Aboriginal Community Development Officer

The Aboriginal Community Development Officer for Coffs Harbour City Council is Mr Robert Waters, a Gomeroi (Gamilaroi) man originally from Tamworth in northwest NSW. 

Mr Waters' close involvement with Coffs Harbour goes back more than 20 years, through his stepfather Tom Flanders, and he has been living full time in Coffs Harbour since 2005 with his partner and three young children. He considers his prime aim in this new post to be to work towards helping to "close the gap" that exists in terms of social, economic and health well being between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.

"I want to work towards greater engagement between the Aboriginal community and Council and the wider community," said Mr Waters. 

"I also want to show people what's possible and help create opportunities to advance Aboriginal people and the standing that we have in this community." 
                                                                                                       Photo: Mr Waters is welcomed to Council by General
                                                                                                      Manager Stephen Sawtell

Update from the Aboriginal Community Development Officer:

December 2009

Yaama, Giinagay, G'day

It is that time of year again when we are all getting ready for Christmas and all the fun stuff that goes with it. The food, the laughter and times spent with family are joys that we all must cherish and I have no doubt you all will.

2009 what can I say? What a year it was with all of the great initiatives and accomplishments the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community has achieved. A few of the things that our community achieved this year were the establishment of the Coffs Harbour Aboriginal Social Events Committee (CHASE) who organised so many great things this year such as, The inaugural Mr NAIDOC Strut, The NAIDOC Elders Day and the NAIDOC Sports day.

Coffs Harbour City Council has had a number of exciting things happening this year such as the strengthening of the Souths Cares program with the South Sydney Football Club (SSFC), the 2030 Aboriginal Community Forum, the launch of the Grace Roberts Community Development Awards at the new Cavanbah Centre and the visit to Acmena Juvenile Justice Centre by Beau Champion, Ben Lowe, Chris Sandow and Reece Wesser from South Sydney Football Club.

The highlight for the year had to be the Grace Roberts Aboriginal Community Development Awards which were held on 23 October this year. We had David Peachey (SSFC) as the keynote speaker and from all the talk he was a major hit with the crowd; many thanks Peach. The winner on the night was Uncle Harry Mumbulla and I extend a big congratulations to Uncle Harry for the much deserved award.

This year there were two more categories added for the night and the first award was the Aboriginal Community Worker of the Year Award which was sponsored by the wonderful venue for the awards; I would like to thank Dene Zahner and his team at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort for providing a stunning backdrop for the awards. The winner of this award was Uncle Sid Brown from Kulai Preschool. The other new award presented was for the Aboriginal Community Organisation of the Year which was proudly sponsored by Michael Close and his team at the Enterprise and Training Company to whom we extend our sincere appreciation.  And the winner of that award was the great team at Galambila Aboriginal Health Service.

Congratulations to all the winners, thank you to all our sponsors, especially Coffs Harbour City Council for making it all possible and I look forward to it being a bigger and brighter event next year. And with all that said I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and prosperous New Year.

Until next year, take care of yourself, each other and your community.

Robert Waters
Aboriginal Community Development Officer
Coffs Harbour City Council
Ph: 6648 4850
Email: robert.waters@chcc.nsw.gov.au