EDITION 1 2013

TRAINING THE NEXT THERE’S NO MAPPING CROP OF WILDLIFE ABORIGINAL WORD THE ROAD TO WARRIORS FOR CANCER MOTHERHOOD

ORIGINS EDITION 1 2013

FEATURES 6 Welcoming in new era of Indigenous education 8 Training the next crop of wildlife warriors 11 Outback chef’s recipe for C success 12 Menzies spreads word on nutrition in Timor-Leste O 14 Endangered Indigenous literature finds a safe home 17 N Search for secrets of river sharks and sawfish 19 The age of Northern T Australia’s oil and gas boom 22 There’s no Aboriginal word for cancer E 24 Mapping the road to motherhood 28 N Modern hunter–gatherer pursues passion for law REGULARS T 3 From the Vice-Chancellor 4 Snapshot S 26 Q & A 29 Publishing achievements 30 CDU Art Collection 31 Common Ground art exhibition 32 Limited Edition Origins magazine is produced by Charles Darwin University’s Office of Media, Advancement and Community Engagement (MACE). MACE is grateful to the following people CONTRIBUTORS for their contributions and assistance in compiling this edition: Ana Paula Araujo, Suzanne Belton, Margo Bell, Cathy Bow, Kate Buckley, Michael Christie, Peter Clouting, AMY KIMBER Liane Collins, Brian Devlin, Ingolf Eigenwillig, Amy Kimber is the Communications Rohan Fisher, Susan Foster, Gail Garvey, Coordinator for the Northern Australia Waymamba Gaykamanu, Chloe Geraghty, hub of the National Environmental Jasmine Jan, Krishnan Kannoorpatti, Research Program. The hub’s goal is Chris Knight, Peter Kyne, Ken Lechleitner, to improve biodiversity conservation Dianne McCarthy, Bronwyn Myers, Tania across Australia’s wet-dry tropics. In Paul, Jennifer Pinkerton, Samantha Saynor, this edition, Amy examines the largest Andrew Spiers, Patricia Valery freshwater fish in the world, the critically endangered largetooth sawfish. Opinions and views expressed in this edition do not necessarily reflect those of Charles Darwin University. LOUISE ERRINGTON Reproduction of material from Origins Media Officer Louise Errington, in requires written permission from Robyn her first edition as an Origins writer, McDougall, [email protected]. reveals how maps can help reduce West Published June 2013 Timor’s very high number of maternal and neonatal deaths, and takes a walk This edition is also available at: on the wild side with Conservation and www.cdu.edu.au/mace Land Management students in the Top CRICOS Provider No. 00300K End. RTO Provider No. 0373

Editor: Robyn McDougall Project manager: Connie de Silva Designer: R.T.J. Klinkhamer LEANNE COLEMAN Printer: Newstyle Printing In this edition, science communicator and staff writer Leanne Coleman looks into some cutting-edge research dedicated to solving corrosion-related damage that costs industry trillions of dollars annually worldwide. She also talks to a team of linguists who use modern technology to throw a lifeline to endangered Indigenous literature, Text face: Centennial ensuring its preservation for future Display face: Pluto Sans generations. This is Leanne’s sixth Origins is printed from vegetable-based edition writing for Origins. inks and 98% of waste and by-products of the process have been recycled into paper products, alternative fuels and PATRICK NELSON miscellaneous materials. Based at the Alice Springs campus, staff writer Patrick Nelson has been writing The paper used in this edition of Origins about Territorians, telling their stories has been manufactured under the and taking their photos for the past 30 environmental management system ISO years. In this edition, Patrick explores 14001 using Elemental Chlorine Free (EFC) cookery lecturer Ingolf Eigenwillig’s pulp sourced from sustainable, well- “Outback classroom”, and catches managed forests. up with mature-age law student Ken Cover and inside cover images Lechleitner for a chat about his learning Photographer: Fiona Morrison journey and ambitions.

2 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 he pioneering spirit that inspired and delivered a stand-alone FROM THE university to the remote Northern Pioneering VICE- TTerritory community almost 25 years CHANCELLOR ago continues to be refl ected in the work on our campuses today. Now that its spirit still at roots are planted fi rmly in the ancient soils of the Territory, the university is even more focused on working with business, government and communities work in Top End to advance our region. The results are quite remarkable. Since the last edition of Origins, the university has opened the North You will read about both these ventures Australian Centre for Oil and Gas in this edition of Origins. You also will (NACOG), which is located on Casuarina discover how CDU researchers are using campus. The $7 million centre mapping techniques to reduce maternal houses facilities for research and mortality in West Timor; the lifeline training for the Northern Territory’s that is being extended to endangered burgeoning oil and gas industry. Much Indigenous literature through a living of CDU’s development is the result archive project; and the intriguing of partnerships, and this building is fi ndings about river sharks and the no exception. NACOG was built with sawfi sh. support from the NT Government and I hope you enjoy this taste the oil and gas industry through INPEX, of CDU. Total and other participants in the Ichthys LNG Project Joint Venture. The facility signals a new phase in the development of the university by enabling us to expand our education, training and research capabilities. It also means that we are at the forefront of developing a locally based workforce for the Territory’s resources sector. We are also researching some of the complex problems experienced by the oil and gas industry. And just a few months ago, we welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard on to Casuarina campus to open the $30 million Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education. This spectacular complex is a collaborative venture between CDU and the Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education, and focuses on diversifying and broadening access to higher education for Indigenous people. It is the largest building of its type in an Australian university and was built with the support of the Australian Government.

Professor Barney Glover Vice-Chancellor

3 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Mawul Rom Board Co-Chairs Reverend Dr Djiniyini Gondarra OAM and Rose Guywanga.

SNAPSHOT

FACILITY TO SUPPORT RESOURCES INDUSTRY LAW STUDIES GAINS NEW The $7 million North Australian Centre HEAD AND for Oil and Gas (NACOG), a research STATUS and training facility for the Northern Territory’s burgeoning oil and gas Legal studies in the Northern Territory industry, is operating on Casuarina has reached a milestone with the HISTORIC campus. appointment of a new Head of Law at AGREEMENT Opened by the former NT Chief Minister CDU and the development of a stand- RECOGNISES Terry Mills, the cutting-edge facility alone School of Law. TWO LAWS was built with support from the NT After several years abroad, Professor Government, INPEX, Total and other Charles Darwin University and the Ned Aughterson has returned to the participants in the Ichthys LNG Project Mawul Rom Board have signed a Territory to take the helm of the School Joint Venture. historic agreement that brings together of Law. and recognises Madayin Law of the NACOG houses teaching and training Professor Aughterson brings to the Dhurili Nation in East Arnhem Land facilities for both VET and Higher position 30 years’ experience as a and Australian Law. Education. scholar, academic and practising lawyer. The agreement follows a decade of It will encourage more students to As the Foundation Dean of Law at the detailed negotiations between the consider careers in the resources Northern Territory University from 1990 Yolngu peoples of East Arnhem Land sector and will help to expand the to 1996, he was responsible for setting and senior academics at CDU. local workforce. up the NT’s fi rst law faculty before it The agreement formally underpins the The centre also boosts the university’s transitioned to CDU. University’s partnership with the Mawul research capabilities with two Taking back the reins as Head of Law Rom Board in the delivery of a Masters laboratories for conducting solution- at CDU, Professor Aughterson said the of Indigenous Knowledges (Mawul Rom). oriented research and consultancy for newly formed School would focus on the oil and gas industry. The program involves cross-cultural broadening the learning experience of education and training in dispute and The Multiphase Flow Laboratory houses students. confl ict resolution, and decision-making a PVT cell, and places CDU at the “There is a shift towards the and leadership utilising Indigenous forefront of research into CO2 mitigation globalisation of legal education, traditional and non-Indigenous ways of during oil and gas production and so that lawyers are comfortable in learning. power generation. operating on the international stage Already, the program boasts more The second laboratory houses material and across jurisdictions,” he said. “But than 20 graduates, and more than 100 and testing equipment for research into in the Northern Territory we students are enrolled this prevention and control issues facing should also look year. The graduates will the oil and gas industry in Northern to enhancing be well placed to become Australia with industry partners understanding accredited mediators and Incospec and Associates. of traditional leaders in cross- Indigenous law.” cultural contexts.

The new North Professor Ned Australian Aughterson returns Centre for to the Northern Oil and Gas Territory to lead the on Casuarina School of Law. campus.

