News & Achievements

Trangie LALC has been successful in obtaining funding from the Aboriginal Community Housing Investment Fund Program

Some exciting times are ahead for the Trangie community with the injection of funding from the Aboriginal Community Housing Investment Fund Program(ACHIF). Two programs will be run by the Trangie LALC which will see upgrades to driveways, installation of new floor coverings to 4 properties, painting of all properties and the installation of solar power to all properties. This project will improve the quality of the homes owned by the Trangie LALC and reduce energy costs for the tenants. The funding being over $200,000 is part of the $212 million NSW government Aboriginal Housing Office Economic Stimulus Package which was announced in November 2020. The aim of the program is to help safeguard jobs in the face of COVID-19

Work to commence on the establishment of 6 new units to accommodate senior members of the Trangie LALC

Work will commence in May 2022 for the new build of 6 x 1 bedroom units to house senior members of the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council. The build costing over two million dollars is being funded by NSW government Aboriginal Housing Office Economic Stimulus Package which was announced in November 2020. The units will be erected in Mullah Street Trangie opposite the Trangie Multi Purpose Health Centre allowing tenants easy access to medical services provided at the Centre.

The Building is being carried out by Hibbards Pty Ltd, a building company with a reputation of providing good quality homes of a high standard. This project is expected to be completed in December 2022

Wungunja Cultural Centre is moving forward to be bigger and better

The Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council has been fortunate in obtaining funding to make improvements to the Wungunja Cultural Centre that will improve the services provided by the Centre and improve experiences for people visiting the Centre.

Three projects will be completed at the Centre and include:

• Driver Reviver Funding to install more restroom facilities costing over $100,000

• New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council Community Fund Grant of $150,000 to extend the building to include an exhibition space and office space

• Create NSW has funded a pilot Digitisation project to the value of $100,000 where the collections held at the Cultural Centre will be identified and catalogued into the Mukurtu program. These records will be held in the program and will be able to be accessed by the Trangie staff at the Wungunja Cultural Centre and the State Library of NSW.

’Trangie’s Faye McMillan receives 2019 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award’

Associate Professor Faye McMillan is a Wiradjuri yinaa (woman) from Trangie, NSW. Faye is an inaugural Atlantic Fellow, where she has developed an app to support people experiencing mental health concerns. Faye is a founding member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia(IAHA), was a board member of IAHA from 2009-2017, Chairperson from 2010-2016, and works at Charles Sturt University as the Director of the Djirruwang Program – Bachelor of Health Science (Mental Health). Faye is a board member for Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network and is on the community advisory committee for the Wagga Wagga Notre Dame Medical School.

Faye holds a Doctor of Health Science, a Master of Indigenous Health Studies, Bachelor of Pharmacy and is Australia's first registered Aboriginal Pharmacist. Faye also holds a Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Governance from the University of Arizona (USA) and Wiradjuri Language Culture and Heritage and is currently completing a Graduate Certificate in Education through Melbourne University.

In 2018 Faye was a finalist in the NSW Woman of the Year Awards in two categories (Regional Business woman of the Year and Aboriginal Woman of the Year). In 2017 Faye was recognised in the Who's Who of Australian Women and in 2014 Faye was included in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence. Faye is also the proud mother to Kye and Ethan, as well as a daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt and friend.

Professor McMillan is a Wiradjuri woman with over 20 years' experience as a rural community pharmacist. She was Australia's first registered Aboriginal pharmacist.

Professor McMillan was a founding member of Indigenous Allied Health Australia. She was recently appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia in recognition of her significant service to Indigenous mental health and to tertiary education.

Professor McMillan provides expert advice to the National Rural Health Commissioner on improving access to health services, training, and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Trangie’s Jessica Skinner has received the Country Rugby League (CRL) Women in League Achievement award at the CRL Community Awards dinner on Saturday night. Skinner received the award for her numerous services to the Western Region. In an amazing show of dedication to Women’s Rugby League, she is currently the Coach of the Western Rams women’s tackle and ladies league tag representative sides.

She also coaches the Far West Academy league tag team and was a pioneer in implementing the inaugural league tag academy program, developing female youth across remote and rural communities in the Barwon Darling, Outback and Castlereagh Leagues.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) is pleased to announce the establishment of NSWALC Housing Ltd (NHL) with Deputy Chair being Professor Mark McMillan, a long-time Board member of the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council now appointed board member of NSWALC Employment and Training (NET)

Dr Mark McMillan is a Wiradjuri man from Trangie, NSW. He is a Professor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Education and Engagement) at RMIT University. In 2013 Mark was awarded the National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year award.

Mark has received his Bachelor of Laws from The Australian National University, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from The Australian National University, a Master of Laws and a Doctor of Juridical Science from the University of Arizona, a Certificate II in Indigenous Leadership from the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre and a Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Heritage, Language and Culture from Charles Sturt University.

Mark was admitted to the Roll of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory as a Legal Practitioner in 2001.

Mark has served as a board member of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples and is still a board member of the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council.

His research interests are in the area of human rights and, in particular, the expression and fulfilment of those rights for Indigenous Australians. He is currently working on an ARC grant relating to Indigenous governance and jurisdiction for native nations. He intends on expanding his research outcomes to include the application of ‘constitutionalism’ for Indigenous Australians, with a particular emphasis on the use of current constitutional law for the protections envisioned for Indigenous people in the constitutional referendum of 1967.

A unique Cultural Centre that holds a large collection of Aboriginal artefacts that have been sourced predominantly from Central West NSW and a collection of local Aboriginal family history.

The Wungunja Cultural Centre was established to protect the culture and heritage of the Aboriginal people of Trangie.

The centre showcases a large variety of artefacts that have been sourced through long term loans with the Australian Museum and the Office of Environment and Heritage, donations from local people and collections owned by the Trangie Local Aboriginal Land Council. The valuable collection represents family history and information including displays of photos and stories of local Aboriginal people who have served our Country from World War 1.

The Wungunja Cultural Centre is a central hub that celebrates the local Aboriginal culture in our region. Family history records of Aboriginal families that once lived on the Macquarie, Bogan and Lachlan rivers are held in the centre and are a popular attraction for visiting relatives to the centre.

The Centre is also a popular outlet for local artists to showcase and sell a variety of painted items that include art, boomerangs, good will stones, vases and didgeridoos. It is a place where school children are able to visit to build their knowledge on Aboriginal culture and heritage.

Functions held at the centre include community events like Naidoc, Reconciliation and Sorry Day or healing celebrations.

Two carved ceremonial trees removed from “Mullah” Trangie in the 1960’s are a highlight of the centre and are currently on long term loan from the Australian Museum. These trees hold significant value to the local Aboriginal community of Trangie where their engravings are unique.

Also located at the site of the Wungunja Cultural Centre is an old pine hut, known as the “Rovers Den”. This magical little pine hut was built in the 1930’s by local businessmen including the local medical practitioner, Dr McLean. The Hut was built for the purpose of holding meeting for the scout groups and then later used for housing. Aboriginal people moved from the river to live in the hut in earlier years and was later used as emergency housing for many families in need.

Visitors to Trangie can explore the beautifully restored centre, experience the skills of the Aboriginal people in their craftsmanship in tool making, or just to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the surrounds of the centre where many yarns have been told by the community Elders and the greater Trangie community.

HOW DO YOU FIND US?

As you drive through Trangie turn into our beautiful main street which is Dandaloo Street. The Wungunja Cultural Centre is located two blocks from the highway on the corner of Dandaloo and Harris Streets (81 Dandaloo St), we are open 7 Days, 10am-3pm. We offer merchandise for sale & accept cash/Eftpos.