The Nyewente (Trucking Yards) town camp yesterday opened the doors of their multipurpose community centre which “will provide a family friendly communal space for delivering services and activities for residents,” according to co-ordinator Nikki McCoy.
“The focus will be on sport, music, education and culture which have always been the community member’s strongest assets,” Ms McCoy says.
“The centre will also provide a space for community meetings. A case worker with the Ketyeye program, that supports children and families, will operate part time from the centre. We will also have an after school youth worker working out of here.
“CDP participants will work from there in various capacities and programs such as cooking, cleaning, music, curtain making and arts will be offered.”
Ms McCoy says the centre is part of Tangentyere’s new Access to Education division, “which wraps services around young children and young people, and supports families to ensure safety and wellbeing”.
It was built by Tangentyere Constructions, with infrastructure funded by an Aboriginal Benefits Account grant. Twelve Aboriginal trainees worked on the project.
Tangentyere Constructions is also installing a new playground at Nyewente.
Vanessa Davis, who has lived in Nyewente since the community was established, says: “We are a close knit community here and this new centre will strengthen our links, be a welcoming place where people can get together, and be a place where services
are delivered to the town camp community.
“The camp’s original community centre was used as a school for Aboriginal families from the camp as well as Morris Soak and Namatjira and Yipirinya School grew out of this.”
Opening celebrations included a barbeque, jumping castle, Truckies Band, Bush Medicine, storytelling as well as videos and photos of the community.
PHOTOS: Elders cutting the ribbon, youngster ready for the cake.
Report contributed.