Gumatj Enterprises

<a href="http://www.isx.org.au/data/resources/files/Territor_ Q_Gumatj.pdf"> Gumatj Enterprise An Article from Territory Q</a><p>

<a href="http://www.isx.org.au/data/resources/files/Jack_T.wmv"> A Short Movie on Gumatj Initative and the Jack Thompson Foundation</a><p>

Anxious to rid themselves of the reliance on government welfare, the Gumatj, led by chairman Galarrwuy Yunupingu and his advisers, have set out to create sustainable businesses that will employ local Aborigines in real jobs. They created businesses that suit the preferences and lifestyle of the Yolngu people. <p>
It is something that is based on the land where they live. Somewhere close, explains Mr Yunupingu. We want to get young men and women into work, with the ultimate goal being economic independence. <p>
The push has begun on the cattle station. As the property s 350 head of Brahman cattle look on, work continues on the accommodation bunkhouse, kitchen and ablution block. A crew of Gumatj trainees are erecting the structure that will house station workers. But those workers will be young juvenile offenders from Gove who have been diverted to the station rather than do time in a Darwin youth facility. Out here they re kilometres from trouble, working on their traditional lands with Indigenous mentors. These blokes can come out here and get a work ethic, and make something of themselves, says station manager Tighe Mills. We can make real savings for this community and, in turn, create employment. <p>
The cattle station will turn off small numbers of animals. They will be butchered on the property, and the meat sold to local people who are all too used to eating tinned meat. Meat, along with most commodities, is very expensive in remote Arnhem Land. We ll try and get the herd up to about 2000 to make the place viable and then start taking them out to sell for meat for the local people, explains Mr Mills. That way theyll have cheap meat. We will be getting a mobile abattoir and a butchering room here and we ll get a Cryovac machine for packaging. <p>
The timber used for the support beams of the new workers accommodation has been felled by the Gumatj station hands and milled into planks on the property. <p>
Creating a valuable cost saving for the community, the work is carried out using a portable Lucas Mill, a sawmill set-up that fits on the back of a truck. Activating the Lucas Mill was the idea of John Mofflin, from the Jack Thompson Foundation. Visiting the Garma Festival in Gove with the Australian actor, Mr Moffin noticed the presence of stringybark trees and stout paperbarks. They are some of the highest grades of timber that there is and this country has millions of acres of it, states Mr Moffin. Its not a commercial growing timber area because of the size of the logs, but its a great resource for these people. <p>
The Jack Thompson Foundation donated Mr Moffin to the Gumatj to get the Lucas Mill up and running and train station hands in its use. They are now proficient in its use and 19 other communities have expressed interest in getting Lucas Mills operating in their lands. To accommodate that demand, the Jack Thompson Foundation has gone searching for corporate funding. Various corporations have invested in it. like to set up about five or six projects in one year, but we need to get geared up, says Mr Moffin. We need more Lucas Mills and lots more tooling. We ve asked corporations to donate tooling because we want to leave the tools here so they can keep going after we ve left.<p>
In a region where building even a modest home can cost $500,000, the cost saving of using local timber can be significant. The main structural stuff is such a big saving but its also utilising all the resources that you have, explains the community adviser. We can make real savings for this community and, in turn, create employment, explains Mr Mills. If I can get four mill workers out of this four guys who can actually operate the Lucas Mill properly we can turn out structural beams, floorboards veranda structures, all in kit form. <p>
Closer to Nhulunbuy, at Ski Beach, the Gumatj maritime division is gathering steam. The association has recently acquired the Yiwarr Seafood business, which includes its retail seafood operation and fishing licence, servicing the local market, a community.<p>
With a processing shed now being constructed, the clan has purchased a boat and will employ local people to fish and fillet the catch before selling it to the community. Again, fresh food will be replacing tinned fish. Two days a week a freezer van will take fresh fish to Nhulunbuy and sell specialised species like blue swimmer crabs, reef fish, snapper, red emperor and bait. <p>
Will they have problems in hiring fishing staff? All you have to do is sing out the window, does anyone want to go fishing and watch all the hands go up. Lots of people are keen to be Gumatj fishermen but theyll employ four at the start and increase that later, observes NT Government Business Advisor Stuart MacLean. <p>
Another facet of the Gumatj clans growing business interests is their crocodile farm. There are already many mature animals in the farm, plus facilities for egg collection and incubation. An upgrade of the facilities is required before it can again be opened to the public. Altogether, the Gumatj will be employing 20 people in full-time positions across the new operations. <p>
The cattle station is already attracting applicants eager to learn the timber milling on offer by the Jack Thompson Foundation. We live with the materials that are going into the accommodation, observes Mr Yunupingu. It establishes pride within the people. It should be everybodys project. Other communities in east Arnhem Land should put their hands up so we can equip them to use timber on their land. Itll bring them the same independence that we are trying to establish here. <p>
Altogether, the Gumatj will be employing 20 people in full-time positions across the new operations. The cattle station is already attracting applicants eager to learn the timber milling on offer by the Jack Thompson Foundation. We live with the materials that are going into the accommodation, observes Mr Yunupingu. It establishes pride within the people. It should be everybodys project. Other communities in east Arnhem Land should put their hands up so we can equip them to use timber on their land. Itll bring them the same independence that we are trying to establish here.