APRIL 2014HEDLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

The new $2.5 million Spinifex Hill Studio has amenities that most creative people can only dream about! Made possible through funding raised by FORM and significant support from BHP Billiton and the Federal Government’s Regional Development Australia Fund, Aboriginal artists of all abilities can benefit from an extraordinary environment, access to materials, and exposure to creative and professional arts education.

The Spinifex Hill Artists began in 2008 and has grown into a significant indigenous Western Australian arts collective. A core of around 20 artists used to use the space when the group was based at the Kennedy Street Church, with between five and 10 people there on any given day. However, there has been a noticeable increase in numbers in the new studio.The amazing facility contains two professional spaces for painting and three-dimensional work, gallery-standard storage facilities for materials and artwork, and interior and exterior break-out areas with cooking and dining amenities.

In addition to these facilities, the artists have access to climate-appropriate landscaping – including a feature canopy and large garden sculpture designed by two of the Spinifex Hill Artists - plus manager’s accommodation. Free materials, transport, lunch and marketing and professional development advice are also on hand.

Spinifex Hill Studio is on Hedditch Street, South Hedland. For more details, see the new website at www.spinifexhillstudio.com.au or contact Greg Taylor, Studio Manager, on 0457 422 875 or by email at greg@form.net.au

a dream realised!

Creativity in the new space:

Artist, Natasha Nelson works on her next painting.

HEDLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER WWW.HEDLINES.COM.AU

Welcome To hedland-2014There will be quite a buzz on Friday 23 May at this year’s Welcome to Hedland event in South Hedland’s town square. In its 28th year, this fixture on the local calendar is known for helping

new members of the community to feel connected to their new town

while also raising awareness of the services that Hedland’s many

community organisations provide.

Broadly targeting families – particularly new families - attendance

has grown significantly in recent years. In 2013, more than 6,000

community members and 80 stallholders from community and sporting

organisations, local businesses and government agencies attended. The

social and recreational features of this vibrant event help people to forge

friendships and are also an opportunity for sporting clubs and groups to

attract new members.

Julie Hunt from the Port Hedland Historical Society remembers

Welcome to Hedland’s early days. “It was started by the Hedland College

(now the Pilbara Institute), to invite new enrolments to their courses in

March each year (the start of the semester). Community groups, service

and sporting groups were invited to the atrium of the award-winning

building and each college department also had displays.

“There was a door prize of a return trip to Perth, fashion parades and

gymnastics and dance demonstrations. After a few very hot occasions

and cyclones, the event moved to May and away from the original building

and focus, and more to the format that we currently have.”

Community, music and dance: Capturing

the essence of Welcome to Hedland.

rugBy Tries For success! Hedland Senior High School student, Saane Finau, is balancing Year 12 requirements with her passion for playing rugby and working in the YMCA Swim for Life program. Born and bred in Hedland, Saane modelled herself on her Dad and her uncles by joining a mixed rugby league team at the tender age of six! She has made gigantic strides that led to the Nationals tournament in Canberra in March, where the team came fourth out of 12 entries. Saane said, “Playing at that level was an eye-opener and made us lift our game. We stayed at the Australian Institute of Sport and experienced ice baths for the first time.”

Sevens rugby is fast and dynamic, played by only seven-a-side with each half played for seven minutes.

Competing at the Nationals takes Saane and her Hedland friend and mentor, Hemoata (Hemo) Purukamu, one step nearer to their ambition of representing Australia at the Rio Olympics, and she is even looking beyond to the Tokyo Games in 2020. Indeed, the reason she switched from rugby league to rugby sevens is because the latter is set to become an Olympic sport in 2016.

Saane, 17, still plays with her Hedland Heat teammates, but she has also been selected to join the elite Wanneroo Divas team with Hemo, in the Women’s Open Division. This year the demands of training six days are week are competing with her final year studies, netball coaching and Saane’s job as a lifeguard with the Swim for Life program. She said, “I take school work with me wherever I go. My teachers are very understanding and excited for me but they don’t cut me any slack!”Saane has always been grateful for her family’s backing and she will also be able to rely on the support of the Hedland community as she strives to achieve her ambitions.

