Welcome message from the Mayor

Welcome to the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council’s new website.

Let me firstly acknowledge the Gunggandji and Yidinji People as the traditional custodians of where we live, work and play. I also pay my respects to the elders past, present and emerging. Our current standing is the result of the toils and turmoils of all our forefathers – cultural and historical.

Yarrabah continues to enjoy stability in leadership and the confidence demonstrated at the 2020 local government election is acknowledged. As the leader of council, I will work with my councillors to promote our unity. As ‘Team Yarrabah’ we will endeavour to facilitate engagement on all key issues, showcase our achievements and promote all economic opportunities within our beautiful community.

Yarrabah Shire is the largest discrete community in Australia. We have pathways which afford our mob opportunity to live well, learn and develop capacity. We have proven through history our resilience – this has happened because of our willingness to learn, personal accountability and pride in our identity. The blending of wisdom continues via recognition and respect for our elders. Our youth are our future. Whilst we may face many challenges, we have proven that local solutions are the best – my council are committed to working together to achieve great things.

Yarrabah truly is ‘paradise by the sea’. As the local authority, we aim to enact local laws and rules that reflect the standards that are ascribed locally. Living in Yarrabah is not a right it is a privilege.

We hope you recognise your role in our journey. As a proud Yarrabian, I look forward to shaping a new shared history and uniting our people.

Mayor Ross Andrews