Cop-shop handover a “gift” to all of Orange
Handover of the old police station in Byng Street to the Orange Aboriginal Land Council is a gift to all of the community, a local indigenous leader said.
Highlighting the importance of the occasion, Aboriginal dance youth groups performed with a sacred smoking ceremony also held to mark the occasion.
An ecstatic Land Council chief Annette Steele described the event as “huge, absolutely”, and said that it was a great day for everyone in Orange.
The decade’s-old former police station site is to become the new town-central headquarters for the local Land Council, she said. “it’s about us having that ability to participate in the community. It allows us the space to build our aspirations of our people and everyone else as well,” she said.
“Because it’s not just for us, it’s for all of Orange as a whole,” she said.
The police station has been vacant since the new facility opposite the old site was constructed a decade ago to fully-integrate what had been a ramshackle series of buildings and demountables for local police.
“It’s great to see this facility utilised again, it’s a great asset and its transfer now means that it has come full-circle,” former local Police Prosecutor and State Member for Orange, Phil Donato said.
“It’s fantastic, it was just sitting here for 10–11 years, it will make a great home for their headquarters,” Orange Mayor, Councillor Reg Kidd added.
Ms Steele said the handover had been a decade in the making. “This is a day that we’ve been waiting for 10–11 years,” she during her official welcome.
The Welcome to Country was held by Orange Elder Uncle Neil Ingram with the local dance groups Dyiramaalang and Yalbalinga Nguurumbang performing traditional Wiradjuri welcome songs.
One of these included the Ochre Dance” that celebrated the sacred place that the earth colour ochre played in Wiradjuri culture whereby we all return to the earth and become part of the land.
The hand-over finalised negotiations following the original land claim made in 2011.
Ms Steele said that the Orange Aboriginal Local Land Council have big plans for the site and aren’t letting the grass grow under their feet: “The OLALC Board has committed to creating a thriving hub, a community meeting place that will be a gift to the Orange community to enjoy.
“Finally, the old police station will be renovated and refurbished to provide a place where everyone is welcome, and a place that Orange can be proud of.”
Ms Steele added that the Title Deed hand-over was only the first stage in a long process. “The Byng St site will be refurbished and refitted across 2021 with a grand opening ceremony planned for the end of December 2021 or January 2022.”
Land Council Chair, Jamie Newman said that the opportunities provided by the handover are part of a 15-year social development plan for the group.
“This really is a magnificent opportunity, and the Board looks forward to changing the narrative as we lead this change,” he concluded.