Warakurna Community facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WarakurnaWestern Australia |
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 Warakurna
Location in Western Australia
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| Postcode(s) | 6642 | ||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||
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| LGA(s) | Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | North West Central | ||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | O'Connor | ||||||||
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Warakurna is a large Aboriginal community in Western Australia. It is part of the Goldfields-Esperance region. The community is located within the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku. You can find it on the Great Central Road, which is part of the Outback Way. This long road connects Perth to Cairns across Australia. Warakurna is at the western end of the Rawlinson Ranges. In 2016, the community had 268 people. Most of them (237) are Aboriginal Australians. Many people in Warakurna speak the Ngaanyatjarra language at home.
Contents
History of Warakurna
How Warakurna Started
In the early 1970s, Warakurna became a new community. Several things helped this happen. The government offered money for new small communities, called outstations. It also became easier to reach the area by road. Other nearby places, like Docker River and Warburton Mission, were getting too crowded. The location of the Giles Weather Station was perfect for a new community.
Becoming an Official Community
The Warakurna community officially became a group in 1976. Later, in 1981, it joined the Ngaanyatjarra Council. This council helps support many Aboriginal communities in the region.
Understanding Native Title
What is Native Title?
The land where Warakurna is located has a special legal status. It is part of the determined Ngaanyatjarra Lands (Part A). This means that the traditional rights and interests of the Ngaanyatjarra people to their land have been legally recognized. This recognition comes under the Native Title Act 1993.
Planning the Town of Warakurna
How the Town is Organized
Warakurna has a special plan for its layout. This plan is called Warakurna Layout Plan No.1. It was made following a state policy for Aboriginal Settlements. The community approved the plan in 2003. The Western Australian Planning Commission also approved it in 2004. This plan helps make sure the town grows in an organized way.
What Can You Find in Warakurna?
Education for Kids
Children in Warakurna go to the Warakurna campus of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands School. This school was created in 2007. It brought together nine different school campuses in the Ngaanyatjarra lands. The Warakurna campus teaches students up to year nine. After that, students usually move to the larger school campus in Warburton.
Travel and Health Services
The community has the Giles Airstrip. This airstrip is 1,600 meters long and made of gravel. It can be used 24 hours a day, in all kinds of weather. There are two flights each week to Alice Springs. The Royal Flying Doctor Service also uses the airstrip for medical transport when needed.
Community Buildings and Activities
Warakurna has many useful facilities for its residents. There is a community hall where people can gather. It also has a women's centre and a health clinic for medical care. For sports and fun, there is a football oval and a basketball court. The community even has a 25-meter indoor swimming pool!
A Special Police Station
Warakurna is home to the first police station in Western Australia run by Indigenous officers. This station was set up some years ago. It has already shown positive results for the community. A filmmaker named Cornel Ozies made a documentary about it called Our Law. He believes the program is successful because of four key things: respect, understanding, communication, and education. The two Noongar police officers at the station learned the local Ngaanyatjarra language. They also learned about the cultural ways of the people.
