|
 |
One Mile Dam Community - Background
25 years ago, on the 26th March, 1979, a Special Purpose Lease was granted, to provide a permanent place for Aboriginal people to stay when they come to Darwin. The One Mile Dam Community (also known as Railway Dam), situated within the CBD of Darwin, was formally recognised as an Aboriginal Living Area, under the auspices of the Aboriginal Development Foundation.
Historically, people from the Belyuen area had used this place for convenient living and transit, with its natural spring feeding the dam providing permanent fresh water and its location giving easy access to traditional hunting and fishing grounds near the extensive mangrove swamps surrounding Darwin. These people played a key role in the years leading up to the granting of the lease, by lobbying and protesting for a permanent area to be granted for the purposes of aboriginal living. Direct descendants of David Timber were among the people living at One Mile Dam when the lease was granted. David is now the guiding personality in the modern, ongoing existence of this historic settlement.
David has worked for a number of indigenous organisations in Darwin including Night Patrol and Sobering Up Shelter. He is currently the Coordinator of the One Mile Dam CDEP that provides some employment to residents. David is considered by all residents and visitors alike to be the "boss". He facilitates any disputes, which arise on the community, and organises accommodation for people who come to One Mile Dam. He has acted as the manager of One Mile Dam, without any formal recognition or recompense, for 16 years.
During 2003 as aboriginal people were increasingly moved away from the CBD, One Mile Dam's population increased by 300 %, from 30 people to more than 100. One Mile Dam is the only place within the city of Darwin where Aboriginal people can stay, within their cultural comfort zone and within the law. One Mile Dam provides a sanctuary for indigenous homeless people, giving an alternative to living on the streets, providing shelter and basic facilities, and functions in a way that Aboriginal people feel welcome and accepted.
Services that rely on One Mile Dam Community to provide such sanctuary include the Police and Day and Night patrol. Service providers to One Mile Dam include Centrelink, Danilla Dilba and St Vincent de Paul.
Community Development
In 2003, a core group of permanent residents
decided it was time that positive change was needed at One Mile Dam to
address various and profound health and safety issues confronting the
residents. They have sought broader community support in initiating community
development projects in a professional and coordinated way and seek specialist
assistance in planning such development. Part of this planning has included
the establishment of the Kumbutjil Association to administer community
objectives:
To undertake community development in health, housing, education, recreation,
arts, entertainment, employment and cultural renewal. To generate and
support employment opportunities and small business/enterprise of benefit
to One Mile Dam Community residents. To encourage the wider community
to participate in the development of the future of the One Mile Dam community.
To encourage and actively seek employment, within projects concerned with
the redevelopment of the area. March 2004
|
|