Looma Community, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LoomaWestern Australia |
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 Looma
Location in Western Australia
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| Established | 1900s |
| Postcode(s) | 6728 |
| Location | 120 km (75 mi) from Derby |
| LGA(s) | Shire of Derby-West Kimberley |
| State electorate(s) | Kimberley |
| Federal Division(s) | Durack |
Looma is a special Aboriginal community located in Western Australia. It's about 120 kilometers (or about 75 miles) south-east of a town called Derby. Looma is right next to the Fitzroy River in a large area known as the Kimberley region. In 2011, about 374 people lived in Looma.
Contents
A Look Back: Looma's History
Looma was first built a long time ago, in the late 1950s and 1960s. It was made to be a home for Aboriginal stockmen and their families. These stockmen worked on big cattle stations nearby, like Camballin and Liveringa. Looma was one of the very first communities of its kind in Australia.
Later, some groups within the community had disagreements. Because of this, a second community called "New Looma" was built. It's about 2 kilometers (just over a mile) south of the original Looma. New Looma got new roads, houses, and a water supply. The old community stayed as it was.
Learning in Looma
The Looma Remote Community School helps students learn. It works with a district high school, which means students can get a good education. Young people in Looma can also take short courses from TAFE. TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education, and it teaches skills for jobs.
Community Facilities
Power and Water
Looma gets its electricity from a power station in nearby Camballin. Looma also has its own power station, which is about 5 kilometers south of the community.
For water, the older part of Looma has two bores (deep wells) that pump water into a big tank. New Looma has a similar system, but with more modern equipment.
Waste Management
Old Looma has a system to manage waste water, with a pumping station and ponds. Waste from New Looma is sent to these same ponds in Old Looma.
Fun and Games
The community has great places for sports, including basketball courts and a football oval. Looma even has its own football team called the "Looma Eagles." They play in the West Kimberley Football Association.
For visitors, popular activities include bush walking, fishing, and camping. If you want to visit Looma, you need to get a permit first.
Community Radio
Looma has its own community radio station called Looma BRACS. You can tune in at 106.1 MHz on the FM band. This station is part of a bigger network called Pilbara and Kimberley Aboriginal Media (PAKAM). It helps share news and stories across the region.