4 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Horticulture lecturer Tania Paul is working to assist women in Papua New Guinea to develop their leadership skills TURTLE DIVES to improve food security. BACK INTO WILD AFTER “Lifting the leadership capacity of UNI STAY women in key roles will help improve food security on a wide scale, and in the long-term infl uence policy and funding A 50-kg Flatback Turtle rehabilitated decisions for the benefi t of women,” she at CDU’s Aquaculture Centre has been said. released into the wild, fi tted with a satellite transmitter to monitor its progress. The turtle, thought to be more than 20 years old, was given a new lease on life with the help of the ARK Animal Hospital and was released by Department of Land and Resource CDU RECEIVES Management on a high tide at Lee Point $21 MILLION TO BUILD in Darwin. VET TRAINING HUB A concerned member of the public rescued the Flatback Turtle from Cape Work is under way on a state-of-the- Hotham late last year where it was art VET training facility on Casuarina found “fl oating”, a term describing a PNG WOMEN campus after the Federal Government build-up of air or gas that prevents the STEP UP awarded it more than $21 million to animal from diving to feed. TO ENSURE build the complex. FOOD Aquaculture technician Kathy Kellam The training facility will house SECURITY said the turtle was one of several being plumbing, electrotechnology, rehabilitated at the Aquaculture Centre. instrumentation, refrigeration, oil and A new capacity development project gas industry operations, and in the will assist Papua New Guinean women “The turtles rescued are diagnosed future, environmental trades. and treated by staff at the ARK who work in agriculture to develop Animal Hospital before being moved their leadership skills and knowledge to It will allow CDU to further develop new to big saltwater tanks at CDU for improve food security. and existing programs in trade areas rehabilitation,” Ms Kellam said. and is expected to produce an extra 750 The collaborative project is supported VET graduates a year at Certifi cate III by a $500,000 grant from AusAID and “The saltwater tanks at our facility level and above. enable the turtles to readjust to the is being coordinated by trainers from saltwater environment, assisting with CDU, alongside the National Agricultural The project will provide targeted fi nal recovery, and improve their Research Institute and the PNG pathways and educational support for condition to get them ready for release.” Women in Agriculture for Development Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation. people, recent migrants and refugees in To check the turtle’s progress, a satellite skills relevant to the liquefi ed natural Horticulture lecturer Tania Paul said transmitter has been fi tted to it by gas, energy and resources, and personal more than 85 per cent of food in PNG Kiki Dethmers, a marine biodiversity services sectors. Research Fellow working with the North was grown by women, who played a key Australian Marine Research Alliance. role in improving food security for their The complex will be completed in The transmitter provides valuable data families and communities. 2014. to contribute towards conservation Parliamentary Secretary for “PNG has many talented women in efforts. Training Sharon Bird and Vice- the agricultural public sector who Chancellor Professor Barney are delivering improvements in Glover view the plans for the agriculture, but often lack resources trades training facility. and opportunities to develop skills in leadership and decision-making,” Ms Paul said. “The aim of the project is to run workshops to provide professional and personal development opportunities for women in leadership Research Fellow working with the North and decision-making Australian Marine Research Alliance Kiki Dethmers attaches a satellite transmitter to roles in the agricultural monitor the rehabilitated turtle’s progress. sector.

5 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 TEXT Robyn McDougall IMAGES Fiona Morrison SNAPSHOT

WELCOMING IN NEW ERA OF INDIGENOUS EDUCATION

Looking towards the central ceremonial space, which is bordered by water features.

6 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 he world’s oldest living culture ACIKE has a mandate to diversify Above: Up close with a One Mob and 21st Century technology and broaden Indigenous people’s dancer. and design have come together participation in higher education, policy Above left: Prime Minister Julia Gillard T is flanked by CDU Vice-Chancellor in a spectacular $30 million complex development, employment, wealth Professor Barney Glover (left) and that will be at the centre of Indigenous generation and business development. Adrian Mitchell, Director of the education and research in Australia. Located at CDU’s Casuarina campus Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, as they watch the The Australian Centre for Indigenous on Darwin’s northern beaches, One Mob dance group perform at the Knowledges and Education (ACIKE), ACIKE is the largest building of its ACIKE opening. which was opened recently by type in any university in the country. Prime Minister Julia Gillard, is a Its teaching and research program One Mob dance group takes to collaboration between two Northern is multidisciplinary and includes the open air ceremonial space of Territory institutions at the forefront of fields of Indigenous knowledges and the $30 million complex. Indigenous education: Charles Darwin other general disciplines such as University and the Batchelor Institute of nursing, education and arts at both Indigenous Tertiary Education. undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The celebrations to mark the opening of ACIKE spanned a week and included the two-day Charles Darwin Symposium 2013 entitled “Indigenous Knowledges In a Changing World”. The Symposium included a community showcase of business enterprises that are growing from traditional knowledge systems, and a day of discussion and Professor Steve Larkin, Pro Vice- presentations involving Chancellor Indigenous Leadership Indigenous academics from and Director of ACIKE, welcomes Australia and New Zealand, visitors to Casuarina campus. and Indigenous elders.

Part of the $30 million Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Education on Casuarina campus.

At the ready to offer a Territory The Kooey Fashion Parade contributes welcome at the Charles Darwin colour to the showcase of Indigenous Symposium are (from left) Jess O’Keefe, business enterprises. 7 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Sierra Bath and Trisha Mellow. Vocational Education and Training lecturers ANDREW SPIERS and SAMANTHA SAYNOR lead a group of Conservation and Land Management students on an annual four-week biodiversity study in the Territory Wildlife Park collecting research information.

An orchid (Dendrobium affine) growing on a cycad (Cycas armstrogii ) is a rare sight, something that can occur only in areas that have remained unburnt for a long time.

Only a juvenile, this orb-weaving spider (Araneomorph) has spun a fine-meshed web that is difficult for its prey to spot and it lies in wait in the lacelike, innermost wheel to disguise itself.

TEXT Louise Errington IMAGES Fiona Morrison

Training the next crop of wildlife warriors

8 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 t is 5.15 am and a busload of bleary-eyed CDU students has just Iarrived at the Territory Wildlife Park. At this time of day, there are no excited tourists, the sky is dark, the Aside from being one of the Top End’s temperature a balmy 26ºC, and the only most popular tourist attractions, the sound comes from treading on damp 400-hectare Territory Wildlife Park is leaves. a research and education hub. It is the perfect venue where the next crop of This is a classroom with a difference. conservation scientists and researchers Vocational Education and can hone their skills. Training lecturers Andrew Each year’s class combs the Spiers and Samantha We want our same 30.9-hectare area of Saynor are leading a eucalypt forest to collect group of Certifi cate IV students to do baseline data. This vital and Diploma real projects and information allows Conservation and Territory Wildlife Park Land Management produce real management to conduct students on a four-week reports for real comparative studies biodiversity study in the a few years down the park. clients. track to understand any “It’s the best time of the day changes in biodiversity for checking our mammal traps,” among small mammals, Mr Spiers said. Throughout reptiles, invertebrates, The leaves of the the morning, spirited bursts amphibians and birds that insectivorous Sundew of chatter erupt out of make their way into the enclosures, plant, (Drosera sp), as well as fl ora that occur naturally in sparkle in the sun due to the bushland, signalling a the sticky gum that lays thrilling new discovery. the area. an alluring but deadly In collecting the data, students gain trap for its prey. “The most exciting fi nd last night was a sugar glider. We don’t see many because hands-on experience with camera they often lose their habitats to fi re. and live-animal trapping, identifying They are reliant on hollows, which are plant and animal species, navigation, easily burnt,” Mr Spiers said. “Today we spotlighting, and litter searches, found a juvenile frill-necked lizard. You resulting in a Biological Survey Report don’t see them around here very often and Management Plan. since the cane toads arrived.” “We want our students to do real projects and produce real reports for real clients,” Mr Spiers said. “They Of the Polygala species, have to work in teams and fi nd ways of these delicate flowers only getting on with one another and make appear in the Wet season. the best use of the talents in the group. In the professional world, you always work in a group to do biosurveys and management plans. Our students get a taste of this and are assessed on how well they perform in a team situation.” Artistic/Narrative Coordinator at the Territory Wildlife Park, Jasmine Jan praised the relationship between the Park and CDU that produces graduates with real industry expertise. “The CDU students have access to Park staff with diverse backgrounds, who can teach them correct and safe wildlife warriors animal handling techniques, as well as identifi cation techniques that are used in real fi eld situations,” she said. The pre-dawn start at the Park might be a test for some of the students, but it is a cracking way to gain an advantage in launching a career working with wildlife.

9 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 SuSaN aDJuSTS HEr FOCuS TO THE ENVIrONmENT

After 15 years of working in social “Throughout my studies I was able to welfare, Susan Foster needed some time combine my two passions: botany and out and moved into a caretaking job at photography,” Susan said. “You need a large property near Darwin River in to include high-quality photographs the NT. The land-management units at in management plans for species CDU, which she undertook to become a identifi cation and to understand any more skilled manager of the property, changes in biodiversity over time. ignited a deep interest in the discipline. Photography is a very powerful tool in She soon decided to continue studying speaking on behalf of the environment.” at diploma level. Following the training pathway, A keen photographer, Susan has always Susan enrolled in CDU’s Bachelor of After completing a Diploma in Conservation and Land Management, used plants as subjects. So it was a Environmental Science. “I don’t see student Susan Foster has enrolled in a natural progression that she readily myself as a traditional ranger – lighting Bachelor of Environmental Science. volunteered to join the team responsible fi res, poisoning weeds and chasing pigs. for the botanical biodiversity survey, reserves, as well as provide publication “When I graduate, I’d like to be which is part of the overarching report and media support. I hope I can play a able to combine photography and and land management plan for the role in communicating the importance environmental science to create Territory Wildlife Park. of the natural environment and saving interpretive displays in parks and what we have.”

When dealing with one of the most feisty of rodents, correct technique can save the handler from the powerful teeth of the Black-footed Tree Rat (Mesembriomys gouldii).

