OUR COUNCIL
The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council's (NSWALC) elected arm consists of nine Councillors democratically-elected by registered voting members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs).
They are elected to serve a four-year term.
The positions of Councillor are established under the NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 with salaries determined by the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal for Public Office Holders.
The Council itself elects its Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson at the first meeting of Council following the election of Councillors. Both hold Office for a term of two years and are eligible for re-election.
The role of a Councillor is, as a member of the governing body of the NSWALC:
- To direct and control the affairs of the Council in accordance with the Act, and
- To participate in the allocation of the Council's resources for the benefit of Aboriginal people, and
- To participate in the creation and review of the Council's policies and objectives, and
- To review the performance of the Council in the exercise of its functions and the achievement of its objectives.
In addition, the role of a Councillor is:
- To represent the interests and respond to the concerns of LALC members, and
- To facilitate communication between the LALC members and the NSWALC.
OUR COUNCILLORS
 |
Anne Dennis - NORTH WEST REGION Chairperson First elected in 2011, Cr Dennis is a Gamilaraay woman who was born on Namoi Reserve and has lived most of her life in Walgett. Cr Dennis has a strong background in education spanning more than 30 years as a teacher and administrator. Cr Dennis believes in the role of independent and self-sufficient Local Aboriginal Land Councils in delivering better educational outcomes and social justice for Aboriginal people. North-West Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Baradine, Brewarrina, Collarenebri, Coonamble, Goodooga, Lightning Ridge, Moree, Mungindi, Murrawari, Narrabri, Nulla Nulla, Pilliga, Toomelah, Walgett, Wee Waa and Weilmoringle. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: | Level 1, 87 Fox Street Walgett NSW 2832 PO BOX 453, Walgett NSW 2832 |
| Phone: | 02 6828 3269 |
| Fax: | 02 6828 2682 |
| Email: | anne.dennis@alc.org.au |
 |
Charles Lynch - NORTHERN REGION Deputy Chairperson A Gomeroi man born in Tamworth who has lived between Tamworth, Barraba and Quirindi all his life, Cr Lynch has been involved in the Land Rights network for more than 25 years in various capacities. He was elected in 2015. Cr Lynch is a member of Nungaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council and is involved with the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service and Walhallow Murri Aboriginal Enterprise Corporation. He is a fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants. He has a strong focus on empowering Local Aboriginal Land Councils to build capacity and determine their own direction through economic development and sustainable delivery of services for the betterment of members and communities as a whole. The Northern Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Amaroo, Anaiwan, Armidale, Ashford, Coonabarabran, Dorrigo Plateau, Glen Innes, Guyra, Moombahlene, Nungaroo, Red Chief, Tamworth, Walhallow, Wanaruah. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: | 68 Brisbane St Tamworth NSW 2340 PO Box 890, Tamworth NSW 2340 |
| Phone: | 02 6761 3456 |
| Fax: | 02 6766 1164 |
| Email: | charles.lynch@alc.org.au |
 |
Abie Wright - SYDNEY/NEWCASTLE REGION Abie Wright is a descendent of Gommeroi, Anaiwan, Dunghutti and Wanaruah people from Newcastle. He is a musician and songwriter and was a member of the award-winning hip hop groups Local Knowledge and Street Warriors. Cr Wright was a joint founder of the Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre and is a board member of Awabakal, a service providing primary health care, aged care, children and family services to Aboriginal people living throughout the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Hunter Valley regions. Cr Wright's late father, Jimmy Wright was a respected leader and former ATSIC Commissioner. The Sydney/Newcastle Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Awabakal, Bahtabah, Biraban, Darkinjung, Deerubbin, Gandangara, La Perouse, Metropolitan, Mindaribba, Tharawal, Worimi. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: |
PO BOX |
| Phone: | 02 |
| Fax: | 02 |
| Email: | abie.wright@alc.org.au |
 |
