Following vandalism attacks on the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre, the local aboriginal community has had little to smile about.
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Yet offering a glimmer of hope was the recent announcement that Northparkes Mines owner China Molybdenum Co., Ltd (CMOC) will be donating $10,000 to go towards infrastructure improvements at the dreaming centre.
Aboriginal elder Aileen Allen is the chairperson of the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre and said the donation is a “God’s blessing”.
“I’m over the moon,” she said.
“We have struggled so much for the last 12 months and now with this money we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
The money will boost Barrick Cowal Gold Mine’s donation of $10,000 which was given to the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre just last month.
Ms Allen said the centre has big plans for the donations.
With the money from Barrick Cowal the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre plans to build a gazebo, erect a flagpole with an indigenous flag and place a camp oven in the area.
With the money from Northparkes Mines Ms Allen had hoped to continue developing the centre, but says she is now concerned she will need to spend the majority of it on protecting the centre with lighting.
Ms Allen said she is frightened to develop too much infrastructure while the centre remains unprotected.
Forbes Shire Council is currently assisting the Wiradjuri Dreaming Centre in getting quotes for lighting and CCTV surveillance to help guard the centre from repeat attacks.
The vandalism offences occurred last week and saw trees and grasses being pulled out and in some cases stolen.
The CMOC donation was part of a combined grant which gave Parkes $15,000 worth of funding to improve facilities at the Northparkes Oval.