The Community Advancement Co-operative Society (CACS), known locally as Bynoe CACS was incorporated on 29 October 1979 to provide affordable housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Lower Gulf of Queensland. The founding directors were Adam Billy, Daisy Burnett, Doris Casey, Sylvia Charger, Laura Geordie, Shirley George, Rolly Gilbert, Eddie Miles, Una Owens and Elza Savo.
Over more than four decades, Bynoe CACS has expanded its role beyond housing to deliver a wide range of community-oriented programs and services in Normanton and the Lower Gulf.
Core services and programs
- Housing: Affordable housing and central access point at 46 Dutton Street, Normanton.
- Community Development Program: Employment support services delivered since the 1980s.
- RSAS (Remote School Attendance Strategy): Delivered in Normanton since 2014.
- FaCE (Families as Centred Educators): Helping reduce social and economic barriers to education.
- Youth Programs: Activities tailored to the interests of local children and families.
- Neighbourhood Centre: A hub for community access and support.
Economic and social enterprises
- Nursery: Propagation and sales of affordable plants in Normanton.
- Art Gallery and Workshop: Supporting and employing local Indigenous artists through the Bynoe Arts Centre.
- Café and Catering Services: Providing hospitality and training opportunities.
- Salvation Army Normanton Partnership: Offering low-cost household goods, furniture and outreach services.
- Gulf Academy: Led by Bynoe as a new initiative to support education and skills development.
- Enterprises: Broader economic development initiatives integrated into Bynoe’s long-term strategy.
Bynoe CACS continues to be a key community-owned organisation in the Lower Gulf, combining affordable housing with a diverse range of social, cultural and economic programs. Its co-operative structure ensures services are developed and delivered in line with community priorities, with a focus on housing, education, employment, culture and long-term economic development.
