History

Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc (ARDS) was incorporated in 1973. It was originally named “The Arnhem Land Civic and Economic Development Council Incorporated” (CEDAR) which evolved from the Methodist Overseas Mission (MOM). MOM established and operated 5 missions along the north coast of Arnhem Land:

• Goulburn Island (1916)
• Milingimbi (1923)
• Yirrkala (1935)
• Croker Island (1941)
• Elcho (1942)

The small towns of Ramingining and Gapu-wiyak were established as “out” stations from Milingimbi and Elcho Missions, however were not recognised as mission stations under the federal government welfare act.

In the 1967 Referendum the Aboriginal people of Australia were recognised as true citizens and gained citizenship rights for the first time under the Australian constitution. They were no longer wards of the state, forcibly removed from their land by government legislation and placed under Australian Government protection on missions and government settlements.

After the Referendum, a new era emerged in Arnhem Land. The control of the mission stations was transferred to the people. MOM became the Uniting Church and established CEDAR as part of a clear strategy to facilitate the transfer of mission station assets to the Yolŋu people. CEDAR was renamed Aboriginal Advisory and Development Services (AADS) in 1974 to emphasise the developmental work being undertaken.

AADS was clearly seen as a community development organisation helping in the development of Yolŋu and Bining (Aboriginal people of north east-Arnhem Land) as they moved to take over the communities and to develop their traditional estates.

In 1974 the Uniting Church conducted extensive consultation with Yolŋu throughout Arnhem Land communities. They wanted to find out from the people how they felt about their situation and relationship with the Uniting Church. This had been a very long relationship dating back to 1918 when MOM first arrived in Arnhem Land. Discussions were in Yolŋu languages, answers recorded in Djambarrpuyŋu language and then translated into English. The outcome was the report “Free to Decide” which then provided the future direction for AADS.

AADS was instrumental in the establishment of numerous organisations to support the ongoing development for Yolŋu such as:

Through these endeavors AADS gained extensive knowledge and understanding of what did and did not work with the Yol ŋu people in Arnhem Land.

The AADS membership changed to Yolŋu only members in the 1980’s. At this time the Committee were Yolŋu and Bining members. In 1984 the Committee decided to change the name from AADS to Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc (ARDS). The ARDS Executive was also established consisting of UACC and NRCC ministers at this time.

In 1994, ARDS re-commenced Cultural awareness training programs for non-Yolŋu people. ARDS was educating Yolŋu in economic literacy as Yolŋu wanted to operate their own businesses and generate their own income. In 1995, because of the high death rate in north-east Arnham land which was 4.5 times the national average, it was decided that ARDS would concentrate on health education. As stated by the Rev. Dr. Djiniyini Gondarra, the CEO at the time: "If we do not educate people around health, there will not be many people left to do legal and economic literacy education with. I am tired of standing beside a newly opened grave, day in, day out."

2000

• The book "Why Warriors Lay Down and Die" was written in 2000 at the request of the ARDS Chief Executive Officer, Djiṉiyiṉi Gondarra at the time. The book was written to try and provide some insight into why the Aboriginal people of Arnhem Land were facing the greatest crisis in health and education since European contact. Written by Richard Trudgen and developed with the assistance of ARDS, the book has become an invaluable tool in bringing about a new sense of understanding between indigenous people and mainstream culture.

• In the same year, ARDS released its first video production in the Yolŋu Matha language, entitled “Scabiespuy Dhäwu.” This production allowed people to hear vital medical information about Scabies in their own language for the first time on video.

2002

• Yolŋu Radio was established providing access to information, self-learning and adult education for the Yolŋu people of north-east Arnhem Land. Yolŋu Radio broadcasts on 1530 AM in Darwin and Palmerston.

• Aboriginal Interpreter Service extended its contract with ARDS to enable mentoring of health interpreters based at Royal Darwin hospital 5 mornings per week.

