Pirlangimpi
Pirlangimpi is a populated place on Melville Island in the Northern Territory, Australia.[1]
Pirlangimpi lies two kilometres from the site of the first British settlement in northern Australia, the short-lived Fort Dundas. The present settlement, then called Garden Point, was established in 1937 as a police post, because of concerns about the activities of Japanese luggers.[2] In 1940 a mission was founded by the Roman Catholic Missionaries of the Sacred Heart as a home for mixed-blood children, both local part-Japanese and those removed from their families in other parts of the Northern Territory.[3]
Australian Rules football was introduced by Brother John Pye of the Catholic mission.[4] Three Norm Smith Medalists - Maurice Rioli, Michael Long and Cyril Rioli - were raised at the mission at Pirlangimpi.[5]
Marjorie Liddy, who grew up on the mission, provided an image that was widely used in Pope Benedict XVI's visit to World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney.[6]
The present community includes a primary school,[7] police station, small supermarket, club, health facility and airstrip.[8] Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church is the base of the Melville Island parish.[9]
The population is 371 (2011 census).[10]
References
- ^ "Name of Community PIRLANGIMPI (Garden Point)" (PDF). Department of Health (Northern Territory). Government of the Northern Territory. 10 January 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ J. Pye, The Tiwi Islands, Kensington NSW, 1977, pp. 77-9.
- ^ Garden Point, Melville Island 1940-1962; Thecla Brogan, ed, The Garden Point Mob, Historical Society of the Northern Territory, 1990.
- ^ "Siren sounds for Tiwi Islands' 'father of football'". The Age. 1 June 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ Paul Toohey (Journalist) (10 October 2015). "Tiwi Islands community Pirlangimpi has produced three Norm Smith Medallists". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
- ^ "Marjorie Liddy a Vatican VIP". The Australian. 12 July 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "Pularumpi School", Pularumpi School, retrieved 30 October 2016
- ^ "Pirlangimpi" (PDF), RAHC Community Profile: Pirlangimpi, retrieved 20 November 2016
- ^ "Melville Island parish", Melville Island Parish, retrieved 30 October 2016
- ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Pirlangimpi (L) (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
