Fri. Nov 8th, 2024
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Seven people have been found alive after becoming stranded for days in Western Australia’s flooded outback. 

Air assets successfully located the group late on Wednesday in the remote Goldfields after a three-day search. 

Police announced they had urgent welfare concerns for the convoy after they failed to arrive home at the remote Aboriginal community of Tjuntjuntjara as planned. 

The three elderly adults and four children, aged between seven and 17, left Kalgoorlie-Boulder in two cars between 10am and 2pm on Sunday. 

Two CCTV images of missing vehicles supplied by police.
Police had been searching for two vehicles, a 1986 Toyota Landcruiser with licence plates A683, and a white Mitsubish Triton utility with plates KBC8881.  

Since then, a large stationary trough has dumped torrential rain over the region, causing damage to roads and hampering search efforts. 

Two of the travellers have been identified as senior elder and celebrated artist Mr Walker, 74, and Mr Rictor, whose family was the last known group of Aboriginal people to live a traditional nomadic life in Australia. 

The others in the group have been named as Tanya Williams, Katrina Walker, Mae Lee Davies, 7, Shuana Davies, and Lily Davies. 

An aboriginal elder with a grey beard wearing a blue baseball cap and an orange jumper

Celebrated artist Mr Walker has been identified as one of the travellers. (ABC Goldfields: Giulia Bertoglio )

Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Jon Lark said the news came as a relief to the community.

“Everybody’s so relieved and so happy,” he said.

“Clearly from the photo we can see everybody is looking very fine and healthy and happy, of course this is how we hoped they would be.”

“The next step will be by tomorrow morning to extricate them back to Kalgoorlie, to make sure that they’re all okay and checked up and that they’re safe.”

Police say arrangements are being made to rescue the group, with food and water to be provided in the interim.

Located about 700 kilometres inland from Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Tjuntjuntjara is home to about 200 people. 

It is managed by the Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation on behalf of the Spinifex people. 

It is one of the most remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. 

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