Biographies
Ruth Abdullah
Ruth was born in Derby, Western Australian. Ruth went to school in Alice Springs and returned to Kununurra in the early sixties to reunite with family and to find out her true identity as she grew up in a hostel. Ruth worked in Queensland for 18 years and is currently an Indigenous Tenancy Advocate within a non-government legal office. Her main task is advocating for aboriginal tenants regarding the residential tenancy act and advising people about their housing rights. This position covers east and west Kimberley (Kununurra to Broome) and also involves running community legal education programs.
Josie Alec
Josie is a Yindjibarndi woman from Roebourne and currently works as the coordinator for the Roebourne Pathways Program at the Roebourne High School. She is the president of the Roebourne Magpies junior football club and has been coaching football for three years. Josie has four children and also looks after her mum. She was taken away from her family when she was young. She grew up in Perth with a non-Indigenous family and has been back in her own community for four years. She wants to eventually introduce her students to leadership programs as Josie believes this can enrich the young generation.
Noeleen Andrews
Noeleen is a Jaywon woman, who was born in Katherine and lives at Rockhole community with her children. She has five children, two grandchildren and looks after her dad. She has brothers and sisters who live away from her and her children. Noeleen is a night patrol worker and a supervisor. As part of her job, she attends many meetings around the Katherine region. Noeleen has great respect, love and affection for her community and shows this by looking after school children who need help. She also takes time to sit with parents, council members and the community to work through issues. She likes working with others and sharing ideas.
Valma Banks
Valma comes from Halls Creek, Western Australia. She is a Djaru woman and has lived in Broome for the past eight years. She has six children and two grandchildren. For the past five years, Valma has worked at the Marnja Jarndu Women's refuge in Broome. She thoroughly enjoys her work, which involves supporting women and children who have experienced domestic violence. She is very grateful to her partner who has supported her throughout the years.
Stephanie Berida
Stephanie is from Wadeye, Port Keats, Northern Territory where she has lived all her life. Stephanie is 51 years old and has a niece, nephews and is a grandmother to their children. She works part-time at Makura Wunthay Alcohol Awareness and Family Recovery. She is a family coping coordinator and helps people with gunja and drinking problems and does counselling with them.
Deborah Booker
Deborah lives in Alice Springs and is a 38 year old single mother of three and grandmother of two. She strives to be the best she can be and respects everyone. She lives for work and sport, Deborah is trying to stay strong to achieve her life goals and be proud of who she is and where she is. Deborah is hoping the course will give her the strength, courage and experience she needs to achieve her goals and sense of direction in life.
Marie Brennan
Marie comes from Barunga, a community 80 kilometresm south-east of Katherine. Her mother's side of the family is Mialli and her father's tribal group is Ngalkbon. Marie usually follows her mother's tribal group who she grew up with. Marie's leadership has brought her a long way and she has worked in many different areas. She strongly believes that through her experiences, she has grown in different areas and it has given her the strength to become a leader.
Tess Bunduck
Tess has worked for the family program for two years. She now stays at home full-time to support her five younger children and send them to school. She has eight children and three grandchildren. Her husband is one of the traditional land owners. She has lived in Wadeye all her life.
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Amelia Cahill
Amelia is Ooriginally from Broome, Western Australia. She works working at the Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service in Kununurra.
Miriam Charlie
Miriam is from Borroloola, Northern Territory
Sarah Coombes
Sarah lives in Katherine where she is an Administration Assistant at Jawoyn Association and is studying for a Certificate III in Business. She believes that she has learnt a lot from everyone at the leadership programs. Her vision is to achieve all her goals, provide assistance and support to her community and family, and encourage other young Indigenous women to follow her example.
Cecelia Dann
Cecelia is from Broome, Western Australia.
June Derschow
June was born in Port Hedland and has lived there all her life. She is the seventh child in a family of eleven. June has worked for Main Roads Western Australia in South Hedland for 22 years and her current position is records officer. She doesn't have children, although she is a mum to her nephew who turned 21 this year. June has three very spoilt dogs, which she loves and adores.
