Laramba News

On 6 June, Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) teams from Yuelamu, Laramba, Nturiya, Pmara Jutunta, Atitjere, and Engawala travelled to Alice Springs for three days of training in Introductory Mediation and Peacemaking.  The program was delivered by Troy Degenhardt and Matthew Panayi of Northern Territory Alternate Dispute Resolution.

Over the three days, the group discussed traditional processes of dispute resolution and peacemaking, and were surprised to find that they were so similar to a formal mediation process.

Players from Atitjere, Engawala and Laramba will travel to Ti Tree on Wednesday 23 June to play in the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Intercommunity Softball Tournament. The four communities will play in a round robin competition, with the winner to represent CDCR at the upcoming Mparntwe Shield in Alice Springs.

It is expected that there will be a big crowd and the Pmara Jutunta community will make plenty of noise to support their home team.

Games will commence at Pmara Jutunta softball oval from 11:00am, with a community BBQ from 12:30pm. There will be giveaways for participants and medals for those lucky enough to win the tournament.

Nyirripi, Engawala and Laramba now have mobile phone coverage.

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) has had 4GX-lite Satellite Small Cells installed in the communities with funding assistance from the Federal Government.

The Small Cells, installed and maintained by Telstra, will give residents access to email and basic data and voice calls and text with a phone, tablet or other compatible device.  

Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May until 3 June every year. These dates commemorate the 27 May 1967 referendum and the 3 June 1992 High Court Mabo decision. Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

 To commemorate this Reconciliation Week, after four years after it came out, here is the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ as spoken by Pat Anderson, Stan Grant, Adam Goodes, Ursula Yovich and Troy Cassar-Daley, with music by Midnight Oil.

All the staff from Central Desert Regional Council’s (CDRC) Community Safety Patrol (CSP) attended training in Alice Springs on 17 and 18 May.  Staff from Yuelamu, Laramba, Atitjere, Engawala, Pmara Jutunta, Nturiya, and Lajamanu attended, and it was the first opportunity for the staff to get together since biosecurity restrictions were introduced in the communities in March 2020.

On the first day staff received a refresher in Council Policies, and had a chance to ask questions of the General Manager People and Culture, Irenee McCreevy, and Work Health and Safety Advisor, Carmen Hunter.

 The April 2021 edition of the Central Desert News is out now! You can view it by opening the attachment below.

In this edition:

- Nyirripi Childcare centre reopens

- It's raining training at CDRC!

- A lot of actual rain

- Imparja Cup

- 2020/21 Year planner

• and much more!

These are the premier Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) awards, now in their third running. The value of the awards has been increased as the standard has increased. The awards were formally acknowledged at the last All Staff meeting in March, where winners received a certificate, $200 voucher and a mug commemorating the value the winner is demonstrating.

Congratulations to all the winners, well done on demonstrating the values and your strong contribution to Council.

Every March 8^th is International Women’s Day. Today we are celebrating with an interview with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC), Diane Hood.

What challenges have you faced in your career as a woman? How did you overcome them?

The inherent challenges to women in our society are sexism and unconscious bias against them. It is assumed that women should act in a certain way; nurturing and caring, but at the same time when in a leadership role they are expected to be logical and decisive, which are traditionally seen as male traits. When a female executive doesn’t act the way they are expected to it is hard for them to be seen as an individual with individual strengths and weaknesses.

The Imparja Cup 2021 finals took place on Friday 19 February and it came down to the last over in the grand final for the Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) Laramba team who almost took out the title.

After playing six games through the rounds and then winning their semi-final, the Laramba team played in the Statewide Super Women’s Community Division Grand Final against the team Ladeez (Alice Springs). Central Desert batted first to make a total of 87. Simona Tilmouth top scored for the Laramba team with 30 runs (forced to retire) and took two wickets. But it was the consistent batting from the Ladeez team with four of the six batters making double figures which saw them take out the title. They won with just six balls to spare. The women displayed great integrity, humour and sense of fair play for the entirety of the competition, and represented the community of Laramba with great pride.

On Tuesday 17 February Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) municipal crews from Anmatjere (Ti Tree), Laramba and Yuelamu attended a four wheel drive training course in Alice Springs.

The attendees were Mack Murphy, Norman Hagan and Cliffy Tommy from Yuelamu; Billy Briscoe and Caesar Tilmouth from Laramba; and Elias Birch Baird from Anmatjere.

A four wheel drive course helps keep drivers safe when on dirt roads and prepares them in case they get bogged.

Photo from left: the instructor, Billy Briscoe (behind), Cliffy Tommy, Caesar Tilmouth, Mack Murphy and Norman Hagan.