Yungngora Community, Western Australia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yungngora Community Western Australia
Population:	256 (2001 Census)^[1]
Postcode:	6765
Location:	280 km (174 mi) from Broome 100 km (62 mi) from Fitzroy Crossing 255 km (158 mi) from Derby
LGA:	Shire of Derby-West Kimberley
State District:	Central Kimberley-Pilbara
Federal Division:	Kalgoorlie

Yungngora (18°30′S, 124°49′E) is a medium-sized Aboriginal Community in the Kimberley region in northern Western Australia, situated approximately 280 km east-south-east of Broome and 100km south-west of Fitzroy Crossing.

1 Background
- 1.1 History
2 Education
3 Facilities
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Background

The community is located on the Noonkanbah Station on the banks of the Fitzroy River between Camballin and Fitzroy Crossing. Yungngora is the gateway to communities further inland such as Kadjina Community and Yackanarra Community. The main access road is unpaved and so becomes inaccessible during the 'wet season'.

[edit] History

The pastoral lease at Noonkanbah was purchased for the community in 1976. Great controversy surrounded the township when its citizens opposed the exploratory oil drilling at a sacred site on the station by oil miner the American company AMAX in 1979. Some members of the Yungngora people were removed to Beagle Bay Community as part of 'The Stolen Generation'.

[edit] Education

Yungngora Community has a school, Kulkarriya Community School, which was established in 1978 for students from pre-primary through Year 12 in the Western Australian education system. At present it employs five teachers, a principal and 12 Aboriginal staff, and in 2006 had an enrolment of 72 students.^[2]

[edit] Facilities

[edit] Electricity supply

Electricity is supplied by the Government of Western Australia and comprises the Australian standard three phase 415/240 volts system 24 hours a day. There are frequent power surges and interruptions.

[edit] Water

There are two bores next to the power station which pump into the ground tank. The bores pump the water from approximately 100 metres from below the ground level, despite the community being situated on the banks of the Fitzroy River. A transfer pump station then pumps the water into the high level tank. The water has been recorded as coming out of the ground at between 50 and 60 degrees C. It is this condition which has prompted the installation of cooling towers. There are occasional interruptions.

[edit] Sewerage

There is a sewer system in place in the community which comprises one pump station near the football oval and treatment ponds on the northern outskirts of the community.

[edit] Recreation

The community has basketball courts and a football oval.Yungngora fields a team in the Central Kimberley Football League called the 'Noonkanbah Blues'.

Bush walking, some fishing and camping are the dominant pursuits for tourists visiting. Visitors are required to apply for a permit prior to entering the Community

[edit] Shopping

There is one store in town owned and operated by the ALPA. All items are very expensive compared to major centres. Mechanical repairs may be effected at the mechanical workshop.