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Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The Social Enterprise Program is about
supporting women and their families to turn the things
they love to do into projects that make money. The
Program works with women who are motivated and keen
to get things going. We support these women to
learn new skills, understand how to run a business and how to make things that
people want to buy. Read on, the story of the Social
Enterprise Program so far.
to the first Social Enterprise
Newsletter
The start of the year was spent
organising the studio at the back of the
Women’s Centre. The area was
repainted and materials ordered so
that it became a space that people
could easily produce work in. We now
have a dedicated group of women
working in the studio. June Smith
makes sure the textile and sewing
orders are done. June, April Jones,
Sharlene Chuguna and Cherry Smiler
are the textile artists producing
beautifully printed textile products.
Amanda Smith has just been employed
to run the bush dye silk scarf project
and Inge Crillesen makes sure the
artists have transport, food and a clean
space to work in. Come in and see us to
discuss your project ideas.
The MWRC Studio
MWRC now has an online
shop where people can
sell their products.
Check it out on:
www.mwrc.net.au
Online Business
and call us if you want to
put your products online.
Welcome
MWRC has worked closely with the
community of Jimbalakudunj over the
years to establish a textile design
business. In 2014 Rukaji Designs was
born with a new logo and new
products. Ivy Nargoodah is the key
artist on this project. She has been
working with Tracey Benthien from
Global Artisan Project to produce a
range of bags and coin purses in
collaboration with weavers and tailors
in Indonesia. Ivy has also formed a
relationship with The Ark Clothing
Company and they are now assisting
her to make her own line of dresses
Rukaji worked closely with Claudia
Rayne from Many Rivers who helped
the community understand the kind of
business model they want to pursue.
Rukaji Designs
M A R N I N W A R N T I K U R A
Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The Social Enterprise Program assisted
the very talented Lettitia Shaw to take
her designs to Sydney for the National
Indigenous Fashion Awards in April. The
program paid for the production of the
dresses, signage for her trade show and
organised business cards. MWRC also
supported the financial management of
Letticia’s trip to Sydney and sourced
funding to pay for her to show her
dresses at the national NAIDOC Week
celebrations in Canberra. Her fashion
parade with local models was one of the
highlights of the Smarter than Smoking
Bandaral Ngarri Festival and MWRC
supported this event by paying for
cosmetics and food. Letticia’s business is
much more than just fashion as she is
dedicated to mentoring other young
Aboriginal women to follow their
dreams.
Ticia Designs
Walibirri Designs, based at the Bungardi
Community, is the creation of Di and
Patrick Chungall and Judith Brooking. Di
drives the project and it is her energy
and enthusiasm that has seen the
establishment of a small market stall at
the entrance to the community on the
way to Geike Gorge. The Social
Enterprise Program helped the
community build the stall and assisted
with product development through
workshops with The Ark Clothing
Company and textile artist Megan
Kirwan Ward. Di travelled to Sydney and
Melbourne to see commercial designers
at work and has attended business
training sessions with the support of
MWRC. Their latest product – the
Walibirri Bag – was developed with
assistance from The Ark Clothing Co. It is
sewn by Di and Judith and features
screen and lino printed designs by
Patrick. It is a great product that is
walking out the door!
Walibirri Designs
Photographer Douglas
Gibson ran an intensive
two week course for 3
women – teaching them
the basics of portrait
photography (see
below). This has
resulted in Amanda
Smith and Lucy Wemyss
setting up their own
Family Photo Business.
The reason for this is to
make reasonably priced
family photos for
community members.
Call MWRC if you would
like to book the team to
come out to your
community.
Family Photo
Business
...
Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The Social Enterprise
project has recently
employed Lucy Wemyss
for one day a week. Lucy
is a fantastic graphic
designer and can help
you create wonderful
labels, flyers and other
marketing material for
your products.
Graphic Design Support
Janet Herbert, Susan Hoad and Elizabeth
Jingle make up the Ngarringa Ngarri design team
coordinated by Janice Peterson from the Marra
Worra Worra Women’s Program. The MWRC Social
Enterprise Program has assisted this group through:
Ngarringa Ngarri Designs
Product development with The
Ark Clothing Company
Setting up a relationship with
Many Rivers to assist the
women with business skill
development
Graphic design work for their
labels
Purchasing materials
Coordinating the Mother’s
Day and Makers Market
Providing financial assistance
for 3 of the women to attend
the Darwin Art Fair to see
what is going on in other
Indigenous communities
On June 23rd and 24th Petrine
McCrohan from Bridging the
Landscapes ran a small business
workshop for a group of 27 women
gathered at the Ngurra Gallery in
Ngumpan. Women stayed overnight
and discussed: what it means to run a
business; ways of setting up a business;
ideas for starting businesses in their
communities and a plan of action.
