On Wednesday 17 May 2023, we joyously celebrated the new Angurugu Sports & Recreation Centre with over 200 community members, staff, stakeholders, and children from nearby schools, making it a truly remarkable day for the Groote Archipelago Community. The festivities were enriched by the presence of distinguished guests and inspiring speeches from ALC Chairman Tony Wurramarrba, CEO Mark Hewitt, ALC Board Members Cherelle Wurrawilya, Serena Bara, Ida Mamarika and Elma Maminyamanja, Bush Fit Mob’s Atnas Maeko, and Federal Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour MP. Furthermore, we were privileged to witness a captivating performance of song and dance by the Traditional Owners. The Centre will be run by Bush Fit Mob and is expected to open to the public from next month. 

After lunch, attendees were invited to Little Paradise and Bartalumba Bay for an exciting announcement by the ALC Land & Sea Rangers of Commonwealth funding to purchase a new trawling vessel worth $400,000 to help rid the Archipelago of marine debris and ghost nets in hard to reach areas, and a tour of the new Little Paradise base camp and aquaculture facilitates being developed by Groote Holdings Aboriginal Corporation and Groote Aqua Aboriginal Corporation for the benefit of all Traditional Owners.