Elcho Island is 500 kilometres east of Darwin and a world away from the lifestyle of Canberra, so the community was pleased to host a visit by the Prime Minister John Howard in March.
This was the first time John Howard had visited a traditional Aboriginal community. His visit also included Yirrkala and Nhulunbuy. The Prime Minister heard discussion on local Customary Law and also viewed a presentation at the Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre.
A visit to the site of an Army project providing new housing on the Island was also included. The visit gave local people a chance to show the Prime Minister and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, John Herron, how important land and community are to Australia’s Indigenous people.
Having been privileged to attend a secret ceremony with elders, John Howard said he had learned much from the experience and enjoyed his visit. Town Clerk of the local Galiwin’ku Community Terry Parker, said it gave the Prime Minister the opportunity to meet some fine Australians.
“It also gave an opportunity for local people to demonstrate that land is not just a commodity but the basis of their lives,” he said.
The Prime Minister and his entourage were also able to appreciate the difficulties of providing services in such remote areas. The absence of mobile phone reception on the Island amply illustrated this point to the entourage.
“Here we have to plan well ahead due to the problems of distance and communication,” Terry Parker said.
Following the visit, Clan elders are now planning more formalised cultural work to reinforce their appreciation of the land and to pass on this knowledge to the next generation.
For further information contact Terry Parker, telephone (08) 8987 9073.
