Power to Country
Power to Country is an intimate portrait of Garrwa woman Shirley Simon, displaced by global shifts in climate and a lack of stable power. Shirley was forced to leave her family’s homelands on a beautiful island in remote Northern Territory because of energy insecurity but the place she escapes to, the nearby town of Borroloola, is also dealing with an energy crisis. As a strong matriarch, Shirley wants to ensure her descendants are connected to their country and culture — community-owned solar power might just be the solution she needs to return home.
As many communities across Australia face severe environmental threats, Original Power is building knowledge, resourcing action, and creating the connections that will galvanise change.
Watch Power to Country on ABC iView.
“Solar power will guide me and my family back to our special Saltwater Country.”
— Aunty Shirley Simon, Garrwa Elder
UPDATE: Aunty Shirley Returned Home
After years of forced displacement due to energy insecurity, Garrwa Elder Shirley Simon has returned to her homelands at Mumuthumburru (West Island), marking a major milestone for community-led clean energy solutions.
Thanks to the installation of a First Nations-led renewable energy system, Shirley and her community now have stable power, water, and communication. allowing her and her family to live on Country once more thanks to the efforts of Ngardara Cooperative.
Witness Aunty Shirley’s emotional return or learn more about the project in Original Power’s Case Study.
Credits
Storytellers: Shirley Simon, Lynette Simon and Family
Director: Josef Jakamarra Egger
Producer: Andrea Distefano
Supervising Director: Genevieve Grieves
Field Producer: Libby Collins
1st Assistant Director: Conrad Rory
Co-Producer: Maya Ghattas
Executive Producer: Kelrick Martin
Consulting Producer: Kieran Satour
Impact Producers: Monique Duggan, Jamie Lee Bolger (Noonuccal), Aimee Kepa (Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi) and Simone Mugavin
Cinematographer: Ryan Andrew Lee
Sound Designer: Lachlan Harris
Editor: Josh Burns
Sound Recordist: Francis Diatschenko
Supervising Post Producer: Ramona Telecican
Production Assistant: Anita Archer
Supervising Editor: Rah Dakota
Legals: Deborah Doctor
Special thanks to Yanyuwa and Garrwa People, Shirley Simon, Lynette Simon and family, Gadrian Hoosan, The Original Power team including Conrad Rory, Lauren Mellor, Dan Brookes and Scotty McDinny, Shaun Evans and the Li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Ranger Unit, Mabunji Aboriginal Resource Indigenous Corporation, Malandari store and Redimart store, Borroloola and the GARUWA team.
Filmed on the traditional country of the Yanyuwa, Marra, Garrwa, Gudanji and Binbingka people of the Borroloola Community and Mumathamburru (West Island), North-East Northern Territory.
Power to Country premiered in Your Planet: Climate & Environment Shorts at Sydney Film Festival, 2023.
Power to Country was supported by ABC, Screen Territory, Doc Society and Shark Island Foundation
