The Athletes as Role Models on Tour (ARMtour) is returning to the remote community of Yuelamu for the 13th time in just 4 years. 

Some of Australia’s top athletes, artists, musicians and academics will again volunteer their time from April 28th to May 1st 2014 to provide inspiration to young kids living in Yuelamu.

ARMtour brings role models into the community for a week at a time to work with kids in the classroom and to participate in community sporting activities and youth recreational programs. 

The Central Desert Regional Council’s Youth, Sport & Recreation program has worked in close partnership with ARMtour to make it an experience of a lifetime for the visitors and kids alike. 

Central Desert Regional Council President, Adrian Dixon, is enthusiastic about the ARMtour’s return.  “It is great to have a bunch of top athletes and successful people being prepared to keep coming back to our communities to inspire our young people to do their best” Mr Dixon said. 

Travis Lane, the Yuelamu ARMtour Team Leader will return to Yuelamu  for his 12th consecutive trip while Ben Compton, a former Central Desert Regional Council Youth Sport and Recreation Team Leader returns to Yuelamu for his 4th ARMtour.  

Current Youth Sport & Recreation Team Leader Lucy Hart says the community is abuzz with excitement.  “With Ben returning to Yuelamu to run events with the young people who know him well, there’s lots of anticipation, the kids are really looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the athletes, muso’s and artists.” Ms Hart said. 

ARMtour also visits Santa Teresa, Papunya and Ntaria.

For more information call Shelley Madden on 0447 871 502

On Friday 4th April 2014, Central Desert Regional Council appointed their very first Local Authority.  

The community of Nyirripi recently held its Local Authority elections on community; during the lead up and nomination period there was great interest from community members to become a part of the Local Authority to provide a voice for their community. This resulted in a fantastic turn-out on the day.

Nyirripi is the first community in the Central Australian region to conduct the new Local Authority elections and a number of voting systems had been suggested to the community for how they wanted to decide on the members of the Local Authority.  

After some deliberation the community members decided together an appropriate system to put in place, this resulted in a quick and efficient outcome. After the voting process the staff of Central Desert Regional Council and a member of the Department of Local Government and Regions helped to count the votes.

“This is a very exciting time for the Council, appointing a Local Authority. Our communities are showing heaps of interest.” Said Adrian Dixon, President of Central Desert Regional Council. 

Nominations are current open in other Central Desert Regional Council communities and elections are scheduled over the next two months.  Local residents are encouraged find out about the local authorities and to lodge their nominations with their local Council office.

For more information about local authorities please the Local Authority pages or contact the Council's Governance Officer.