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Antoine Bloemen
Born in Bocholt, Belgium in 1941, Antoine Bloemen experienced a varied life journey before arriving in Broome. He began working at 14 initially as a boarding school kitchen hand/domestic, then aboard merchant ships sailing from Belgium to Africa and North and South America. He migrated to the USA, where he worked in a factory before being drafted into the US Army, where he became a paratrooper on Okinawa and in the USA. Following a visit to Western Australia, his wife Anne insisted they move there. Antoine took on a law degree at the University of Western Australia and ultimately became a magistrate for the Kimberley and Pilbara region. Presiding over the world’s largest jurisdiction, Antoine transformed the Kimberley circuit, increasing his run to sit at a number of Aboriginal Communities. His unique and unconventional approach included sitting in community buildings rather than traditional courts, inviting Elders from the community to sit with him. This resulted in increased court attendance rates and saved the accused the need to travel long distances. He retired from the Bench in 2008. Antoine continues his involvement with the community and serves on the Board of Kimberley TAFE as well as on the Kimberley Institute.
Anne Poelina
Master Education, Master Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Master Arts (Indigenous Social Policy).
Anne is a Nyikina woman with 30 years experience working in health, education, language maintenance, Indigenous publishing, empowerment evaluation, clinical practice, consultancy, kinship and cultural associations. Anne is the Managing Director of Madjulla Inc. and has guided program planning and development to targeted education, training and research which focused on building the partnership capacity of Indigenous communities with government, academic and corporate sectors. Anne has been a Senior Lecturer responsible for Aboriginal programs at the University of Sydney, Lidcombe, Southern Cross University (Lismore) and the University of Queensland (Brisbane), Lismore. Anne recently resigned as State Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Congress after working with the State to develop the Western Australian Justice Plan and the rollout of the WA Aboriginal Justice Agreement. Anne’s current focus is on building the governance, leadership and economic capacity building of Nyikina Inc. and the Nyikina Mangala Aboriginal Corporation in preparation for the land management of their Nyikina Mangala Native Title Claim area.
Email: majala@wn.com.au
Check out
www.majala.com
&
www.nyikinainc.com
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Ian Perdrisat
DipTechg(PE) Wollongong, BPhysEd WA, MEd Syd, MPHTM James Cook
Ian is a Koori from suburban Sydney and has spent twenty years working and living in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Following graduation as a physical education teacher, Ian became actively involved in Aboriginal education. Ian has been a Senior Lecturer responsible for Aboriginal programs at the University of Western Sydney, Macarthur and Edith Cowan University, Perth and the Southern Cross University, Lismore (NSW). Ian is focused on building strong partnerships with universities, schools and the private sector to invest in building sustainable development in remote Aboriginal communities along the Mardoowarra, Fitzroy River. Ian has also been a strong advocate for including a human rights based approach to Indigenous policy and practice.
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Edie Wright
Edie Wright is Bardi and grew up in Derby. She has background in education that spans twenty five years across two education sectors. During this time she has been a teacher, deputy principal and in 1999 went to Wangkatjungka Remote Community School as the principal. In 2003 she moved to Broome where she holds the position of Manager Aboriginal Education with the Department Education and Training in the Kimberley District Education Office. Her work with DET schools in the Kimberley is focused on improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal children. Edie is also a writer and has published a biography called Full Circle and is currently working on her second book.
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Eugenia Leslie -George
Born in Broome, Eugenia Leslie-George is a descendant of the Bardi/Nyul Nyul tribe from the Dampier Peninsula with Japanese heritage from her father, a diver who came to Broome in the 60’s. Eugenia’s early childhood was spent living in Beagle Bay, Djarindjin and Broome, with her mother, grandparents and extended families. Eugenia now has four sons and four grandchildren.
At the age of 10 – Eugenia and her two sisters were put into the care of Sr. Michael Kelly at the Aboriginal Girls Hostel – Sr. Kelly made a commitment to Eugenia’s grandparents to not let the Native Welfare take the 3 girls. Eugenia lived and worked at the Hostel until she was 19.
After finishing her primary school education at St Mary’s Primary Eugenia gained a scholarship to Loreto Convent/ John XX111 College Claremont, Perth.
Her first full time job saw her return to St Mary’s School as a Teacher Aide – where Eugenia nurtured a dream to become a teacher.
In 2007 Eugenia achieved that dream and she graduated as a Primary School Teacher, from Curtin University of Technology WA – a very proud moment for Eugenia and her family.
Eugenia’s passion for Education, Community and vision is expressed through her work as a teacher, and also through her many volunteer commitments.
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Lawford Benning
We are currently waiting on an updated biography for Lawford.
