Walangeri Ngumpinku Aboriginal Corporation

Updated: 27th Feb 2023

The Telstra Service has been up and down in Yarralin since Friday the 17th February. Technicians are trying to correct it as soon as possible but the community is currently without reliable Telstra internet service. This means the fuel system is down, and phones often do not work (except those of us with satellite connections who can use WiFi Calling).

We are recommending services get in touch with the Walangeri office at Lot 60, as we have a Starlink satellite internet service.

Heavy rain that’s already fallen during the week of the 20th Feb, with more expected, is making the road through the Gorge wet and muddy. With those coming out reporting “slipping and sliding” a lot of the way and having to wait a few hours for some floodways to clear of water. The road is currently impassable to vehicles.

Above: An impassable creek crossing just after the cattle gate and before Yarralin.

An initial flood watch has been issued for parts of North West, Bonaparte and Carpentaria and is likely to affect the Victoria River catchment.

We strongly recommend AGAINST all travel to Yarralin at this time, even by plane. With the road to Timber Creek flooded, and the Victoria Highway also experiencing flooding issues. The local Wickham Creek has gone from 2M to 8M in just 12 hours with the community currently on flood alert, and more rain still coming.

Anyone travelling to Yarralin is recommended to fly-in if at all possible. With constant heavy rain this wet season, the road has turned to mud in places. The most notorious section at the moment is about 45 km after the Victoria Highway turn-off, just before Jasper Gorge.

Photo courtesy of Yarralin School’s Facebook page.

The last 27km of the road to Yarralin, just after the cattle gate and before Yarralin itself, is also quite muddy.

With the road into Yarralin still closed to trucks, getting fresh fruit and vegetables in is a challenge.

Our thanks this week goes to Victoria Daly Regional Council who were able to send a convoy of vehicles from Timber Creek, with one driven by the local Mayor, carrying out some fresh fruit and veg along with some other key supplies.

A special thanks to NT Emergency Services for helping us organise an airlift of food supplies into Yarralin community on New Year’s Eve. 3 Planes flew just under 2 tonnes of food into community after damage to the road from Tropical Cyclone Ellie.

Heavy rains means it will be a few weeks before the road is repaired and a truck is able to get through. Special thanks to the pilots for flying out on New Year’s Eve!

Travellers are advised to be cautious as the wet season has arrived. The road through the Dashwood (between Yarralin and Top Springs) is closed. The only way into and out of Yarralin now is through Jasper Gorge (towards the Vic Highway / Timber Creek).

Above: Debris caught in the barrier along Jasper Creek crossing.

The road will have pools of water in some places (depending on where and how often it rains) and there may be debris on the road from trees that have fallen over.

A 4WD with “all terrain” or mud tyres is recommended.

Our new 40kw/h solar system is up and running at the Yarralin Community Store, thanks to the guys at Delta Electrics who came out to install the system this week.

Funded thanks to the ABA, the system should reduce our power usage around 20% – 30% over the course of the year.

UPDATE: It’s disappointing that 2 of the panels have failed only weeks since the technicians left.

We were fortunate this year to have our accountants, Lee Green, manning a stall at Barunga Festival this year. It provided us a great opportunity to showcase our Ngarinyman Bush Soaps as well as the Ngarinyman to English dictionary.

Dimilan and Bardigi varieties were available, with more varieties being available for sale hopefully later this year.

The Road Boss Rally 2022 passed through community today, on their way through the Judbarra National Park. It was an opportunity for the school kids to see some of the vehicles and meet some of the drivers.

Walangeri Ngumpinku was pleased to support Brian Ross’ as part of the 2022 Under 15s Titans Schoolboys team. The team competed in the Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League National Championships at Moreton Daily Stadium, in Redcliffe, QLD July 1st-8th.

Well-done to Brian.

George Campbell was laid to rest in Yarralin today, with his funeral service held in front of many friends, family, loved ones, and colleagues.

Born in Yarralin or as it was known at the time, the Gordon Creek Station, near the Old Manager’s House at the Boab Tree. Mr Campbell was a strong advocate for the community, with 35 years of service on the NLC. He also served on ATSIC, the Walangeri Ngumpinku Community Government Council, and was involved in the founding of Walangeri Ngumpinku Aboriginal Corporation.

He will be missed by many in community.