Aboriginal Community Links

Aboriginal communities in northern South Australia and the Northern Territory have been involved with the Adelaide–Darwin railway since inception. Initially, along with individual and other community groups, Aboriginal communities took part in the lengthy consultation process to determine—and finalise—the optimum route for the railway, in particular, where it entered Aboriginal lands. Additionally, during construction of the line, Aboriginal people made up 40% of the labour force, helping to bring in the project under budget and ahead of schedule. Indirectly, Aboriginal people and Northern Territorians broadly are expected to benefit from the economic benefits to the region from the railway, especially job creation in the mining industry.

Scholarships 
     
Acknowledging this history, FreightLink has established education assistance scholarships for Aboriginal students at tertiary level. Awarded annually, the scholarships are valued at $5000 each.

Students from the areas of the Central Land Council Northern Land Council are eligible to apply.

For more information contact Charmaine Sinclair
(08) 8245 9131

Locomotives

FreightLink’s relationship with these Aboriginal communities is reflected in the livery incorporated on two of its locomotives.

Northern Artwork by Roque Lee (Loco FQ01)

Kenbi Kenbi crocodile
Clan—Larrakian

The crocodile is a symbol of the Northern Territory, represented here in sections to represent  the different sections of the trainringing the spirit of all Australians to the Northern Territory
 
Central Artwork by Ruth Dawson, Loco FQ02

A story about two people gathering some water from this rock hole called Jurnkurakurr Rockhole located north of Tennant Creek in an area known as Seven Mile. The painting contains several streams and their sandy riverbanks (white dots on ochre), which feed the rock hole.

Further, four locomotives have been allocated Aboriginal names:

FQ01 Kurra kurraka storm bird
FQ02 Purnu a Warumungu word for something used to carry things, like a coolamon; also a word used for vehicles (as they are used to carry people from place to place)
FQ03 Wagiman the name of the Wagiman clan people from the Pine Creek area
FQ04 Aboriginal stockman