Arnhem Land Progress Association marks 50 years of service
It may be a tiny island, but a huge legacy is being created in a remote corner of the Northern Territory. The Arnhem Land Progress Association is celebrating fifty years working to set up business enterprises in Northern Australia and giving back to the communities they service.
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00:00 On the tiny island of Millingimbi off the territories north coast lies the Rolku Lodge.
00:07 It's the beautiful country and the opportunity to use unique skills that brought manager
00:17 Josephine Baker back from the mainland.
00:20 My passion that was passed down to me by my grandmother is to make sure that I'm here
00:25 for my people, supporting them.
00:27 The business was started by her family with the help of ALPA, the Arnhem Land Progress
00:32 Aboriginal Corporation.
00:34 Chances are you've never heard of it.
00:36 But with 1,200 workers on its books, it's one of the largest financially independent
00:41 Indigenous employers in Australia and one of the oldest.
00:44 ALPA has been a big part of the Yolong'o people here in Arnhem Land.
00:50 Up to 50 years of operations, the non-for-profit now runs 27 stores right across northern Australia
00:56 and generates $40 million a year.
00:59 We've had lots of good successes but we've also had our failures, not everything turns
01:03 to gold you know.
01:05 But I think that we've, that's what motivates you to keep going.
01:10 75% of ALPA's workforce is Indigenous, including Florence Marikama.
01:15 She's worked at the Millingimbi store for more than 37 years and keeps intending to
01:19 retire but can't quite bring herself to do it.
01:23 It's my life, I put my life into the job.
01:27 From night patrol to youth group, social support, all of this can be funded because ALPA isn't
01:33 reliant on government or charity funding.
01:36 It's extremely profitable in its own right and can invest back into its people.
01:45 As for the next 50 years, board member Elizabeth Gangilpah is feeling pretty optimistic.
01:50 Thank you, they've done this, we are here.
01:54 What can we do now for the future?
01:57 A lasting legacy on this sacred land.
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