Yuendumu Magpies

Yuendumu is a town in the Northern Territory in Australia, It is one of the largest towns in central Australia after Alice Springs and Yulara and has a thriving community of Aboriginal artists. Yendumu lies 293 km north west of Alice Springs on the Tamani track and is a community largely made up of the Walpirii Aboriginal people with a population of 706. The community council governs an area of 22.242 square kilometres which includes numerous out stations.

It was established in 1946 by the natives affairs branch of the Australian Government to deliver rations  and welfare services.In 1947 a baptist mission was established there. By 1955 many of the Walpiri people had settled in the town. In the early 1980s the Yuendumu Walpiri Elders painted ceremonial designs on canvas, which begun the art movement at Yuendumu. The first painting there was on the door of the Yuendumu school painted by Paddy Japaljarri Stewrat and Paddy Japaljarri Sims, who are the best known artist at the community. In 1985 the Warlukurlangu  arts association was founded at Yuendumu.

Walpirrii elders founded the Mt Theo program which has become the model for substance misuse prevention in remote Australian communities. The town is quoted in the Midnight Oil song ' Beds are Burning '  from the Diesel and Dust album ' Four Wheels Scare The Cockatoos/ from Kintore East to Yuendumu.

The History.........

• 1958/59 Yuendumu wore white Guernseys with Yuendumu written within a Bommerang on the front.
• Later Yuendumu adopted the Collingwood strip Black and White vertical stripes. 
• 1997 Yuendumu were known as the Magpies.
• 1963 Yuendumu finishing 2nd and  won the T Richardson shield
• 1965 Yuendumu participates in the T Richardson shield
• 1966 Yuendumu wins the T Richardson shield
• 1967 Yuendumu participates in the T Richardson shield
• 1970 Inter Aboriginal settlement  Grand Final Yuendumu defeats Papunya
• 1971 Yuendumu Meets Warribri in Grand Final result unknown.
• 1972 Yuendumu wins the Richardson shield
• 1995 Central Australian Cup Yuendumu  division one and division two participated
• 1990-94 Yuendumu Central Australian Country Cup Yuendumu participates
• 1997 Central Australian Cup Grand Final Yuendumu defeats Areyonga Desert 8.5.53 to Areyonga's 7.10.52
• 1998 Central Australian Cup Grand Final Yuendumu loses by Four points.
• 1999-2000 Yuendumu participates in the Central Australian Country Cup
• 2001 Central Australian Country Cup Preliminary Final Macdonnell Districts defeats Yuendumu
• Yuendumu were banned after the 2001 season for one year!
• 2003 Yuendumu reccomences the Central Australian Cup finishing 2nd after home and away season
• 2003 Final series Second semi final Western Aranda defeats Yuendumu, Preliminary Final Yuendumu defeats Central Anmatjere
  Grand Final Yuendumu defeats Aranda 18.10.118 to Aranda 9.8.62.

Aerial Shot of Yuendumu

Ball get at Yuendumu

The Prayer before the battle.

With the seniors Premiership Cup

Clayton Watson.

Jefferson 'joffa' Williams.

The Great Liam Jurrah
Could he become a Collingwood player?

Sebastion Watson.

Francis Kelly at the MCG last year
When the Yuendumu Magpies came to Melbourne.

Ground maintenance Yuendumu style.

What a sensational picture.

The line-up before the battle.

Francis and believe it or not mighty mick with a smile.

Simba the Yuendumu coach.

When the Yuendumu magpies came to the MCG last year i was priveledged to meet Harry an Yuendumu elder and sat next to him during our finals victory over the Sydney Swans in the Collingwood cheersquad. This pic shows Harry lapping up all the Magpie passion in the Winners circle outside the ground ater the game. Wonderful and dear friend.

Thanks to Liam Campbell and all the guys from Yuendumu for these great pics

TO BE CONTINUED...