Our logo
The Story
The Council logo of a sea turtle and a freshwater or long-necked tortoise indicates the coming together or unity of the coastal people and people from further inland, up to the stone country of the Arnhem Land escarpment.
The hands in the centre of the logo signify the partnership of indigenous and non-indigenous people working together for a better community.
The actual location where the West Arnhem Regional Council story comes together, as identified by custodians and councillors, is near Minjilang on Croker Island.
As you go from Minjilang Airstrip to the township, there is a large floodplain called Warrawrlu. At the end of the floodplain, closest to the airstrip, there is a small ridge between the floodplain and the ocean.
This ridge is where the story of the West Arnhem Regional Council begins. In the Dreamtime, large sea turtles lived in the freshwater and freshwater tortoises lived in the ocean. Because the sea turtles were fat, they decided to change the water they lived in, which is why the sea turtles now live in the sea and the tortoises in fresh water.
They went down to the swamp Warrawrlu and the arrangement to change water types happened on the edge of that swamp. From the ridge near the beach there are rocks on the road that are taken down to the beach and scattered into the water each year in the dry season. This is to make both turtles fat and provide nourishment for families. In the dry seasons, the saltwater turtles start to mate and then lay eggs in the wet season (Barrah and Jimuru seasons). This coming together and sharing of resources regardless of backgrounds is what embodies the West Arnhem Regional Council.