ABORIGINAL STOCKMEN Indigenous Affairs

TOMMY DODD

WORDS BRUCE SIMPSON/TEDEGAN AND MUSIC TED EGANTRACK 11 - I.O.U ALBUM Tommy Dodd, I recall what the boss had to sayAt the Buchanan Camp, as you rode in that day,“I’ve seen some great horsemen, but honest to GodThe horse isn’t foaled that could throw Tommy DoddNo horse could throw Tommy Dodd’. I’ve seen some rough horses, seen many...

ABORIGINAL STOCKMEN Indigenous Affairs

MATES OF THE MURRANJI TRIBUTE – TOMMY DODD

Ted Egan, a foundation Mate of the Murranji, met Tommy in 1957 when he was at the peak of his career. “I met him in Borroloola where he grew up. Those days he would spend the dry season droving or working on stations throughout the Barkly, then return to Borroloola in the wet season in time for traditional ceremonies.” Despite not much...

NORTHERN LAND COUNCIL Business

NLC LEADS DRIVE TO PROTECT ‘OUR MOB’

It was one of the first organisations in Australia, including governments, to act when the covid pandemic began – the land council immediately closed Indigenous communities throughout its Top End jurisdiction to all but essential workers. But the NLC now has a new enemy in what is literally a life-or-death battle – misinformation. NLC...

MATES OF THE MURRANJI Indigenous Affairs

EDNA JESSOP (NEE ZIGENBINE)

Edna was born into a droving family. Her dad Harry, mum Ruby, three sisters and four brothers travelled together on droving contracts. Their situation was not entirely unique – children were often raised on the stock routes with wives accompanying husbands, cooking for the stockmen, and helping with droving. It was Edna’s incredible...

ABORIGINAL STOCKMEN Indigenous Affairs

BLACK COWBOYS

Aboriginal stockmen played a key role in opening up Northern Australia to the cattle industry. Black Cowboys, as they became known, were recognised as being superb horsemen – and women. The NT Cattlemen’s Association is working to get Indigenous Territorians back working on pastoral properties. Here we pay tribute to a generation that helped...

Nous Group Business

NOUS RISES TO THE CHALLENGE

From supporting the NT Government’s reforms to the way it works with Aboriginal Territorians to assisting the Territory’s economic reconstruction and improving primary health care, the Darwin office of the international management consultancy has ideas and expertise to achieve real progress. As Darwin office leader Tom Leeming says, Nous...

McArthur River Mine Business

SHARING CULTURE

After 12 hours at the wheel of a 200-tonne truck or the controls of a mill grinding 14,000 tonnes of ore a day, these men and women are ready for dinner and a good night’s sleep. But rather than heading to the kitchen, many of them are instead gravitating to a quiet corner of garden nearby. In a specially designed garden of natural trees...

Aquaculture And Regional Development Business

FINDING GOLD IN THE OCEAN

“But that’s our gold mine…” And he points to the beautiful, clean Arafura Sea. Traditional Owners across Northern Australia are harnessing the riches of their coastal waters in a sustainable way to create jobs, training opportunities and wealth. Mr Galaminda is a strong supporter of a commercial rock oyster trial on South...

Indigenous Affairs

IN MEMORY OF COWBOY JOHNNY

But Johnny was declared by Time magazine almost 30 years ago to be the symbolic last of a heroic breed of Indigenous men who helped open up the wild north on horseback. Steve Strike took the original photo for the publication and introduced me to Johnny for a follow up interview in TQ 2014. That was the start of a long friendship and I never...

MATES OF THE MURRANJI Indigenous Affairs

Matt Savage the Boss Drover

At the six-mile in Wyndham the word passed aroundMatt Savage, the boss drover, had just come to town His plants on the common, he's looking for men 'Cause he's taking a mob into Queensland.  He's a legend in the outback; he's a man among menMatt Savage, the boss drover, and he's riding again Two thousand store bullocks, wild ones at...

Anindilyakwa Land Council Indigenous Affairs

GROOTE: EMILY’S ISLAND HOME

She was educated in Brisbane and now lives in Tasmania. But the ARIA-nominated performer says: “Groote will always be my island home. It's where my grandparents sleep, my ancestors. It’s where my family are. “I always feel that connection no matter how far I go.” She returned home recently for the funeral of her uncle – she...

IRONBARK Business

IRONBARK: Growing Stronger by the Day

It started operations in June 2000 with five staff working from a single old demountable on the outskirts of Darwin. Today it has grown to more than 60 staff, with more than half of them Indigenous, 11 offices throughout the Top End, including corporate offices in Darwin Corporate Park and another base to be built nearby before Christmas....