NAAJA - Aboriginal legal aid for the Top End

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Board Profiles

Darwin Region Katherine Region Miwatj Region

Colleen Rosas Norman George (Chair) Vernon Patullo (Deputy Chair)

Joel McLennan Natalie Ellis Vicki Darr

Dorothy Fox Ruby Walker Yikaki Maymuru

Hannah Roe Jerry Ashley Tony Wurramarba

KATHERINE REGION

NAAJA CHAIRMAN

NORMAN GEORGE (Katherine)

Norman is from the Ngalajakan Clan from Roper River. He is the Chairperson of the Men’s Health Program in the Katherine Region. Norman is the team leader for Australian Red Cross – Personal Helpers and Mentors program (PHaMs).

Norman has an extensive background in Indigenous legal services in his position as a Board Director for NAAJA/NAALAS and is highly recognized for his experience in Indigenous health, employment and leadership.

NATALIE ELLIS (Katherine)

Natalie’s Aboriginal origins are with the Dalabon people from the Barung to Bulman region. Her mother was part of the Croker Island Stolen Generation and Natalie continues to be a member of the Northern Territory Stolen Generation Association. She is currently employed with the Charles Darwin University as the Indigenous Academic Support Lecturer for Katherine and the surrounding areas. Natalie believes that education plays a major part in all Indigenous issues. Her particular interests are the over-representation of Indigenous people in the justice system and jails, prisoners rehabilitation, mental health and support programs that promote stronger families. Natalie also believes that Indigenous people in the NT are under-represented in the Higher Education system and that this must be addressed, if Indigenous self-determination is to be realized.

JERRY ASHLEY (Katherine) Elected 19^th April 2010 Jerry is a Ngukurr Elder who has been a NAAJA/KRALAS member for a number of years and is highly experienced in Indigenous Legal Services and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience of Cultural Law to our Board.

RUBY WALKER (Katherine)
Ruby is originally from Queensland but has lived and worked in Darwin and Katherine for 40 years. She has worked tirelessly for many years with the Age Care services at the Kalano and Binjari Communities, and with the Department of Heath & Community Services in Katherine. Ruby has been a valuable member of various Committees’ such as the Indigenous HACC Reference Group for 4 years, the Katherine Club for 4 years and the NAIDOC Committee for 2 years. Ruby is recently retired and enjoys relaxing at home, reading and socializing with family and friends.

NHULUNBUY REGION

NAAJA DEPUTY CHAIR

VERNON PATULLO (Nhulunbuy)

Vernon is an emerging senior land owner of the Kungarakan clan from the Finniss River area near Batchelor. He went to Groote Eylandt in 1975 to work with BHP GEMCO mining company. Vernon has been adopted to the Rirratjingu clan in East Arnhem land (Yirrkala) and has strong ties with the Anindilyakwa clan in that region. He has worked and lived in remote mining towns in the Gulf of Carpentaria for the past 25 years and is highly experienced in dealing with issues faced by Aboriginal people living in remote locations. For the past 20 years Vernon has primarily been employed by the Australian Government in Arnhem land regions working in vocational and education training, community infrastructure, health, management, mining industry, commercial enterprises, housing, sea rights, land rights and land management. He has been a board member for NAAJA/NAALAS, member on the NT Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, and Friends of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and Indigenous festival Australia.

VICKI DARR (Nhulunbuy)

Vicki is from North Queensland and is of Aboriginal and South Sea Islander descent. She has lived in Nhulunbuy now for the past 19 years and has three children and eight grandchildren who all live in Nhulunbuy.

Vicki works for the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations within the Education Sector (Indigenous Education) and has been with the Department for approximately 6 years. Her work with Indigenous education involves liaising with the schools in the communities of Galwinku, Milingimbi, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak and Nhulunbuy on programs which help to improve attendance, retention of Indigenous students and increase the involvement of parents and community members in their children's education.

TONY WURRAMARBA (Nhulunbuy)

Tony is a well know leader and spokesperson for the Anindilyakwa people. He is currently Chairman of the Anindilyakwa Land Council, a position he has held for six years. He was previously Council Clerk at the Angurugu Community Government Council and a member of a number of Indigenous organisations as a Board member.

With the support of his Deputy Chairman Walter Amagula and the Land Council’s other Executive members, Tony has been working closely with all levels of governments and BHP Billiton to meet the needs of his people. He has supported changes which improve the positive impact government programs and policies have on the Groote Archipelago, with a particular focus on raising living standards, including through the creation of jobs and training activities. Under Tony’s leadership there has been a much greater involvement of Traditional Owners in the monitoring of the large manganese mine and involvement in the decisions which impact on the community.

YIKAKI MAYMURU (Nhulunbuy)

Yikaki was born and raised at Yirrkala Community and is the second elder Song man for the Mangalili clan in East Arnhem Region. Yikaki was an ATSIC Councillor for 2 years in the early 1990's. He also worked with the Northern Land Council as a Field Officer for 8 years. Yikaki is currently working with Yirrkala Landcare as a Landcare supervisor for 12 Yolngu staff. Yikaki was a Council Member of the Miwatj Aboriginal Legal Service.

DARWIN REGION

HANNAH ROE (Darwin)

Hannah Roe is of Yawuru decent. Her family is originally from Broome Western Australia. She was born in Darwin and has lived in the Territory all her life. She comes from a long time Darwin family and continues to maintain strong family ties to Broome WA. She graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Laws with honours from the Northern Territory University. She went on to complete Article of clerkship with the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission and undertook a Judge's Associate position in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. She was admitted to legal practise in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 2004 and is currently working for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

COLLEEN ROSAS (Darwin)

Colleen Rosas has lived in the Northern Territory for nearly 40 years and was originally from Cairns, North Queensland. Colleen is a descendant of the Gudjula nation. Her employment history has been across a range of areas including Aboriginal education and the criminal justice area. She currently manages the Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Service.

JOEL MCLENNAN (Darwin)

Joel is from the Larrakia clan in Darwin. Joel has extensive experience in Correction Services extending 13 years. Joel is active in working with Indigenous people to address their social and economic needs.

DOROTHY FOX (Darwin)
Dorothy Fox is a Larrakia woman and traditional owner of Darwin and Cox Peninsula.

Dorothy is a strong advocate for Aboriginal people in the Top End representing their interests, concerns and aspirations.

Currently the President of the Multicultural Council of the NT and Chairperson of Crime Stoppers NT, Dorothy aims to assist in multicultural affairs and crime reduction.

Previously Dorothy was an Alderman for the Darwin City Council and was Acting Lord Mayor in 2007/08.

Dorothy's goal is to work for an improved service by working together and creating an awareness of Aboriginal traditions and cultures to the wider community.