“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.