Fit and fearless: Saane Finau showing

what she’s made of on the rugby field.

Becoming centred: Yoga at the Well Women’s Centre.

The sTrengTh oF Women ’s WeeK It seems quite apt that this year, Mother’s Day falls at the end of Hedland’s Well Women’s Centre’s annual Women on Wellness week.This yearly focus on women’s health and wellbeing has come to be known as WOW Week and this year’s event is coming up from 5 to 11 May with numerous activities being planned.

General wellness, diet, exercise and fitness activities are promoted, and the underlying fundamental purpose of all sessions is to enjoy the company of others in a friendly and welcoming environment. It is so important to reduce the feelings of isolation that many women can have in a new place, far from their normal support networks.

Tracey Morrison, Program Coordinator for the Well Women’s Centre said, “The team here spend a lot of time putting together the program and considering all the possible options that ladies might like. In addition to the diet, exercise and fitness elements, there will be workshops and groups for yoga, arts and crafts, alternative therapies, first aid and strategies for returning to work, just to name a few.”

Most workshops will be run by outside groups - for instance Pilbara Joblink, St John Ambulance and Pilbara Institute, and the week will culminate with a Mother’s Day morning tea.

For details of sessions and timings, keep your eyes peeled for the posters around town and the publicity in the local press, and also check the Hedland Well Women’s Centre Facebook page. Alternatively, contact the Centre on 9140 1124 or email program@wellwomens.com.auWOW Week is funded through Hedland Well Women’s Centre’s Principal Partner, BHP Billiton Iron Ore.

Four neW Planes aid healTh and saFeTyA vital contribution of $4.5 million from BHP Billiton has reinforced the Company’s 10-year partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and will help this highly-valued not for profit organisation to continue their valuable work.BHP Billiton are pleased to be providing $4.5 million towards the

organisation’s Aeromedical Aircraft Replacement Program, which will

contribute to the purchase of four new aircraft.

The RFDS Operations provides the latest in aviation, medical and

communications technology, delivering extensive primary health care

and 24-hour emergency services to those who live, work and travel within

Western Australia.

The highly skilled team operates a fleet of 15 aircraft comprising 14

Pilatus PC12 single engine turbo propeller aircraft and one Hawker 800XP

jet aircraft.

Due to the high demand and extensive distances covered by aeromedical

transport in Western Australia, four of the Pilatus PC12 aircraft, which have

been in service since 2001, are due to be replaced. The service replaces its

planes every 10 years and each aircraft flies for 1500 to 1600 hours per year.

Four new aircraft are expected to be operational by June 2014. Three

aircraft will be based at the RFDS Hangar in Port Hedland and one at

Jandakot Airport.

All aircraft will feature the new RFDS livery of the red underbelly and the

BHP Billiton brand mark.

The knowledge that highly-skilled medical assistance can zoom in to

Hedland and other remote areas of the State from the air is extremely

reassuring to communities.

If you would like to know more or make a donation, please log on to www.flyingdoctor.org.au.

Inspecting the new planes: Richard O’Connell,

BHP Billiton Iron Ore’s Head of Community and Indigenous

Affairs, with Grahame Marshall, RFDS Chief Executive.

HEDLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER WWW.HEDLINES.COM.AU

songBird Flies highHedland local, singer-songwriter Sarah Halatutavaha recalled her ‘rock star experience’ when she was flown home across ‘the ditch’ to New Zealand to record a CD.Sarah grew up with music and has sung and played guitar for as long as

she can remember. In New Zealand, she worked in the addictions sector

for almost 10 years and attended conferences with scores of speakers

imparting their wisdom. She and four colleagues realised the value

of music and felt that it could be a powerful tool to aid recovery from

addiction, so at some of these events, they started playing and singing

a few relevant cover songs with lyrics that talk about the value of people.

This led to them writing their own tunes and forming their band,

13th Tribe.