Leah Dolby
Leah's community is Broome, Western Australia in the Kimberley. Her mother's family clan is Yawura, and her father's family clan is Nyul Nyal. She is the eldest in a family of six. Leah has four children, and two beautiful grandchildren. Leah is very proud of her eldest child, who is in the youth leadership program. Leah has previously worked with Indigenous Women's Leadership Program as a coach in 05/06 and did some wonderful work, which was an eye opener. She has currently completed and graduated from the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre with a Certificate II. She is also on the Australian Rural Leadership Program, which runs for 18 months and finishes up in November 2007 in Canberra. Leah believes that the IWLP is a great way of meeting up with Indigenous women from across Australia.
Rochelle Dolby
Rochelle Dolby is from Broome, Western Australia and is a keen sports person who shows leadership in sports. Her elder sister shows great pathways.
Annalise Durilla
Annalise's community is Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. Previously, Annalise was a youth worker for two and a half years, and enjoyed working with young people. Currently, she is a leader for her community people and families. Annalise participated in the Remote Women Leading in Communities workshop because she wants wanted to develop her confidence and learn more from other leaders.
Nicole Djirrwaryun Garawirrtja
Nicole is from the Laynhapuy Homelands. She works at Laynha Ari where she makes bookings and answers phone calls from Laynha Homelands.
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Karen Garlett
Karen's community is Roebourne, Pilbara, Western Australia She is currently working as an employment consultant with Job Network and her last position was as an Indigenous employment and training officer. Two years ago Karen completed her degree at Curtin Indigenous Community Management and Development Program. She also has a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment. Her interest lies with Indigenous issues including racism, education, employment, health, culture, children's development, sports and education. Karen has recently been involved in junior football (on the committee), Youth Centre, Strong Women's Group, Aboriginal Art/Culture in both her husband's community in Pilbara and her own in Perth.
Eileen Gumbaduck
Eileen is from the Wadeye, Northern Territory community. She has lived in Port Keats all her life and is working as the ranger. She has three boys and two girls and they all live in Port Keats.
Fiona Hayes
Fiona is married and has three grown children and six grandchildren. She's lived in Katherine all her life and is the youngest of twelve in the 'Hayes Family'. Fiona's mum and dad have passed on and she lives her own life with her remaining family. Being a mum and a wife, Fiona is interested in helping others, and has a giving and caring family home. She has also been a foster care mother to many children over the years. She has fostered kids for three months, who then move on to other good, caring parents. She is also involved with the itinerant homeless Indigenous people in and around the Katherine community. Fiona's aim with the leadership workshop is to show her community and her family that there is hope and that she has the courage and confidence to stand up and tell everyone who she really is. Leadership has given her the great pleasure of learning and listening with understanding.
Sharon Haynes
Sharon is a Nyamal woman from the Pilbra who lives in Darwin. She is a leader within her family and through her work in Indigenous education. Sharon's passion is working with children and learning.
Charlotte Hill
Charlotte has lived in Broome for 15 years, and has worked in the Domestic Violence Service for five years.She came from Busselton, south-west Western Australia and is a descendant of the Wadandi/Bibbluman Clan. Charlotte's leadership goal is to commit herself to help her people (Noongar) to recognise their culture and identity and grow from strength to strength.
Theresa Horace
Theresa is from Kununurra, Western Australia.
Leetara Hudson
Leetara is from Derby, Western Australia. She is on a Community Development Employment Project group named Burrinunga. She helps out with her grandmother, and with the community; trying to stop alcohol and drug abuse. Leetara is training in computer skills and is a mother of one.
Mai-Ling Iga
Mai-Ling comes from Derby, Western Australia. She is a mum at home with four children and is married. She is doing part-time work at Ngunga Designs, which involves screen printing and sewing Aboriginal artwork on clothing.
Shanni Ishiguchi
Shanni is from the Djarindjin Community via Broome, Western Australia. She is a mother of three kids (two boys and a girl). She works at the school as an Aboriginal Teacher's Assistant and is also studying for a Certificate III in Teaching Assistant. She wants to develop more leadership skills to help build a better lifestyle for the youth in her community, and show them life is good and full of opportunities.
