Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC Mackay QLD

28/08/2026

🌿 FRIDAY FACTS | Common Law Holders, Members & Our Board

Last Friday, we talked about what an RNTBC is, what Native Title means, and the role of Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC.

This week, we thought we would continue the conversation and talk about something that can sometimes be a little confusing:
What is the difference between a Common Law Holder, a member of the Corporation, and a Director on our Board?
While they are all connected, they don’t necessarily mean the same thing.

Who are our Common Law Holders?
Our Common Law Holders are the Yuwi people who hold the recognised Native Title rights and interests over Yuwi Country.
Importantly, Native Title belongs to the Common Law Holders — it does not belong to the Corporation or the Board.

What is a member?
A member is someone who has applied for and been accepted as a member of Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC in accordance with our Rule Book.
Being a Common Law Holder and being a member of the Corporation are not necessarily the same thing.

So, what does our Board do?
Our Directors are elected to oversee the governance and business of Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. The Board has responsibilities under our Rule Book and the legislation that governs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations.
The Board also has an important responsibility to ensure the Corporation carries out its role as the RNTBC for Yuwi Common Law Holders.
It is important to remember that every RNTBC can operate differently. Each corporation has its own Rule Book, which sets out things such as membership, how Directors are elected and how the Corporation operates.
For Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC, our Rule Book is publicly available through ORIC for anyone who would like to understand more about how our Corporation works.

💚 Why are we sharing this?
We recognise that we haven’t always communicated with our Common Law Holders, members and families as regularly as we would have liked.
Over the years, the Corporation has operated with limited staff and resources, and at times our small team has been stretched across many different areas of work. It has never been because we didn’t want to communicate or keep our people informed.
We want to keep improving how we share information and create more opportunities for our people to understand what is happening within the Corporation.
That is what our Friday Facts are about — breaking down some of the terminology around Native Title and our RNTBC, sharing information in a simple way, and helping our Common Law Holders, members and families stay connected.
We might not always get everything perfect, but we are committed to continuing to improve our communication and making information more accessible.

If there is something you would like us to explain in a future Friday Facts post, or you would like more information, please reach out to the Corporation. 💚

28/08/2026

YUWI & THE REEFTO ALLIANCE – AN UPDATE FOR OUR COMMON LAW HOLDERS🌊

Over the past year, Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC has been involved in a number of conversations and engagements with ReefTO as work has progressed towards establishing a stronger collective voice for Reef Traditional Owners across the Great Barrier Reef.

Our involvement has happened on many levels. Yuwi representatives have attended ReefTO engagements, ReefTO has come and met with us on Yuwi Country, and we have supported our Elders to attend and participate in Sea Country Forum in Cairns 2025.

We wanted to share the video below from the 2025 ReefTO Sea Country Forum so our Common Law Holders and community can see a little more about what ReefTO is and the journey that has been happening across Reef Traditional Owner groups. 🌊

So, what is happening now?
ReefTO is progressing towards establishing the ReefTO Alliance – a new Traditional Owner-owned and led organisation bringing Reef Traditional Owner groups together on matters affecting Sea Country across the Great Barrier Reef.
Importantly, the Alliance is not intended to replace individual RNTBCs/PBCs, Traditional Owner organisations or the authority of individual Nations. Each Nation continues to speak for its own Country and maintain its own identity, priorities and decision-making.

Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC has now completed and returned a Statement of Intent as part of the next stage of this process.

The Statement of Intent is not a membership application and is not binding. It is part of the process leading into the ReefTO Summit in Gladstone on 29–30 September 2026, where the Alliance is proposed to be formally established.

Yuwi has the opportunity to send six representatives with decision-making authority to the Summit, alongside other Reef Traditional Owner groups.

Yuwi is currently proposed within the Southern Region, which includes Traditional Owner groups across the Mackay to Bundaberg area. These regional groupings are not yet final and will be discussed and confirmed through the Summit process.

Why are we sharing this with our Common Law Holders? 🖤
As your RNTBC, we think it is important that our Common Law Holders are kept informed about the spaces Yuwi is participating in, who we are building relationships with and the conversations happening that may create future opportunities for our people and Sea Country.
As the ReefTO Alliance progresses, we will continue to share information with our Common Law Holders about Yuwi's involvement and what comes next.
For now, we encourage our families to have a look at the video below and learn a little more about the ReefTO journey.

Our involvement in a collective Reef voice does not change who speaks for Yuwi Country.

If you are a Yuwi Common Law Holder and would like more information about the ReefTO Alliance, Yuwi’s involvement or the upcoming Summit, please reach out to Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. We are happy to provide further information and answer any questions.

🌿 Yuwi Country • Yuwi People • Yuwi Voice 🌊
🖤💛❤️

Grab a quick cuppa and watch this highlight video of the Sea Countr...

