Article: Meet Azaria Foster - One of NPYWC's Youngest Directors

Meet Azaria Foster - One of NPYWC's Youngest Directors

“My heart went woosh!

I had the biggest shock and the biggest scream when I was elected as a director of NPY Women’s Council last year.

My name is Azaria, my grandmother comes from the Ngaanyatjarra lands. My grandfather comes from the Pitjantjatjara lands. So, I’m a Pitjantjatjara and Ngaanyatjarra woman. I was born in Alice Springs and raised in Irrunytju and Wanarn in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands, WA.

I’M REALLY PROUD

At the last NPY Women’s Council (NPYWC) AGM (2024), people put my name up on the whiteboard with the list of the people to vote in as directors. After the voting, when they called out my name, it was really exciting, and I was just really proud.

I’m one of the youngest directors ever. Being a director is really good for me to learn for my future, and I can inspire other young women coming in to be directors.

I HAD STRONG ROLE MODELS

I grew up with NPYWC through my grandmother. She was a director and helped to create the Nutrition program, so I knew NPYWC from when I was little. We used to live just next door because my grandfather was with the Pitjantjatjara Council. He used to be the Chairman and a strong speaker. My grandmother was the same, I came into NPYWC directors’ meetings and saw how she spoke in a proper way. I come from those strong family members. I know how they spoke and how they held NPY Women’s Council strongly.

It’s the time to learn from old women and teach the next generation.

MY WORK WITH NPY WOMEN’S COUNCIL

I started working as an Aboriginal Support Worker for the NPYWC’s Youth Service in 2016. Then I became a Youth Development Officer at NPYWC – I used to run the Irrunytju (Wingellina) Youth Service.

Words by Azaria Foster.

Tjanpi Desert Weavers

Tjanpi Desert Weavers Honour the Bush Bus

Our social enterprise, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, celebrate the story of the Kaltukatjara Bush Bus by weaving the bus that connected the community to Alice Springs and faraway family.

With many important services based 7 hours away in Alice Springs, families from Kaltukatjara (Docker River) would often miss appointments or find themselves stranded in town, unable to return home… until a local tjilpi (old man) came up with an idea…

In 1998, Alan Passmore, who was working in Kaltukatjara, suggested he buy a bus to help solve the remote community’s transport challenges.

We said “palya”! So he flew to Perth to buy a big new bus, and drove it all the way back. He passed through Warakurna, and saw my son. He said, “This is a new bus for you mob!” Then he drove on to Kaltukatjara and pulled up at my place. Everyone was excited, the kids were all climbing in the bus! The same size as a Greyhound! He took us all for a ride. We were really happy about that one. – Rosalind Yibardi, Tjanpi artist.

Tjanpi Bush Bus Image 1

The bush bus, that’s our bus. Docker River started that bus, first travelling from Alice Springs to Docker River and back. Now that bus travels all over to help people from more communities get to town. – Winsome Newberry, Tjanpi artist.

Today, the Bush Bus service travels 11 routes across 35 communities, connecting people to services and family. In honour of this important lifeline for families, Tjanpi artists created a woven Bush Bus for the touring exhibition True Story.

Tjanpi helps Anangu women share their stories and culture with the world through fibre artwork to the world and supports income opportunities for women living in a region of economic disadvantage.

Tjanpi Bush Bus Image 3

Youth

Kungkas Take the Field at Yulara

Something special happened out on Yulara Oval during NAIDOC Week this year – over 100 kungkas (young women) from 16 remote communities across the NPY Lands came together for a big, all-girl footy carnival!

It was the third year that the Kungka’s AFL 9’s event took place, a team effort by the NPY Women’s Council Youth Service creating space for confidence, connection, and young women to shine on – and off – the field.

And it wasn’t just all about footy – there was also disco, malu (kangaroo tail) cooked on the fire, crazy hair spray, face paint and all sorts of fun on the side.

For remote communities across the NPY Lands, the vast distances between communities makes the footy carnival a very special chance to come together. Kungkas travelled from right across the central and western desert regions, spanning South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory to be part of the event!

It’s good to get the kungkas out of community and to bring them together to play footy. It’s good they can all come together to play and have fun. I’m happy to see them enjoy each other’s company.

– Shalaylee Coombes, an Anangu Support Worker.

With help from AFLNT and a visit from AFLW Adelaide Crows players, the carnival was full of energy and support.

NPYWC Kungka Footy

This event was made possible through collaboration with Ngaanyatjarra Council and Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Education Committee, with sponsorship from Maddocks Foundation and Igniting Change. Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia helped bring the vision to life by hosting the event at Yulara Oval.

NPY Women's Council is grounded in, and continues to live and work on, the sovereign Lands of the Arrernte people, and the Aṉangu and Yarnangu people - the rightful custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.