ABORIGINAL CORPORATION IN ROEBOURNE PARTNER WITH SODEXO

BY CONRAD MACLEAN

Ieramagadu Store Maya. Credit: Ngaarda Media.

Service and facilities company Sodexo has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation (NYFL).  

NYFL operates the Ieramagadu Store in the town of Roebourne, which provides food and basic necessities to the community at a discounted price or for free. 

Under the new agreement, Sodexo will use its supply chain facilities to transport food and goods to the store. 

Rio Tinto Sodexo Contract Executive Director Taryn Peterson said the company is eager to consult with locals to find other ways to help the community. 

“Realistically, we want to get out there into the Roebourne community and see what is needed by the local community,” she said.

“We are able to invest in different opportunities, and that is what we are keen to focus on in the coming months.”

NYFL CEO Sean Paul Stephens said there are also other opportunities for Sodexo to consult with locals and help them in other areas. 

“We are also doing other more tangible pieces,” he said.

“We are pursuing, based on the Elders' guidance, opportunities to grow food in Roebourne.

“So the Elders said we feel like there is an opportunity for food to be grown here; we see it in other areas.

“We need to test to see whether that can be done at scale.”