Gulf C4C Pty Ltd, the much-loved Containers for Change service in the Gulf of Carpentaria, has a new chapter under local ownership.  

The depot, based in Normanton, is now run by the Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Aboriginal Corporation (GKAC), representing the Traditional Owners of the region.

Since 2019, the long-running business has been a vital service supporting remote communities - and helping more Queenslanders access the 10-cent refund.

On 4 March 2026, a special handover ceremony celebrated the transition and the future of the service under GKAC’s leadership.

Annie Cork and Joseph Rainbow (fourth and fifth from R) alongside the team from Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Aboriginal Corporation (GKAC) and Mayor Jack Bawden (R), Carpentaria Shire Council.

From a single ute to a vital regional service

Gulf C4C Pty Ltd was founded by Annie Cork and Aboriginal elder Joseph Rainbow. The pair had started collecting their own 10-cent containers, making the eight-hour drive to their closest return point in Mareeba. After a few trips, they realised the region needed its own depot.

What started with a single Hilux and trailer eventually grew into two trucks with trailers servicing communities, businesses, and cattle stations across the Carpentaria, Burke, Croydon, and Etheridge Shires.

Regular collection runs stretch hundreds of kilometres – some almost to the Northern Territory border – and each can collect up to 80,000 containers, making a huge difference to recycling efforts across the region.

Continuing in community hands

After years of hard work, Annie and Joseph decided to retire. Passing the business to GKAC ensures it stays local and can continue to support recycling, employment, and community initiatives across the Gulf.

GKAC Co-chair Sherelle Bee said acquiring the business aligned with GKAC’s focus on economic development and local employment.

“When Annie and Joseph decided to retire, we were looking at businesses that could create opportunities for our people, and this was a perfect fit,” she said.

Their work has delivered meaningful change for Gulf communities, with GKAC now set to carry that legacy forward.

A legacy of community service

Joseph Rainbow said the handover marked both the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the service.

“It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears and hard work, but we’re proud of what we achieved, and we’re glad the business is staying with the community,” he said.

GKAC plans to retain existing staff while expanding training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal residents. The depot has already begun employing community members, including an NDIS participant who works on-site every day with support staff.

GKAC Co-Chair Sharelle Bee (L), Gulf C4C NDIS employee Brendan (M) and support worker William (R).

With GKAC at the helm, Gulf communities can continue to enjoy this vital Containers for Change service - keeping towns cleaner, supporting local jobs, and helping more Queenslanders access the 10-cent refund, all while building on the legacy of its original founders.

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