• Funding was received from our various sponsors to continue developmental work on key projects such as:

• educational programs around Stronger Families and Communities Strategy in Yolŋu Matha for broadcast on Yolŋu Radio
• documenting the endangered intellectual language Gurrangay Matha
• educational materials for the “Tough on Drugs” initiative
• Rom ga Dharra as part of the National Community Crime Prevention Program, researching and developing educational materials and audio programs in Yolŋu Matha for broadcast on Yolŋu Radio
• development of an English to Yolŋu Matha Health Dictionary (Anatomy)

• April 2004 – The Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) approved ARDS application for temporary Community Broadcast Licences (TCBL) to broadcast via AM signal in Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Galiwin’ku, Ramingining, Gapuwiyak and Groote Eylandt.

• May 2004 – ARDS commenced broadcasting a test transmission of the Yolŋu Radio in Darwin and Nhulunbuy on AM frequency 1530 kHz.

• November 2004 – Yolŋu Radio transmitted via Imparja satellite making it available through BRACS units across the Top End and commenced a roll out of transmission sites in various homelands throughout north-east Arnhem Land

2005

• “Laws of the Clan Nations” was released to a wider Australian public for the first time ever. Some of the fundamental traditional laws of the Clan Nations were recorded in English and documented.

• ARDS Patient Health Educator Service at Royal Darwin Hospital spoke with approximately 2900 Yolŋu and conducted approximately 1900 education sessions on wide ranging health issues, helping Yolŋu make sense of their conditions and treatment options.

• ARDS released the “Cross Cultural and Cross Language Indigenous Education” DVD which provided an overview of ARDS methodology, presented by Richard Trudgen.

2006

• Launch of the new look ARDS website in January, including the ability to play audio educational programs, with numerous Flash animations providing further information. Since its inception, the ARDS website has steadily grown in popularity and receives on average 350 visitors a day.

• Launch of Rombuy Dhäwu website at www.rombuy.com.au. This was the first website available in Yolŋu Matha language, explaining various legal terms with audio samples and animations.

2007

• September 2007 - Yolŋu Radio goes live with a talkback show running daily between 9.30am - midday

• Continued expansion on germ theory and health literacy education

• Intensive diabetes education through Iron Story and other educational resources developed around diabetes

• Rheumatic Heart Disease Education in the homeland villages and ongoing development of educational resources

• Documenting languages and developing dictionaries is ongoing

• Interactive Dictionary launched on ARDS Website

• ARDS released a range of educational DVD’s in the Yolŋu Matha language with subtitles. These DVD’s include:

• “PDpuy Rakipuy Dhäwu” (Peritoneal Dialysis Tube Story) - currently unavailable

This DVD gives Yolŋu people on dialysis a ready reference to use when switching from Renal Dialysis on machines to Dialysis via saline bags at home. In practice, this allows sufferers from renal failure to stay living on their own community instead of moving into bigger centres with access to expensive dialysis machines.

• “Ḏoṯurrkpuy Dhäwu” (Heart Story) - not for public sale

This DVD gives an in-depth explanation in Yolŋu Matha with subtitles on Heart Disease and operations to treat Heart Disease.

• “Djamarrkuḻi’ Raypirri” (Childhood Discipline)

Traditional elders giving information on discipline of children according to traditional law.

• “Gulaŋbuy dälkunhawuy weyika” Blood Strengthening Element (iron)

Explaining where iron in our food comes from and what it does in our body to try and address a chronic problem with iron deficiency anaemia amongst Yolŋu people.

2008

ARDS releases The Heart of the Matter DVD - Learning the process of Rheumatic Heart Disease Education. The DVD is a resource for health professionals to assist in education abour Rheumatic Heart Disease with Aboriginal people. Currently rates of Rheumatic Heart Disease amongst Aboriginal people in Australia are the worst in the world.

ARDS Releases the "Absence of Mutual Respect" Legal Report. This is a groundbreaking report on legal problems faced by Yolŋu people and the confusion they face

Help is needed:

We would be very happy to hear from anyone that has information, photos or film to help us truly document the history of ARDS and the developments that occurred in Arnhem Land throughout this period. This material could be used to help develop this History page on our website.

We are also looking at the possibility of creating a photo deposit for our Yolŋu members where they can access photos of their relatives and development in their communities.

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