The Black-footed Tree Rat is sedated under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Former Conservation and Land A Black-footed Tree Rat in a captive Management student Susan Foster program is weighed to track its is shown correct animal handling development. techniques by lecturer Andrew Spiers.

rOOKIES maKE aNCIENT DISCOVEry

Plant biodiversity studies are a key place like Darwin, where everything is component of the students’ work at the so transient and seemingly temporary Territory Wildlife Park. Through their because of our harsh weather meticulous measurements and species conditions. We are hoping to fi nd out identifi cation, they have discovered a what our woodland should consist of, small pocket of cycad and stringybark and how to keep it that way,” he said. forest that has been spared from the ravages of fi re and cyclones for decades, Lecturer in Conservation and Land seeing it classed as old growth forest. Management, Andrew Spiers leads Certificate IV and Diploma students on Lecturer Andrew Spiers could not be their journey to becoming the NT’s next happier. “This is an incredible fi nd for a crop of wildlife warriors.

10 OrIgINS 1 / 2013 Outback chef’s

recipe for success TEXT Patrick Nelson IMAGES Patrick Nelson

my father’s side. It’s no surprise that I ended up teaching cookery,” he said. Now CDU’s Central Australian Commercial Cookery lecturer, Ingolf received superb training in Europe. He completed a three-year apprenticeship as a pastry chef, and worked in West Berlin hotels and in Kaufhaus des Westens (or KaDeWe), continental Europe’s largest upmarket department store, where the sixth floor Ingolf Eigenwillig on a accommodated an expansive food court. red sand dune en route to Yulara. “It is where you would go to buy anything and everything from around the world. I was one of 55 pastry chefs working there, preparing food for six restaurants, It runs in the including a very high- class fine-dining silver ngolf Eigenwillig family. There are The harsh Central service restaurant.” has one of the professional cooks Australian Outback Ibiggest “offices” Adventurous by in the Northern and teachers on my nature, Ingolf and has been kind to Territory. While father’s side. It’s his wife Renate his desk is located moved to Sydney the highly skilled next to the Desert no surprise that I in 1983, without pastry chef and CDU Lantern training ended up teaching a word of English restaurant on the Alice between them. commercial cookery Springs campus, his cookery. The couple soon lecturer INGOLF workplace extends 500 km found themselves in north to Tennant Creek and the heart of Australia, EIGENWILLIG. nearly as far to Yulara in the where Ingolf began south-west. working in the then brand- new Alice Springs Sheraton. It contrasts with the strict confines of his native East “Alice is a nice place to live and work. Germany, from where the young Ingolf Opportunities have opened up from time and his parents escaped on 12 August to time, which I have grabbed with both 1961, just one day before construction hands.” began on the infamous Berlin Wall. Ingolf has been the Central Australian After some time “as a refugee in Commercial Cookery lecturer for the [my] own country”, the family settled past decade. He estimates that work has in southern Germany where Ingolf taken him to Uluru 40 times in the past followed in the footsteps of both sides of eight years. “Sometimes the driving is his family. He recalls, as a child, helping tedious, but I always find the landscape his mother bake cakes and make to be incredible,” he said, referring to The road ahead for Ingolf Eigenwillig, heading west on the long and lonely sweets. “It runs in the family. There the desert dunes, the blue sky, the age Lasseter Highway to Yulara. are professional cooks and teachers on of the geology and the vast distances.

11 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 MENZIES SPREADS WORD ON NUTRITION IN TIMOR Vegetation, Timor-Leste LESTE

The MENZIES SCHOOL OF There is a strong sense HEALTH of optimism Dietician Margo Bell (left) RESEARCH takes and Timorese nutritionist in health Ana Paula Araujo unpack on the crisis in professionals in fruit and vegetables during the Alice Springs Hospital nutrition in Timor- Timor-Leste. nutrition program. Leste.

imor-Leste’s long struggle for Margo Bell, a women and children”, Ms Bell and her independence has been well clinical dietician husband, Clive, leapt at the opportunity documented and analysed over with Alice to observe the program and visit the T national hospital. the past decade. But one issue that has Springs Hospital, first worked with East flown largely under the global radar is Timorese when a group of Timorese “I had always taken a keen interest in the country’s alarming problem with nutritionists visited the hospital recently. Timor-Leste, given the recent political nutrition. She is now one of a growing number of events,” she said. “It just so happened health professionals helping to address In August 1999, the East Timorese that our visit coincided with the in- the desperate nutrition situation people voted overwhelmingly in favour country module, and I was invited to experienced by Australia’s northern of independence from Indonesia attend one of their day sessions.” neighbour Timor-Leste, located 720 km during a United Nations–sponsored north west of Darwin. The course, supported by AusAID referendum. The lead-up to the polls and through the Australia Leadership its aftermath, however, were marked by “To say the country’s nutritional Awards Fellowships program and widespread violence during which the services are in a poor state would be a The Fred Hollows Foundation, was health system was devastated. major understatement,” Ms Bell said. developed by Menzies for nutrition “Malnutrition rates have not improved Since becoming an independent nation partners working in remote Australian in the last eight years.” in May 2002, the government, assisted Indigenous communities as well as in by a raft of organisations, has faced the When a recent visit to Timor-Leste Asia and the Pacific region. enormous challenge of rehabilitating its coincided with an in-country component Ms Bell said that malnutrition, stunting health sector, virtually from scratch. That of the Menzies School of Health and wasting among all demographics assistance has come from far and wide, Research (Menzies) short course continued to be a major challenge for including from Alice Springs in Central entitled “Nutrition and food security – the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health. One Australia. approaches to improving the health of

12 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 TEXT IMAGES Richmond Hodgson Chloe Geraghty Images from Timor-Leste supplied by Tania Paul

Village water pump, Timor-Leste

out of every three adolescent women But what seems like a hopeless situation planning options using foods easily in the country was malnourished, is in fact just the opposite. “There is accessible in Timor-Leste. while almost one in every five women certainly a strong sense of optimism “These practical observations and had anaemia (deficiency of red blood in health professionals in Timor-Leste, professional placements with Australian cells). Evidence-based information which is mirrored through the country’s hospital dieticians will enhance the now indicated that women’s nutritional broader population. They certainly ability of the Timorese nutritionists to status has the potential to contribute to have a long way to go in addressing improve the delivery of health services a cycle of under nutrition resulting in their malnutrition problems, but they’ve in hospitals – especially management low birth weight and undernourished come so far,” Ms Bell said. of severe malnutrition of children – and children. She said that a recent visit to Alice to improve continuous care, from the As part of her visit to Timor-Leste, Springs Hospital by Timorese hospital hospital to home communities,” she Ms Bell toured the national hospital nutritionists provided a further said. to witness firsthand the challenges opportunity to develop the capacity of Ms Bell said it would be great to see that Timorese nutritionists faced on the nutritionists to work with families the Menzies’ short course continue a daily basis. “Staff have to feed in and encourage good health and irrespective of the programs being excess of 350 patients with only the nutrition practices. implemented in Timor-Leste. “The very basic in resources available,” she “We placed a particular emphasis aim is to help these senior Timorese said. “They face an entirely different on developing an adult malnutrition nutritionists develop transferable skills, set of challenges such as ensuring the screening tool outside the use of broaden their knowledge, skills and availability of electricity. They’ve started everyday resources such as scales and clinical nutrition experience to apply in from such a limited knowledge base other digital devices because these just Timor-Leste settings and to train other with few skills to treat massive amounts aren’t available. We also focused on Timorese nutritionists,” she said. of malnutrition.” food service and highly nutritional menu

13 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Professor of Education and project Language specialists leader Michael Christie said that MICHAEL CHRISTIE during the era of bilingual education in the NT (1973 to 2000), more and BRIAN DEVLIN than 4000 books, recordings and are leading a web- audiovisual materials in excess of 25 languages were produced in based project to 20 Literature Production Centres. breathe life into more “Almost 40 years on, much of this Endangered literature is endangered and the than 25 Australian texts are vulnerable,” Professor Indigenous Indigenous languages Christie said. As valuable tools chronicling literature through a unique Indigenous cultural heritage, living archive of the topics of these stories range from environmental knowledge to finds a endangered literature. traditional practices, oral literature, ethno-botany and history. safe home ith many Australian “It was part of an international Indigenous languages and movement to allow children to begin TEXT literature under threat, a reading and writing in their own Leanne Coleman W languages at school,” Professor Christie team of dedicated researchers has travelled thousands of kilometres said. IMAGES throughout the Northern Territory, “Thousands of books and other Fiona Morrison working to preserve more than 4000 school materials were produced in Indigenous stories. whatever tools Australian Indigenous languages by were available.” For thousands of years, traditional Aboriginal people, in collaboration stories have been the vehicles through with staff in school bilingual education Realising the texts were which Indigenous Australians have programs across the NT. Many were vulnerable, Professor Christie passed knowledge and language from traditional elders who were interested and CDU Associate Professor in one generation to the next. Now the in bilingual education because it would Bilingual Education Brian Devlin set internet is providing an interface not allow their children to learn both up the “Living Archive of Aboriginal only to help Indigenous people preserve traditional Indigenous knowledge and Languages” project, aiming to build a some of these stories, but also to mainstream Australian knowledge. digital archive of endangered literature provide an educational and research Although often illiterate themselves, in collaboration with the language- resource for academics and the broader they were committed to the possibility owning communities. With more community. of preserving their knowledge using than 4000 titles on their list the team,

