THE YOLNGU WORD FOR THIS IMAGE IS BITPIT, TRANSLATED IT MEANS NEW GROWTH.

THIS SIGNIFIES NEW SHOOTS ARE RISING FROM GULKULA

“Let me make myself very clear, the Garma Institute begins”.

Chairman Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM, June 2010

The Foundation Board has taken the years 2011/2 to construct the Garma Institute. We would like

to acknowledge our following partners:

The Department of Families, Housing & Community Services & Indigenous Affairs, John T Reid

Charitable Trust, the Indigenous Land Corporation and the Gumatj Corporation.

YYF has slowly began the journey toward establishing the Garma Institute to ensure that the

Gulkula site would have new and upgraded facilities that could be showcased & utilized during

the 2012 Garma Festival from the 1 – 2 September.

Please note the Garma Institute campus is based on the site of our annual Garma Festival. YYF,

working with the landowners can now ensure the local community can utilize this site not merely for

5 days annually, it will be made available throughout the calendar year.

Roof removed - entirely gutted White ant damaged beams

GARMA

INSTITUTE

LOCATION

Before

Kitchen Construction New roof, and a 6 foot concrete extension

Previously the external Garma Kitchen Now

Previously the internal layout 2011

Internal layout to date 2012

Serving the hungry crowd from a newly fitted stainless steel kitchen

The new kitchen has drainage to underground grease trap, the floor space has been extended by

approximately 6 feet, which allows more space to divide the serving and cooking areas. The

previously meshed kitchen was a very real OH&S problems for our caterers to manage the naked

cooking flame whilst the cross flow winds swept through the escarpment. The kitchen is now

supplied with a hot water system which improves the hygiene factor and lessens the risk of food

poisoning. We are able to flush the entire kitchen with industrial hose, and the water drains

immediately. The fans installed create good air circulation & dries well for an industrial kitchen.

Easier to clean

Security is important to lock down the kitchen out of operational periods. The old kitchen was

subject to much vandalism.

Secured

Before After

Dhanggal Gurruwiwi comments on the Garma Ambassador Jack Thompson enjoys new kitchen serving area, in the background a freshly baked birthday cake from the YYF the new local timber features Garma kitchen

Left and right of the kitchen area – power points for mobile phone charge

Luxurious hot water system connections to the kitchen

New polished timber features throughout the dining room from the local Gidayki (stringybark) trees. This product is sourced through the local Yolngu timber mill crew & their saw mill. Approximately 14 Yolngu men are involved through the Gumatj Corporation training & employment system.

Using the local Indigenous workforce ensures resources from the land are interwoven

into the infrastructure features throught the Gulkula site.

This Garma Institute project is locally owned and driven by the locals

who are contributing to their future and their childrens future.

Land cleared in May 2012

Timber beams cut and prepped ready for positioning

Cement slab laid – this development at 2 April 2012

July 2012

Steel frame for the stage being built early August 2012

August 26th, 2012

The September 2012 Garma Key forum officially kicked off with the Rirratjingu dancers opening the

Garma Key Forum Auditorium. Garratjambal House (Red Kangaroo)

Garratjambal House producing high quality media - powerpoint presentations, exceptional sound

and audio quality. Now – to tackle the NBN!!

Senator Trish Crossin spoke on behalf of Minister Martin Ferguson from Garratjambal House this

year, as did the newly elected Chief Minister Terry Mills. Each were delighted with the new

auditorium.

300 seating capacity

Nestled amongst the stringybark

Garma Ambassador Jack Thompson and Board of Director Djawa Yunupingu utilizing the new

auditorium space.

The Indigenous Land Corporation and has assisted in supplying funding to install a 20,000 litre Rhino

Water tank. The Gulkula site would previously supply the entire 4 acre area with a series of separate

water holding facilities. They would be placed in 4 – 5 areas across Gulkula. YYF have now secured

the entire 4 acre area with one water main. The one water main is now capable of supplying water

to the those 4 – 5 separate areas, however those water taps can be turned on an off according to

the number of guests onsite. This means that we have capacity to cater for a Garma Institute Yolngu

women’s meeting of 20, or we can cater to school group visit of 50. The water supply was trialed

during the 2012 Garma Festival which catered for 250 of which was nicely accomplished free of error.

Garma during 2013 can cater to 3000 guests easily with this water holding facility.

Site cleared early 2012 Concrete slab laid April 2012

Pipes trenched and buried underground to safeguard against bushfire damage. White ant treated.

To date - 270,000 litre water tank constructed and fencing secure this site

NT Correctional Services prisoner working party have engaged with the Yothu Yindi Foundation to assist with the establishment of the Garma Institute. Their physical labor assisted in many ways, including the laying down of walking paths. They removed snakes as they cleared the Gulkula site, both venomous and non-venomous. They whipper-snipped, they cleared the site of white ant damaged trees. They cleared the escarpment for better wind flow and a viewing platform to the plateau below. They have also been removing firewood from Gulkula and providing it to the Nhulunbuy surrounding communities such as Yirrkala, Birritjimi, Gunyungara etc. They are also removing debris and rubbish from the nearby outstations to clear community homes in readiness for the oncoming cyclone season. The Yolngu prisoners are welcome by the elder groups and the locals have commented on the positive resource to the region. This working party of 30 are being accommodated by the Yothu Yindi Foundation working with the local Gumatj Corporation at Gulkula and YYF continues to welcome them into the folds of the Garma team next year. This community development relationship means that YYF need no longer rely upon 80 interstate volunteers. Also important, the Garma Team consists percentage-wise of women, and the male work force is most detrimentally required. This dynamic development has been on trial for the past two years, many hurdles have been overcome!

New pathways have been put down ensuring a clear walkway with less bumps on the path at night time. Seating areas using the local stringybark timber feature throughout the entire Gulkula escarpment for a moment to take in the fog on the plateau.

Technical & Scientific Terms

Yothu Yindi Foundation (YYF): Yothu & Yindi translated from Yolngu matha means mother & child.

Yolngu – Indigenous people of the north east Arnhem region.

Gumatj – Yolngu clan group are the traditional owners of the Gulkula site.

Gulkula – the home upon which the annual Garma Festival is held. This site is also a traditional

ceremonial meeting ground which has long been utilized by Yolngu forefathers. This site is neutral

based, meaning a safe gathering point for all clan groups. This reasoning was behind the decision to

base the Dhupuma College on this site during the 70’s.

Acknowledgement

The Yothu Yindi Foundation would like to thank Federal Minister Jenny Macklin for her valued input

toward this project. We also would like to thank the Indigenous Land Corporation and the John T

Reid Charitable Trustees. Most important, acknowledgement is extended to the Gumatj clan for

making available the Gulkula site upon which this most important project can be developed to be

returned back to the local community and its people.