Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Friendship Alliance
In 2003 the Towards Reconciliation Working Group initiated a friendship with Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council with the aim of enhancing learning and understanding of each others cultures. The project included:
- establishing an internet chat room between secondary schools;
- business mentoring; and
- planning tourism strategies that can be shared between the two communities.
In December 2006 the two Councils formally established this friendship and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote understanding and links between the two communities.
The alliance has a specific focus on education, arts and culture, infrastructure, environment, business and reconciliation.
In March 2010, Hobsons Bay City Council hosted a delegation from Yarrabah Shire Council to further strengthen its friendship alliance.
The delegation visited the Williamstown High School, Laverton P-12 College and Williamstown Festival.
About Yarrabah Shire
Yarrabah Shire is an independent Aboriginal community situated in north Queensland approximately 7km from Cairns. The area has a population of around 4,000 people.
More information about Yarrabah will be available soon at www.yarrabah.qld.gov.au
In contrast, Hobsons Bay is situated ten kilometres from Melbourne in the inner western metro region. The city covers an area of 66 kilometres with a population of over 84,000. A range of major industrial complexes in the city contribute significantly to the economy of Victoria. Find out more about Hobsons Bay and its history.
Projects and events - Yarrabah Friendship Alliance
March 2010
From 9th to 14th March 2010, Hobsons Bay City Council hosted a delegation from Yarrabah Shire Council to further strengthen its friendship alliance.
The Yarrabah delegation visited the:
- Williamstown High School;
- Laverton P-12 College;
- Williamstown Festival; and
- Hobsons Bay Civic Centre, where they conducted a dance performance for Council staff.
December 2006
The two councils officially establish their friendship alliance by signing a Memorandum of Understanding.
August 2005
The two councils were joint category winners in the Strengthening Indigenous Communities category in the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) National Awards for Local Government.
May 2005
Councillor Mary Anne Lindsay and Councillor Carl Marsich visited Yarrabah Shire Council and took a tour of community facilities and discussed matters of mutual interest with the CEO and councillors.
January 2005
A staff exchange program took place and Robin Schreiber, a librarian from Yarrabah, spent three weeks in Hobsons Bay learning about the Council's library system and how it operates.
May 2004
The Mayor of Hobsons Bay, the CEO and the Council officers visited Yarrabah to share resources and expertise on two projects - the building of a jetty and identifying and promoting new business and tourism opportunities.
Engineering staff from Hobsons Bay helped carry out a harbour study to promote access to the shire by water from Cairns.
August 2003
The Bama Ngappi Ngappi dancers and visual artists visited Hobsons Bay as part of a cultural exchange supported by the Council and the Australian Council for the Arts.
The group performed traditional dances that featured dreamtime stories from their culture and stories about native animals at schools and nursing homes in Hobsons Bay and finished their trip with a performance at a public concert in Williamstown.
The Mayor of Yarrabah Shire Council and the CEO also visited Hobsons Bay and met with the local business leaders, Tourism Victoria and Council officers. The group discussed areas of common interest including business planning, economic development and tourism trends.