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Waymamba Gaykamaŋu, originally from audio files of her father’s stories in Milingimbi, 440 km east of Darwin, the Gupapuyŋu language to add to the remembers her father telling the story repository. about the Makassan fishermen he met “The books were compiled in the as a boy. As he told it, Waymamba’s community schools to help teach the father was standing with his uncle children how to read and write in fishing off Howard Island, east of their own language,” she said. “The Milingimbi. They were approached by community got together and some a Makassan captain named Gätji , who ŋ people told the stories in language, gave Waymamba’s father the Makassan while others recorded them or name Garra Ma alay. “It was the name ŋ illustrated them with pictures. of a city from far away; maybe from Waymamba Gaykamaŋu is where the Makassan was from,” she working with the team to record “This archive is very important, not only said. “He kept that name because it was audio files of her father’s stories to Yolŋgu Indigenous people, but also given to him. He kept it until the day he in the Gupapuyŋu language. the whole Indigenous community, to passed on.” keep their language and culture strong.” formed the first Yolŋgu studies group Eight of her father’s stories, published This story and others told by her father and taught language and culture for between the mid-1970s and the late are included in the archive. Waymamba, more than 20 years at CDU. She is 1980s, will feature in the archive. alongside Professor Michael Christie, now working with the team to record

14 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 15 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 SOUND A KEY TO ARCHIVE

A speaker of the Yolŋgu language concept of language shift, which Dr Gumatj, Associate Professor Brian Devlin recognised as an integral part Devlin has worked in applied of language research. In his doctoral linguistics in the NT for more than 30 thesis at Columbia University, entitled years. Having been employed in the “Language Maintenance in a Northeast Indigenous communities of Yirrkala and Arnhem Land Settlement”, Dr Devlin Galiwin’ku during the bilingual era as found that many traditional clan a teacher-linguist and school principal, languages were giving way to a common Dr Devlin is a chief investigator of peer-group vernacular spoken by the “Living Archive of Aboriginal Indigenous youth. Languages” project alongside Professor “Language shift is occurring in many Michael Christie. He has seized the communities,” he said. “Although the opportunity to bring these important elders expect the children to grow up historical records to life using 21st speaking traditional clan languages, the Century technology. large communities and their schools “Back in the early ’80s, we recorded Associate Professor Brian Devlin have brought Indigenous children the stories using typewriters and basic has worked in the field of applied together from different clans. In printing equipment,” he said. “This linguistics in the NT for more these situations, often the traditional than 30 years. [Living Archive] project provides us with languages have been forsaken and a great opportunity to make the archive replaced with a modern alternative “We have also started working on the as interactive as possible by combining spoken and understood by all. development of e-books, which use the text and images with sound, so that historical audio recordings of elders “As part of this project, we also hope those using the archive will be able to telling traditional stories or recordings to record the variety of Indigenous hear how the words are pronounced in that have been collected by the languages, and the stories that surround language. Indigenous children will be Living Archive team as they travelled this evolution and language shift. able to listen to the recording and read throughout the NT in search of books.” The archive will include traditional along with some of the stories. Indigenous and modern Indigenous One such recording was of an languages.” Indigenous elder talking about the

including project manager linguist Cathy “Many of the schools and literacy of materials to preserve language. Bow, staff from the Australian National centres had well-catalogued collections, It also aimed to engage academics University and the Northern Territory but we also found books in dusty sheds and the wider community. “The web- Government, began a year-long search, covered in spider-webs and piled up in based archive will enable researchers travelling thousands of kilometres wheelie bins,” she said. nationally and internationally to engage throughout Northern and with the texts and related resources, “In some cases there was Central Australia to give and with the original language-owning only a single copy of a these books new life. communities to pursue collaborative book left and a few books and grounded research,” Professor “There are some amazing had disappeared or been Christie said. stories,” Ms Bow said. destroyed altogether. “Many of the books have Without this digital “Australia’s languages have evolved been produced by teachers, archive, these stories could over many thousands of years to enable elders or linguists to teach have been lost forever.” and enact unique human relationships the students language, with the social, cultural, technical and Ms Bow said that but many have also been natural worlds. This resource will make respecting ownership by written and illustrated by publicly available a large archive of seeking permission for the students themselves Cathy Bow has worked with previously unavailable resources to Indigenous communities digitisation, and building in language. The stories support this work. to source books written in the archive in collaboration range from traditional language, locating thousands with the language-owning “As a living archive that will continue Dreamtime stories to the of titles. communities has enabled to grow, this resource will facilitate fi rst contact of Indigenous the communities to make decisions connections with knowledge and people and the Makassans and about sharing their intellectual property. language owners, most often experiences of Indigenous communities It has also reconnected lost stories descendants or relatives of the original during World War II.” and illustrations with the places and storytellers. With the support of the communities people of origin. “We have found family The project was funded through visited, Ms Bow has located thousands members who had no idea that their the Australian Research Council and of titles, which have been transported to father or mother had been involved in conducted in partnership with the Darwin to be digitised, or left with the the creation of these books, or of the Australian National University and language-owning communities to scan family stories the books told,” she said. the Northern Territory Government and send through to the research team. Professor Christie said the website Department of Education and Training. was more than simply a repository

16 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 The largetooth sawfi sh, the largest Search for freshwater fi sh in the world, is at risk of secrets of extinction. Research Fellow PETER KYNE is working river sharks to understand this species before it is too late. and sawfi sh he waterways of Northern “Juvenile speartooth sharks seem to be Australia are famous for their relatively common in protected areas Textraordinary wildlife: crocodiles, like the rivers of Kakadu National Park, iconic migratory birds and unique but we know nothing about the adults amphibians, but the region is also the including where they occur and the world’s last remaining stronghold for threats they face. There some threatened sharks and rays that is no record of live in both fresh and salt water. anyone having ever caught or seen an The largetooth sawfi sh is the world’s adult speartooth largest freshwater fi sh, reaching up shark.” to seven metres in length. Of the 321 sharks and rays in Australia, it is one of only fi ve species that venture upstream from the coast into fresh water. Charles Darwin University Research Fellow Dr Peter Kyne is one of several hundred researchers funded by the Australian Largetooth (or Government’s freshwater) sawfish (Pristis pristis ). National Fishing practices incorporating gill nets might hold some clues to the apparent absence of adults. Gill nets hang like a mesh fence in the water, and range in length and mesh size. They are TEXT commonly used by commercial fi shers Environmental Amy Kimber Research Program, which because of their effectiveness in snaring aims to improve Australia’s commercial fi sh such as barramundi, IMAGES understanding, management and usually by the gills once they have Amy Kimber, conservation of the country’s unique passed part way through the mesh. The Kate Buckley biodiversity and ecosystems. introduction of gill nets by fi shers in the 1960s and 1970s has had a signifi cant Very little is known about the population impact on sawfi shes around the world. size and status of sawfi sh and The populations of all fi ve sawfi sh speartooth sharks, which makes their species have crashed globally, and they effective management and conservation have become extinct in many countries problematic. “Both these species where they were once described as are at risk of extinction, and their “common” or “abundant”. threatened status requires recovery plans for their protection under the “The toothed edges of sawfi sh rostrums federal Environmental Protection and [snouts] are easily tangled in nets Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Dr Kyne and because they can be diffi cult to said. handle, they were often killed instead of released,” Dr Kyne said. “Their fi ns are The research team, led by Dr Peter Kyne, also popular in shark fi n soup.” searches the South Alligator River for sawfish.

17 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 The northern river shark The speartooth shark (Glyphis garricki ). (Glyphis glyphis). The main feature that distinguishes it from the similar northern river shark is that the waterline (where the colour of the shark abruptly turns from grey to white) runs across or just below the eyes of the shark. In contrast, the waterline of the northern river shark A PIT (passive inductive transponder) runs well below the tag being loaded into a tagging device. eyes. The microchip in the tag sends out a unique code when activated.

PIT tags are inserted under the skin of the shark below the first dorsal fin, allowing each fish to be identified individually if it is recaptured. Each tag has a unique code, which is read by a scanner. Genetic samples are collected in vials to help develop a “family tree” of river sharks.

