Central Desert News

Central Desert NewsWilora Kids Get A Visit From The CrowsEDITION NO. 14 JUNE 2012INSIDEWILORA KIDS GET A VISITFROM THE CROWS01WELCOME TO THENEW COUNCILFROM THE PRESIDENTFROM THE CEO02ADELAIDE CROWSVISIT WILORA03WILLOWRA SKILLSON SHOW0405BUILDING STRONGFUTURES INEARLY CHILDHOODCOUNCIL STAFF TAKETHE CHALLENGENEW FACES ON COUNCILGOOD GOVERNANCECONFERENCENEWS FROM ATITJERE08STRENGTHENINGLOCAL BOARDS09WORKPLACE MENTORS COMING SOON TOYOUR COMMUNITY10DENNIS IS A YOUNG ACHIEVERAdelaide Crows with children from WiloraAdelaide Crows players Graham Johncock, Richard Tambling and Luke Thompson wowedthe children of Wilora earlier this year when they helped run a mental health and footballclinic in Alice Springs. The children of Wilora Primary School eagerly absorbed informationabout football skills before they were given the opportunity to out-kick and out-mark theprofessionals. Continued on page 3.Welcome To The New CouncilThe Central Desert Shire’s newlyelected Council met for its firstmeeting on 12th April 2012. Council comprises returning CouncillorsElizabeth Bird, Louis Schaber, Willie Johnson, Norbert Patrick, andAdrian Dixon and new CouncillorsApril Martin, Georgina Wilson, Robert Robertson and Jacob Spencer.The three other vacancies will befilled during a supplementary election in the Anmatjere Ward. Continued on page 6.A NEW LOOK FORCDEP VEHICLESALICE SPRINGS SHOWHEALTHY MENUFORLAJAMANUCELEBRATING COMMUNITYCELEBRATING COUNTRYNew Central Desert Shire Council06071112Central Desert News is published byRoydon RobertsonCentral Desert Shire CouncilPO Box 2257 ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871Ph 1300 360 605www.centraldesert.nt.gov.auPlease send your stories tokimbi.bevan@centraldesert.nt.gov.au

From The PresidentI would like to thank the residents of the Shire for my re-election to Council andalso welcome the new faces to the Council. I would like also to congratulate thereturning Councillors for your re election. Thank you for also voting me in as ShirePresident. I am excited about the challenges ahead and am looking forward toworking with my fellow Councillors and the Shire staff in the years ahead. Since Ihave been elected as President I have been really busy. My first job as Shire President was accompanying Dennis Charles to the NT Young Achievers Awards. Itwas a very proud moment for Dennis and a great recognition of his work with PAWMedia. Congratulations Dennis. I have also been involved in the development ofShire Plan for 2012/2013 which will be out for advertising during June.The other Councillors and I recently attended the LGANT Good Governance ConAdrian Dixon, Shire Presidentference. The conference was very interesting and it was great to be in the sameroom as all of the other Councillors from the Shires and Municipals across the NT.It was also good to hear about some of the major achievements made by local governments across the Territory and appreciate the skills and enthusiasm that the Councillors bring to local government.Cr Adrian Dixon – Shire PresidentFrom The CEOCongratulations to the newly elected Councillors and to the new Shire President,Cr. Adrian Dixon and the new Deputy President, Cr. Norbert Patrick. Council hashit the ground running with a very successfully run first Council Meeting held inApril, followed up by a two day Shire Planning Workshop in early May and thena further two days training in Darwin at the Good Governance Conference. Thefollowing day Cr. Adrian Dixon attended his first General Meeting of the LocalGovernment Association of the Northern Territory as Council’s Voting Delegate.Council’s 2012/2013 Shire Plan has been prepared and public submissions calledfor before the Council formally adopts the plan on 22nd June 2012.Two extremely important reports are due to be released soon by the Northern Territory Government. The first report is a study on the Financial Sustainability of theeight Northern Territory Shires. Central Desert Shire is in the same situation as the Roydon Robertson, CEOother shires in that they are all faced with totally inadequate funding to undertakecore local government services. The Council’s financial position is deteriorating rapidly as our income reduces and our expenditure increases . The only way important core services can continue to be delivered at an adequate level is more fundingcoming out of the recommendations of the Financial Sustainability Report. More money for core services is critical to thefuture of the Council. The second report is to do with the important issue of the operations of Local Boards and governancearrangements to ensure communities are adequately represented and engaged. Council is looking forward to learning of anymeasures to assist community engagement as the advice and recommendations received by Council from Local Boards arehighly regarded by Council.I hope you enjoy our latest Central Desert News.Roydon Robertson - Chief Executive Officer2

