NOTICE OF PRE-AUTHORISATION INFORMATION MEETING
ABOUT A NATIVE TITLE DETERMINATION AGREEMENT
WESTERN YALANJI NATIVE TITLE GROUP
WEDNESDAY 22 APRIL 2026
CANCELLED DUE TO SORRY BUSINESS
Cairns
This notice is to advise that Cape York Land Council (CYLC) will convene a Pre-Authorisation Information Meeting on behalf of the Cape York United #1 (CYU#1) Claim Applicant on Wednesday 22 April 2026 in Cairns to discuss the process for the Western Yalanji Native Title Group to authorise a proposed native title agreement for a determination of native title over the area shaded in blue shown on the map below.
Date: Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Time: CANCELLED DUE TO SORRY BUSINESS
Venue: Rydges Esplanade Resort, 209-217 Abbott Street, Cairns
PURPOSE OF PRE-AUTHORISATION INFORMATION MEETING
The purpose of the pre-authorisation information meeting is to provide information to the Western Yalanji Native Title Group about the terms of a draft native title agreement for a determination of native title, before the Authorisation meeting.
A determination of native title involves a decision of the Federal Court on (1) who holds native title; (2) what the native title rights are; (3) the area to which the native title rights apply after any determination is made; and (4) which corporation (PBC) will represent the members of the determined native title group. These are the main matters that are included in the proposed native title agreement and will be discussed at the pre-authorisation meeting.
On Friday 15 May 2026, there will be an Authorisation meeting where the Western Yalanji Native Title Group will be asked to consider whether to authorise the proposed native title agreement for a determination of native title. If the Western Yalanji Native Title Group decides to authorise the proposed agreement, the determination will then be sought in the Federal Court.
Please note that no decisions are proposed to be made at the pre-authorisation information meeting.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND?
All members of the Western Yalanji Native Title Group as described below are invited and eligible to attend the pre-authorisation information meeting.
The Western Yalanji Native Title Group are the descendants by birth or adoption in accordance with traditional law and custom, of one or more of the following apical ancestors (listed alphabetically):
- Alena Ida (mother of Bernard Castors)
- Biddy Mango (aka Biddy Looney)
- Billy (father of Jimmy Riley and others)
- Buiku Buiku
- Bula Burton
- Charlie Curraghmore
- Charlie Fox
- Charlie Jubilee
- Charlie Lee Cheu
- Danyulgulga Lizzie
- Dianna (Dinah) (sister of Mary (Maggie) Anderson)
- Dolly (mother of Alice Roberts and others)
- Dolly (mother of Charlotte Palmer and others)
- George Dodd (aka George Maytown)
- Hilda (mother of Jessie Pauletta Davis and others)
- Jack Burton
- Jangga Dolo (aka George Maytown)
- Jimmy (father of Jack Lawyer and others)
- Jimmy Snider
- Johnnie Cake (aka Johnny Stewart)
- Jukumu George Pegus
- Kitty (mother of Jimmy Riley and others)
- Maggie (mother of Dave Crowley and others)
- Maggie (mother of James Andrew Mossman and others)
- Mary (Maggie) Anderson
- Molly (mother of Annie Green and Dolly Walker)
- Mother of Rosie Simpson nee Murray
- Mujilabu Sandy Tippo (aka Deppo King)
- Nellie (mother of Doris Choikee and others)
- Ngamu Minkidji
- Ngamu Yarrkin Mitchell Earl
- Ngamukaia Billy Carroll
- Palmer McLean (aka Old Palmer)
- Railu aka Mary
- Rob Miller Snr
- Rosie (Ross) Palmer
- Ruby Barney Maytown (aka Ruby Meldrum)
- Sambo (father of Dave Crowley and others)
- Wautalunggu Maggie
- Wur’purdum (aka Ngarrabulga)
Agreement by the State of Queensland as to the addition of the proposed apical ancestor Maggie (mother of George Sibley Snr and others) is not yet confirmed. Descendants of Maggie (mother of George Sibley Snr and others) are invited to attend the pre-authorisation information meeting and will be advised of the State’s decision in advance of the meeting.
To enquire as to whether you are a member of the Western Yalanji Native Title Group as described above and are eligible to attend, please contact CYLC Anthropologist Hannah Nott by email HNott@cylc.org.au or on free call number 1800 623 548.
If you have any queries about the purpose of the meeting, please contact CYLC Deputy Principal Legal Officer Louise Keepa by email LKeepa@cylc.org.au or on the free call number.
For all other enquiries, please contact CYLC Senior Business Support Officer Clementine Rushford by email CRushford@cylc.org.au or on the free call number.
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SORRY BUSINESS AND WILL BE RENOTIFIED IN DUE COURSE
IMPORTANT – Attendance, Travel Assistance & Teleconferencing
For travel assistance, to confirm your attendance or for any general queries about the meeting, please contact Clementine Rushford at CYLC on free call number 1800 623 548 or by email CRushford@cylc.org.au. Note that there is limited funding available for travel assistance and requests must be made by 16 April 2026. Teleconferencing facilities will also be made available at the meeting. If you would like CYLC to arrange a teleconference from your location into the meeting, whether you live at the location of the meeting or elsewhere, please contact Clementine Rushford at CYLC. CYLC is committed to providing every opportunity for eligible persons to attend the meeting.
