Vincent Mundraby

Vincent Mark Hilton Mundraby (29 January 1967 – 17 June 2017) was a Far North Queensland Aboriginal Australian Yidinji rights activist. and settlement of Trinity Bay, Queensland consequent to the proclamation of Trinity Bay (i.e. Yidinji country) in 1876 to be a North Queensland port. to obtain determinations under the Native Title Act 1993 that they have continued to observe traditional laws, and have continued to hold locally indigenous property rights (i.e. native title) to their own Yidinji country since before British sovereignty.

The area of land that we are talking about .. sits over that hill (from Cairns).. There are two leases: one, 580 acres, was issued in 1883; the second, 650 acres, was issued in 1884. Both leases expired in 1894. In 1892, the Yarrabah mission was founded by Gribble. So, a little over 103 years ago, that lease expired and was not taken up, and for over 103 years we have had a reserve in there.

Land Trust

Aboriginal Land Trust received inalenable freehold title to more than 8000 hectares of original lands, @ Yarrabah 21 December 2015 In seeking to negotiate the 2012 Combined Mandingalbay Yidinji-Gunggandji People v State of Queensland native title determination, Vincent Mundraby was involved in reaching an agreement from State of Queensland and the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council to transfer more than 8000 hectares of their original lands to themselves as the original owners, promised to be held as inalienable Aboriginal Freehold by an Aboriginal Land Trust of their own.

On 21 December 2015, after three years lobbying, an Aboriginal land trust had been formed; Vincent Mundraby was the first chairperson of this land trust; and Vincent Mundraby's great grandfather Jabulum and families' lands were successfully transferred to their land trust.

Chairman of the Gunggandji Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, Vince Mundraby, said that the land was going back to its rightful owners. “Now ... it will be managed properly, the right way, the Gunggandji and Mandingalbay Yidinji Peoples way, our way,” he said. “This will enable our community to develop an environmental economy, using our land, people and culture while transmitting to future generations a sustainable economy in a culturally appropriate manner that delivers a better quality of life.” and President of the Aboriginal Local Government Association of Queensland.

As Mayor of Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Vincent Mundraby pursued land reform and, in 2007 for example, sought, negotiated. and reached a 'landmark' agreement with the Commonwealth Minister for Families, Community Services, and Indigenous Affairs securing $14 million for new housing, welfare reform, and land reform. for the largest of Australia's Aboriginal communities.

In the late 1990s, for instance, Vincent Mundraby became the Aboriginal People's elected chairperson of a Bama Wabu (aka People of the Forests) non government organisation, then chairperson to a Steering Committee formed by Authorities following a period of Aboriginal protests, petitions and activism, to undertake a comprehensive 'Which Way our Cultural Survival? Review of Aboriginal Involvement in the Management of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area' ultimately recommending (in 1998) a comprehensive regional agreement be negotiated between the Commonwealth Government, State Government, and Aboriginal Peoples towards recognizing Aboriginal land management and enabling World Heritage listed areas to be self managed by the World Heritage Area's Aboriginal Peoples (aka Bama).