Damian Kennedy with artwork carved and painted onto Emu eggs

Research about Toogimbie Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) framed my thesis (Exploring engagement between Indigenous communities and government: lessons for Country management). I completed it in May 2008 for an Honours degree in Human Geography. My thesis focuses on how Aboriginal communities and governments engage. It does not identify Toogimbie or Hay community.

However, this report focuses on findings from the interviews conducted in Hay in October 2007. It finds that Toogimbie contributed to strong livelihood outcomes for some members of the Hay Aboriginal community. It makes recommendations for a more sustainable and equitable future. (See Thesis Summary at the bottom of this page).

Livelihood Outcomes

A livelihood is the capabilities, assets and activities required for people to have a means of living. A livelihood is sustainable when the strategies which produce outcomes (such as health, wellbeing, education and income), build-up assets (such as skills, cultural knowledge, finances and natural resources) to reduce vulnerability (to drought or potential changes in IPA Program funding) enabling people to sustain stresses for many generations. Toogimbie is delivering sustainable livelihood outcomes for members of the Nari Nari Tribal Council (NNTC). The primary benefits are:

• Employment – Several members are employed to oversee running of the NNTC. Over time, young men (including Mark Brett-Schneider, Rene Woods, and recently Damian Kennedy) have been employed as Land Managers on the property developing skills that have enabled them to transition into the job market. Local farmer Simon Maynard also leases a section of land for cropping.

• Capacity-building – Members participate in a range of activities such as seed-ball rolling, nursery work, plant and animal identification and care for burial mounds. These activities have allowed members to develop new skills and build confidence in their abilities.

• Enhanced sense of community for members of NNTC and Hay Local Aboriginal Land Council (Hay LALC) – Many members reported that working together on projects and participating in social activities at the property is developing a stronger sense of trust and belonging amongst members.

• Wellbeing – Toogimbie provides the opportunity to “reconnect with family, culture and environment”. It was described as a place to “recharge and relax”.

• Enhancing land – Extensive regeneration activities have improved the land condition despite the recent tough drought. Toogimbie was described as a “model for alternative, sustainable land-use in the Riverina”. Restoring wetlands, use of fire and establishing native plants to control weeds & ferals is getting interest from other property holders.

Mark Brett-Schneider with artefact from a burial mound

Culture and Heritage

Toogimbie is a property with significant Aboriginal and settler heritage. The burial mounds are being cared for to prevent erosion. The historic homestead is another prominent feature of the property. NNTC members are building their knowledge of Aboriginal culture, particularly through a strong relationship with Uncle Col Walker from Barmah. Budding artist Damian Kennedy is also developing a proficiency in Aboriginal art, mentored by family members, notably Roy Kennedy. Most residents of Hay who participated in the research expressed an interest in Aboriginal culture and heritage. The Aboriginal Warakirri murals by inmates from the Ivanhoe Warakirri Work centre under the Hay Bridge were identified as enhancing the aesthetics of the town and offering a tourist attraction. Gubba Woods teaches a unit on Aboriginal culture in conjunction with local schools. Activities such as these are building the town’s knowledge and interest in local Aboriginal cultural. Many members of the wider Hay community felt that they would like to know more about Toogimbie and the activities that happen out there. There is also an interest in the settler heritage on the property particularly from past owners, managers and workers. This report recommends that open days and on-going communication, such as newsletters, would help facilitate and develop this interest in culture and heritage of Toogimbie and Hay.

Planning for the Future

Building on the strong successes achieved in such a short time, the NNTC has ambitious plans for the future. These include an Aboriginal cultural centre, accommodation for tourists, and a ‘time-out’ facility. To achieve this, NNTC is developing relationships with Governments and working to building-up the skill base of members.

Addressing Risks

Members of NNTC and Hay LALC felt that there were three key threats to the future of Toogimbie:

•  Drought

•  Young people leaving Hay

•  Heavy reliance on a few key members of the organisation.

Wider Community Involvement

Other people in the Aboriginal community have strong history and stories for the Hay area and want to have that recognised. Many members of the wider Aboriginal community in Hay expressed a desire to have access to the property and be involved with activities and their associated benefits. This report strongly recommends generating and/or strengthening relationships with the broader Aboriginal community. This could be one strategy for addressing the loss of young people leaving Hay. Furthermore, extending the membership could help reduce the reliance on the core NNTC group. As successful organisations develop, it is often the key founders who adopt mentoring and capacity-building roles to support new members. This serves to strengthen the organisation allowing it to cope with growing responsibilities. Expertise in the wider community in the areas of teaching, cultural knowledge and natural resources management (especially the Aboriginal Community Support Officer at the Catchment Management Authority, Jodi Cameron) would be assets to the NNTC. Inviting a community dialogue open to new ideas would be one avenue to achieve this and build on Toogimbie’s successes.

Thesis Summary

The thesis explores engagement between Aboriginal communities and governments in the Australian context of Country management. It argues for the need to appreciate that Aboriginal communities are not homogeneous united groups, but a heterogeneous range of individuals operating in political contexts. Different types of engagement are examined, and some of the miscommunication that often occurs at the engagement interface between Aboriginal people and governments is identified. Various contemporary examples of strategic ways Aboriginal people are engaging with government and securing legitimacy for both stakeholders are explored. The thesis outlines a variety of characteristics that effective engagement processes possess.