Yamba resident and proud Yaegl woman, Diane Randall, has been elected to the NSW Aboriginal Land Council as the North Coast representative, one of two new faces on the council elected to protect the interests and further the aspirations of its members and the Aboriginal community.
The NSW Electoral Commission officially declared the outcome of the statewide election last Tuesday, with Ms Randall joined on the Land Council by new member, Ray Kelly, who represents the Sydney/Newcastle areas.
In her first nomination as North Coast representative, Ms Randall defeated incumbent North Coast member, Dallas Donnelly, and Tina Williams in the ballot.
“When I thought about running, I thought I would just have a go, because I knew that I was up against my cousin Tina Williams and Dallas Donnelly,” she said.
“After it was announced that I was the new North Coast Councillor I felt a lot of emotions, but I was mainly excited for the new challenge ahead.”
As a councillor for the North Coast, Ms Randall said she will represent 13 Local Aboriginal Land Councils where she has family: Baryulgil Square, Birrigan Gargle, Bogal, Casino-Boolangle, Grafton Ngerrie, Gugun Gudduba, Jali, Jana Ngalee, Jubullum, Muli Muli, Ngulingah, Tweed/Byron, and Yaegl.
Through her community involvement over the years, Ms Randall has been on boards including the Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation, the Birrigan Gargle LALC, the Yaegl Elders Aboriginal Corporation and the Mudyala Aboriginal Corporation.
Ms Randall was also on the board of the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council LALC for nine years and was the Birrigan Gargle LALCs chairperson for eight years, which she said provided her with invaluable knowledge on LALCs she intends to apply in her position as North Coast councillor.
She said she was looking forward to the Land Council’s first meeting on March 19, where the nine-person panel will vote to elect the Land Council’s chairperson and deputy chair.
Ms Randall said she was motivated to stand for the NSW Aboriginal Land Council to improve North Coast Aboriginal communities for future generations.
“I’m passionate about my community, I’m passionate about all of the next generation and where I want the land councils to be and what support I can give them, hopefully I can work towards building good relationships, good networks within the LALCs,” she said.
“I want to be a representative on the NSW Aboriginal Land Council, so the voices of North Coast Aboriginal communities are heard.
“I will address the concerns that they have in their community with housing, health, education, employment and training, even to enterprise, so they can generate money for their LALC and for their members.”
Ms Randall said growing up she and many other local Aboriginals did it tough, so she was motivated to influence change in North Coast Aboriginal communities so future generations don’t have to struggle like she did.
“I nominated to try and help all of my grandkids, my nieces and nephews, and it’s because of them that I am where I am today,” she said.
“I want them to know that whatever they want to achieve in life, they can do it…reach for the stars.”
Ms Randall said the 13 LALC’s she represents are unique and different, but she will strive for a common goal to help better each community.
“The biggest thing is that I want the LALC’s to get into business, to find a passion and show our future generations how we can make life better for them,” she said.
Ms Randall said implementing changes in LALCs will take time, but she hoped during her four-year term to influence lasting change, that will benefit all LALCs and communities into the future.
“In that four years I’d like to make a difference, I want change to happen, starting off small, then big changes down the track that will improve the lives of our communities and LALC’s,” she said.
“I don’t want to see my grandkids struggle, like we did, and the legacy I want to leave is a legacy that they can carry on.”
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 20 March 2024.
