Remains of Aboriginal ancestor buried at Garra, near Orange

The details of the female ancestor's remains are unknown apart from gender and origin, with last week's burial following a repatriation ceremony which included a procession, smoking and dance.

The ceremony was to mark that return to country, under the Heritage NSW Repatriation Program with Orange Aboriginal Land Council and the Central Tablelands Local Land Services.

Bringing the remains home has been a heartfelt project for Greg Ingram, Orange Local Land Services Officer for Aboriginal Communities, who acknowledged the importance of the task being completed.

"It's important to bring those remains home so the ancestor can rest," he said.

"But also for our Elders to be able to recognise the occasion and to educate the Aboriginal community and wider community too, about the tough events our ancestors went through.

"It was about 2014 when I first found out about the burial site. It's on a travelling stock reserve so it took a lot of research, mapping and then preservation and protecting to make sure we could bury the remains."

Heritage NSW Principal Heritage Program Officer John Duggan echoed Mr Ingram's sentiments, also labelling it 'an honour' to be able to assist in bringing the remains home.

"It's a challenging process to bring back ancestral remains and objects that have been removed from their communities," he said.

"But it is an honour to support the local community in their efforts, as it is through the repatriation process that we can help return Aboriginal ancestors their rightful resting places."

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