National Reconciliation Week 2017 celebrated our indigenous history and culture, 50 years since the 1967 referendum and 25 years since the High Court’s Mabo decision on June 3 1992, recognising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had rights to the land before the British arrived.

On National Sorry Day, I attended the 10-year Anniversary of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council in Melbourne. The council was established under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 to empower Traditional Owners to protect and manage their heritage.

Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation is one of ten Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) appointed by the council in the past ten years with the responsibility of protecting Aboriginal Cultural Heritage in a specific geographical region.

The eleven members of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council are committed to preserving their ancestors' resting places and promoting understanding and awareness of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Too much of our history has been lost but fortunately our major towns have a historical society with volunteers preserving our unique history and stories for future generations.

One such group, the Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre Committee of Management is to be congratulated on organising the weekend’s Military Vehicle Rendezvous. 

The centre is preserving the Nhill Aerodrome’s history, particularly that of its World War 2 heritage when it became a Royal Australian Air Force base where around 10,000 young men and women undertook flight training in a five-year period.

The Avro Anson was the plane most used for training purposes in Nhill prompting a major project for the centre. 

Extremely talented individuals have spent many years almost completely restoring one of these aircraft from what originally looked like a pile of scrap metal.

The Military Vehicle Rendezvous raised funds to purchase an airworthy Wirraway and the Nhill community now has the opportunity to acquire one which has taken its current owner 18 years to restore. The Committee has raised about half of the funds and welcomes any donations.