Now in Port Hedland with her partner and children, Sarah wrote Storm

Bird last year, when she was driving home from Karratha. She said, “I just

had the song going around in my head.” She sent it to her Christchurch

bandmate who had already received health promotion funding to cut a CD,

and she was flown over in August for a recording session. They nailed

10 tracks in four days!

Sarah explained, “Stormbirds frequent Niue, the island where I come from.

They’re seen as a good luck charm meaning there will be no storms/

cyclones heading our way, so we rejoice that they have made the journey.

On song: Sarah Halatutavaha

in the studio.

If they’re not flying, it’s seen as a bad omen, that storms will be coming and we

need to prepare ourselves. So for people who are going through a lot of trials in

their lives, the song’s message is to look out for the stormbird.”

Sarah has recently formed a musical duo, Cadence, featuring keyboards, guitar

and her vocals, playing music for easy listening and dancing. Keep an eye open for

them around town!

May Chapman in front of her

painting. Photo by Bill Shaylor, courtesy

of FORM.

a small communiTy ’s Big arTThe current Courthouse Gallery exhibition highlights the talents of the Karntimarta Brush group from Warralong, a remote community 200 kilometres from Hedland.Six artists - May Chapman, Nancy Chapman, Biddy Bunwarrie, Mulyatingki Marney, Jakayu Biljabu and Elizabeth Toby – who paint under the name Karntimarta Brush Artists are showing their work alongside Helen Ansell’s solo exhibition.

The group was established in July 2009 when arts educator, Fran Kelly, started workshops with locals. Kate McKenzie, Principal of Strelley Community School, offered her support and Fran began an art studio in a small air-conditioned room. The group has grown, with many of the painters being Nyangumarta and Martu people from Strelley, Warralong, Hedland and other Pilbara communities.

Approximately 22 paintings (acrylic on canvas) and some basket weavings are on display at the exhibition. The artists have said that what unites their work are connections between their skin groups and the retelling of oral stories. When they paint, they revisit their experiences, and the brush and colours provide a new way to tell their stories.

The exhibition follows a visit to Warralong last November by Greg Taylor from FORM, the organisation that manages the operations of the Courthouse Gallery. There for an unrelated reason, he came across canvases that the artists wanted him to take to Hedland to sell at the markets. Greg said, “I thought the quality was high enough to be exhibited so I photographed them and showed my colleagues at FORM. Everyone was really excited and agreed the works should be documented and exhibited.

“Warralong has an unusual cluster of high-quality, female artists, and Martumili has been instrumental in developing and giving exposure to many of them.” The exhibition runs until Friday 9 May and Gallery opening hours are 9.00am-4.30pm Monday-Friday and 9.00am–2.00pm at weekends.

WWW.HEDLINES.COM.AUHEDLAND’S COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Where do you read hedlines?Since joining the WA Police in September 1981, Ray Holt has diligently served the community in a multitude of roles. He recently left the police force but is staying in Hedland, supporting his wife’s career, and is moving into the next phase of what life has to offer.While searching for other employment, Ray is also fulfilling a favourite pastime – spending quality time with his family and taking his dogs Juddy and Bella for their daily walks in South Hedland. “It’s definitely not retirement for me,” Ray said. “I have developed many skills over the years and anticipate sharing them with a future employer.”

Wherever Ray’s path leads, he has the good wishes and support of a beautiful family and a grateful community.

The good life: Ray Holt enjoys his

morning read of Hedlines before taking his dogs

Juddy and Bella for their walk.

