Indigenous Elder Rex McGrady’s plan to save disaffected youth

Tired of watching his people suffer an Indigenous Elder is calling for change to reunite disaffected youths with incentives, purpose and direction. See how here.

Indigenous Elder Rex McGrady is fighting for the future of the Gamilaroi and all First Nation people. Photo: Jessica Klein

A border community 368km west of Brisbane made national headlines in August after a major increase in violent crime forced Queensland Police to send in a specialised task force.

The terrifying weekend saw a group of offenders break into motels, residences, threatening people with machetes and stealing vehicles only to dump them across the New South Wales border.

While the violent offending left many stunned, for residents in Boggabilla it was the tip of the iceberg of an issue they’d battled for years.

The spree prompted Queensland Premier Steven Miles to fast-track the appointment of a cross-border commissioner to assist policing operations between states.

An Indigenous Elder believes the solution to ending the ongoing disarray in First Nations communities lies in restoring connection to land and culture.

For Gamilaroi man Rex McGrady, his plan to end the violence and engage disaffected Indigenous youth across the southwest is with incentives, purpose and direction.

Footage of a street brawl in the border town of Boggabilla made rounds on social media in August. Photo: Facebook.

Growing up in the rural community of Toomelah across the Queensland-NSW border, his family didn’t have electricity and would eat around the fire, telling stories about culture.

As a co-director of the Panja (Brigalow) Gambuwal Aboriginal Corporation, Mr McGrady has begun to establish a range of projects that provide incentives for Indigenous youths.

Mr McGrady said the lack of opportunities for young people in the Toobeah, Boggabilla, Toomelah communities is contributing to the rate of children getting involved in drugs and crime.

“I believe we’ve just about lost them now and this (the cultural programs) is the final bite of the cherry,” he said.

“We want to bring all out on land so we can rectify this problem ourselves, we just need to be given the chance to.

“The government has taken away our incentives, direction and purpose, and it’s up to our Elders, all our people to put those three things back into the children.”

Indigenous Elder Rex McGrady is fighting for the future of the Gamilaroi and all First Nation people. Photo: Jessica Klein

Having witnessed the situation worsen overtime, Mr McGrady knew something had to be done, prompting him to rally support from within the Indigenous community.

“Everything we’re doing we’re doing it ourselves, we’re not getting any government funding and we can’t rely on funding from land council’s because they’re (supported by) the government,” he said.

“We don’t need to be stamped under someone else’s umbrella, we’re doing it because no one else is.”

Mr McGrady hoped in the future all Indigenous groups and corporations would get involved with the program.

Partnering with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, an initial program is underway to begin cleaning up state forests across the wider Darling Downs.

Ahead of the October election, the LNP has unveiled a $383m plan to reform the child protection system, with a pledge to hire more child safety officers, put more carers in residential care facilities and build a new safe house as central pillars.

Mr McGrady said the plan needs to cater to Indigenous affairs, with programs operated by First Nations groups.

While a NSW councillor candidate is hoping she can return a sense of community to Boggabilla residents.

Moree Plains Shire Council candidate Meryl Dillon hopes to restore a sense of community for Boggabilla residents. Photo: Meryl Dillon/Facebook

Moree Plains Shire Council councillor candidate Meryl Dillon said the lack of council presence in the Boggabilla community only contributed to a sense of isolation.

“They don’t get anywhere near as much funding as some of the other towns, nor do they have access to the same council amenities,” she said.

“There’s no local swimming pool or town hall, there’s a general feeling in the community that they’ve been neglected.

“Sadly I think the people out there have become used to being treated less equally.”

Ms Dillon said it’s been almost ten years since the community had any sort of government representative to voice residents’ concerns.

“They need someone to stand up for them and get things happening and that’s one of the reasons I’m running for council,” she said.

“Community feedback is the only way you know what the issues are and what you can do to help.”

Ms Dillon said she hoped the newly appointed cross-border commissioner could make a difference for the Boggabilla community.