NEW BOOK MARKS THE 50 YEAR FIGHT AGAINST URANIUM IN WA’S NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS

Anti-Nuclear Protestors in WA near Yeerlirrie. Image Credit: West Australia Nuclear Free Alliance.

The story of a community’s 50-year-long battle in WA’s Northern Goldfields against mining companies has been told in a book that launched yesterday. 

‘Yeelirrie 50 years of resistance’ is the incredible true story behind Western Australia’s longest and most bitter battle to prevent the mining of uranium, 650 kilometers northeast of Perth. 

Yeelirrie is a highly significant cultural place for the Traditional Owners and part of the Seven Sisters Songline.

Western Australia Conservation Council Nuclear Free Campaigner Mia Pepper said the book was a celebration of the community’s success in opposing the uranium mine for 50 years.

“We’re celebrating that after 50 years this community has fought off three multinational companies, and kept uranium in the ground,” she said.

“There’s stories from when BHP owned the mine, through the Central Desert Native Title Service, the traditional owners got together and told BHP ‘no we don’t want to meet with you because there’s nothing to talk about, because there’s no way we’re letting this mine go ahead.’”

Ms. Pepper said the shared opposition to the mine had brought the community closer together.

“Sometimes when there might be other conflicts (in the community), there's this one thing that everybody's united on, everyone's together,” she said.

“This place is too special and we have to look after it and that's…just such a beautiful part of the story. It's been such an honor to be part of working with the community towards telling that story”.

Ngalia Traditional Owner and anthropologist, Kado Muir said that “Yeelirrie means to weep” but now they have a new meaning and our struggle has shown how the small and weak can stand up against titans and be victorious. Where once we wept we now celebrate.”

The book was launched yesterday in Perth and presented by the Conservation Council of WA.