The members of the Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation (WAC) appointed new directors at a special general meeting yesterday. The members also adopted a new constitution at the meeting. The meeting had been called by the special administrator as part of a restructure of WAC.
WAC is located in the remote Aboriginal community of Balgo in the East Kimberley, WA. It operates a large community development employment project (CDEP); provides a wide range of municipal and community services and owns and operates the community store.
A special administrator was appointed to the corporation by the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations in October 2003 over concerns about the governance and financial position of the corporation. The special administrator is Brian McMaster from KordaMentha in Perth.
‘Today’s meeting and the election of the new directors is a significant event. It has been over four years since the corporation was placed under administration and it is pleasing that the community is now positioned to take back control of its corporation’ said Mr Anthony Beven, Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
‘The new directors will now work closely with the special administrator in an advisory capacity in the lead up to the finalisation of the special administration, which is expected in August 2008. We have worked closely with the community in recent years through training and mentoring to develop the capacity of the corporation and its members and will continue to do so in the lead up to August.’
WAC’s new constitution updates its governance framework in accordance with the new Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, but still recognises the important family structures within the Balgo community. All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations registered under the CATSI Act must approve a new constitution by 30 June 2009.
The new directors of WAC represent 13 of the 14 family groups in the corporation. They are:
Mr George Lee, Mr Ronald Mosquito, Mr Larry Gundora, Mr David Young, Mr Basil Sunfly, Mr Joseph Yugumburi, Ms Brenda Brown, Ms Dulcie Nanala, Ms Geraldine Mudgedell, Mr Luke Dingle, Mr Chris Mandigalli, Ms Philomena Baadjo, Mr Anthony Mudji plus one other member to be confirmed.
Lisa Donnelly 02 6219 7611
18 June 2008
ORIC MR0708–08
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