Anindilyakwa Land Council elects new board, Cherelle Wurrawilya as chairwoman

The newly installed leader said the land council would continue to deliver ‘big projects that are critical for the future and the preservation of culture’.

New Anindilyakwa Land Council board chairwoman Cherelle Wurrawilya.

The Anindilyakwa Land Council has elected Cherelle Wurrawilya as its new chairwoman to succeed the late T Wurramarrba.

Ms Wurrawilya was appointed at a board meeting last week with Ida Mamarika as her deputy after the Australian Electoral Commission certified an ALC member vote to install a new board for the Groote Archipelago land council.

ALC chief executive Mark Hewitt congratulated the new board members who represent 12 local clans as well as the communities of Angurugu, Umbakumba and Milyakburra.

“We warmly welcome the new board and look forward to working with them on the many important initiatives currently being delivered on Groote,” he said.

“It is especially pleasing to see the strong female leadership of the ALC board, with Cherelle Wurrawilya elected as chair and Ida Mamarika elected as deputy chair.”

Ms Wurrawilya said the ALC would continue to focus on delivering better outcomes for the Anindilyakwa people, including through the six Groote Archipelago Local Decision-Making Agreements.

“Many ALC board members will continue to lead Aboriginal corporations to create change through local control across key areas,” she said.

“The ALC board will continue to deliver these key initiatives in line with the ALC strategic plan, which prioritises action plans that are critical to prepare for mine closure in 2031.

“These are big projects that are critical for the future and the preservation of culture and are guided by the aspirations and goals of the Anindilyakwa people.”

ALC chairwoman Cherelle Wurrawilya delivered the eulogy for her late predecessor T Wurramarrba at a state funeral in Darwin in May. Picture: Jason Walls

Mr Wurramarrba was farewelled at a state funeral in Darwin in July after calling time on his two decades heading up the ALC in May.

In her eulogy, Ms Wurrawilya said Mr Wurramarrba was “a remarkable man”, who would be remembered as a “highly respected leader who was strongly dedicated to his family and his people”.

She said his signing of the “groundbreaking” Groote archipelago Local Decision-Making Agreement in 2018 was “a key moment for our people, giving us the authority to make decisions about health, education, justice, housing, local government and economic development”.

“This was Mr Wurramarrba’s vision of a sustainable future for the Anindilyakwa people and he worked tirelessly to make it a reality,” she said.

“Having control of our destiny and leading by example for all Aboriginal people was a cornerstone of Mr Wurramarrba’s lifelong work.

“Thanks to his vision, fearless leadership and selfless service, the Anindilyakwa people have benefited greatly from local decision-making.”