Our Council

Nine democratically elected Councillors to represent the interests and respond to the concerns of Local Aboriginal Land Council members.

OUR COUNCIL

The New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council's elected arm consists of nine Councillors democratically elected by registered voting members of Local Aboriginal Land Councils.

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.

On May 30, 2007, Central Coast Region Councillor, Ms. Bev Manton, was elected as Chairperson and Northern Region Councillor, Mr. Tom Briggs, was elected Deputy Chairperson. Ms Manton and Mr Briggs were re-elected as the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson on May 14, 2009.

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 Local Aboriginal Land Council members, and
To facilitate communication between the Local Aboriginal Land Council members and the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council.

OUR COUNCILLORS

Bev Manton Chairperson - CENTRAL COAST
Bev Manton, a member of the Worimi nation, is a strong and respected advocate for community development, particularly in relation to employment, housing, health and education. Involved with NSWALC since its inception, Bev is a founding member of the Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Council and worked as the LALC Co-ordinator for four years before being elected to NSWALC.

She represents her people on a number of Boards including the Worimi Conservation Lands, Aboriginal Community Environment Network and the Northern Alliance.

Contact Details
Address:	402 Tarean Road Karuah NSW 2324
Phone:	02 4997 5819
Fax:	02 4997 5241
Email:	bev.manton@alc.org.au

Tom Briggs - Deputy Chair - NORTHERN REGION
Tom is a member of the Gumbainggir nation and has lived and worked in the Armidale District most of his life. He is a member of the Dorrigo Plateau Local Aboriginal Land Council. He previously worked with the Department of Education, Employment and Training for twenty years, gaining extensive experience in human resources and training issues.

He is a former councillor with the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission and the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and the Armidale City Council. He is Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council and has a degree in administrative leadership.

Contact Details
Address:	172B Marsh Street Armidale NSW 2350
Phone:	02 6771 4038
Fax:	02 6772 4243
Email:	tom.briggs@alc.org.au

Steve Gordon - NORTH WEST REGION
Steve has been involved with Aboriginal affairs for about 35 years both in a voluntary and professional capacity.

A member of the Brewarrina Aboriginal Land Council, he was the first Aboriginal Ombudsman in New South Wales and in June 1997, was the first Aboriginal representative to address the NSW State Parliament. In 2002 he was voted national NAIDOC Person of the Year. He was a former Commissioner with the now defunct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. He lives in Brewarrina where he has served as a Shire Councillor.

Contact Details
Address:	35-37 Bourke Street Brewarrina NSW 2839
Phone:	02 6839 2246
Fax:	02 6839 2406
Email:	steve.gordon@alc.org.au

Craig Cromelin - WIRADJURI REGION
Craig, an artist, is a descendant of the Ngiyampaa people of south west New South Wales.

A former cotton picker, carpenter, welder, he describes himself as a "jack of all trades." He is a member of the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal Land Council.

Craig has held several managerial positions, including Chairperson of the Murrin Bridge Aboriginal Advancement Corporation, the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Wiradjuri Regional Land Council.

Contact Details
Address:	1 Riverside Drive Murrin Bridge NSW 2672
Phone:	02 6898 2085
Fax:	02 6898 2087
Email:	craig.cromelin@alc.org.au

Neville "Jack" Hampton - SOUTH COAST REGION
Neville is a Yuin man. He has been active in Aboriginal Affairs for more than 40 years. Before his election to NSWALC he was engaged in Aboriginal employment consultancy work at Mission Australia. He also recently worked with his wife of 46 years, Eileen, to mentor Aboriginal Students in Hostels after more than 30 years work with Jervis Bay National Park.

He has a Bachelor Degree in Adult Education and is a former deputy chair of Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council and former Treasurer of Nowra Local Aboriginal Land Council, of which he is still a member.

Contact Details
Address:	2/59 Beinda Street Bomaderry NSW 2541
Phone:	02 4422 3014
Fax:	02 4423 3136
Email:	jack.hampton@alc.org.au

Patricia Laurie - NORTH COAST REGION
Patricia, a Yaegl woman and member of the Bundjalung nation, has been active in Aboriginal Affairs for more than two decades and has been involved with the NSWALC network since its formation 24 years ago. She is an accredited Community Planning and Trained Mediator.

She is Deputy Chairperson of the Northern Alliance representing four regions and 38 Local AboriginalLand Councils (LALCs) and was Treasurer for nine years of the Far North Coast Regional Council. She is a member of the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council at Yamba.

Contact Details
Address:	Suite 4/14 Coldstream Street Yamba NSW 2464
Phone:	02 6646 8490
Fax:	02 6646 3825
Email:	patricia.laurie@alc.org.au

Roy Ah-See - SYDNEY/NEWCASTLE REGION
Roy is a Wiradjuri man who was born and bred on Nanima Reserve, near Wellington. He is a member of the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.

He has previously worked at the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office and various government departments as a policy officer.

He worked at NSWALC as a policy officer before being elected. Roy has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Social Welfare).

Contact Details
Address:	1/12 Pacific Highway, WYONG NSW 2259
Phone:	02 4353 5536
Fax:	02 4353 3260
Email:	Roy.Ah-See@alc.org.au

William Murray - WESTERN REGION
William is a member of the Nari Nari nation and was born in Balranald.

He has spent most of his life in the Wilcannia area. William has previously held positions on the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and the Murdi Paaki Regional Council.

He has enjoyed a long involvement with various Aboriginal organisations. He is an active member of the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council.

Contact Details
Address:	72 Woore Street Wilcannia NSW 2836
Phone:	08 8091 5692
Fax:	08 8091 5694
Email:	william.murray@alc.org.au

Stephen Ryan - CENTRAL REGION
Stephen is a Wiradjuri man who lives in Dubbo. Stephen has worked in a range of areas such as family violence and land management.

He has held several managerial and elected positions and has worked for NSW NTSCorp in Native Title for 5 years.

He is a former chairman and current member of the Dubbo Local Aboriginal Land Council. Stephen believes it is important that NSWALC focuses on securing land given its spiritual, social, cultural and economic importance to Aboriginal people.

Contact Details
Address:	116 Darling Street Dubbo NSW 2830
Phone:	02 6882 5247
Fax:	02 6885 6622
Email:	stephen.ryan@alc.org.au