Minjilang, Northern Territory

History

Croker Island Mission existed at Minjilang between 1940 and 1968, operated by the Methodist Overseas Mission.

Geography

The community of Minjilang is on the opposite, eastern side of the island on Mission Bay, a secluded bay. Besides Minjilang, there are only eight small family outstations.

Population

At the 2011 census, Minjilang had a population of 308{{Census 2011 AUS

Croker Island offered a safe haven to many children from the "Stolen Generation", the people who were affected by the policy of forceful removal of Indigenous children from their families. Croker is a so-called dry community, meaning no alcohol may be brought into the village, to prevent abuse. However, the controlled sale of kava is licensed.

Climate

Minjilang has a tropical savannah climate (Aw) with oppressively hot weather year round. The rainy season typically run from December through April and is very rainy.{{Weather box |Jan record high C= 37.5 |Feb record high C= 34.5 |Mar record high C= 34.7 |Apr record high C= 41.4 |May record high C= 33.1 |Jun record high C= 33.8 |Jul record high C= 31.4 |Aug record high C= 31.7 |Sep record high C= 36.0 |Oct record high C= 35.8 |Nov record high C= 36.8 |Dec record high C= 38.4 |year record high C= 41.4 |Jan record low C= 20.1 |Feb record low C= 19.5 |Mar record low C= 19.9 |Apr record low C= 16.9 |May record low C= 14.0 |Jun record low C= 15.5 |Jul record low C= 15.2 |Aug record low C= 16.5 |Sep record low C= 17.9 |Oct record low C= 20.0 |Nov record low C= 17.0 |Dec record low C= 20.5 |year record low C= 14.0

Services

Minjilang has a supermarket, school, clinic serviced by a nurse and health worker (a doctor visits each fortnight and the dentist comes periodically). West Arnhem Region provides a number of services, e.g. waste collection, power and water supply and sewerage, and maintenance of roads, the barge landing and community airstrip.

Communications

Croker Island Airfield is located about 11 km west of Minjilang and immediately south of Adjamarrago, a small family outstation. An air service to Darwin is run on a daily basis (except Thursdays and Sundays) by Murin Airways. The haul to Darwin takes about an hour. The community barge service to Darwin by Perkins Shipping is a weekly affair. The island itself has only low-grade dirt roads. A permit from the Northern Land Council is needed for any visitors wishing to come to Croker Island, as it is restricted Aboriginal-owned land. The community receives one radio station as well as four television stations.

References

References

1. [http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_014011.shtml Bureau of Meteorology]
2. "Croker Island Mission (1940–1968)". [[Australian Government]].
3. "Methodist Overseas Mission Croker Island Part-Aboriginal".
4. [https://web.archive.org/web/20050615190108/http://minjilang.nt.gov.au/home/our_community/profile Minjilang community profile from Minjilang Community Inc.]
5. [http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/ProductsbyReleaseDate/24CAECBE1A379247CA2570A300779922?OpenDocument 2006 census]
6. [http://www.nt.gov.au/justice/licenreg/documents/kava/Crocker_Island_Minjilang_KMP.pdf Regulations re the sale of kava in Minjilang] {{webarchive. link. (2008-08-24)
7. {{BoM Aust stats
8. [http://www.unearthedoutdoors.net/airfields/575 Unearthed Outdoors'Minjilang Airfield page]
9. [http://www.australianexplorer.com/croker_island.htm tourist overview of Croker Island]