Aurukun Shire Council in Queensland has officially re-opened an Indigenous Knowledge Centre to celebrate local culture and encourage lifelong learning.
Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt officially opened the Wik Mungkan Indigenous Knowledge Centre (IKC) in November.
Aurukun Shire Council Mayor Dereck Walpo said it was a very exciting time for Aurukun as the Indigenous Knowledge Centre had a long history in the community. It was first opened in November 2002.
“Over the past year, Aurukun Shire Council, in partnership with the State Library of Queensland, has committed significant resources to the refurbishment of the building to revitalise the IKC and ensure its relevance to community needs,” said the Mayor.
“Since September, we have had a steady stream of visitors to the Centre with 59 new members signing up and I hope many more will make good use of this wonderful facility and cultural learning environment which provides book lending, free Wi-Fi and computer access.
“The IKC will run school holiday programs, programs for senior citizens on technology, a book club for various age groups and a First Five Forever program to engage children up to five years of age with reading.
“Community radio broadcasting will begin [in 2017] and we are keen to get local people involved in the programming so it has relevance to life in Aurukun.
“The IKC also will be an important keeping place for Aurukun’s Indigenous culture and history with space for community members to hold cultural events, to get together and to share knowledge.”
Mayor Walpo welcomed newly appointed IKC coordinator Priscilla Blanco who has a worked as a teacher’s aide and health care worker throughout Cape York Peninsula and was the team leader for Act for Kids in Aurukun.
Ms Blanco, from Aurukun’s Winchanam clan, said she spent most of her childhood holidays in Aurukun as her grandfather, William Hudson, was a stockman who worked in the community and its outstations.
Mayor Walpo said the reopening of the IKC was another step forward for Aurukun to make the community a happier place to live as Council worked towards economic opportunities for the people.
“It comes as we get close to completion of the installation of fibre optics to the community to improve communications, improved road access through a Memorandum of Understanding with Rio Tinto and the recent opening of the new PCYC [Police-Citizens Youth Club] sports centre,” he said.
The $120,000 refurbishment by Aurukun Shire Council received $28,000 from the State Government.
The Council has a partnership with the State Library of Queensland for the operation of the IKC.
