Meeting of the morgues in Maningrida

30 December 2015

Peter Gamlin from the Department of Local Government and Community Services, Jack Nawilil, Traditional Owners David Jones and Reggie Waridjal and WARC Mayor Lothar Siebert discuss the plans for the morgue facility at Maningrida.

THE West Arnhem community of Maningrida has just taken delivery of a new morgue facility, with morgues at Jabiru and Gunbalanya ready for upgrades.

Mayor of West Arnhem Regional Council Lothar Siebert, Acting Chief Executive Valentin Markez and Maningrida Ward Councillor Matthew Ryan joined a public meeting in Maningrida for discussions on the morgue and how it will be run.

Cr Ryan, who has campaigned tirelessly for a morgue in his community, said he was pleased to finally witness its arrival and looked forward to seeing it in operation as soon as possible.

“It’s a community issue and they need to be serious about taking on that responsibility,” Cr Ryan said. “Families here have been spending thousands of dollars to send loved ones to morgues in Darwin or Katherine, which only adds to their stress.”

Mayor Lothar Siebert said WARC had been resolute in its support for community morgues, making constant representations to both the Northern Territory and Australian governments on behalf of West Arnhem residents.

WARC representatives including Maningrida Community Services Manager Mark Ellenden joined Peter Gamlin from the Department of Local Government and Community Services, Maningrida Progress Association CEO Jimmy Tan, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation CEO Karl Dyason, Traditional Owners, residents and stakeholders at the meeting, on Tuesday 22 December, chaired by the Australian Government’s Indigenous Engagement Officer in Maningrida, Baru Pascoe.

After Traditional Owners discussed proposals for the site, Mr Pascoe announced that those present had agreed on an area on the barge landing side of the Maningrida Health Clinic.

“We will be taking this to the next full meeting of the NLC (Northern Land Council) to ask for the lease,” Mr Pascoe said.

Mr Gamlin told the meeting the NT Government was in discussions with agencies, including the Department of Health, about who would run the morgue.

“It is not the responsibility of Council, and there are no laws in the NT as to who should run it,” he said. “In this project we don’t have the money to run it, only to build it.”

The arrival of the new morgue facility in Maningrida is a big step forward in the NT and Australian government’s decision to spend almost $5 million over three years building and upgrading morgues in remote communities.

Mr Gamlin said the two-body capacity of the morgue in Gunbalanya was insufficient, especially during the wet season when transport was limited.

“The Gunbalanya morgue is also going to be fixed up as part of this project,” he said.

Local Government and Community Services Minister Bess Price said she knew how difficult it was for families living out bush when a loved one passed away.

“Uncertainty about what happens to a loved one’s body has been an ongoing source of anguish for many people,” Mrs Price said.

“Now we can assure them that the deceased will be treated with dignity.

“This funding will allow families to pay proper respect to loved ones who have passed.”

Maningrida residents have their say at the public meeting.