A show and tell session was held. Lillie
Spinks from the Ngurra Gallery gave a
great PowerPoint presentation on the
work they are doing and other
communities shared the products they
have developed. On the last day the
women went to visit Mimbi Caves
where Rose Nuggett and her assistant
Lana showed how to run a successful
business. The Mimbi Caves business is
a fantastic example of women running
a strong business and Rose was an
inspirational speaker. Special thanks
to the Ngurra Gallery team for hosting
the event and Karen Dayman for the
fabulous food!
Women’s Bush Business Meeting
This year the KALACC
Festival is having a special
area dedicated for women
to relax, talk and do
workshops. MWRC will be
supporting this program at
Jarlmadangah with
workshops and
information stalls and we
encourage all women to
attend.
Sept 22 to 26
KALACC Festival
Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
New Products from the MWRC Studio With the assistance of product development workshops from The Ark
Clothing Company, and textile artists Megan Kirwan Ward and Ken Wood,
the MWRC studio artists are creating some wonderful new products.
June Smith is working on a line of
children’s clothes. April, Sharlene and
Cherry are producing lino printed
textiles that are sold as lengths of
material or turned into craft packs,
cushions, runners and bags. These
items are for sale at the studio, the
Tourist Information Centre and the
Broome Markets.
Textiles
Silk Scarves
Winyja Paintings
Another great product these silk
scarves are created from natural
plant dyes sourced from the Fitzroy
Valley. A number of workshops
coordinated by Kirsten Smith have
resulted in Amanda Smith, June
Smith, Ivy Nargoodah and Di
Chungall now running their own
workshops. Such has been the success
of this product that Amanda Smith is
now being employed for 20 hours a
week to run this project.
Aisha Oscar has been creating some
beautiful and unique images of the
Winyja – a protective spirit
responsible for creating the
Winyiduwa country and law of Aisha’s
family. These bright and cheerful
paintings have found a real following
with visitors to the region.
Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
This project was trialled in the last half of 2013 with great
results. Painted and carved boab nuts were sold as corporate gifts
to a number of organisations and it is on again this year.
We have a huge number of nuts we need to get painted between
September and November– so again contact us if you
wish to be involved in this project.
The Boab Nut Project
The Social Enterprise Project commissioned 6 local artists to
make a range of gift cards. Maureen Chestnut, Talitha Nuggett,
Eileen Forrest, Sharlene Chuguna, Aisha Oscar and Martina
Costain have created a beautiful series of images that are now
on cards for sale at various outlets in Fitzroy and Broome.
Gift Cards
Workshops, professional development and
training to assist women and their families get
small businesses off the ground have been held
with the following organisations:
Business Training & Professional Development
Many Rivers
Bridging the Landscape
Morrgul
Indigenous Business Australia
Seasonal Concepts (Syd)
The Ark Clothing Co
The Darwin Art Fair
Volunteers Special thanks to the
volunteers that have
assisted to make the
program grow
especially Martha
West, Helen Heath
Wood and Jen Stahl
and her fabulous
sewing team.
Newsletter
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
The 2014 Smarter than Smoking Bandaral Ngarri Festival was held in Fitzroy Crossing on Saturday July 12 as a part of the Boab Festival and NAIDOC Week celebrations. The aim of the festival is to highlight the rich first nation culture of the Fitzroy Valley by providing a platform for local talent to shine. In addition to a full trapeze rig, art exhibitions and circus p e r f o r m an c e s t he S o c i a l Enterprise Program supported the event by coordinating The Makers Market. Twenty one product, activity and information stalls took part including wood
work from the Muludja Community, textiles and gifts from Loanbun, Bayulu, Townside an d J un ju w a c om mu nit y members, necklaces from Ngurra Gallery and bush dye silk scarves.
The Smarter than Smoking Bandaral Ngarri Festival
Broome Markets
The Darwin Art Fair
The Social Enterprise Program has supported local enterprises to be showcased at events, festivals and markets
including:
Mothers Day Market
Markets &EVents
Many Rivers Pop Up Shop
Seasonal Concepts Workshop in Sydney
The 2014 Smarter than Smoking
Bandaral Ngarri Festival
IBA are piloting a new program that helps people to build up a
Business Plan Wed Sept 17th & Wed October 15th
8.30-4pm Karrayilli
Call Audrey Viljoen on 0448 046 117 to make
a booking.
At the end of August Jen Sharman is taking leave from the
position of Social Enterprise Development Manager.
We welcome Brooke into this position until December 19th.
Jen will return in March 2015.
Welcome brooke! Indigenous Business Australia Workshops