A NEW funding program from the NSW Aboriginal Land Council is breathing new life into a number of activities under way at Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council.
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Northern Region councillor Charles Lynch was at the official opening of Camp Kitchen at Summervale, near Walcha which received support under the Community Fund.
Cr Lynch said the funding was making a difference to the local Aboriginal community. “Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council has used the funding to establish a Camp Kitchen which will give the local Aboriginal community a great meeting place to celebrate and mourn,” Cr Lynch said.
“The community fund has also provided an opportunity for Amaroo Local Aboriginal Land Council to buy a tractor to better manage land and care for country.”
Amaroo land council chief executive Mark Davies said the kitchen’s opening acknowledged the contributions of a late Elder, Aunty Beryl Green.
“Aunty Beryl played such an important role in keeping our community strong and we’re honoured to be able to dedicate Camp Kitchen to the memory of a highly-respected Elder,” he said.
Mr Davies thanked the NSW land council for investing in local Aboriginal land councils through the community fund.
“For Amaroo LALC, the community fund has energised us and created new possibilities for us to better meet the needs of our community.”
NSWALC chairman Roy Ah-See said he was pleased to see the community fund making a difference to Aboriginal people throughout the land rights network.
“The Community Fund is an investment in the future of the Land Rights network. In the first funding round we’ve made grants of up to $50,000 available to Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
“The Community Fund ensures eligible Local Aboriginal Land Councils can share in the wealth of those that enjoy a strong economic base.
“In New South Wales we have 120 Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Some hold more valuable land holdings and others have less valuable land and development opportunities,” he said.
The fund is generated by a levy on Local Aboriginal Land Council land dealings with matching contributions by NSWALC.
It was introduced following an amendment to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.
Applications for the current round of the Community Fund are currently being assessed.
