Margaret Wood

Anangu Community Centre Worker

My name is Margaret Wood. I come from Imanpa community. This is my community.

When I was a little kid I grew up at Mt Ebenezer . In those times when there was no community at Imanpa. My grandfather was born at Kalka, my grandmother is from Nyapari. My mother was born at Angus Downs.

When we moved here to Imanpa, when I was eight or nine, there were no houses (wali wiya). We were living in wiltjas (traditional bough shelters) and slowly they (Piranpa - whitefellas) built a community here.

I moved from Ebenezer when I was just starting school and I went to school here. The 'silver bullet school' moved to Imanpa and that was where I was going to school.

In 1983 I went to Yirara College. I stayed there for three years, then I came back to the community.

First I started work at the roadhouse, washing plates and dishes, and putting table cloths and setting tables. Another job was getting the jam and cream ready for the scones. Tourist tjuta! (lots of tourists). It was a nice job. Wiru. I had a good time. No Anangu are working there now.

I have been working here at the community centre for three years. I come to help out. I don't get paid for it. I just love joining in with the other women and helping out.

I like seeing little kids sit down and eat. My two little sons have both been coming here. They came here until they turned five and now they stay at school, they get food there for lunch time and morning tea.

Every month there used to be a disco here in the community centre building for the young kids and for the community. It wish it could happen again.