About Us

In 1979 the Murinbata Tribal Development Association was formed to carry on the ideals of spiritual and community development existing since the establishment of Wadeye and, in particular, the establishment and preservation of stability, health and employment, and the spiritual development of members of the community whilst giving paramount consideration to the retention of Aboriginal culture and the improvement of the quality of life of the members of the community. 

This was to be done predominantly through the management and profit distribution of the Murrinhpatha Nimmipa Store. The aim was to not only provide good food to the community but to also funnel the profits from the store back into the community to promote the relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress, misfortune, destitution and helplessness.

The Association was made up of a committee of 10 community members who would meet once a month to discuss store operations and the donation of funds as per request. Much of the funds initially were directed into the building of new houses until mid-1990 when this role was taken over by government.

Since then the contributions to the community have been many and varied, ranging from feeding the hungry through food vouchers, assistance with funerals, donations of medical equipment to the clinic, donations towards OLSH School excursions, funding for the OLSH Church, to the hundreds of thousands of dollars given to the construction of the swimming pool.

It has also seen the construction of a new store in 1990, extensions to its warehouse in 1993 and then the expansion of that store in 2011 to meet the needs of a growing community. They also own an industrial property in Stuart Park purchased in 2008.

Today the Association is now a Corporation Limited by Guarantee and comprises of a board of 10 Directors. The CEO and Traditional Owner Deacon Boniface Perdjert still remains the guiding force behind the corporation having been there since its inception in 1979.

Traditional Owner Deacon Boniface Perdjert

© [Murinbata Tribal Development Corporation] [2014]
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