26/08/2026

Bringing Our Language Home 🖤💛❤️

Language is an important part of who we are. It carries our stories, our knowledge, our connection to Country and the voices of those who came before us.

Through the effects of colonisation, many First Nations languages were disrupted, suppressed and, in many cases, lost or taken away from generations of our people.

For Yuwi, the journey of restoring and reclaiming our language is about bringing that knowledge back to our people and keeping it alive for the generations to come.

You may have heard the name Yuwibara used when talking about our people and our Native Title. Yuwi being the Country, and bara being the people. Yuwibara is the name our Native Title is recognised under and reflects the connection between our people and our Country.

These words are more than just language. They carry our identity, our connection to Country and the knowledge passed down through generations.

Just as we work to repatriate our Ancestors and bring them home to Country, we are also working to restore the language and cultural knowledge that belongs to our people.

Every word we learn, remember and pass on is another piece of our culture being brought home.

This is our journey of reconnecting with our language, our culture, our Country and our Ancestors — and making sure that what belongs to Yuwi continues to live on.

Our language. Our culture. Our Country. Our story. 🖤💛❤️

25/08/2026

Australian South Sea Islander National Recognition Day 🌊❤️

25 August A Day to remember, recognise and celebrate Australian South Sea Islander people.

Our Yuwi connection 🌊❤️
For many Yuwi families, South Sea Islander connections are an important part of our family histories.
We also acknowledge that many of the people who work at Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation today have South Sea Islander heritage and connections.
These connections are part of our families, our workplace, our community and who we are today.
Today, we recognise and honour the history, culture, strength and resilience of Australian South Sea Islander people and their important place in the story of Mackay, Queensland and Australia.

Remembering the history 🌊
In 1863, the first South Sea Islander labourers arrived in Queensland aboard the Don Juan, bringing 67 young men, primarily from Tanna Island, now part of Vanuatu.
Over the following decades, more than 50,000 South Sea Islander people came to Queensland from around 80 Pacific Islands, including Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, Fiji, New Britain and New Ireland.
Many were kidnapped, deceived or coerced into coming to Australia through the system known as blackbirding. Others came through recruitment and contracts that could be unfair and exploitative.
They were brought to Queensland to undertake extremely hard labour, first in the cotton industry and later mainly in the sugar industry. Many were forced to work for little or no pay.

Our Mackay history 🌴
In 1867, the first South Sea Islander labourers arrived in Mackay. They were brought into the Pioneer River and taken ashore near the Leichhardt Tree.
From there, their labour was put up for bidding and haulage to various sugar plantations across the region.
The Leichhardt Tree holds an important but difficult place in Mackay's history — reminding us of both the hardship and exploitation South Sea Islander people experienced and the enormous contribution their labour made to our sugar industry.
In 1994, the Commonwealth Government formally recognised Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group, following years of advocacy by South Sea Islander communities.

Today, we remember the Old People and ancestors who came before us, honour their strength and resilience, and celebrate the generations who continue to carry their culture, stories and connections forward.

❤️ We remember.
🌊 We recognise.
🌿 We celebrate.

Happy Australian South Sea Islander National Recognition Day.

21/08/2026

You might have seen Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC and wondered what does that actually mean?? Who exactly are they and what do they even do??

There are a lot of different names and terms used when talking about Native Title, and we know it can sometimes be confusing. So, over the coming weeks we want to share some simple information about the Yuwi Native Title journey, our Common Law Holders and the role of our corporation.

First – our families came before Native Title.

Yuwi identity and connection to Country did not begin with a Native Title determination or a corporation.

Our old people, our family groups, our stories, our cultural responsibilities and our connection to Country have existed for generations.

Throughout the Native Title journey, different names & different corporations have also been used to describe our people, including Juipera, Yuibera and Yuwibarra.

Yuwibarra means people of Yuwi Country.

Today, our corporation uses Yuwi, reflecting the name used by our people.

So, what is Native Title?
Native Title is the legal recognition under Australian law of the rights and interests Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in their traditional Country through their traditional laws and customs.

For Yuwi, Native Title legally recognises the continuing connection of our people to Yuwi Country and certain rights and interests that come with that connection.

Who are the Common Law Holders?
The Common Law Holders are the Yuwi people who hold the recognised Native Title rights and interests.
Our Common Law Holders come through the Yuwi families recognised through the Native Title process. Importantly, the corporation does not create our identity or our connection to Country, our families and connection to our old people come first.

So where does Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation come in?
Once Native Title is recognised, there needs to be a corporation to hold and manage those Native Title rights and interests in accordance with Native Title law and the decisions of the Common Law Holders.

At a 2020 Authorisation Meeting, the Common Law Holders voted for Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation to be the corporation responsible for this role.

Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation is therefore our RNTBC – Registered Native Title Body Corporate.

A simple way of looking at it is:
Yuwi families and old people ➡️ Common Law Holders ➡️ Native Title rights and interests ➡️ Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC ➡️ Members

The Common Law Holders hold the Native Title rights and interests.

The RNTBC has the legal responsibility to manage and deal with Native Title matters on their behalf and in accordance with the decisions and authority of the Common Law Holders.

This can include:
• Managing Native Title matters
• Working with governments, proponents and other organisations
• Dealing with agreements that may affect Native Title
• Consulting with Common Law Holders
• Protecting Native Title rights and interests
• Carrying out decisions made through the appropriate Yuwi decision-making processes

Our Native Title journey is much bigger than a corporation or a legal determination. It is about our families, our old people, our connection to Country and our responsibility to the generations that come after us.

We know Native Title language can be complicated, so we will continue sharing information about Yuwi family groups, Common Law Holders, Native Title rights, ILUAs, decision-making and the role of Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC so our families & our community can better understand the journey and who the Yuwi People are.

18/08/2026

🌿 Out & About on Country

There’s always something happening across Yuwi Country!

Over the past few months, the Yuwi Aboriginal Corporation team have been busy getting out and about, with our Rangers working on w**d management, monitoring, fire management and caring for Country, along with other activities happening across the Corporation.

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to recently. 🌿

We'd also like to thank our Yuwi Elders & people who always shows up to support the team and corporation.

17/08/2026

Community Question
What is your favourite place on Yuwi Country? 🌿

We would love to hear from our Yuwi community and the wider Mackay community.

Yuwi Country is made up of many special places, from our coastline and islands through to our inland Country. We all have different places that hold memories, meaning or a special connection for us. Whether it is somewhere you grew up, a place you enjoy spending time, or somewhere that holds a special memory, we would love to hear about it.

Share your favourite place on Yuwi Country in the comments and tell us what makes it special to you.

14/08/2026

Yuwi History | Bakers Creek Aboriginal Reserve

The Bakers Creek Aboriginal Reserve is an important part of the Aboriginal history of the Mackay region and Yuwi Country.

In 1871, Queensland’s first government Aboriginal reserve was established between Bakers Creek and Sandy Creek, in the area of what is now Rosella. The reserve covered land between Sandy Creek, Bakers Creek and the coast.

George Francis Bridgman, also known as Frank Bridgman, played an important role in establishing the reserve. In 1871, he persuaded the Queensland Government to gazette the land as an Aboriginal reserve. He later became the Interpreter and Protector of North Coast Aborigines.

The reserve was established during a time when the Mackay region was rapidly changing. The sugar industry was growing, and large areas of Country were being taken up for agriculture and settlement.

The government described the reserve as providing protection for Aboriginal people from conflict and displacement. However, the reserve was also connected to the growing sugar industry and the demand for Aboriginal labour. This meant that the reserve was not simply a place of protection — it was also part of a system where Aboriginal people were being controlled, and their labour was relied upon.

It is estimated that around 200 to 300 Aboriginal people from three local settlements were connected to the reserve and surrounding area.

A school was established on the reserve in 1876, with records showing an enrolment of 26 boys.

The reserve operated for around 14 years before it closed in 1885. Government funding and support for the reserve were limited, and there was increasing pressure for the land to become available for European settlement and land selection.

After the reserve closed, Aboriginal residents were displaced from the area. Many were forced to move into surrounding districts, where they looked for work on pastoral stations, farms and other places, while continuing to maintain their connections to Country and community.

Today, the boundaries of Bakers Creek Conservation Park overlap with the area that was once the Bakers Creek Aboriginal Reserve. This means the Country within and around the Conservation Park is connected to an important part of Aboriginal history in the Mackay region.

The former reserve area remains an important place in the history of Yuwi people and Aboriginal people of the Mackay region. Recognising and protecting this history is an important part of keeping our stories, connections and knowledge alive.

This history reminds us that the places around us hold stories of the people who lived here, worked here, raised families here and continued their connection to Country through enormous change.

We remember those who came before us, honour their strength and resilience, and continue to pass their stories on to the next generations.

13/08/2026

Thank you to everyone who attended our meetings ❤️

A big thank you to all our Elders, Common Law Holders and community members who took the time to attend our recent Elders Meeting 31st July and Common Law Holder Information Session on the 1st of August 2026.

It was great to see our people come together, have a yarn, ask questions, and share their thoughts.

We really appreciate everyone who took the time to actively participate. Your input is important to us and helps guide our decisions and the direction we take as a community. It’s important that we continue to come together, keep our people informed, and make sure our community has a chance to have their say.

Thank you for showing up for our people, our Country and our future generations. ❤️🌿

03/08/2026