Ngukurr facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ngukurr Northern Territory
Ngukurr Location in Northern Territory
Population	1,056 (2011 census)
Postcode(s)	0852
Location	636 km (395 mi) SE of Darwin
LGA(s)	Roper Gulf Region
Territory electorate(s)	Arnhem
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari

Ngukurr (pronounced NUUK-ər) is a remote Aboriginal community. It is located on the banks of the Roper River in the southern part of Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

Many different Aboriginal groups and language speakers live in Ngukurr. The main language spoken here is Kriol. The Aboriginal people from the Roper River area call themselves Yugul Mangi. The town is managed by the Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (YMD). This group represents about 200 people from seven different clans.

Ngukurr was first started as the Roper River Mission in 1908. The Northern Territory Government took over in 1968. In 1988, the community gained control of the town. It was then renamed Ngukurr.

History of Ngukurr

Goodwill (ship) at Roper River in 1917.

Residents outside Roper River Mission, 1938

1886 map by John Sands

Connellan Airways at Roper River in 1948.

The town began in 1908 as the Roper River Mission. It was set up by the Church Missionary Society. One goal was to bring Christianity to local Aboriginal people. It also aimed to give them a safe place to live. This was important because white settlers were driving people off their lands. They wanted to create cattle stations for meat export. The missionaries helped protect Aboriginal people from starvation or mass killings. However, they stopped people from speaking their languages. They also banned traditional ceremonies.

Children at the mission had to live in special dormitories. Their parents and other relatives lived in different areas. In 1928, a separate area was made for people with leprosy. A big flood destroyed the mission station in 1940. Because of this, the mission moved to its current location.

During World War II, Darwin was bombed in 1942. After this, the mission children were moved away for safety. They went to New South Wales, then South Australia, and later Alice Springs.

The Welfare Branch of the Northern Territory Government started managing the town in 1968. In 1988, the community took control of the town. It was then renamed Ngukurr. The Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (YMD) was formed in 2008.

Languages Spoken in Ngukurr

The main language in Ngukurr is Kriol. About 72% of all residents speak Kriol at home. Many people in Ngukurr also have traditional Australian Aboriginal Languages as part of their heritage. These include Alawa, Marra, Warndarrang, Ngandi, Ngalakgan, Nungguyu, Ritharrngu, and Wägilak. Sadly, these traditional languages are all endangered languages.

The Ngukurr Language Centre works to keep these traditional languages alive. They run different programs to help people learn and use them. There is also a local program called Meigim Kriol Strongbala. This program supports Kriol. English is the main language used for government services. This includes health care, education, and local government.

How Ngukurr is Run

The Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation (YMD) was created in 2008. This happened after changes to the Local Government Act. These changes led to the creation of the Roper Gulf Shire. This is now known as the Roper Gulf Regional Council. YMD works closely with the Regional Council. They provide services and create job chances in Ngukurr and nearby areas. YMD represents about 300 people from the seven clans of South East Arnhem Land.

Crossing Roper Bar Music Project

In 2004, a pianist and composer named Paul Grabowsky visited Ngukurr. He wanted to meet the traditional songmen. He met with elders and heard two Wagilak songmen sing. He then asked if he could bring his orchestra back for another visit. In 2005, he returned with singers Archie Roach and his wife Ruby Hunter. Ten members of his Australian Art Orchestra also came.

They worked together for five days. Then, the musicians put on a concert in the town. The European musicians learned about the manikay (song cycles). This helped them try new ways of making music.

The project was called Crossing Roper Bar. It toured the Northern Territory. They played in Melbourne, at the National Gallery of Victoria, and the Sydney Opera House. When the group played at the 2006 Garma Festival, local Yolngu songmen were amazed. They thought those songs had been lost a long time ago. An album called Crossing Roper Bar was released in 2010.

Famous People from Ngukurr

Many notable people have connections to Ngukurr:

• Phillip Waipuldanya Roberts: He lived at the Roper River Mission. His life story became a famous book called I, the Aboriginal.
• Relton Roberts: He is an Australian rules footballer. He was born and grew up in Ngukurr. He played professionally in the Australian Football League.
• Tom E. Lewis: He was an actor and musician. He grew up at the Roper River Mission. He became famous for his role in the film The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. His mother, Angelina George, also grew up there. She and her sisters became well-known painters.
• Dexter Daniels: He helped lead a movement in the 1960s. This movement fought for Aboriginal stockmen to get equal pay. This cause was also highlighted by the famous Wave Hill walk-off.
• Reverend Canon Michael Gumbuli Wurramara (AM): He became the Northern Territory's first Indigenous Anglican priest in 1973. He was the rector of St Matthew's Anglican Church in Ngukurr.
• Cherry Wulumirr Daniels: She received a medal of the Order of Australia in 2016. This was for her service to the community. She worked as a teacher and educator. She also led a local women's Indigenous ranger group. She taught her traditional language of Ngandi.
• Djambu "Sambo" Barra Barra: Born around 1946, he is an artist and a keeper of traditional law for the Wagilak people. He lives in Ngukurr with his wife, Amy Jirwulurr Johnson, who is also a noted artist.
• Yugul blues band: This band formed in Ngukurr in 1968. They are known as the longest-running and first Aboriginal blues band in the Northern Territory.
• Ginger Riley Munduwalawala: This visual artist learned to paint in Ngukurr. His art shows the bright colours of the land.
• Lonely Boys: This six-piece guitar rock band is also from Ngukurr.

Wuyagiba and the "Bush University"

Wuyagiba is a remote community about two hours' drive from Ngukurr. It is home to the Wuyagiba Study Hub. This place is also known as the "bush university." Helen and Kevin Rogers started it four years ago. The study hub offers "two-way learning" for students. These are students who have finished year 12.

"Two-way learning" means combining different types of knowledge. Students learn academic skills needed for further study. They also learn about local culture. This includes bush medicine and bush tucker (traditional foods). Students attend classes for full days, five days a week. Each term lasts for ten weeks.