Latest Stories: Aurukun Day

Aurukun was in the past infamous as the most dysfunctional indigenous community on Cape York Peninsula in north east Australia - wracked by alcohol and substance abuse, violence and school truancies. Over the years, the situation has improved somewhat, through the combined efforts of the Family Responsibility Commission, the Cape York Welfare Reform trial, Noel Pearson's 'direct instruction' nitiative in schools and a complete alcohol ban. However, much work is still to be done.

The first weekend in August saw locals celebrate 'Aurukun Day' - this year the 110th anniversary of the founding of the settlement by Presbyterian missionaries who used force to gather many clans from the surrounding area to form the township.

The 'celebrations' included the launch of a local hip-hop video, a disco, a mechanical bull,, displays, games and free sausages and damper. It was also a great oppurtunity to take back to the township the work I completed locally a couple of years ago - "The Aak Puul Ngantam Stockman". My APN mutimedia piece was projected before the disco and my collection of large portrait prints were arrayed in the township centre.

A pleasure to spend the weekend amongst a community coming to terms with a period of meaningful changes.