Despite the largetooth sawfi sh being a tissue sample for DNA analysis and For a long time, all sharks in North fully protected in Australia, it is still at we implant a tag, which allows each Australian rivers were thought to be risk from fi shers. fi sh to be individually identifi ed if it bull sharks until a closer investigation is recaught,” Dr Kyne said. “These revealed the presence of two other river Kakadu National Park has one of the recaptures can give us information shark species. Both were given scientifi c best remaining populations of sawfi sh about the animals’ movements and how names just four years ago. and river sharks in Australia. Oliver they are using the river. The sawfi sh Scheibe, Chief Ranger for the Park’s “This really serves to underline and sharks are released once we South Alligator region, said he has seen how poorly we understand have collected the data.” sawfi sh as far inland as Yellow Waters, the extent of biodiversity more than 100 km from the coast. Because adult sawfi sh This underlines in these northern river and speartooth systems,” Dr Kyne said. “People sometimes cut the rostrum sharks are diffi cult to how poorly we “Largetooth sawfi sh off and take it home as a trophy,” Mr capture, the team is and speartooth sharks Scheibe said. “Some time ago I found understand taking tissue samples are more susceptible a sawfi sh that still measured six to from juvenile species the extent of to changes in land seven feet without its rostrum.” Rangers to start to develop a biodiversity in these use than marine and Fisheries Police work together “family tree”, using species. If they can’t to ensure people are complying with a technique known as northern river migrate upstream fi shing regulations in the park, with “close-kin” genetics. It is systems. due to reduced river penalties for killing, injuring or trading the fi rst time in the world fl ows, or run-off affects in threatened species ranging up to two this technique has been used water quality, this could years’ jail and $110,000 in fi nes. without any data about the adults. have an impact on their Venturing on to the South Alligator populations.” This approach will allow River in Kakadu each month, Dr Kyne’s the researchers to predict The monthly sampling program research team uses a gill net 58 metres the size of sawfi sh and will help to determine whether existing long and almost three metres deep speartooth shark populations across management strategies are effective in the shallows of river bends where Northern Australia. Very little research and what other management might be sawfi sh feed. The net is stretched across has been undertaken on freshwater needed to ensure the survival of these the river at various sites upstream of the sharks in Northern Australia, and while species. For more information on this river mouth for at least four hours at a sawfi sh have received more attention, project, visit W: nerpmarine.edu.au/ time. It is set around the incoming and there are still many knowledge gaps. A sawfi sh. outgoing tides, and checked for catches group of Japanese scientists undertook every half hour. the fi rst intensive study of freshwater “When we catch a sawfi sh or shark, sharks and rays in the north as recently we take a number of measurements, as 1989.

18 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 ———————————TEXT The age of Leanne Coleman IMAGES northern Fiona Morrison Australia’s oil and gas boom

Researcher KRISHNAN KANNOORPATTI, who became an engineer after exploring the profession’s ancient past, is now at the forefront of research into a problem Associate Professor in Engineering Krishnan plaguing the oil and Kannoorpatti is at the forefront of research into corrosion gas boom in Northern damage, which is challenging the oil and gas industry. Australia. ——————————— 19 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 assionate about his field of corrosive materials, Associate PProfessor in Engineering Krishnan Kannoorpatti said he believed it was the understanding of materials that defined civilisations in the past, and defined a country’s place in the world today. “Modernisation of society happens when materials are understood,” Mr Kannoorpatti said. “Beginning with the Stone Age, right through until today, the advancement of a civilisation has been defined in history according to the materials utilised. Looking at the “It was Sir Henry Bessemer (b. 1813, microstructure of d. 1898) an English engineer who mild steel. Ferrite (lighter) and triggered the Industrial Revolution pearlite (darker) when he discovered a process to form phases in mild steel steel after blowing air into iron. The have different Bessemer process was then the first compositions process used to manufacture steel on and different morphologies (sizes a large scale.” and shape) that will have an effect on In light of the burgeoning oil and corrosion. gas industry in Northern Australia, Mr Kannoorpatti said he hoped that research to better understand corrosive processes of materials would enhance protective solutions, saving companies millions of dollars. “Corrosion-related damage costs the industry between 3 and 5 per cent of GDP, which equates to trillions of dollars each year worldwide. Corrosion is an issue for any industry, but especially for petroleum production and processing operations located offshore or near the coast. But very little research has been undertaken to The research is being supported by the understand the processes in tropical oil and gas industry, with INPEX, Total waters.” Modernisation and other participants in the Ichthys LNG Project Joint Venture and the The recently opened North Australian of society Northern Territory Government funding Centre for Oil and Gas (NACOG) on the NACOG facility. CDU’s Casuarina campus has a focus happens when on corrosion-related issues relevant materials are Mr Kannoorpatti said he believed that to the oil and gas industry in tropical with research many corrosion issues environments. The research being understood. could be prevented or mitigated through conducted by Mr Kannoorpatti and his appropriate selection of materials and team through NACOG is the first of its design, material processing, monitoring kind in the Northern Territory. and control systems. “With higher-than-average temperatures “At NACOG, alongside industry partner and humidity, Northern Australia’s Incospec Global, we have set up a lab to extreme wet tropical climate makes specifically look at corrosion issues to for a particularly challenging assist operating companies with their environment,” he said. “We also have maintenance and asset management very little understanding of the corrosive programs,” he said. “Our research will processes in this environment. With the help industry reduce its maintenance current oil and gas boom, Darwin is the cost and extend the effective life of plant ideal location to investigate corrosion and equipment.” prevention and control in the wet tropics.” 20 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 SECRET LIVES OF MICROBES

The CDU team hopes this of the material, bacteria tend to Mr Kannoorpatti said that previously, groundbreaking research will shed change the surface they are adhering biocorrosion research has focused on light on the underwater lives of to by secreting a conditioning fi lm sulphate-reducing bacteria because they microbes, how they attach to certain composed of exopolysaccarides and were identifi ed as the major bacteria structures, and why they prefer other cellular components. associated with MIC. But molecular- particular materials. “The biofi lm that is formed changes based analyses of corrosion biofi lms “When materials are submerged in the wettability, surface charges of had revealed that a complex bacteria water, organic matter is absorbed the substrate and creates conditions community was associated with MIC. on to the surface,” Mr Kannoorpatti suitable for further bacterial “This is an exciting area especially said. “The accumulation of organic accumulation. Microbiologically when microbes create conditions for matter conditions the surface for infl uenced corrosion is produced corrosion of metals when the material the attachment of bacteria and when the bacteria processes is thought to be immune to the marine plankton. During the colonisation nutrients for its sustenance.” environment,” he said. “It is also especially important, because the oil and gas industry produces a number of microbes from the drilling sites in addition to what is found in the marine environments.” While trying to shed some light on how micro-organisms impact the integrity Specimens, which are of materials, Mr Kannoorpatti also will meant for electrochemical investigate the microstructure of the corrosion testing to material, or how a material is made study the effect of up. Observation of how processing microstructures, are polished to avoid the effects behaviour such as welding and heat of surface defects. treatment affects MIC could provide clues to improving the structure of a material. “Welding is the main fabrication method used in most industrial Corrosion-related structures. Previous research suggests damage costs the that welds may be more prone to MIC than the base metal. Materials that industry between have suffi cient copper and silver are 3 and 5 per cent less prone to MIC. We will test the weldments of aluminium and duplex of GDP, which stainless steels that are being used Over the next few years, in collaboration equates to trillions extensively in the infrastructure of the with the Australian Institute of Marine of dollars each year oil and gas industry.” Science, Monash University and CSIRO, Manipulation of materials has been Mr Kannoorpatti and his team will worldwide. used to solve problems since the dawn set up monitoring stations along the of man. Manipulating a material’s North Australian coast to investigate microstructure may not only improve how materials are affected by the NT’s the integrity of a material but also may tropical environment. create new ways of solving modern day The goal of the research will be to processing issues to improve industrial determine how the marine environment practices of the future. in tropical waters will affect equipment, “Altering the microstructure through and then to assist with improving the changes in the welding or the alloying integrity of the materials so they are process could improve the material’s better suited to NT conditions. resistance,” Mr Kannoorpatti said. “Microbiologically infl uenced corrosion “Hopefully, in the end, industry will (MIC) is a problem in structures that benefi t from better application of are immersed in sea waters. We want materials that will result in more to fi nd out how marine organisms optimal designs of structures.” affect the corrosion behaviour of duplex For the NT, the age of oil and gas is stainless steel and aluminium.” just beginning and Charles Darwin University is at the centre of it. 21 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 TEXT Jennifer Pinkerton IMAGES Associate Professor Gail Garvey, courtesy Menzies School of Health Research. Other images from Thinkstock. There’s no Aboriginal word for cancer

