The Jiggalong Sisters

the 3 little girls from Jiggalong and thier journeys.

Where are they now? Read their wonderful story here

PRESS RELEASE- re Maningrida Dog Mauling Monday 16th November 2009 3pm AEST 

ABC Radio Interview  listen...

AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous Communities) staff and Board are saddened to hear the news today of the mauling and death of a Maningrida resident early Sunday morning. More.......

Watuwal malanur ga nhina (Living with Dogs) ATOM Award.

Established in 1982, and held annually, the EnhanceTV ATOM Awards recognize excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia. The Awards are open to students, production companies, independent filmmakers, educational bodies and educational producers, and celebrate the very best of Australian and New Zealand product. Greg Stehle, was recently awarded the best "Best Indigenous Resource" for "Wa?uwal mala?ur ga nhina (Living with Dogs)". The video was started through talks with Phil Donohoe from AMRRIC. Phil was the inspiration behind the making of the DVD and was interviewed and provided some guidance. (The interview with Phil was not included in the final DVD out of respect to the Indigenous people Phil worked with and the protocol regarding displaying images of people who have passed away.) Subsequently, the DVD was produced and dedicated to the life and work of Phil Donohoe. Receiving the ATOM award in Melbourne recently at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, producer Gregory Stehle dedicated the award to Phil Donohoe. The main aim of the video was to try and build the relationship people have with their dogs through reminding  people of the important role they play in Yolngu society, as watchdogs, hunter and members of the family and traditional totems. The video explains the origins of dingoes through traditional stories, and also gives information on vacinnations and desexing from Dr. Stephen Cutter who travels and works on communities. Health Clinic Staff discuss and advise on issues regarding the links between dog and human health and how to adress the issues. It was filmed on the communities of Mapurru, an outstation near Ramingining, as well as in and around Darwin. This video was developed with funding from The Communities for Children Strategy, with the key sponsors being FaHCSIA and ANGLICARE NT. Purchase the DVD, through ARDS online store

LIFE MEMBERSHIP OF AMRRIC AWARD for AMANDA DONOHOE.

A life membership of AMRRIC was awarded to Amanda Donohoe at the 2008 AMRRIC Conference in Darwin on the 14th October 2008. Amanda works at Nungalinya College in Darwin as a Course Coordinator. Life membership  was awarded to Amanda in sincere appreciation of her passion, dedication and support as a founding member and for her ongoing support of AMRRIC. Pictured from (R), Peter Brown AMRRIC Board President, Amanda Donohoe (C) and Julia Hardaker (L) AMRRIC Executive Officer.

OUTSTANDING VET - Dr Jan Allen HONOURED WITH IFAW ACTION AWARD

 14 October 2008 at AMRRIC Conference, Holiday Inn Esplanade Darwin, 116 Esplanade, DARWIN

Dr Jan Allen has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to animal welfare by being awarded a prestigious IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Action Award. The award was presented today during the AMRRIC Conference in Darwin, by IFAW’s Companion Animal Campaigner, Ms Marguerite Young. “It is a privilege to present this award to Dr Allen to recognise her important achievement. Dr Allen’s selfless dedication to the treatment and care of animals is inspirational.  It is vital that people like Dr Allan are recognised as the real champions for animals,” Ms Young said. Dr Allen worked as an Australian Volunteer International vet placed with Animal Protection Society (APS) in Samoa for 2 years where her work included the implementation of village-based dog health programs as well as working with the Samoan Government towards a Dog Control Management Plan. Dr Allen went on to work in the Northern Territory, where she worked in several Indigenous communities, including AMRRIC’s pilot dog program in the remote indigenous community of Kintore. The program worked in partnership with community members to improve community health by improving the health of animals.  During three visits to Kintore over the past year, veterinarians and volunteers spay/neutered nearly 150 dogs and treated a number of conditions from roundworm, heartworm and other internal parasites to mange and ticks. As part of the program, IFAW supplied collars for all desexed dogs. Dr Allen is one of six animal heroes across Australia to receive an IFAW accolade this year. Also being honoured today in a joint presentation on the south coast of NSW are wildlife carers Shirley Lack with the Lifetime Dedication Award and nine year old Shania Gardner with the Young Achievers Award. Marny Bonner and the late Lance Ferris, founders of Australian Seabird Rescue, were awarded the Action Award for Wildlife Rescue on 8 October for their tremendous work in rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of seabirds and marine wildlife. The other winners will be announced next week.

 “We hope that by highlighting some of these exceptional people more Australians will acknowledge and respect the important part that animals play in our global world,” said IFAW Asia Pacific Director Erica Martin.

 “Raising awareness of important animal welfare issues is vital to understanding of the issues facing animals today, and we recognise this important work with this IFAW Action Award.IFAW’s Animal Action Week is in its sixteenth year and takes place in 16 countries around the world.  More than 1000 schools in Australia will be taking part this year, using specially designed IFAW education materials.

500th Dog Desexed at Maningrida!

Dr Ted Donelan and helpers desexed dog number 500 at Maningrida this month. Dr Ted and Frank returning dog No. 500 safely home to its owner

“Operational Commander of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, Major General Dave Chalmers and his team visited the Dog Health Program at Maningrida during the 500th dog celebration” Dr Ted Donelan, Major General Dave Chamers, AMRRIC EO Julia Hardaker, Dr John Skuja- Vets Beyond Borders. AMRRIC's response to the Stolen Generations Apology from Australian Government 14th February 2008

AMRRIC's President, Mr. Peter Brown on behalf of the Board and staff, wholeheartedly acknowledges and supports the timely watershed Australian historical event which took place on the 13th February, 2008, in the National Parliament, Canberra. AMRRIC thanks Prime Minister Rudd for the long awaited apology, thus demonstrating his capacity for leadership and his commitment to the nation's Indigenous Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian Government. By so powerfully acknowledging the pain, degradation and humiliation suffered by many Indigenous Australians, this Government has now established the foundation upon which this nation can work together to ensure a better future for all of its peoples. This simple and poignant act offers hope and inspiration for all Australians to ensure that atrocities of the past will never be perpetrated upon Indigenous Australians again. A lasting bridge has been built through the act of saying Sorry and encourages us all. AMRRIC applauds and commends this government for taking the courageous step towards making amends and setting things right for the future of us all.

AMMRIC Presentations at the 2007 2nd National Summit to end Pet Overpopulation

The 2nd National Summit to End Pet Overpopulation, run by the Animal Welfare League of Queensland and the National Desexing Network with the support of Animals Australia, was held in October 2007. AMRRIC Executive officer, Julia Hardaker, made two presentations at the summit. The first focused on a report on the status of the Northern Territory in terms of working towards preventing unwanted animals, and the second focused on AMRRIC and our current and proposed work. Both presentations were well received. In particular the presentations discussed the unique differences and difficulties of working in remote communities, and how an approach based on relationship building, trust and mutual respect forms the basis of AMRRIC’s longer term approach to overpopulation of companion animals in Indigenous communities. A copy of the NT Report paper can be downloaded here