Mowanjum Community

Community in Western Australia

Mowanjum
Western Australia

Mowanjum

Coordinates| 17°21′22″S 123°42′04″E﻿ / ﻿17.356°S 123.701°E﻿ / -17.356; 123.701
Population| 311 (2016)[1]
Location| 10 km (6 mi) south east of Derby, Western Australia
LGA(s)| Shire of Derby-West Kimberley
State electorate(s)| Kimberley
Federal division(s)| Durack
| Mean max temp | Mean min temp | Annual rainfall

|
|

33.9 °C
93 °F | 21.7 °C
71 °F | 622.4 mm
24.5 in

Mowanjum is a medium-sized Aboriginal community, located 10 km (6 mi) south east of Derby in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, within the Shire of Derby-West Kimberley. At the 2016 Australian census, Mowanjum had a population of 311.[1]

The settlement began after the establishment of a mission station by the Presbyterian Church in 1912, first called the Port George IV mission and later Kunmunya.

## History

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After an initial attempt to set up a mission near Walcott Inlet by Dr. John Yule had been abandoned by the lay missionaries who followed, Robert and Frances Wilson, owing to lack of fresh water at the site, a fresh site was sought. In 1912 Rev. R.H. Wilson and his party selected a new site at Port George IV, not far away. Within a few more years, sometime before 1930, this site too had to be abandoned, owing to lack of water and arable land, with the new site known as Kunmunya.[2]

Rev. J.R.B. Love was in important figure in the history of the mission, although he was away from the outbreak of World War I in 1914, when he enlisted in the First Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) in 1914, and only returned in 1927. He subsequently remained as superintendent until 1941. Love translated the gospel of Saint Mark and Saint Luke into the Worrorra language, and mission children were taught in both English and Worrorra.[2]

In 1949, the land, livestock and equipment of Munja Aboriginal Cattle Station was handed over to the missionaries, which overstretched the capacity of the missionaries. In the meantime, Kumunya experienced crop failures, and after deliberations among the various groups, they all relocated in 1951 to Wotjulum, near Yampi Sound, about 130 kilometres (80 mi) south-west of Port George, near Coppermine Estuary. finally to the outskirts of Derby near the airport in 1956.[2]

The name Mowanjum was inscribed in the Derby marsh in 1956 by David Mowaljarlai. It means "settled" or "on firm ground. The three men attributed to founding the Mowanjum Community are Albert Barunga, Alan Mungulu and David Mowaljarlai.[citation needed]

The community was again shifted in 1975 to its present site 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Derby, following government requirements for additional land for the Derby Airport.

## Description

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Strong links to traditional country have been preserved and the numerous outstations, including Pantijan, Kunmunya, Dodnun and Yallon, are directly linked to both European and traditional history. Mowanjum's outstations are under Mowanjum community management. Mowanjum includes people from three main language groups:

* Wunambal
* Worrora
* Ngarinyin

Between 300 and 500 people reside at Mowanjum Community depending on seasonal conditions in surrounding language group areas.

## Art and culture

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Mowanjum Community has its own art and cultural organisation, the Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre (MASWAC).[3] It was founded in 1998 by Mowanjum Community Administrator Maxine Clarke, Mowanjum Kimberley TAFE Arts lecturer Mark Norval, and its first chairperson Donny Woolagoodja. In 2002 community administrator John Oster and MASWAC compiled a business plan to build a gallery-museum at Mowanjum. During 2004 and 2006 this new art centre was constructed.

The artists from MASWAC have had major exhibitions across the country and overseas. Wandjina artists since the formation of MASWAC include Donny Woolagoodja, Mabel King, Gordon Barunga, Sandra Mungulu and Leah Umbagai, while prior to MASWAC, there were Wattie Karrawarra, Jack Wheera, Charlie Numblemoore, Alan Mungulu, David Mowaljarlai, Sam Woolagoodja, Spider Burgu, Paddy Morlumbun, Guduwola Mungulu and Pudjuwola Barunga.

The Mowanjum Arts and Cultural Festival is one of Australia's longest-running Indigenous festivals, having run annually since 1998.

## Governance

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The community is managed through its incorporated body, Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation, incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 on 23 January 1981.

## Town planning

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Mowanjum Layout Plan No.1 was prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements. Layout Plan No.1 was endorsed by the community on 23 July 2003 and the Western Australian Planning Commission on 23 September 2003. It has had several amendments since.[4]

## Notable people

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* Elkin Umbagai (1921–1980), community co-founder, leader, and educator
* Vinka Barunga, who grew up in Mowanjum and Derby, graduated from the University of Western Australia with an MBBS in 2016, and is the first Worrora doctor and the first Aboriginal doctor in Derby.[5][6][7][8]

## References

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1. ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mowanjum (ILOC) (Indigenous Location)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
2. ^ a b c State Solicitor’s Office (Western Australia) (November 2005). "Guide to Institutions Attended by Aboriginal People in Western Australia" (PDF). Find & Connect. pp. 113, 136. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
3. ^ "Home". Mowanjum Aboriginal Art & Culture Centre. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
4. ^ "Mowanjum Layout Plan: Background Report". Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC). Includes amendments to 2019. September 2003. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2020.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: others (link)
5. ^ Hunjan, Raveen (8 July 2019). "Meet the Aboriginal doctor turning tragedy to triumph". Insight (SBS TV). Retrieved 10 November 2020.
6. ^ Fitness, Blackfit (15 June 2020). "Culture today with Dr. Vinka Barunga". Blackfit Fitness. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
7. ^ Gray, Lorna (18 November 2016). "Vinka Barunga is first Aboriginal doctor in her town". Now To Love. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
8. ^ "Home at the heart of graduate's journey". The University of Western Australia Medical School. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 10 November 2020.

## External links

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* "Documents for Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation". Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.