Annette Sampi

I live in Ardyaloon with my partner Eddie James, and one son (who’s 30). I’ve got three of my own boys, and raised two of my nephews. I have ten grandkids. My mum died recently, and it’s custom for me to live in her house (in Ardyaloon) for a year, but I'll be making my way back to our family block at Ngamakoon soon. It’s just West of Cape Leveque, before Lombadina/Djarindjin. There’s no power there, but it’s beautiful - a secret hideaway. We live next to the marsh flats- an estuary- then through the mangroves you come out onto white sand, and flat rocks that you can drive onto. The water’s so clear - crystal blue waters. And you’ve got red sand. It’s hard to describe. It’s just a beautiful place! 

I was an assistant manager for the Bardi store for over 15 years. I also worked at the Hatchery with Eddie, on the front desk selling trochus shell jewellery to tourists! Eddie would polish the shells and make things, and be a tour guide for the tourists. The Hatchery started because of the Trochus shell - the meat is a delicacy, and the shell was used by the Italians to make buttons! Now we’ve got all different shells + reef fish to show tourists + regenerate the reef.