Hope you all had a good break!
EHUB LAUNCH AT MUURRBAY
On 11th June we launched the new Ehub at Muurrbay and which was attended by North Coast TAFE Institute Director Elizabeth McGregor, Nambucca Shire Mayor Rhonda Hoban and manager Michael Coulter, Nambucca Centrelink Manager Gillian Howie and many others. The Elders from Maclean and Grafton made a special trip down and this made it a very special day with some very lively conversation taking place about the use of the word “Mission” (Aunty Muriel Burns reckons we should stop using it).
Although a number of Ehubs have been established in our region through North Coast TAFE’s Aboriginal Learning Partnerships, what has been a first for us this time round has been Muurrbay as a private organisation (rather than the Local Aboriginal Land Council) hosting an Ehub for the neighbouring Bellwood Aboriginal Community. It is also the first time we have managed to successfully install VOIP (voice over internet) telephone too so the local community can make free or very cheap telephone calls. This special Goorie IT course has been taught by Bernie Francis assisted by Aboriginal Teacher Aide Jennie Rosser. Many thanks Jennie!!! See article in the local Guardian at the end of this newsletter.
DONATION OF LAPTOPS FROM MICROSOFT
Paul Clark, Community Affairs manager for Microsoft Australia drove all the way up from Sydney to visit us on 25th June with 25 Toshiba tablet laptops donated to NCCP to refurbish and pass onto Goorie IT students who have successfully completed a Certificate qualification with North Coast TAFE. Thanks Paul and thanks Microsoft!
Paul Clark handing a laptop to Karen Randall
YAEGL SIGNAGE VIDEO RELEASED
After much hard work we finally have a great video detailing the steps undertaken for creating and implementing the Yaegl Town Signage Project in the Lower Clarence. Many thanks to Becky Cole and Wendy Cromack for their hard work, and to Tony Dreise and Neil Brown from North Coast TAFE for funding it. If you would like a copy of this video please let us know.
This is critical stuff people! There are so many Aboriginal names out there and most people are completely ignorant of what they mean. Get onto your local council now and show them our video. Aren’t you curious to know why they gave a place the name it has? We can easily find out what the Anglo names mean but our valuable Aboriginal heritage is dying off at an increasingly alarming rate.
While we are happy about the video and many other things achieved by the Elders at Maclean campus we have been saddened by the passing of Aunty Thelma Kapeen. Aunty Thelma was one of our core group and she is missed by us all very much. It also serves to remind us just how important it is to continue to preserve our rich Aboriginal heritage while our Elders are still here.
NEW EHUBS SCHEDULED FOR BOX RIDGE…
North Coast TAFE’s Aboriginal Learning Partnerships is funding a new Goorie IT course and Ehub at Box Ridge Aboriginal community’s new health outpost in Coraki this semester. Box Ridge is quite an old community and was the subject of an expose in ABC’s first Four Corners program in 1961 highlighting the appalling living conditions there. Many thanks to Steve Jamieson from NCALP for making this happen.
…AND MULI MULI
Stay tuned for the opening of our new Ehub at Muli Muli. Our Goorie IT course continues up there at Cert 3 level. Beautiful country and wonderful people! Mt Lindesay is spectacular. We are now transcribing the Githabul language over from cassette tapes to the computer.
Mount Lindesay on the way to Muli Muli
…AND NGURRALA
Another Ehub will also be established this semester at Ngurrala in Nambucca as part of a continuing Goorie IT course. Congratulations to Ngurrala for obtaining their Job Services Australia contract.
News article
NCCP WISH LIST
- Establish more Ehubs across North Coast
- Acquire DGR status from ATO
- 7 seater vehicle for transporting students and computers
- NCCP employ more people
Thank you to everyone at North Coast TAFE and in the community for supporting us. We are in desperate need of more computer hardware for our Ehubs.
Keep smiling