Welcome to Our Country
Situated in the Northern Territory on the western side of Arnhem Land in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island hold a unique position approximately 640km east-southeast of Darwin and 50km off the Arnhem Land coast. Groote Eylandt, Australia’s third-largest island, was named by explorer Abel Tasman in 1644, the Dutch word for “Large Island.”
Renowned for hosting some of the world’s richest manganese deposits, the Groote Eylant area is not only geologically significant but also offers a tropical climate characterised by hot, humid, and wet summers featuring thunderstorms. Summer temperatures range from 25 to 40 degrees Celsius, while winters are dry and mild, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 30 degrees.
The landscape is adorned with mostly tropical savannah woodland, including stringy-bark eucalypts and Darwin woolly-butt, along with patches of monsoon vine forest, areas of pandanus and paperbark wetland, and stands of cypress pine. Casuarina and banyan trees provide shade along sandy beaches, and the region boasts a diverse array of animal life. Not used for primary production, the islands are free from cattle and cane toads.
The marine environment surrounding Groote Eylandt is a haven of pristine beauty, featuring clear waters, abundant marine life, and easy access. Large animals such as dugong, crocodiles, turtles, and manta rays are a common sight. The area is renowned for its fishing, with several charter boats operating around the islands and the Groote Archipelago. While commercial fishing occurs in the sea adjacent to Groote Eylandt, it has no economic impact on the island, as commercial fishermen and their operations are based elsewhere.
Our People
The Anindilyakwa people, with an unbroken human tradition spanning an estimated 40,000 years, have been the custodians of Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Representing 14 clans, they embody one of the most ancient and authentic living cultures on Earth today.
The journey of the Anindilyakwa people to Groote Eylandt is intricately woven into a series of song lines, shaping the land, rivers, animals, and people, and bestowing names upon everything in the region. The Anindilyakwa language, spoken by all the clan groups within the two moieties on Groote Eylandt, serves as a powerful link to their cultural heritage.
Surrounded by a marine environment adorned with unique reef systems and abundant Indigenous, commercial, and recreational fisheries, Groote Eylandt holds significant importance for the Anindilyakwa people.
The sea country of the Anindilyakwa is crisscrossed by song-lines associated with male ceremonial law, forming the foundation for the authority of senior Traditional Owners. These song-lines establish spiritual connections among the islands within the Groote Archipelago and extend from the archipelago to the mainland. Moreover, they underpin social and ceremonial bonds between the Anindilyakwa people and their neighbouring communities.
Board of Directors
Tony Wurramarrba
Chairman
Tony Wurramarrba is a well-known leader and spokesperson for the TOs of the Groote Archipelago, and has had an extensive and committed career in advocating for the priorities of the Anindilyakwa people. Tony has held positions of Chair and Deputy Chair of the ALC over a period of 18 years. Tony continues to represent the Anindilyakwa people and the ALC on a number of Boards and forums during the 2020-21 financial year, including as Chair of the reformed Education, Employment and Training forums of the Groote Archipelago; representative on the Minister for Local Government’s Working Group, established to provide advice on the future of Local Government; Member of the ABA Advisory Committee; Member of the ALC Mining Liaison Committee and Finance Committee; ALC Representative on the Machado Joseph Disease Foundation Board. Tony is currently Chair of Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation and Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd.
Constantine Mamarika
Director
Currently an Anindilyakwa Land & Sea Ranger and 2nd term serving Councillor for East Arnhem Regional Council. Senior Member for Mamarika Clan and Traditional Owner for Mamarika Lands
Formerly an AOD (Alcohol and Other Drug) Councillor working in the Medical Clinic and in community as well as Community Liaison Officer for East Arnhem Regional Council
Elma Yantarrnga
Director
Board Member of Anindilyakwa Land Council and the ALC Finance Committee
Director of Anindilyakwa Royalties Aboriginal Corporation and the Anindilyakwa Mining Trust Director of Abindawiya Aboriginal Corporation
Formerly an Anindilyakwa Land & Sea Ranger and 1st Ranger in NT to gain Coxswain License Qualification
Formerly official Interpreter for NT Government Judicial Court
Senior Member for Yantarrnga Clan and Traditional Owner for Yantarrnga Lands
Ida Mamarika
Director
Chair/Director of Groote Eylandt Bickerton Island Primary College Aboriginal Corporation Board Member of Anindilyakwa Land Council
Director of Anindilyakwa Future Leaders Aboriginal Corporation Director of Amekburra Aboriginal Corporation
Senior Member for Mamarika Clan and Traditional Owner for Mamarika Lands
Former Deputy Chair of ALC, former Chair of GEMYDU, former Director of Anindilyakwa Mining Trust, former Director of GEBIE, former school teacher, former Community Government Councillor
Former Executive Director & Manager of Cultural Tourism Business
Senior Member for Mamarika Clan and Traditional Owner for Mamarika Lands
Bradley Bara
Director
GEMCO/South32 Mining Operator
Board Member of Anindilyakwa Land Council and the ALC Finance Committee Director of Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation
Senior Member for Bara Clan and Traditional Owner for Bara Lands
Lionel Jaragba
Director
Board Member of Anindilyakwa Land Council and ALC Community Liaison Officer
Director of Anindilyakwa Royalties Aboriginal Corporation and the Anindilyakwa Mining Trust Board Member of Anindilyakwa Land Trust
Director of Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal Corporation Director of Director of Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation Director of Angabunumanja Aboriginal Corporation
Senior Member for Jaragba Clan and Traditional Owner for Jaragba Lands
Independent Directors
Mark Hewitt
CEO
Mark Hewitt started in the role as CEO of the ALC in September 2011. Mark has previously held roles with the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2005- 2011) including as Acting Branch Manager Indigenous Programs Branch (Native Title Representative Bodies and the ABA); Manager of the Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) Coffs Harbour and ICC Manager South Hedland in Western Australia. Mark was the Regional Manager in the Pilbara Region for the Western Australian Department of Indigenous Affairs between 2004 and 2005 and worked as the Environment and Communities Manager for Harmony Gold in Murchison between 2000 and 2004. Currently he is also the Executive Director of Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation and Co-CEO of Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd.
Peter Carroll
Director
Board Member of Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation
Former Chairman of Australian Bay Lobster Producers Ltd
Former Director of Taxation Consulting Division at Deloitte Brisbane office.
Former Chairman of the Sunnybank Rugby Club
Former Board member of the Queensland Rugby Union
Board member of a number of not for profit entities (eg Centacare, the social welfare arm of the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane; Youth Plus, the fundraising arm of the Flexible Learning Centres run by the Christian Brothers)
Adam Kilgour
Director
Chairperson of Harness Racing Victoria
Managing Director of Diplomacy Pty Limited
Non-Executive Director of Harness Racing Victoria
Former Managing Director of Photon Group Limited
Former Executive Chairman of CPR
Former Media Adviser of Senator Nick Bolkus
Former Press Secretary of Victorian Government
Former Public Affairs Officer of Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria
Former Founding Director of Climate Institute of Australia
Former Independent Director and Chair of NSW Trainers Association
Former Director and Chairman of Stirling Henry Global Migration