, and contributing to research run by AIATSIS, the Department of Water and Environs Kimberley. He had a long involvement with the Kimberley Land Council, including representing the Kurungal native title claim on the KLC Executive Committee between 2004-2006. 

He touched lives not just in the Kimberley, but in the Northern Territory and across Australia. He will be remembered in his community as a strong culture man, a committed and innovative pastoralist, an artist and a teacher. He will be remembered as a man who was approachable and generous and who had the great gift of bringing people together. 

We will deeply miss him. 

A basketball team's like a five fingered fist

Headhunters first came after him at age 12. He had the physique for the game. He had the talent for the game. And he had the hunger for the game. Four years on, Broome’s rising basketball star Gerrard Ansey is proving he also has that special combination of discipline and drive that distinguishes a merely good athlete from an elite athlete.

Gerrard, who’s just about to tackle year 11, plays school basketball for Christ Church Grammar School, club basketball for Perry Lakes Hawks, and WA state basketball.

KRED Enterprises offered Gerrard a Nipper Tabagee Scholarship in 2014 so he could represent Western Australia at the U16 Metro Men’s Australian Junior Championships in Geelong.

We’re committed to helping young Indigenous people realise their aspirations and Gerrard has worked hard to get where he is.

He has a rigorous training regime; some mornings he’s out of bed at 5.30am to hit the courts ahead of a full day at school. In the first and fourth term he has Sundays free, but in the middle of the year, he plays or trains seven days a week. Gerrard says training for the state side was particularly challenging and rewarding.

“State training really helped me a lot with my fitness, my strength and my conditioning. I really enjoy the training,” he says.

Also the recipient of a six-year school scholarship, the pressure is on to show commitment to both his schoolwork and the school basketball team.

In 2013, with Gerrard one of the youngest players on the team, the school won the Blackwood Cup for the Public Schools Association for the first time in eleven years. The same year, Gerrard received the Pat Holmes Award, which is awarded to a year 9 student who has, ‘ . . . displayed selflessness and dedication to his team; a commitment to self-improvement; impeccable sporting manners; humility on the field and enthusiasm for his sport. Moreover, the recipient must be both a good winner and a good loser.’

These qualities have been recognised by other clubs in the Western Australian Basketball League (WABL) and there have even been several attempts to poach him. But Gerry’s remained loyal to Perry Lakes and stayed with his team.

The famous American coach Mike Krzyzewski is quoted as saying, “A basketball team is like the five fingers on your hand. If you can get them all together, you have a fist. That's how I want you to play.”

Gerrard understands that to make this fist, you need to have a good relationship with your teammates, both on and off the court.

“Once we were comfortable with each other off the court, it felt a lot easier playing with them, there was a much better feeling among the team,” Gerrard says. 

You also need to have a good relationship with your coach and Gerrard has seen a whole range of coaching styles, from the ‘yellers’ to the ‘throwers’ to the ‘silent types’.

“I do get the most out of myself when there’s a loud coach, or an angry coach. At the same time, some of the assistant coaches I’ve had have been chilled and laid back, without yelling, so it’s good to have that balance,” Gerrard says.

This year, Gerrard Ansey is poised to meet his biggest challenge yet. Although he’s only fifteen, he’s been selected to play in the U20s side at the Eltham Dandenong Junior Basketball Tournament in January. The tournament is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Beyond this tournament, and with two years left of school, Gerrard’s aware of some of the limitations of playing sport professionally in Australia.

“After school, I’m aiming to get over to the US. The US has better basketball programs than Australia and it’s easier to make a living playing basketball.”

KRED Enterprises has been proud to assist Gerrard Ansey and we believe advancing the education of our people will prove to be one of our greatest investments. Our young people deserve the best support possible so they can live healthy, fulfilled lives, where they walk comfortably in both worlds. 

Keen to know more about the scholarships? 

As KRED receives no government funding, all the money we earn is used to pay staff wages. Any surplus income is put into our sharing bucket, which is owned by the members of Ambooriny Burru. These members are: Karajarri, Nyikina Mangala, Ngurrara, Bardi Jawi, Yi-Martuwarra Ngurrara, Jaru, Tjurabalan and Koongie Elvire. The sharing bucket is what we draw on to award scholarships.

In 2015, scholarship priority will be given to our members. 

Apply now!

Government to chop funding for WA's remote Aboriginal communities

The one thing we learn from history, is that we never learn from history.

Last week’s announcement that the state government plans to axe up to 150 remote communities has sent shockwaves through the Kimberley.  

KRED’s CEO Wayne Bergmann says it’s a ‘knee jerk’ reaction and like ‘throwing the baby out with the bath water.’