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Katrina Jimbidie
Katrina comes from Yakanarra Community, which is south of Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia. She is a mother of two children, who go to school at Yakanarra. As a mother, Katrina does lots of things everyday, such as helping the kids go to school, eat healthily, and teach them right from wrong. She also looks after her grandmother by washing her clothes and looking after her health. Katrina is a pre-primary teacher's assistant back home. She is a graduate at the University of Notre Damme in Broome. In the future she would like to do more good things in her community.
Kerrizeta Jimbidie
Kerrizeta is 25 years old and is from Yakanarra Community 80 kilometresm south of Fitzroy Crossing. Yakanarra is a small community. Kerrizeta's mother is a Walmajarri woman and her father is a Nikina man. She has one brother and two sisters. She is a teacher at Yakanarra School where she teaches year 1. On the weekends she goes fishing, hunting, swimming and looking for bush food with her family.
Fantasia Laughton
Fantasia is originally from Ceduna, South Australia, with family connections in the Mirning, Kokatha and Wiringu tribes in South Australia. She has lived in Darwin for over five years where she is searching for her father's family, due to her father being a member of the stolen generation. It has been quite a journey for Fantasia. Fantasia works at the Darwin Aboriginal Islander Women's Shelter as a Family Violence Outreach worker. She is also a qualified childcare worker. Her goal is to be a leader in her community to help her people. Fantasia is pleased to be a part of the program as she believes it will help her succeed.
Mandy Leggett
Mandy works in the Wadeye community as an intercultural mediator. She works with many people trying to help get programs and ideas up and running. Some of the programs are printing, soap making, sports and recreation, council, women's association, rangers and more. Mandy believes Wadeye is a beautiful place, the country is wonderful and the people are lovely. In her spare time she loves fishing with her partner.
Gibi Majimaj
Gibi is from Goulburn Island Warruwi Community, Northern Territory. She is on the Community Development Employment Project and works as a ranger. As part of her role, Gibi looks after children in the community. If the children are playing basketball, a group of rangers will supervise. Also, Gibi will educate the kids about the land and where is safe to play. For example, Gibi will tell the kids where it is safe to swim.
Araluen Maymuru
Araluen is a Mangalili Miyalk from Yirrkala. She was raised at her family homeland at Djarrakpi (Cape Shield). She is a single mother of two beautiful girls. Since Araluen was a child she was taught her family history through art. Now she works as Print Manager/Circulator and artist at the Buku-Larrnggay Art Centre, and has been there for the last seven years.
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Annemarie McDonald
Annemarie is from Katherine, Northern Territory and has two children, a girl and a boy. Her family is very important to her. She works at the Kalano Community Association with the Homework Centre and is a tutor. Annemarie has been with the Homework Centre since it started in March 2005. She wanted to attend the Indigenous Women's Leadership Conference to better herself in leadership and to inspire her family and her community about the importance of education.
Miriam Melpi
Miriam comes from Wadeye, Northern Territory. She is a mother of eight children and has eight grandchildren. Each morning Miriam will gather all the children from her area and help them go to school. She is a female council member and represents the tribal group Tchindi. Miriam loves fishing with her family.
Lisa Mumbin
Lisa is a Jawoyn woman through her father's side and her dowuru: Bokmarnde: Moety: Yirritja skin group. Her elders identified her as a leader and have strongly encouraged Lisa to be involved in all Jawoyn meetings. After a year, she was elected to the executive board committee, which was a new and exciting role. Lisa enjoyed this role and believed it .opened her eyes, made her stronger in speaking out and assisting the elders to make important decisions. Following the executive board appointment, the elders decided to appoint her as a community spokesperson. In 1997, the elders appointed her as the chairperson for the Jawoyn Assosiation and Lisa took the position with the majority support from her people. She still holds the position today. The community has elections every two years, but with the big support Lisa receives from her people, she has held the position. Lisa ensures she is always there for her community and believes this is what makes her a strong leader.
Theresa Mary Munkanome
Theresa is 41 years old and lives on Bathurst Island, north of Darwin. In 1980 she worked as a screen printer and today works at the restaurant Taka Away. She is a single mum, and helps her aunts and sister. Theresa acknowledges that there are strong women in her community.