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Patrick Davies
Patrick Davies is a descendent of the Kalkadoon tribe from Western Queensland. Born in Katherine, Northern Territory, Patrick has lived and worked in the Kimberley region for many years. His previous employment has involved working at Argyle Diamond Mine, as a Plant Maintenance worker and Alluvial Plant Operator, Loader Operator and a Painting Contractor. After moving to Fitzroy Crossing in 1994, Patrick established a community based Housing Maintenance Crew in the Junjuwa Community in 1996. Since 1998 Patrick has worked with the Nindilingarri Cultural Service where he has found his niche establishing programs to improve health services for Aboriginal people premised on a cultural context. His enthusiasm and drive to promote Aboriginal cultural values have been demonstrated through his involvement and dedication in setting up ‘The Condoms in a Tree’ raising sexual health awareness; the Cultural, Spiritual and Health recording program with local community based musicians; the Town Based Environmental Health Support Team and a second EHW Support Base in Djugerari Community, and in partnership with Karrayilli Adult Education Centre a Community based Environmental Health Training Program to provide access to locally based Environmental Health Training and ongoing support for trainees in the Fitzroy Valley Communities. Patrick is currently running the Cultural and Spiritual Health Program as part of a Health Promotions Team.
Patrick is passionate about music, he is a singer/songwriter who recorded and released a solo album through Pigram Music in Broome in 2007.
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Peter Yu
Peter Yu is a Yawuru Man from Broome in WA. He has 35 years working experience in Aboriginal communities, predominantly in the Kimberley. He is a consultant working in the area of Aboriginal public policy.
He is currently Chairman of Nyamba Buru Yawuru, and was a lead negotiator on behalf of the Yawuru Native Title Holders in reaching settlement of the Global Agreement with the WA State Government.
Peter was previously Chair of the NT Emergency Response Review Board, and a Director of the Halls Creek Better Life Project, overseeing the strategic investment in housing, infrastructure and social development in Halls Creek by the WA Government. He has also been the Chair of the WA Aboriginal Housing Board and an Executive Director of the Kimberley Land Council. Peter has been instrumental in the development of community based regional organisations in the Kimberley’s and an advocate for the social, cultural and economic well being of Kimberley Aboriginal communities.
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Tony Lee
Tony Lee is a Yawuru man from Broome in Western Australia. He was the first Indigenous person to be appointed as a member of the National Native Title Tribunal in 1995. He held this position until 2003. Tony has worked in many senior positions in both the State and Federal public services in WA including policy advisor to a number of WA Government ministers. Tony now operates his own consultancy business for many years in Indigenous affairs in areas such as Native title, mediation and facilitation, conflict resolution, policy development, economic and community development, strategic planning and governance. He has a passion for issues affecting Indigenous people particularly social justice, human rights, education and training and continues to do voluntary work for a number of Indigenous organisations.
Tony is currently employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) in Broome.
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Victorina 'Vicki' McKenna
Vicki is a Yawuru woman from Broome, Western Australia. She has five children and six grandchildren. She has a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, a Graduate Diploma in Child Psychotherapy and a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Clinical Healing Practices. Vicki has worked in Catholic Education schools for the past 20 years and her current job is Student Liaison Officer, at St Mary’s College, Broome. She specialises in student welfare that requires extensive liaison and mediation between students’ home and school. As part of the St Mary’s commitment to Reconciliation she has become the Cultural Exchange Coordinator, working in partnership with La Grange Remote community school and Genazzano and Xavier Colleges in Melbourne, Victoria. She is active in promoting and raising awareness of social justice issues. Vicki is involved in a number of committees at St Mary’s school such as Student Services Team, Middle Management and Pastoral Care Committee for students. In addition to her commitments at work, Vicki is currently a board member on the Kimberley Basketball Academy. Her interests and passions include, encouraging the development of children and adolescents articulation of thoughts in respect of them becoming the voices of change, issues affecting aboriginal communities, social justice and education.
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Selina Swan
Nungurrayi, Selina Swan is a Ngardi-Kija woman who was raised in Halls Creek. She is the eldest of six sisters and a mother of two children.
Selina completed her secondary education in Perth where she was elected as head girl in Year Twelve. At the completion her Secondary Education, Selina returned home to Halls Creek and saved to fulfil a childhood dream of travelling the world. Being exposed to the many rich and diverse cultures she discovered overseas, Selina developed a greater appreciation and understanding of her heritage and culture, of which her family have a long and profound history.
At present, Selina is employed with the Department of Indigenous as a Senior Project Officer in Kununurra. Capacity building and strengthening community has always been a passion of Selina’s and she is grateful to be afforded this privileged opportunity to offer a meaningful contribution.
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Cissy Gore-Gault
We are currently waiting on an updated biography for Cissy.
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