ianne McCarthy, 54, has stage- see more cancer.” Assessing cancer’s treatments for cancer. From our four lung cancer. From her impact among this group has been research in Queensland we know that bed in a Northern Territory challenging because cancer registries Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander D previously did not identify patients’ people are less likely to receive these,” Palliative Care Unit, she explains that the diagnosis came as a shock. “I was ethnic backgrounds. Dr Garvey said. “Even just accessing in hospital for something else and they treatment is a challenge.” For the past eight years, Dr Valery found it my lungs. That was just a few and her colleague Associate Professor The researchers also reported a lack of weeks ago. Gail Garvey have been fi lling in the open discussion and general awareness “I’ve lived with rheumatoid arthritis blanks. “What really stands out is of cancer in many communities. since I was 25, so I am used to being that the likelihood of an Indigenous “There’s no Aboriginal word for cancer,” sick. But God must be saying my time person getting cancer is similar or even Dr Garvey said. “They see cancer as is up. I’m trying lower to that of a death. So it’s not talked about. It’s kept to face it with a non-Indigenous very quiet.” peaceful heart. Australian. But the A review by Dr Sophia Koefl er, of James My kids aren’t mortality rate is Cook University in Queensland, confi rms ready though.” Ms signifi cantly higher, this assertion. She cited a study of McCarthy’s 20-year- more than four Western Australian Indigenous people old daughter, times in the case interviewed about their attitudes and Klarissa, sits by her of cervical cancer. beliefs towards cancer. Its fi ndings were mother’s bedside. There are lots of surprising. She casts her question marks eyes to the fl oor. as to why this is,” “Many Indigenous people believe cancer “They’ve given us Dr Garvey said. is contagious. They attribute cancer about two months. to spiritual curses, bad spirits or as On a wet Brisbane But they can’t really punishment from a past misdeed,” she Associate Professor morning, the say for sure.” said. “In addition, the Indigenous cancer Gail Garvey pair discuss the reasons behind sufferer may feel ashamed of their Cancer is second only to heart disease this disadvantage. A key reason, as ‘wrongdoings’ and hide their symptoms, in the cause of death in Indigenous in Dianne McCarthy’s case, is late delaying diagnosis.” Australians. Associate Professor Patricia diagnosis. Indigenous cancer sufferers Valery, of the Menzies School of Health often have multiple When an Research, said that while there were health issues, Indigenous person no hard facts about when cancer began making it diffi cult developed cancer, affecting Aboriginal Australia, scientists for GPs to detect the it was often one linked its increased appearance to disease in the fi rst of the more fatal improved life span. place. And as this varieties. Dr Valery group is up to 10 said this was partly “It’s only recently that we’ve learnt times more likely to due to lifestyle. about cancer in the Indigenous live remotely than Lung and liver population, but that’s not because the non-Indigenous cancer featured disease wasn’t there,” Dr Valery said. Australians, access to health care is prominently among the group, which “Earlier on, people were dying from often diffi cult. could be linked to smoking, chronic infectious disease, such as measles, (long-term) infection with hepatitis B cholera, fl u and tuberculosis. As life “Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and virus and high alcohol consumption. expectancy improves, we’re starting to surgery are the three most common

22 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 A cancer diagnosis is more likely to kill an Aboriginal person than a non-Aboriginal Australian. Researchers PATRICIA VALERY and GAIL GARVEY are asking “Why?” There’s no Aboriginal word for cancer

According to figures reported by the “This will allow us to bring together also would work to develop a strong, Cancer Council, Indigenous lung cancer key researchers, practitioners, and forward-looking cancer research mortality rates here were 3.6 times consumer advocacy groups from across strategy. higher than non-Indigenous rates. Australia,” Dr Garvey said. Key would While the Centre would address all With late diagnosis, poor awareness be launching the National Indigenous types of cancer, it would also pursue and difficulties surrounding care Cancer Network in partnership with the cancer-specific initiatives, such as one considered, Drs Lowitja Institute, that related to cervical cancer: “We’ll Garvey and Valery the Australian conduct Australia’s largest ever data- said they believed Indigenous Health linkage project – Indigenous or non- that one of the InfoNet and Cancer Indigenous – linking cervical screening keys to turning the Council Australia. data with hospital data and cancer high cancer death This would ensure registry data. This will investigate rates around was research data and Indigenous women’s participation in focusing on the first cancer knowledge cervical screening, comparing it with year postdiagnosis. were shared non-Indigenous women, and we’ll “In that year, nationally and also examine whether follow-up after Aboriginal people cancer tackled. an abnormal Pap test result varies have a 50 per cent “At present, cancer by Indigenous status, remoteness of higher chance of initiatives and residence, and socioeconomic status,” passing away than research largely Dr Garvey said. a non-Indigenous person. But if they operates with state-based borders. So, make it through to the second year, As the researchers pack up their we’re trying to share and build upon survival rates are about the same.” documents and prepare to get on the activities cancer researchers are with the rest of their day, the The key messages, they said, were for doing at a national level,” rain continues to fall in patients to take up cancer screening, she said. “We’re aiming Queensland. In the NT, seek medical help early if they had to network and work Dianne McCarthy symptoms, adhere to treatments and together more Many Indigenous grows weaker. While attend appointments. More broadly, closely. That way people believe cancer this forward-looking the researchers said there was a we can grow from news may be too strong need to raise GP awareness what we already is contagious. They late for her, Ms and training, and develop large- know and get attribute cancer to McCarthy’s case scale, Indigenous-specific prevention better data about underlines one programs surrounding smoking and what to do about spiritual curses, of Drs Valery alcohol intake. lowering cancer bad spirits or as and Garvey’s diagnoses and “Until now cancer has not been a punishment from a key messages: deaths.” high priority on the Indigenous health past misdeed. the importance of agenda, despite the number of deaths it Drs Garvey and Valery diagnosing cancer brings about,” Dr Garvey said. That fact, intend to work with early. however, was changing rapidly. The partners to ensure the latest, As Ms McCarthy said: researchers recently received funding nationally collated information “I smoked most of my for a Centre for Research Excellence – in is available to researchers, life, but I tell my kids this: cancer and Indigenous peoples. practitioners and families. quit now. You don’t have to die The four organisations young.”

23 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Research Fellow TEXT Louise Errington ROHAN FISHER IMAGES has fi gured out Rohan Fisher, how to use maps Suzanne Belton, Fiona Morrison to understand and to help reduce the tragic deaths of West Timorese mothers and children.

Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods The terrain in Research Fellow Rohan Fisher West Timor can be has created an inexpensive treacherous and and uncomplicated approach villages very remote, that has contributed to making travel to better maternal health health-care services planning in remote Timor difficult for pregnant Tengah Selatan. women at full term. Mapping the road to motherhood

hen it is time to give birth, of mothers and infants in the world’s the poorest of the poor and don’t have women in remote West poorest areas. internet access; there aren’t many roads Timor have two choices: and very few people own a vehicle,” Mr Research Institute for the Environment W Fisher said. travel for hours to the nearest health- and Livelihoods (RIEL) Research care facility and face up to a week’s wait Fellow Rohan Fisher has been using “However, just about everybody has in a rumah tunggu (waiting room) until Geographic Information Systems (GIS) a mobile phone. GIS technology is going into labour, or have an untrained in West Timor for 10 years in natural traditionally expensive and complex, village dukun (traditional midwife) resource monitoring and mapping. In so I developed an approach using free deliver their baby. 2006, while speaking at a mapping software and straightforward training In this part of the world, where the conference at UNDANA University in materials that made health mapping maternal mortality rate is more than Kupang, he was approached by a group easy to integrate into the daily work of 70 times that of Australia, a simple of delegates from the TTS district health TTS Health Department staff.” map could help prevent hundreds of department. The group had a vision of The project, funded by AusAID, uses tragedies each year. using GIS to overcome the high rates mobile phones with an integrated GPS of infant and maternal deaths in their A map, produced using an inexpensive that runs alongside data collection and district, but needed help. and uncomplicated approach created by GIS mapping software, and allows the a Charles Darwin University researcher, “In Australia, we’d use something TTS Health Department to map health- has already contributed to better like Google Maps to construct the care facilities to construct models maternal health planning in remote maps, but as these systems rely on the showing vulnerable communities that Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS), and has internet and are based on roads and are remote from health services. the potential to improve survival rates transportation routes, they wouldn’t be useful in TTS. Here, the people are

24 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Dr Suzanne Belton, Menzies School of Health Research medical anthropologist, MAPPING THE CAUSES was conducting a pilot study – funded by Menzies and CDU – in a sub-district “We’re talking about people who live in of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) to huts with mud fl oors, no electricity, no complement Rohan Fisher’s mapping running water and no toilet facilities. work. Subsequently, their research For them, any fee involved in trying to merged and broadened to investigate seek medical help is insurmountable,” the cultural, social and geographic she said. “Women who had fallen barriers to providing effective maternal pregnant out of wedlock were often and infant health care in the region. shunned by their family. When these “The work was multidisciplinary. It women experienced complications in coupled medical anthropology with childbirth that could easily be fi xed geographical mapping to understand the with medication or correct midwifery issue at hand,” Dr Belton said. techniques, their families didn’t feel they could seek medical care because of their Maternal health mapping map. Along with RIEL’s Dr Bronwyn Myers immense shame. In some cases, these Rohan Fisher used GIS software to and Mrs Frederika Rambu Ngana construct maps that chart travel women took over 24 hours to die.” time to health-care services. Hamel, of the University of Nusa Cendana in Kupang, Dr Belton took on the physically and emotionally gruelling task of travelling to remote villages to conduct verbal autopsies with families of deceased mothers. “In Australia, it’s near impossible to die in childbirth, but in developing countries nearly everyone knows someone who has.” By deconstructing the events in the lead-up to the maternal death, the research team found that isolation was a main cause of high maternal death rates, and that isolation came in geographic, fi nancial, gender- A family home in West Timor’s bias and cultural forms. remote Timor Tengah Selatan.

From left: Dr Bronwyn Myers In some and Ms Rambu Ngana take GPS coordinates of the local hospital. cases, these women took over 24 hours Mapping the road to motherhood to die.

