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In Pictures: Mining for the future
Follow one destitute aboriginal community’s fight for a better life.
Aurukun, in Queensland, is one of Australia(***)s most remote aboriginal communities.
Published On 4 Jul 2012
4 Jul 2012
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Unemployment hovers at around 80 per cent and the local school is one of the worst-performing in Queensland.
Boredom leads Aurukun children to play in a building site
Rubbish collection in Aurukun sometimes does not come for a fortnight
Tribal violence is part of everyday life and there are around 100 government agencies for a population of only 1,200
Wild dogs roam the streets in Aurukun after heavy rain
Playing video games on a sweltering day, there remains few activities for young people in the shire
Furniture in Aurukun can be hard to come by, with only one general store
Kids pass their time playing with bubble gum outside the general store
Most construction work is done by private contractors, flown in from out of town
Gina is from Aurukun and she wants to make a meaningful difference in her community - the Wik people - by providing skills and economic opportunities for them
Gina is fighting for a seat at the table with the big companies that are making a fortune from bauxite mines on tribal lands
Gina hopes to create a sustainable economy in Aurukun to give the youth a better future
Aboriginal elders have a deep understanding of the bush that they hope to pass down to the younger generation
School attendance in Aurukun has risen dramatically in recent years
Gina sometimes goes spear fishing not far from where she spent much of her childhood
The waters of the beautiful wetlands of Aurukun, close to Cape Tribulation, are full of jellyfish and crocodiles
Fresh fish and seafood, including Barramundi, it is a main part of the diet in Aurukun
Kids keep cool as the elders fish for Barramundi
Gina: "I believe that we can have change, have a better life for our children"