NINGALI LAWFORD-WOLF — TRIBUTE

Statement by Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company and KRED Enterprise Charitable Trust.

On behalf of our members, directors and staff we would like to pay tribute to Ningali Lawford-Wolf.

There are few people you meet in life that move beyond being a role model or a leader and become a person of inspiration.  A person with the attributes and character that you would be proud to have your son or daughter display.

Ningali Lawford-Wolf is one of those rare people.

A strong woman, strong in her culture and strong in herself, standing for justice for her people.

And funny.

She was an actor, entertainer, mother, grandmother, sister, wife, daughter, mentor, spokesperson and business woman who broke down barriers and represented Aboriginal people as smart, creative people that can rise to the challenges that life presents.

She was also serious and smart.

Born at Christmas Creek, Ningali grew up not speaking English but she understood her country.  She was a strong believer in working to bring all Aboriginal people together with a common purpose, for the good of us all. She understood that to make changes for the better we all need to contribute, and that we cannot rely on government to solve our problems - we must address these ourselves.

Through her acting and through her relationships around the world she raised the profile of Aboriginal people.  In the Kimberley she dedicated herself to improving the lives of this generation and those that will follow. 

She wanted to honour her brother’s vision for Bohemia Downs, to return Aboriginal people to the centre of the pastoral industry, to re-establish jobs, training and dignity. 

Ningali was also a realist. 

She knew one person could not achieve the outcomes required and that we all need to do some heavy lifting.  She knew it would not be an easy task and it would take a long term commitment, a commitment she readily made.   She also recognised that one station was not enough in the modern pastoral world. 

As a Director of KAPCO she pursued her dream of seeing Aboriginal Pastoral workers on Aboriginal Pastoral Stations become the backbone of the regional economy.  She began to realise the dream of developing her traditional land on Bohemia station, as part of KAPCO Group of properties, seeing young people getting jobs, being trained and gaining a stronger connection to their country.

Ningali took up the challenge of being a “black fella” and became an inspiration to a generation.  Never faltering in her commitment - from the day she led the protest to bring attention to her people being locked out of their country by the station owner until the day she died, on foreign soil, educating the world about our story. 

She believed we need to create hope and opportunity, and take responsibility ourselves for making this difference.

We stand proud.  We will strive to create hope in her honour and will continue to miss Ningali dearly.

Job opportunity: Legal Accounts Coordinator

Location is flexible: Broome or Sydney

Arma Legal and KRED Enterprises are seeking an efficient, thorough and industrious individual to work as a full-time Legal Accounts Coordinator.

The ideal candidate will be able to coordinate the month end billing process, have a clear and direct communication style and be able to work to strict deadlines. They will provide high level customer service to external clients and efficient legal secretarial support to our team of lawyers.

How to apply: The full job description is available upon request from Hema Hariharan at hema@armalegal.com.au. A CV should be sent in the first instance to Hema. Shortlisted applicants will be required to address selection criteria.

Salary: $60K - $70K, plus district allowance, salary packaging.

Job opportunity: Media and Communications Officer

KRED Enteprises and the Ambooriny Burru Foundation are seeking a part-time media and communications officer. The role is to provide support to the Chief Executive Officer and Ambooriny Burru Foundation Group. The ideal candidate will be responsible for the implementation of key marketing initiatives, including production and delivery of collateral, online and media projects.

DUTIES:
Under the general direction of the CEO or their delegated authority:

Design & Production

• Generate the Annual Report for KRED and present to the CEO

• Maintain and monitor the KRED’s website as required

• Maintain and monitor websites of Arma Legal, Yanunijarra Aboriginal Corporation, the Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company and Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation

• Design marketing materials e.g. business cards, brochures, newsletters and t-shirts

• Develop presentations and information materials for current and prospective clients

Media

• Speeches & Presentation notes

• Coordinate media experience and message including key lines etc.

• Develop communications and media strategy

• Update social media i.e. Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram

• Draft press release and act as the media contact for KRED

• Copywriting for website / social media /events

• Assist in preparation of Government submission and lobby material from a sound policy and member-driven perspective

• Represent KRED at relevant stakeholder meetings and other forums

Other

• Provide admin support to the CEO, chairperson as required

• Draft correspondence as required for the CEO & chairperson

• Liaise with relevant companies and act as the first point of contact for any enquiries

• Provide general support as required to the KRED team

• Provide strategic advice to the CEO regarding various matters as required

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

1. Proven experience drafting media releases, blog articles OR news articles for publication.
2. Proven graphic design experience (preferably using InDesign).
3. Experience updating websites (preferably using Squarespace).
4. Highly motivated, ability to meet tight deadlines and ability to work independently.
5. Holds a current driver’s licence.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

1. An undergraduate degree or higher in any of the following fields: law, journalism, communications, graphic design.
2. An understanding of native title and Kimberley native title groups.
3. Skills in software such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, iMovie and Adobe Spark.
4. Contacts within local, state and national media.

Please send a cover letter, resume and statement addressing the relevant criteria to: madelaine@kred.org.au.

Gallery: a KRED board meeting and Ambooriny Burru strategic planning session on Myroodah Station

Historic cattle deal makes Kimberley Traditional Owners a force to be reckoned with

• In a multi-million dollar deal, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) has acquired Myroodah Station in the Kimberley region of WA

• WAC will sub-lease the station to the Indigenous-owned Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company

• The Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company will become the biggest Indigenous-owned cattle venture in the region 

• Walalakoo land holding is a major shareholder in KAPCO, which is the management company 
  

In a landmark $11.5m deal, Walalakoo Aboriginal Corporation has today acquired Myroodah Station in Western Australia’s north-west after four years of negotiations with the Indigenous Land Corporation. 

The station is spread over 400,000 hectares and currently holds 17,000 head of cattle. Walalakoo plans to sub-lease the station to the Indigenous-owned Kimberley Agriculture and Pastoral Company (KAPCO). 

KAPCO Chairman Wayne Bergmann says the acquisition is a game-changer for Indigenous business in the region. 

“Our vision for KAPCO is to revitalise the Kimberley’s pastoral industry by improving the infrastructure on a number of Indigenous-owned cattle stations so that they can once again operate at commercial capacity.”

“With the cattle on Myroodah, across the four KAPCO stations we now have a 50,000-strong herd. The multiplier effect of this is immense, considering the jobs and business opportunities it will create. KAPCO’s activities will stimulate the whole regional economy,” Mr Bergmann says.  

KAPCO is now comprised of four stations—Mt Anderson, Bohemia Downs, Frazier Downs and Myroodah—making it the largest Indigenous-owned cattle venture in the region.

Mr Bergmann says Kimberley Aboriginal people have a storied history in the region’s pastoral industry.  

“Our old people were once the backbone of the pastoral industry in the Kimberley. Unfortunately, at that time, they weren’t paid for their work. They received food, water, the clothes on their backs and a bit of tobacco. KAPCO is about putting Aboriginal people in the driver’s seat so we can create economic independence for ourselves on our own traditional lands. We don’t want to be reliant on government funding, we want to create our own jobs and our own opportunities,” Mr Bergmann says. 

Running a successful cattle business is only part of the plan for the KAPCO stations. A framework is also being developed for a youth diversionary project that would see young people who have had contact with the justice system living and working out on one of KAPCO's stations. The Marlamanu Project would be supported by health, educational and cultural wrap-around services provided by local Aboriginal organisations.