A Sanitation Offi cer with the TTS clinics in most need of upgrade to Jakarta, requesting Health Department, Nelson Sula, was emergency obstetric care facilities. that I provide the one of the delegates who attended the same training to staff from the national “CDU’s work has had an infl uence on mapping conference in Kupang, and one Department of Health and other NGOs. the entire TTS district, and this project of the few chosen to participate in the I told him that I couldn’t do it without the has shown that GIS is an appropriate mapping training. assistance of my project partner, Nelson. technology for improving the delivery of It was quite a revolution to see a young Mr Sula travelled to Darwin in 2012 to life-saving health services in developing man from rural West Timor pass on his receive intensive one-on-one coaching, countries,” Mr Fisher said. Through knowledge to his big city counterparts. enabling him to return home to provide the hard work of local government further training to his colleagues. “We departments, NGOs and aid agencies, “We are continuing the momentum need to continue to put the right tools TTS’s maternal mortality rate has generated by the initial mapping project into the hands of the right people, like almost halved since 2003. with a new project using inexpensive Nelson,” Mr Fisher said. mobile phones and SMS-enabled laptops Since its humble beginnings in TTS, the to improve communication of health These new-found mapping skills have maternal health mapping modelling has information in remote rural areas of improved the capacity of the TTS also been introduced in the district of Eastern Indonesia. Health Department to submit evidence- Ngada (Central Flores), with subsequent based proposals to their district expansion into the districts of East “People living in remote villages will government for improved health service Sumba, East Flores, Kabupaten Kupang be able to receive fi rst aid advice and delivery. These appeals have helped and Kota Kupang. reminders about doctors’ appointments create strategies aimed at providing and to take medication by SMS, which “A really neat thing happened at transportation to health facilities for we hope will improve health outcomes in the end of 2011,” Mr Fisher said. “I pregnant women, as well as targeting isolated areas.” got an email from an NGO based in

25 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 ? In his fi nal year of a Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies, PETER CLOUTING is Q&A completing a communications internship with CDU’s Media offi ce as he prepares to continue working with the most disadvantaged people in strife-torn destinations. INTERVIEW Robyn McDougall IMAGE Fiona Morrison

Peter Clouting, 30, is taking his work in disaster relief to a whole new level through the world’s only Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies, offered by Charles Darwin University.

26 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Many of the people we had You’ve spent half your life volunteering depending on where you are on the I signed helped would be around the world and you’re still only continent. Tanzania, in Eastern Africa, up to go to 30 years old. Where does this drive come offers culture, wildlife, environment Nepal for dead within six from? and people in a package where a trip three months months. It’s what I know. My dad was a is never long enough. Relaxing on the in 2002, but Rotarian from age 21 in a club based beach under the Zanzibar sun after due to political on community development, so I was snorkelling in water that seems to reasons I couldn’t go. brought up in the life. Being able to come from an Evian bottle. Camping on The [humanitarian] help people in some sense is all I have Kilimanjaro and making the summit for organisation ever wanted to do; volunteering around sunrise; getting bogged in the Serengeti offered me several the world has the added advantage of less than 10 metres from an adult other places: I chose Ghana because I amazing experiences at the same time. male lion; mice crawling up my back had never heard of it and didn’t know to escape monsoonal rains that were where in the world it was. I thought that How does a 15-year-old enter the washing away my mud hut in Maasai was the most exciting choice I could humanitarian world? land; or having malaria and pneumonia make. Even in the humanitarian fi eld, An organisation called Antipodeans at the same time. it is not about feeding the millions of came to my school as part of their in- people who are starving around the After spending three months’ school program. The program involves world, it is feeding the 10 that you can. volunteering at an orphanage and Year 9, 10 and 11 students going to one month building school desks for a Who inspires you? a Third World country to volunteer, local school in Maasai land, getting to and the students organise the trip I get inspired by everyday people, who know the people, how they live, their themselves. My school chose Zimbabwe are doing amazing things. In China history and learning their language, it and worked in rebuilding a local school, I met a French woman who studied is defi nitely the place that has given me Numwa Primary School. biology in Canada, did a Masters with the most amazing experiences in such a the Bushmen in Ghana, and is now short time. Why did you decide to gain formal doing her PhD on snow leopards in qualifications through CDU? What are your plans after you China. I also met a Belgian guy who I am now trying to get into the fi eld graduate? was riding a motorbike from Belgium to as a paid worker, so qualifi cations are Australia. There were countries where I would like to stay in the fi eld of needed. The Bachelor of Humanitarian he had to sell the bike (for varying disaster relief. I’m only beginning my and Community Studies at CDU is the reasons mostly import limitations) and career in relief work and would like fi rst of its kind anywhere. buy another one after leaving. These to change the way some people work people may not be changing the world, What is the most challenging experience in the fi eld, where they unknowingly but they are living. you’ve had as a humanitarian worker? create more problems. For example, a team deployed to Pakistan several Just before Christmas 2011, I was Which four people, living or dead, would years ago was working in the you like to have to dinner? working in The Sudan. This was the mountains where people were dying fi rst time I had been deployed to a Nelson Mandela. He’s the ultimate from cold. I was volunteering for one confl ict response, and my fi rst time example in our time of overcoming of two organisations that specialise being a team leader. While we were adversity. After being persecuted and in tents for disaster relief work. Our working, it was clear that we did not imprisoned for decades, he brought tents were designed to withstand have enough equipment to respond to change to his own country and most climates. The other team found the number of people migrating across positively impacts the world. that their tents had fallen due to the the border from the north to vote in the weight of the overnight snowfall. We Henri Dunant, founder of modern 2012 referendum to separate north and replaced the collapsed tents with ours humanitarian aid and co-founder of the south. We tried to do the best we could, and redistributed the fallen tents under Red Cross and the Geneva Convention. providing equipment to the most at-risk the snow line. This was not a small He saw the necessity for neutrality, and people. There were families of mothers inexperienced NGO but a worldwide created something that has changed and children, but no fathers; there were large NGO. Simple mistakes like these billions of people’s lives. He was also the the elderly – an elderly woman looking occur and people die. fi rst Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1901. after her nine grandchildren, an elderly woman who was blind. We got the job Ideally, I would like to continue Millicent Thapa, Beijing Hikers guide. done. But when the team was at the travelling the world. At the end of Just an amazing person who makes airport to go in different directions, this year, I am hoping to make it to you feel amazing. She has travelled the we discussed the fact that many of the Antarctica. world, speaks seven languages fl uently; people we had helped would be dead and while she is in her fi fties, she is still What is the best piece of advice you within six months at the most. During hiking to the most remote places in the have received and who offered it? the next year, the area where we had world. And she’s hilarious! been working, Abyei, was bombed and “Just do your best.” It sounds really taken over by the north. corny, but every time I raise a question Heston Blumenthal, world-famous I am always told just do my best. My gastronomist. Bringing together science What is your most memorable mum started it when I was young and and food to create the most weird and destination? my lecturers say it to me now. I have delicious feasts. I would like him to cook I guess Tanzania has been the turned this into “Never turn down an the dinner, but teach me a few tricks at culmination of my travels. Africa varies opportunity without good reason”. the same time.

27 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 unting and gathering is a normal learn,” he said. “Then there was all the that I can apply [in my workplace] what part of life for Central Australian legal terminology and the rules around I learn.” identity Ken Lechleitner – citation. It was like learning a new H Mr Lechleitner, who runs a part- although not in the way many people language. time crosscultural consultancy might associate with the term. “The secret to learning business in his spare time, “You’ve got to have the skills to hunt is [what I call] needs We need to works for the Central a nd gather in the modern world,” Mr basis. Sometimes, I hear have laws that Australian Aboriginal Legal Lechleitner said, an urbane 44-year-old something but don’t get Aid Service as a legal Anmatjere man, who lives and works it, but when I’m ready, people can support offi cer during in Alice Springs. “I have traditional it’s like ‘ping’, the penny carry in their the day. He also works knowledge and skills, but to be effective drops. That’s the exciting with senior lawyers who in the modern world, I have had to thing about [learning].” hearts. are developing a training engross myself with modern skills as program for night patrol Mr Lechleitner is studying part well. workers. time. “I’m in no hurry and I’m not “I go hunting and gathering in Coles and trying to impress anyone. It’s “I’d like to have a positive Woolworths …,” he said. a long journey in pursuit of a infl uence on the direction of legal policy piece of paper … my journey of life-long [and] to engender positive change in a Mr Lechleitner’s thirst for knowledge learning. way that people embrace it. We need to and passion for the law prompted have laws that people can carry in their him to enrol in an undergraduate law “I’m on the path and one day I’ll fi nish hearts.” program at Charles Darwin University the degree and become a lawyer, maybe last year. “At fi rst, I had to learn how to even a judge. For now, it’s important

Modern hunter– gatherer pursues passion for law Modern man KEN LECHLEITNER takes ancient lore on his learning journey into the future.

Law student Ken Lechleitner outside TEXT the Alice Springs Patrick Nelson Law Court: “Then there was all the IMAGES legal terminology … It was like learning Patrick Nelson a new language.”

