First general meeting held!
Some of the initial and elected directors of the Wagyl Kaip Aboriginal Corporation. L-R: Merindah Bairnsfather-Scott, Mervyn Eades, Craig McVee, Jeanice Krakouer, Lindsay Dean.
The Wagyl Kaip Aboriginal Corporation’s first General Meeting was a success, with members attending both online and in person in Kojonup, on Saturday 11 June 2022.
After a Welcome to Country from Archie Michael, the meeting was chaired by Jeanice Krakouer and facilitated by Mandy Gadsdon.
The first Cultural Advice Committee (CAC) for the Wagyl Kaip Aboriginal Corporation was elected by private ballot, with twelve successful candidates. The cultural advice committee is made up of Elders who consider matters relevant to culture and make decisions to promote and protect cultural interests of the Wagyl Kaip Noongar region. Find out more about the CAC at https://wagylkaip.org.au/governance-structure
The female members of the cultural advice committee are: Wendy Williams, Iris Kaye Woods, Olivia Roberts Roni Gray-Forrest, Averil Dean and Deanna Eades.
The male members of the cultural advice committee are: Mark Colbung, David Williams, Denis Hayward, Gordon James Krakouer, Robert Eades and Terrance Rodney.
The outgoing initial directors – Lindsay Dean, Jeanice Krakouer, Craig McVee and Merindah Bairnsfather-Scott – were thanked for their hard work in setting up the corporation, and were each given a gift in appreciation.
The first elected directors – Mervyn Eades, Malcolm Williams, Jeanice Krakouer and Oscar Colbung – took up their roles at the closing of the meeting and are now busy exploring how the corporation will operate. This will include selecting expert directors, appointing a CEO, hiring staff and finding a suitable office location within the Wagyl Kaip region.
In her report as interim committee chairperson, Jeanice Krakouer celebrated the exciting and historic occasion, and updated members on the journey so far.
Jeanice informed members that the Wagyl Kaip Aboriginal Corporation was registered with ORIC on 3 November 2021. All the necessary registrations to get charitable status, register the corporation name, and get an ABN have been completed.
The corporation also held two general meetings, two membership meetings, and approximately 10 initial director meetings.
“We now have 1 015 members, which is an incredible achievement,” Jeanice said.
“Thank you so much to every one of you who have joined us. The more members we have the more effective we will be in our efforts to build our a strong, sustainable, united Noongar Nation.
“The Southwest Native Title Settlement is a momentous part of our long history as Noongar people. As we all know, it has taken us many, many years for us to get to this point.
“It has taken our past Elders many more years, and some of them were not able to see this day. So, we honour them by continuing their work, to protect and respect our corporation and its potential.
“Now that regional corporations are ready to start work, we will start seeing the results of all of that time and effort.”