A CDEP community organisation, SAC is establishing tourism operations such as the Kojonup Federation Park (Kodja Place), the Gnowangerup Aboriginal Corporation in the Stirling Ranges National Park and it has ventured into industrial tourism through its Abalone Hatchery and grow-out facility. (John Hayden, Nyungar boordier and CEO, Southern Aboriginal Corporation).

We started up our Art and Craft retail store in 2002 when we were in Stirling Street Albany but we were not getting the flow of tourists, it was a little out of the way so we set it up where we are now. We have a small lease here so the location is better as people walk up and down here all day. (John Hayden, CEO) One of the key things that came out of SAC opening our shop was the use of the local Community Development Employment Program (CDEP). Each town (in the Lower Great Southern Region) had to identify what they specifically wanted to do against five criteria. For example, did they want to make spears, boomerangs, and paint, do screen-printing and so on. The Nyungar in Gnowangerup make boomerangs, Katanning Nyungar do the paintings and some Nyungar do screen-printing and so we spread the business around. So what came out of that for these Nyungar then was “where are we going to sell our stuff?” Some towns are out of the way so we got some money so we could rent some premises here in Albany to house all of these pieces. But as I said “the tourists weren’t coming past so we changed location”. One of the difficulties we would face in the future then was “where would we get our products from” because this was a two year funded ATSIC program.

CONTACT:
Mr John Hayden
PO Box 5277
ALBANY WA 6330
Ph: +618 9842 1330
Fax: +618 9841 6573
Email: haydenj@sacorp.com.au
Website: www.albanygateway.com.au/Topic/Indigenous/Southern_AboriginalCorporation/