Pilots Jazlie and Ben Grygoruk on Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. Arnhem Land was declared an Aboriginal reserve in 1931 and is home to more than 16,000 people. See more pictures of their adventure at hillsnews.com.au.
FOR pilot Ben Grygoruk being a missionary is about more than helping people in Third World countries.
"It's about looking after the people in your own backyard."
Working for the Christian organisation Mission Aviation Fellowship, the former Kellyville resident and his wife Jazlie have moved to Elcho Island in the Northern Territory.
Providing an aviation service for more than 16,000 indigenous Australians in the isolated homelands of Arnhem Land, the international Christian charity organisation transports patients, medical supplies, relief and development workers into remote areas where transport is often difficult or dangerous.
The couple say working with indigenous communities was a "privilege".
"At first it didn't really feel like we were in Australia," Mr Grygoruk said of when he first landed in Arnhem Land in 2005.
Describing it like a "different country" he said they struggled at first to adjust to the tropical monsoon weather and working among 14 different clan groups who each follow traditional cultural law and ceremony and each speak their own language.
"It was hard at first but we love it.
"In a way, this is the real Australia," he said.
The couple work with the Mission Aviation Fellowship team to fly nurses, teachers and non-government organisations like Anglicare in and out of the homelands, transport fuel to the isolated communities and perform medical evacuations when needed.
While Mr Grygoruk loves being a pilot, he said his passion was interacting with the indigenous communities.
"For me this adventure is all about the people here and helping to fill the gaps when it comes to how western education can assist them," he said.
"One of the hardest things to learn was how I could communicate information that could help these communities from the perspective of an indigenous person.
"Through my work I'm really focused on trying to empower these people."
The organisation has six bases in Arnhem Land and programs across Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Bangladesh and East Africa.
Donations: 1800 650 169 or www.maf.org.au.
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