Newsletter Birak 2026

We would like to welcome, Craig McVee , our newly elected Chairperson to the Board of Directors

Dear Members

Members will be aware that they must apply to the corporation for membership on a form that requires their name, residential and preferred postal address, date of birth and contact number.

It has been reported in the media that members have nominated a common address as their preferred postal address. This is not breaking any rules provided the mail is being passed on to the right person. I have sought assurances from the householders where this is occurring that the mail is being passed on. I would like to say however the number of people involved is nowhere near as high as recently reported in the media.

There has been a serious breach of confidentiality from our corporation where the membership information for 47 people has been downloaded from our database into a spreadsheet and provided to a third party. I have taken decisive action on this and reached out to the members involved where I have contact details. I have also been contacted by an individual who alleges they did not apply for membership, and this is being investigated.

Whilst I was not employed by the corporation in 2023, I have checked records and meeting minutes and find that all membership applications were presented to the board for approval at a legitimate meeting where a quorum was present. It is important to note that whilst our board comprises Member Directors and Expert Directors, they all share the same responsibilities and rights to act on behalf of the corporation.

As this continues to be played out in the newspaper and social media, I encourage all members to be respectful to each other, and contact me on 8166 1940 if they have concern. I will be at the AGM in Katanning on 22 November 2025 and happy to speak to members.

Noelene McCormick

Chief Executive Officer

29 October 2025

Cultural fire puts the needs of Country first and uses fire to keep Boodja healthy, rather than just aiming to reduce the hazard, which is the wadjela way of burning. We can’t just go and start burning though, first we need to make sure any burns we do are legal, that all the people who do the burns are properly trained, that we have the right equipment, and that burns are overseen by Elders to ensure they are done the right way.

2 July

The Wagyl Kaip Southern Noongar Aboriginal Corporation (WKSN AC), the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) and the other South West Native Title Settlement Noongar Regional Corporations successfully lobbied the Western Australian Government to ensure Noongar customary hunting rights are recognised and protected under the new Firearms Act 2024.

WKSN AC has delegated to SWALSC the ability to be able to provide people who are eligible to be WKSN AC members with Property Hunting Permission letters for their Gun License applications. 

The WKSN AC would like to thank the SWALSC for providing this important service to the Noongar community.      

If you are seeking a Property Hunting Permission Letter for your Firearms Act 2024 Firearm Licence renewal or application, visit the SWALSC website at noongar.org.au/hunting-rights.