Amanda Ngalmi
Amanda's language is Nunggubuyu and she comes from Numbulwar, Northern Territory. She works as a housing officer and sport and recreational assistant officer. Amanda enjoys playing basketball and inspiring young girls in her community by setting a positive example for them to follow in the future. She has two kids, one of each. Amanda wants to achieve something positive from the program.
Gemma Alanga Nganbe
Gemma works at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Wadeye. Her roles include relief teacher (teaching in the classroom when another teacher is away), a liaison teacher, which involves working with others to manage student attendance. Also, Gemma is a religious coordinator for religious units and mission works covering the whole school from preschool to secondary.
Stacey Parker
Stacey is 31 years old and lives at Nguiu Bathurst Island Community with her partner. She works at Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic School as a finance officer and also as a senior administration officer. Stacey sees herself as a good leader in the community and would like to build more confidence through the National Leadership Program.
Annette Riley
Annette comes from Derby, Western Australia. She is a single mother and grandmother and a leader in her family and community.
Cecilia Riley
Cecilia worked with the Ngunga Design for years, which involved working with the other Aboriginal women, training older and younger women, sewing, printing, doing office, retail and cleaning work. She also worked as a community member in the women's shelter called Marnin Bowa Dumbra for Domestic Violence helping women and children. Cecilia's now working at the nursing home as a casual nursing assistant with their 'old people', and with the Garl Garl Walbru, a sobering up shelter for alcoholics and homeless people. Cecilia will talk with them to help them change their lives for the better. Cecilia's mother was a big role model in her and her sibling's life because she worked as a nanny looking after children in the cattle stations around the Kimberley's. Cecilia thinks it is important to show her communities and families the right way of living.
Alicia Ross
Alicia is an aboriginal health worker from a community called Amoonguna, which is 14 kilometres outside of Alice Springs. She is the eldest and only girl of six.She loves her country, her community and her people. Alicia has two sons. Her eldest son is eight and her baby is nineteen months old.
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Dianna Ross
Dianna born and breed in Katherine, Northern Territory Dianna currently works at Kalano Community Development Employment Project office acting in the co-ordinator's role. Her main job is titled Mentor which involves looking into training opportunities for participants. Her interests are education, youth and sport (involving families). Dianna would like to do more family activities - talking with the youth (mentoring), and having quality, fun time with her kids.
Samone Sallik
Samone currently works for Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation in Tennant Creek. Within this organisation she assists with the Meoditj Program, Young Mothers program and health promotion. She was born in Mount Isa, Queensland. Her mother is from Camooweal, and her father is from Port Hedland through to Halls Creek. Samone is the youngest of ten children and enjoys her large family. In 2001 she took on the mining industry, to show that being an Indigenous woman, she could do a man's job. As a qualified process technician, she gained satisfaction from the experience. She is currently studying with Charles Darwin University and thrives on being a mother to her two and half year old son. Samone enjoys life, family and being a leader in her community and encouraging others.
Michaelis Tchinburur
Michaelis is from Wadeye and likes going fishing and going out on the beach. She loves her country and takes her children out so that they can learn and know about the country. She also likes eating bush foods and making dillybags and mats. Marie Frances Thardim - Marie was born in Port Keats and is 32 years old. She's lived at Humpty Doo for nine years now and is working at the court and hospital in Darwin as an interpreter. Marie has a daughter and a husband.
Pat Mamanyjun Torres
Pat is from the Milari Community via Broome, Western Australia and is currently setting up a family business in 'bush tucker' from her region. She is a Ngarrangu Jarndu (Indigenous Woman) and connected to the Jugan, Yawuru and Jabirr-Jabirr peoples of the west Kimberley region around Broome and beyond. Pat is passionate about language, oral histories, culture and education. She is committed to her family being successful in their lives and in their personal relationships.
Rosslyn Weetra
Rosslyn was born in 1968 and is from Port Lincoln, South Australia. She moved to Katherine in 1984 and has five children; four girls and one boy. Her eldest is 23 years old and her youngest is 13 years old. Rosslyn has lived in Kalano Katherine now for 26 years and her goal is to go home and teach my her family about respect.
Michelle Wilson
Michelle lives in Alice Springs and her mother's family is from Finke. She has five brothers. From the age of 19, Michelle has worked with young people and is currently working with young people between the ages of 12 to 25 years.