The NLC members back stability and renewal
Date: Dec 4, 2019
Publication Type: Media Releases
Delegates to the 121st Full Council meeting of the NLC have voted to return Samuel Bush-Blanasi as Chairman of the NLC, with Calvin Deveraux being elected as Deputy Chair.
Speaking at the meeting at Jabiru, Mr Bush-Blanasi said he was humbled and proud to have received the endorsement of his fellow members and to be returned as NLC Chairman for a third term.
Mr Bush-Blanasi also welcomed the election of Mr Calvin Deveraux as his Deputy Chair.
“I have served the NLC for more than 27 years, including as Deputy Chair for several terms, working with esteemed Yolngu leader Wali Wunungmurra, and I look forward to another three years of service to my home community of Wugularr (Beswick) and to the traditional owners and community members of the whole of the NLC region,” said Mr Bush-Blanasi.
“I will continue the important work we have started with the NLC Chief Executive Officer, Marion Scrymgour, who joined the NLC in May this year. There is a lot of work to be done and Marion has done a great job getting the NLC back on track.”
Deputy Chairman Calvin Deveraux said: “I’m really looking forward to the challenges presented by the position of Deputy Chair of the NLC”.
Mr Deveraux, who had previously served as an NLC Councillor in the early 2000s, represents the Darwin/Daly/Wagait region and at age 38 stands as a strong intergenerational change for the organisation.
NLC CEO Marion Scrymgour welcomed the vote of confidence in Mr Bush-Blanasi by the NLC Full Council and congratulated him, Mr Deveraux and the new Executive Council, which is made up of members drawn from each of the NLC regions.
“I look forward to further developing the already constructive relationship with Samuel and the new Executive Council team at the NLC,” she said.
The 2019-2022 Full Council Chair, Deputy Chair and Executive Council positions are as follows:
NLC Chairman: Samuel Bush-Blanasi
NLC Deputy Chair: Calvin Deveraux
NLC Executive Council:
Ngukurr region: Grace Daniels
East Arnhem region: Djawa Yunupingu
Victoria River District region: Brian Pedwell
Katherine region: Helen Lee
Darwin/Daly region: Bill Danks
West Arnhem region: Matthew Ryan
Borroloola/Barkly: Chris Neade