Adelaide Crows Visit WiloraThe children of Wilora made all of the Adelaide Crows players and staff welcome, however, an extra special welcomewas given to Richard Tambling as he hails from the Northern Territory. Richard Tambling was recruited by Richmondin round one of the 2004 draft and, despite being traded toAdelaide, remains a true Territorian and a fine example ofthe Territory’s successful football culture.The Central Desert Shire Sport and Recreation Program,with help from the Crows, AFL Central Australia and SarahThurgood from the Alice Springs Transformation Plan, wereable to involve the children from Wilora Primary School.With the support of so many, the program was able to dealwith the serious issue of mental health in a manner thatwas engaging and accessible to the children involved. Themain message of the day was to look after their own mentalhealth as well as that of their friends.A special thank you to Wilora Community members Christopher Tanama and Elsie Tanama who were essential to theday’s success and helped chaperone the children.Perhaps the Wilora Primary School kids spurred Adelaideon as later that weekend Adelaide triumphed over Brisbanein their first full length game of the year and they have continued their good form with a solid start to the season proper. The Central Desert Shire and the programs participantswish them luck with the remainder of the season.3

Willowra Skills On ShowThe Willowra CDEP team have been busy constructing and erecting a welcome sign at the entrance to community whichshowcases their talents and promotes the traditional Indigenous name of the community.Grinding, painting, measuring, levelling and concreting were just some of the skills obtained at the completion of the training participants undertook. The colours and the placement of sign was determined by the participants with the assistancefrom CDEP supervisor Shane Vels. The participants took ownership of the project and enjoyed working together to completesomething that showed visitors the pride they have in their workmanship and their community.Language, literacy and numeracy training was also covered during this activity as several of these aspects were covered inthe following duties: Measuring of steel Spelling out letters to create community name before fixing them to the sign Effective communication skills were used between participants to competently complete tasksFrom top L-R: Participants cutting the main support beams so that the sign sits flush with all supports. Painting the lettering for the sign.Participants lining up the letters of the community name whilst screwing them into place. The finished product in place at the entrance tocommunity4

Building Strong FuturesIn Early ChildhoodLaramba Childcare staff have been working with DonnaBradley from BIITE on a project to create resources for National Quality Areas under the New National Quality Standards. As part of this process the staff have been reflectingon what the role of childcare is within the community.This is a painting, made by the team some years ago, symbolise the story ‘it is where children 0-5 can come and besafe and grow strong’. The staff have been working hardon the project and have learnt a lot from the process. Ithas given the staff time to reflect on their role in buildingstrong children and realise that they can take great pridein their roles as early childhood educators. This project isa fantastic example of the many ways we come together tolearn from each other and build a strong happy and healthyfuture for children and families.Staff from Laramba Childcare displaying a painting that symbolises the story “it is where children 0-5 can come and be safe andgrow strong’Council Staff Take The ChallengeThis year the Central Desert Shire Council staff participated in the LGMA Management Challenge. The team comprising Buke Ali Tunne , Kimbi Bevan, Daniel Gardiner, Eve Grant, Dilip Nellikat, and Kate Procter named their team the “CentralDesert Stars” and shone during the competition.The LGMA Management Challenge is a development program for Council staffdesigned to develop new and improved skills in effective team processes, issueresolution and situational leadership. The competition has been running for nearly20 years with Councils from all over Australia and New Zealand have participatedin this Challenge. This year was the first year that the LGMA Management Challenge has included a NT competition.At the last minute Daniel was laid low with the flu so the fantastic five; Kate Procter,Dilip Nellikat, Buke Ali Tunne (on reprieve from jury duty), Eve Grant and KimbiBevan were left to fly the flag. The five pulled together as a team over the dayand the judges were particularly complimentary about their cooperation and enthusiasm. The team’s standard of work was exceptional and although the daywas hard work, the team had a great time and learnt some valuable lessons aboutthemselves, team work and LG management. “It was certainly hard work but loadsof fun and I’m looking forward to making a big splash next year.” Kimbi Bevan saidof the challenge.Buke Ali Tunne , Kimbi Bevan, Eve Grant,Dilip Nellikat, and Kate Procter during thecompetitionThe Darwin team has been selected to compete on behalf of the NT LGMA. Darwin’s many years of experience with the competition worked in their favour andtheir place in the national competition is well deserved.5

Cr April Martin represents Southern Tanami Ward andis based in WillowraCr Robert Robertson represents the Southern TanamiWard and is based in YuendumuNew Faces On CouncilThe 12th April 2012 was a momentous day for Central Desert as it marked the first sitting of the newly elected Council. Thenew Council voted for the President and Deputy President electing Councillor Adrian Dixon as the Shire President for a periodof four years and Councillor Norbert Patrick as Deputy Shire President for a period of one year.Cr Adrian Dixon thanked the outgoing Shire President, Cr Patrick for his support over the previous two years. “I will workvery hard to keep the Shire moving forward” Cr Dixon told Council. Cr Dixon lives in the Laramba community and previouslyworked for the Shire as the Works Supervisor. Both Cr Dixon and Cr Patrick were founding Councillors in the Shire and bothwere elected unopposed to their positions within Council.The other new faces on Council include Councillors April Martin, Georgina Wilson, Jacob Spencer, and Robert Robertson.Three positions within the Anmatjere Ward will be filled at the supplementary election to be held on Thursday 17th May 2012.Cr Georgina Wilson represents the Southern TanamiWard and is based in YuendumuCr Jacob Spencer represents the SouthernTanami Ward and is based in Nyirripi6