Ngaarda Media

04/09/2026

NGAARDA STATEWIDE NEWS, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2026

POWERHOUSE WANTI II: A new Port Hedland exhibition celebrates the Country, culture and knowledge of four respected Martu women artists.

HORIZON PROGRAM: A free leadership and entrepreneurship program will support up to 36 First Nations women across regional Western Australia.

CARNARVON DOG POISONING: The RSPCA is investigating a suspected deliberate poisoning in Carnarvon that killed three dogs and left two others sick.

SCARBOROUGH GAS: Woodside says its $17.5 billion Scarborough gas project remains on track to export its first LNG cargo by the end of the year.
A federal parliamentary inquiry has heard calls for major family court reform, as advocates and survivor Lilly Cosmos raise concerns that women experiencing domestic violence can be misidentified as perpetrators after defending themselves.

Listen here: https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/ngaarda-statewide-news-friday-september-4th-2026

Photo Source: Martumili Artists

Powerhouse Wanti II opens tonight, Friday September 4, from 6pm to 8pm at the Courthouse Gallery+Studio, 16 Edgar Street, Port Hedland. Entry is free.

03/09/2026

Women from Colombia, Russia, Argentina, China, England and across the Pilbara came together on Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Country for three days of culture, connection, food, creativity and yarning at Millstream.

From learning on Country and sharing stories around the fire, to reconnecting with family and forming new friendships, Manga-Bura Wellness Camp Wellness Camp became much more than a wellness camp.

It was women lifting each other up, slowing down and connecting through Country, culture and community.

📸 Here are some moments from a very special three days at Manga-Bura.

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

STRONG MARTU WOMEN AT THE HEART OF POWERHOUSE WANTI II

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

Strong Martu women, their Country and their cultural knowledge are at the centre of a new exhibition opening in Port Hedland.

Powerhouse Wanti II, curated by Martu artist Sylvia Wilson, features work by Gladys ‘Kuru’ Bidu, Yikartu Bumba (Petersen), Beverley Rogers and Betty Whyoulter.

The exhibition is the second instalment of Wilson’s Powerhouse Wanti concept, which was inspired by the strong women she grew up around and the senior artists she has worked alongside at Martumili Artists.

Wilson said those influences included her two mothers and her grandmother.

“I’ve got two mums — I’ve got a black mum and a white mum — and my grandmother, a very matriarchal woman,” she said.

“Working at Martumili Gallery in Newman was just seeing all these women artists coming in and being these strong leaders, doing everything else for everyone else.”

Wilson said those women were not only accomplished artists, but important cultural leaders within their families and communities.

“They’re very cultural leaders and strong women,” she said.

“They’re always good for a laugh and a cup of tea at the end of the day, after painting.”

Photos sourced from the Martumili Artists fb page

READ HERE: https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/strong-martu-women-at-the-heart-of-powerhouse-wanti-ii

01/09/2026

ABORIGINAL BROADCASTER CONDEMNS LISA JANE SPENCER'S MOCK WELCOME TO COUNTRY

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

An Aboriginal broadcaster has criticised comedian and social media personality Lisa Jane Spencer after she performed a mock Welcome to Country at an anti-immigration rally in Melbourne.

Ms Spencer appeared at the March for Australia demonstration outside Victoria's Parliament House on Sunday, where she reprised elements of a character that has previously attracted criticism over its portrayal of Aboriginal people.

Her earlier online material included a character called "Aunty Lisa", with Spencer wearing white face paint, mimicking Aboriginal cultural practices and depicting petrol sniffing.

The video prompted criticism from First Nations advocates, while SBS distanced itself from the content after its branding was used without permission. Ms Spencer has rejected accusations of racism and has defended her material as satire intended to push boundaries.

Speaking to Ngaarda Media, Aboriginal broadcaster John Ross Pearce Scharnberg said he believed the material went beyond criticism of an individual and instead relied on stereotypes about Aboriginal people generally.

"She's trying to talk about all Aboriginal people as a whole when she does it, and that's very wrong."

READ HERE: https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/aboriginal-broadcaster-condemns-lisa-jane-spencers-mock-welcome-to-country

SATIRE / EDITED IMAGE: This photograph has been digitally altered for satirical and editorial purposes. The clown makeup was not present in the original image.

01/09/2026

KARRATHA’S TEEJ CELEBRATION TURNS TO FLOOD RELIEF FOR NEPAL

BY TANGIORA HINAKI

Karratha’s Nepalese community is transforming one of its most important cultural celebrations into a fundraiser for families devastated by catastrophic flooding in Nepal.

The Nepalese Culture Teej Festival Get Together will be held at the Karratha Leisureplex from 6pm on September 5, but organisers say this year’s gathering will carry a much deeper meaning.

The August 26 disaster was triggered by a glacier collapse near Nepal’s border with Tibet, sending a destructive torrent of ice, rock, water and debris through communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems. Rescue operations remain underway, including efforts to reach people trapped or missing at hydropower projects.

The event will be held at the Karratha Leisureplex September 5th at 6pm

Photos sourced from Himalayan Foundation Nepal (HFN) and Nepal Rising

READ, LISTEN HERE: https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/karrathas-teej-celebration-turns-to-flood-relief-for-nepal

01/09/2026

FROM THE PILBARA TO THE TOP TABLE: HENRY LOCKYER MAKES HISTORY AS WA ABORIGINAL JUSTICE CO-CHAIR
By Lynnese O’Donoghue

Pilbara leader Henry Lockyer has made history as the first Aboriginal Co-Chair of Western Australia’s Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, saying the role is about turning community voices into real change.

The Banyjima man has represented the Pilbara on the Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee, known as AJAC, since 2023 and will now help lead its work advising the State Government on justice policies affecting Aboriginal people across WA.

READ, LISTEN HERE: https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/from-the-pilbara-to-co-chair-at-the-top-table-henry-lockyer-makes-history-in-wa-justice

31/08/2026

Strong women, strong communities 🧡

Women from across the Pilbara and globe came together on Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Country for the inaugural Manga-Bura Women’s Wellness Camp, a weekend of culture, connection, storytelling and healing on Country.

Read More here https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/women-find-connection-and-healing-at-manga-bura-wellness-camp

27/08/2026

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FIRES SURGE ACROSS WA AS DFES WARNS PILBARA HEAT CAN ADD TO RISK

Lithium-ion batteries are in everything from phones and power tools to toys and e-scooters — and DFES says fires involving them are increasing across WA.

DFES district officer Mark Hayes says Pilbara heat can add to the risk, particularly when e-scooters are used in hot conditions and then immediately put on charge.

His key advice: don’t leave lithium-ion batteries charging overnight or while nobody is home.

READ, LISTEN HERE 👇🏽👇🏿👇🏽
https://www.ngaardamedia.com.au/news/lithium-ion-battery-fires-surge-across-wa-as-dfes-warns-pilbara-heat-can-add-to-risk