“It’s really disappointing and I would have expected a bit more leadership from the Premier. It won’t be a pretty picture if this is followed through literally and it has the potential to create massive social chaos and dysfunction,” Mr Bergmann says.

The announcement also carries sinister echoes of previous government policies, which have been implemented with little forethought and with devastating consequences for Aboriginal people.

“One of our members of parliament, Josie Farrer, experienced this very thing as a child. At the closure of Moola Bulla she was chucked on the back of a truck and dumped at Halls Creek. Has the Premier consulted with one of our most senior Indigenous people in parliament about her experiences and the way to deal with these issues?” Mr Bergmann says.

It appears not.

However, with the Commonwealth soon to stop covering (half) the cost of power and water, WA Premier Colin Barnett says the state government can’t shoulder the full cost on its own.

The Premier is also concerned at the ‘unacceptably high rates of suicide’ in remote communities and says, ‘In remote, small, Aboriginal communities, are children being educated? No, probably not. There are issues of neglect. There are issues of health and there are issues of domestic violence . . . what chance is there for a young person to get a good education, to grow up healthy and to have an opportunity to go on and have a successful life?”

A more fitting question, would be what happens when the same issues are shifted to the towns and regional centres? These problems will not go away, but will rather be exacerbated, and the ensuing social chaos will end up costing a lot more for government in the long run.

There is a solution.

According to Mr Bergmann, “The solution isn’t in shutting down communities. The government has to empower Aboriginal leadership in the local organisations and in the local community to enable people to address these issues."

Keep you eyes on our Facebook page and the Kimberley Land Council's Facebook page, for further information in the coming months.

Ambooriny Burru and KRED Enterprises Members' Report

They're here! Our 2013/2014 Members' Reports. All the highlights, all the stories, all our stunning staff. The reports have been designed to be printed out and passed around, so feel free drop in and pick up a copy, or contact Amanda on (08) 9192 8782 and she'll put one in the post for you. We hope you enjoy.   

Josie attacks proposed amendments to Aboriginal Heritage Act

This tree was marked out on a recent heritage survey on Karajarri country. See how there's been a coolamon cut out? Heritage surveys are crucial to ensure significant trees and places aren't destroyed when there's developments on country. 

Extract from Josie Farrer's speech in State Parliament on Thursday 23rd October.

As an Aboriginal person I am extremely concerned that the proposed changes will mean less involvement by Aboriginal people on crucial decisions relating to heritage. 

The people of the Kimberley are angered by the proposed changes. This government's intention is to threaten over 60 000 years of Aboriginal heritage. The significance of Aboriginal heritage is being ignored by this government's bureaucracy. It is outrageous that a single person, a chief executive officer in the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, will be given total power by this government to make judgement on such significant and cultural issues as heritage and sacred sites.

At the stroke of a pen, this CEO will decide whether or not there is an Aboriginal heritage site on a piece of land. Shockingly, there is no requirement for this CEO to be an Aboriginal person or even to have relevant qualifications in Aboriginal heritage, archeology or anthropology. The CEO will decide what is included and what is axed from the register of Aboriginal sites and objects and there will be no tribunal or way for Aboriginal people to challenge the decisions of the CEO or minister. The CEO can make declarations of his or her own initiative, without any consultation or advice, and once made, they cannot be undone.

The minister stated the changes were needed to keep up with rapid development, but it should not be to the detriment of Aboriginal people. How about the government fast-tracking consent determinations for native title? The government must support Aboriginal people having a voice in decision-making, particularly in matters involving heritage, economic development, mining and construction.

Another example of the government's lack of willingness to support Aboriginal people and engage in meaningful decision-making processes is the government's recent discontinuation of the state activities funding agreement--SAFA--with the Kimberley Land Council. The agreement, which began in 2012 and had the possibility to remain until 2016, set out an agreed heritage process for ensuring the protection of significant sites and traditional country. 

The funding agreement established a dedicated KLC team to manage the engagement and consultations with traditional owners regarding all state government future acts, Indigenous land use agreements--pre and post-construction--special projects and Aboriginal heritage matters. It seems the government wants to bypass the KLC and deal directly with prescribed body corporates; that is a ridiculous notion. 

How will the government be able to effectively engage directly with PBCs without the assistance of the KLC, when not all Aboriginal native title groups have a PBC? Further, the Aboriginal native title groups that do have a PBC do not necessarily have an office at all, so there is really nothing in the Kimberley--no phone lines and no staff. 

. . .  The government must protect Aboriginal heritage sites and objects for all future generations. This is essential to all Aboriginal people across Western Australia. The proposed changes to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 are an insult to Aboriginal people, and they are an insult to me.