Planes, BoaTs, Trains and TurTlesA must-see documentary, Saving the Turtles of Port Hedland, is being premiered at the West End Movies on Saturday 10 May. It focuses on our famed Flatback turtles and features the town past and present.Filming took place over the recent turtle season with the Sydney-based crew making four trips to Port Hedland. They will also return for the premiere. For a total of around two weeks, the crew filmed day and night, shooting action on the beach as well as every sunrise and sunset. A large amount of footage was recorded for the documentary, including aerial imagery courtesy of the Port Hedland Port Authority’s helicopter. The crew were even lucky enough to film the turtles underwater. Footage of trains and trucks was also captured, making for an impressive overview of the town. The 30-minute documentary is the brainchild of the Care for Hedland group; it became a reality thanks to funding from BHP Billiton Iron Ore and tremendous support from the production company, Brains Design.Richard O’Connell, Head of Community and Indigenous Affairs at BHP Billiton Iron Ore said, “BHP Billiton has been a supporter of Care for Hedland for more than half a decade. We’re very proud to be the major supporter of Care for Hedland’s turtle monitoring program.”Viewers will learn about the history of the town, its turtle population and how the community gets involved to help protect the species. The DVD will be available for sale from the Port Hedland Visitors Centre and through the Care for Hedland website – www.careforhedland.org.au

Co-starring with the turtles: Gwenda Lawther, volunteer, Linda Reinhold, Scientific

Coordinator and Pip Short, Care for Hedland Coordinator are filmed on Cemetery Beach.

West End Movies Saturday 10 May Join Hedland’s A-listers for the premiere of Saving the Turtles of Port Hedland, the documentary initiated by the Care for Hedland group. Contact coordinator@careforhedland.org.au for details of timing.

FREE

WOW Week5-11 May

A week of activities and workshops for ladies, organised by the

team at the Well Women’s Centre, 3a Leake Street, South Hedland.

Opening hours: 8.00am – 5.30pm.

For more information please call the Well Women’s Centre

on 9140 1124.

uPcoming evenTsThis community newsletter is proudly supported by BHP Billiton Iron Ore. Designed by Creating Communities Aust Pty Ltd.

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

hedlines.com.au

SCAn USInG YOUR mOBILE DEvICE TO GO DIRECTLY TO

BooK sails inTo uncharTered WaTersAt least 156 lives were lost at sea off the Pilbara coast on 20 March 1912, when the SS Koombana disappeared, leaving more questions than answers.The elegant vessel with its wide double doors and French-polished timber and bevelled glass was the height of sophistication. However, after only three years of service in the north-west, it vanished without trace; the tragedy remains unexplained.

Author, Annie Boyd, has published a meticulously-researched book, Koombana Days, which tells the story and sets the scene. Its regional launch took place at Dalgety House Museum recently, on the 102nd anniversary of the vessel’s vanishing.

The book is an illustrated maritime and social history, and its 18 chapters are a glimpse of an evocative period in Western Australia’s history that also explores coastal life in the early 20th century.To accompany publication of the book, a website has been launched. www.koombanadays.com contains sample chapters, transcripts of approximately 2,500 documents and much more. It is sure to be of interest to anyone with a connection to the vessel’s disappearance or curious about Hedland’s amazing history. The site also contains details on how to purchase the book and the link to obtaining an e-book.

Welcome to Hedland 2014South Hedland Town Square - Outside the Shopping CentreFriday 23 May, 5.00 to 9.00pmExplore the stalls at this Community Expo, enjoy entertainment and perhaps sign up to join a new sporting or interest group.

Signing session: Annie Boyd in

animated discussion. Photo: Courtesy

North West Telegraph.

FREE

Floribundus and Works from the Karntimarta Brush Artists

Courthouse Gallery - 16 Edgar Street, Port Hedland

Until Sunday, 11 May

Monday - Friday: 9am to 4.30pmSaturday: 9am to 2pmSunday: 9am to 2pm

Six artists from Warralong community exhibit their work

alongside Floribundus, a solo show by WA artist, Helen Ansell.

For more information, please contact the Courthouse Gallery

on 9173 1064.

FREE

BHP Billiton Iron Ore Community Grants Funding round closes 1 JulyBHP Billiton Iron Ore invites you to apply for funding through its valuable Community Grants Program. Applications must be submitted using the standard PDF form before 5.00pm on 1 July.Please phone Lisa Lock on 9173 4514 or email porthedlandcommunity@bhpbilliton.com for more details.

FREE