28 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 PUBLISHING ACHIEVEMENTS

International Students in the Asia On Leichhardt’s Path, Kakadu 1845: Structural Analysis for Engineers Pacific: Mobility, Risks and Global Reflections Bushwalking a Time AUTHOR : David M. Lilley (Professor, Optimism Tunnel Structural Engineering) AUTHORS : Gillian Vogl and Peter Kell AUTHOR : Dan Baschiera (Lecturer, PUBLICATION DETAILS : 2013, Cengage (Professor of Education) Humanitarian Studies) Learning Australia: South Melbourne, PUBLICATION DETAILS : 2012, Springer: PUBLICATION DETAILS : 2011, Uniprint: Victoria, Australia New York, USA Darwin, NT, Australia DESCRIPTION : This book contains notes, DESCRIPTION : This book explores DESCRIPTION : Dan Baschiera loves the worked examples and solutions to questions around the mobility of Outback, bushwalking, sailing and tutorial questions that have been international students in the con text of history. In 2008, Dan and his wife developed over many years as a the global economy and an increasingly Annie Whybourne discovered a Ludwig learning aid for undergraduate students competitive trans-national education Leichhardt campsite blaze in Kakadu studying Civil Engineering and/or market. It also explores questions about National Park, after 100 years of people Structural Engineering. Much of the the experience of international students looking for it. It took Dan two years of material forms the basis for teaching principally from the Asia–Pacifi c region untangling the distortions created by Structural Analysis at CDU, while the at a time of increased global insecurity a 19th Century colonial Australia and, remainder is similar to that taught in and growing hostile reactions to as he believes, its attempt to discredit units in the earlier years of the BEng foreigners in the post–September 11 Leichhardt and hide his ethnological Degree in Civil Engineering at CDU. era. fi ndings from the then-scientifi c circles The text will be a useful learning and in London. revision aid to students studying similar courses at other universities in Australia and elsewhere.

CHAPTER CONTRIBUTIONS Suffrage, the Anti-Apartheid movement DESCRIPTION : Ecological and biodiversity- and directions democracy may take based monitoring has been marked by The Edinburgh Companion to the in the future. Each of the nine parts an appalling lack of effectiveness and History of Democracy introduces the period, followed by case success in Australia for more than 40 studies. It is the fi rst book to study the years, despite billions of dollars invested CHAPTER TITLE : Singapore lesser known histories of democracy in biodiversity conservation. This book CONTRIBUTOR : Doran, Christine (Senior alongside familiar examples. tackles many aspects of the problem of Lecturer, History) biodiversity monitoring. It arose from a Biodiversity Monitoring in Australia major workshop held at the Australian PUBLICATION DETAILS : 23 October 2012, CHAPTER TITLE : Monitoring Australian National University in February 2011, Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, Birds to Meet International Obligations attended by leaders in the science, England policy-making and management arenas CONTRIBUTOR : Stephen Garnett (Professor, DESCRIPTION : Re-examines the history of of biodiversity conservation. Chapter Conservation and Sustainable democracy, broadening the traditional contributors examine what has led to Livelihoods) view with previously unexplored successful monitoring, the key problems examples. It explores the origins of PUBLICATION DETAILS : 2012, CSIRO with biodiversity monitoring and democracy and new examples from Publishing: Collingwood, Victoria, practical solutions to those problems. around the world: from ancient India, Australia Native America and Iraq to Women’s

29 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 CDU ART COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHY Chris Knight TEXT Anita Angel, Curator, Charles Darwin University Art Collection and Art Gallery

Nancy Nungurrayi, Untitled [Designs associated with rockhole and soakage water site of Marrapinti, west of Pollock Hills, WA] 2009– 10 [detail], etching, edn 19/40, 33 x 25cm [image]; 55 x 45cm [paper]; Collaborator/Printer: Dian Darmansjah, Firebox Print Studio, Qld. Published by Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, Alice Springs. Acquired by purchase 2012. ACIKE Works on Paper Portfolio [CDU Art Collection, CDU2345]. Image © the artist and courtesy Papunya Tula Artists Pty Ltd, Alice Springs, NT.

Nancy Nungurrayi (?1935–2010) was a collections. Following a brief illness, Nancy Nungarrayi’s etching was created Pintupi artist born in the desert region Nancy Nungurrayi passed away in 2010. in three stages. The main “drawing” of Pollock Hills, Western Australia. was made directly onto the plate in This etching is one of a series created As a small child, she lived with her a ground, acting as a “block-out”. by senior and younger Pintupi artists parents at Wala Wala, west of the The plate was then lightly “bitten” in during printmaking workshops Kiwirrkura Community. She remained nitric acid and the ground removed, conducted at Kintore and Kiwirrkura there after she was married, and when leaving a trace of the original drawing in June 2009 by Dian Darmansjah, her husband passed away, Nungurrayi for the artist to elaborate. Dots were former Workshop Manager at Northern walked to Mount Liebig carrying her added using sugarlift, then the plate Editions Printmaking Studio. It depicts first child Marlene Nampitjinpa. She ground and open bitten. Finally, the designs associated with Marrapinti, a commenced painting for Papunya Tula drawing was embellished with sugarlift, site of great cultural significance to the Artists in 1996, along with her older aquatinted and bitten again. Three artist and a recurring theme in her art. sister Naata Nungurrayi (born ?1932). different layers could thus “take ink”, The narrative song cycles associated With Naata and eight other Pintupi creating a range of textured and tonal with Marrapinti relate that ancestral women artists, Nancy Nungurrayi qualities – at once haloed, burnt and women travelled there to perform contributed to the Kintore Women’s linear – deploying the technical and dances and sing songs connected to Collaborative Painting (1999), to aesthetic possibilities of one-plate the site. They made nose bones (also support the Western Desert Dialysis etching to great effect. known as marrapinti), today only worn Appeal. She was represented in on ceremonial occasions by the older Artist’s CV & Print Certificate numerous group exhibitions from 1999 generation. The lines in this work information © the artist’s estate & onwards, nationally and internationally, represent tali [sandhills] surrounding courtesy Papunya Tula Artists, PR31 and held one solo exhibition in Brisbane Marrapinti. in 2007. Her work is held in national Personal communication with Dian and international public and private Darmansjah, 4 April 2013

30 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 Common Ground art exhibition BATCHELOR INSTITUTE AND CHARLES DARWIN UNIVERSITY ART COLLECTIONS Until 28 June 2013

The late Nyuju Stumpy Brown was the ceremonies for young children. “No Nyuju Stumpy Brown (?1924–2011), a senior Wangkatjunka woman and a sleep. All night making Nyanpi right Juntu juntu 1992, Derivan Matisse leading artist at Mangkaja Arts, Fitzroy through to daylight. Then we go back to acrylic paint on paper, 56 x 76 cm. Crossing, in Western Australia. She was sleep.” Image © the artist’s estate and born on the Canning Stock Route at courtesy Mangkaja Arts Resource Regarding this work, the artist relates: Ngapawarlu, and was full sister to the Agency. Batchelor Institute Art “This country is called Juntujuntu. It late Joolama Rover Thomas (?1926– Collection, BCAC00764. is stony country, there are little pirnki 1998). [caves] here that jamarnti [rock wallaby] Work by the late Nyuju Stumpy Brown, After the loss of her parents at an early live in. There is also living water there along with that by a selection of other age, she was raised by her uncle who and lots of pinkirrjarti [turkeys] and artists from Fitzroy Crossing (WA) brought her to the Catholic Mission in karnanganyjia [emu] that drink from and the Daly River region, Ngukurr, Balgo, where she “learnt kartiya [white here. The pink area is the animals’ Borroloola and Lajamanu (NT), people] ways” before moving to Fitzroy tracks.” feature in the joint Batchelor Institute Crossing. She says of her early life: Nyuju’s art is premised on an intimate and Charles Darwin University Art “I came to Balgo on a camel. This was understanding of her ancestral country Collections exhibition Common Ground, the first time I came in from the bush. at Kukapunyu in the Great Sandy on display in the CDU Art Gallery from I was a young girl with no breasts. Later Desert: experiences and familial 18 April until 28 June 2013. I worked in the kitchen at Bohemia knowledge of its contours, flora, fauna Downs Station. We got no money for and sources of “living water”. She TEXT work. We got tea, meat and tobacco.” painted with exuberance, creative Anita Angel, Curator, Nyuju was an important woman at confidence and wisdom of “the time Charles Darwin University Fitzroy Crossing for law and culture. before we knew kartiya”, of a desert Art Collection and Art Gallery She “carried the Women’s Law” from country where there “are no rivers Wangkatjunga country through to Balgo. … only creeks after the rain; only jilji PHOTOGRAPHY At Nyanpi [corroboree] time she ran [sandhills]”. Fiona Morrison

W: cdu.edu.au/art gallery W: mangkaja.com 31 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 LIMITED EDITION PADDY BEDFORD (?1922–2007) Paddy, or Kuwumji pronounced “Koomsie”, was born at Bedford Downs Station. Although Paddy Jamelayigoon painted ceremonial paintings all his life, his works on paper Figtree hole and canvas received international attention. Bedford depicts traditional Gija camping places in his distinctive abstract style. CREATED Waterholes, caves and hills are among the geographic features 2004 (Edition of 50) he paints. His achievements include numerous group exhibitions MEDIUM and acquisition by major museums and galleries. Northern Etching Editions is proud to be representing the works of Bedford in the IMAGE SIZE Northern Territory. All prints and imagery are courtesy of the 49.5 x 49 cm Paddy Bedford Estate. PAPER SIZE 80 x 61.5 cm CATALOGUE ID 04–23

COLLABORATOR Leon Stainer

PRINTER Dian Darmansjah

32 ORIGINS 1 / 2013 PRICE $1,250.00 AUS inc GST