Aboriginal remains returned to Garra

News Aboriginal remains returned to ancestral lands at Garra at repatriation ceremony

The remains ancestral remains of an Aboriginal and objects that have ancestor were buried been removed from on Monday at a their communities and traditional ceremony stored in collections in Garra, near Molong, across Australia and following their in other countries repatriation to the worldwide,” Heritage local community. NSW Principal Heritage

The remains were Program Officer John buried after an Duggan said. emotional repatriation “But it is an honour ceremony which for Heritage NSW included a procession, to support the local smoking, burial and community in their dance. This ceremony efforts, as it is through was to mark the return the repatriation process of remains to country, Photos: Heritage NSW/Paul Milazzo. that we can help return under the Heritage NSW Repatriation Program with Orange Aboriginal ancestors their rightful resting places.” Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Central Tablelands Heritage NSW works to bring about the return of Local Land Services. Aboriginal ancestors and objects to their rightful owners by

Details about the remains are unknown, apart from the working with Aboriginal communities, the state, territory gender and origin: the Ancestor comes from the Orange- and local governments, Australian museums and collecting Molong area and is female. institutions.

Bringing these female remains home has been a heartfelt More information about the Heritage NSW repatriation project for Orange Local Land Services Officer for Aboriginal program is available at www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/ Communities Greg Ingram.

“It was about 2014 when I first found out about the burial site – it’s on a Travelling Stock Reserve so it took a lot of research, mapping and then preserving and protecting to make sure we could rebury the remains,” Mr Ingram said.

“It’s important to bring those remains home so the ancestor can rest, but also for our Elders to be able to recognise the occasion and to educate the Aboriginal community and wider community too, about the tough historical events our ancestors when through.”

Heritage NSW assisted the local community to bring the remains back to Garra through their repatriation program.

“It’s a challenging process to bring back Peter Batten

Molong Advancement Group had an army of volunteers from Molong and District willing to help at last Monday - in readiness for the thousands of visitors who usually come to Molong to attend the long weekend Markets.

Volunteers from MAG, CWA, Molong Rotary, Molong Garden Club, Central West Disc Golf, Molong Central School, Molong Rural Fire Service and individuals were ready to welcome visitors to Molong and make the Markets the successful event they are.

MAG extends our sincere thanks to the people of Molong and District who were prepared to be part of the event.

Due to the rain in the lead up to the Markets they were cancelled to protect the Recreation Ground from damage by the more than 100 vehicles and several thousand visitors who normally attend.

Before cancelling the markets MAG’s organising team considered several alternatives including Hunter Caldwell Oval, the Showground Golf Course and near the cricket nets at the Recreation Ground. Hunter Caldwell and the Showground Golf Course were ruled out for the same reason as the Recreation Ground and the area near the Cricket Nets because they could not accommodate the number of stalls and did not have power available for those stalls that required it.

Cancelling the Markets after the months of work that goes into organising them is not an easy decision but was considered in the best interests of Molong by protecting the beautiful Recreation Ground from damage.

Stallholders were very understanding of the reason to cancel and most are willing to participate in the next Markets on 4 October when Molong pinks up for Breast Cancer Awareness.

We are going to need the army of workers again in October so if any community members are willing to help please contact MAG’s hard working secretary Janine Marriot by email on molongmagsec@gmail.com.