Steven “Bungee” Dennis is a much-loved Walgett local who joined our team this year to work on the Dealing with Fines project. He says the best things about living in Walgett are: “Everything.
Steven “Bungee” Dennis is a much-loved Walgett local who joined our team this year to work on the Dealing with Fines project. He says the best things about living in Walgett are: “Everything. Being with my mob, fishing on the river, going out on Country. I have a lot of things to do with my family and friends here, and I play football for Walgett.”
Bungee helps people in Walgett work off their fine debt through registering with the Dharriwaa Elders Group for a Work and Development Order (WDO). The Dealing with Fines team are working with 20 clients who owe more than $70,000, and have already supported four people to work off their fine debt.
The day-to-day to work of the Dealing with Fines team involves supporting WDO clients to participate in activities like helping Elders with gardening, participating in art workshops and on Country trips, and cleaning and maintaining local parks. Recently they held a trial of a free café to provide meals to anyone who needs them, cooked by the DEG team and WDO clients and run at the back of the DEG office. Bungee hopes that in 2023 the team can work on clearing and maintaining the Tracker Walford Walk, a local historical landmark.
Bungee also helps out with other work at the DEG, helping colleagues transport Elders and taking them out on Country. His knowledge of cultural sites means he has been able to support the DEG Ngarrangarra-li Walaaybaa Rangers (Look After Home Country Rangers) in their work.
When asked about the best part of his job, Bungee says “I love coming in and seeing the Elders just sitting around and chatting, taking them out to cultural sites – just spending quality time with our Elders.”
Bungee has a clear vision for the work he is doing in the Yuwaya Ngarra-li partnership and knows what future he wants for Walgett: “I want better quality of life for our mob - better water, cheaper food, more activities for our youth. I want more gardening programs to grow food, more lunch and dinner programs. There are still people going hungry in Walgett. I want to help change that.”