Leeanne Hampton - WIRADJURI REGION Leeanne Hampton is a Wiradjuri / Ngiyampaa woman from West Wyalong who was the first female Aboriginal Deputy Mayor of the Bland Shire Council. Cr Hampton also served for 13 years as the CEO of the West Wyalong Local Aboriginal Land Council and prior to that ran her own hairdressing business. A member of the NSW Government's Aboriginal Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee, Cr Hampton is passionate about culture and heritage and helping instil pride in the younger Aboriginal generations. She loves her family and live music concerts. The Wiradjuri Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Albury and District, Bathurst, Condobolin, Cowra, Cummeragunja, Deniliquin, Griffith, Hay, Leeton and District, Moama, Murrin Bridge, Narrandera, Onerwal, Orange, Peak Hill, Pejar, Tumut Brungle, Wagga Wagga, Wamba Wamba, West Wyalong, Young. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: | PO Box |
| Phone: | 02 |
| Fax: | 02 |
| Email: | leeanne.hampton@alc.org.au |
 |
Grace Toomey - CENTRAL REGION Grace Toomey is a Wiradjuri woman from Dubbo. Prior to being elected to NSWALC, she worked in local government for 24 years, most recently as the Aboriginal Liaison Officer for the Dubbo Regional Council. Cr Toomey was a Board Member of the Dubbo Local Aboriginal Land Council for 10 years and is Secretary of the Dubbo Aboriginal Community Working Party of the Three Rivers Regional Assembly. Central Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Dubbo, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Narromine, Nyngan, Trangie, Warren Macquarie, Weilwan and Wellington. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: |
PO BOX |
| Phone: | 02 |
| Fax: | 02 |
| Email: | |
 |
Danny Chapman - SOUTH COAST REGION Elected in 2015, Cr Chapman is a Walbunga man from the Yuin nation with experience and knowledge of Native Title and Aboriginal Fishing Rights. A major part of Cr Chapman's education was learning how to fish and gather food from the sea and estuaries and he has advised government as Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Fishing Advisory Council. Cr Chapman has also served as Manager of NSW Native Title Services and has been involved in Aboriginal Affairs at State Government level for the past five years. The South Coast Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Batemans Bay, Bega, Bodalla, Cobowra, Eden, Illawarra, Jerrinja, Merrimans, Mogo, Ngambri, Nowra, Ulladulla, Wagonga. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: | 6/34D Orient Street, Batemans Bay NSW 2536 |
| Phone: | 02 9689 4444 |
| Fax: | 02 4472 3897 |
| Email: | danny.chapman@alc.org.au |
 |
Peter Smith - MID NORTH COAST A Dungutti man originally from Kempsey, Cr Peter Smith has worked in the Taree region for three decades, spending 10 years in the police service and 11 at the regional health services. Cr Smith has worked in his local community in a number of different capacities and is passionate about Land Rights, health equality, housing, culture and heritage. A Councillor since 2011, Cr Smith is a member of the Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council and served as the Chair for 10 years. Mid-North Coast Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Birpai, Bowraville, Bunyah, Coffs Harbour, Forster, Karuah, Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Purfleet-Taree, Stuart Island, Thunggutti, Unkya. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: |
51 Manning Street TAREE NSW 2430 |
| Phone: | 02 6550 0463 |
| Fax: | 02 6551 8086 |
| Email: | |
 |
Ross Hampton - WESTERN REGION A Ngiyampaa / Wiradjuri man, Ross Hampton was born in Lake Cargelligo, grew up in West Wyalong, now lives in Irymple and is a member of Dareton LALC. He was formerly the Executive Director of Operations and Family Services at Mallee District Aboriginal Services and NSWALC's Far West Zone Director. Prior to joining NSWALC, Ross worked for Aboriginal Hostels Limited for 21 years, was an Executive Director with Aboriginal Affairs NSW, a Director of the Aboriginal Housing Office and the Chief Executive Officer of the Murdi Paaki Regional Housing Corporation. The Western Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Balranald, Broken Hill, Cobar, Dareton, Ivanhoe, Menindee, Mutawintji, Tibooburra, Wanaaring, Wilcannia, Winbar. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: |
PO BOX |
| Phone: | 02 |
| Fax: | 02 |
| Email: | ross.hampton@alc.org.au |
 |
Dallas Donnelly - NORTH COAST Dallas Donnelly is Bundjalung and Gumbaynggirr man from Grafton. The North Coast Region includes the following Local Aboriginal Land Councils: Baryulgil, Birrigan Gargle, Bogal, Casino Boolangle, Grafton-Ngerrie, Gugin-Gudduba, Jali, Jana-Ngalee, Jubullum, Muli Muli, Ngulingah, Tweed-Byron, Yaegl. |
| Contact Details | |
| Address: |
PO BOX |
| Phone: | 02 |
| Fax: | 02 |
| Email: | dallas.donnelly@alc.org.au |