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Commonwealth supports healthy outcomes for Jilkminggan
Local stocking up at the old Dungalan Store in the Jilkminggan Community. Image: outbackstores.com.au
supplied by Sen Scullion’s office 23 September 2015
T
he community of Jilkminggan, south-east of Katherine, now has a refurbished community store, thanks to a $1.89 million grant from the Aboriginals Benefit Account (ABA). Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, today congratulated the Jilkminggan community and the Dungalan Aboriginal Corporation for working with the contractor Ngarda Civil and Mining to deliver the refurbished store. “Jilkminggan’s former store was a converted small tin shed with inefficient equipment, no kitchen and inadequate staff facilities,”
Minister Scullion said. “The refurbished store has a good layout, including a larger retail area, more refrigeration for fresh fruit and vegetables and a bigger cold store.” “This investment will support an efficient and commercially-viable store which provides a greater range of healthy food options that will make a real difference for people’s health as well as creating future employment opportunities for the local community. “The store will provide significant ongoing benefits to the small community of Jilkminggan, which has a population of about 300 people. “I am especially pleased that three local Indigenous
workers were employed on the refurbishment project and that two have been offered ongoing employment with Ngarda Civil and Mining while the third is a permanent employee of the contractor.” ABA Advisory Committee Chair, Patricia Brahim, said the refurbished store was yet another example of the benefits the ABA could deliver to people living in remote Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. “The refurbished store will be an important resource for Jilkminggan that will give residents more choices in accessing fresh and healthy food, as well as providing meaningful jobs for local residents,” Ms Brahim said.
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