Aputula (Finke) NT

Aputula is situated 159 km east of the Stuart Highway, south of Alice Springs and is very close to the geographical centre of Australia. Finke, which is the European name for the township where the community is now situated and also for the Finke River, one of the largest rivers in central Australia, which the community sits beside.

The name Aputula comes from the water site near the community called 'Putula', which used to be the site of a water soakage. Putula is an Arrernte word. Old Arrernte people used to get their water from there a long time ago, before the white people and the railway line came to the area. The name of today's community, Aputula, comes from that word. Anangu put the 'a' on the front to make it easier for the white people who couldn't say it the proper way.

There are several language groups which make up the 250 people who live in the community; Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara, Luritja and some Lower Sothern Arrernte people.

Rare Earth Foundation and Multi Vision Media Projects:

Youth Media

A project that was identified by the youth and the Aputula Community was the rebuilding of a youth centre. The community, REF and M.V.M undertook the reconstruction of an abandoned building for use as a youth centre.

Media Link: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/06/09/1946980.htm