The Northern Territory news Tue 22 Dec 2009
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2009-12-22
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
Nationwide News Pty. Limited
Darwin
application/pdf
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Nationwide News Pty. Limited
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/215572
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/711144
32 Northern Territory News, Tuesday, December 22, 2009 www.ntnews.com.au P U B : N T N E W S D A T E : 2 2 -D E C -2 0 0 9 P A G E : 3 2 C O L O R : C M Y K FLASHBACK Southerners a historical issue Reader hits at cranks from south Letter by A. B. Harford, Darwin NTNews, December 22, 1959 ITS no secret that Territorians like to give their southern counterparts a bit of a ribbing. This is clear to see in theNTNews daily TXT The Editor column, where readers have a dig at southerners attitudes, habits and,most importantly, driving abilities. One letter writer on this day in 1959writes of the ill-informed cranks from the south. Discussing a Council for Aboriginal Rights, thewriter had no time for the idiotic opinions of pseudointellectuals from southern states. I cannot reconcile the reasonwhy you have adopted the policy of wasting newsprint, time and labour to air the grievances of ill-informed cranks from the south. It seemsChristmas cheer in 1959 wasnt spread far enough for some. Bulls hit town REMOTE shire work can be a load of bulldust sometimes. Larambaworkers part of the Central Desert Shire recently reported the efforts they had gone to in grading the local oval. But this hard yakka caused aggravating complications: dust in childcare now an issue, the shire servicesmanager reported. Not only that, but the bull herd from a nearby property is ignoring a recently-erected boundary fence. Unfortunately (the herd) ... having got used to living on the community area are not slowed by the fencing and continue to reside in, and cause damage to, community and residents property. Apparently the headstrong herd are simply breaking through or leaping the fence and damaging lawns, trees, and fencing around houses. AROUND THE TRAPS Outback UFO UFO sightings are nothing unusual in theNorthern Territory, but having a UFO hovering next to his car freaked out a southern tourist. I was driving along in the car and it was dark and all of a sudden, there was this light next tome. OhmyGod, thats a UFO, I thought, taking a closer look at the light, hovering next tomy car, flying alongside the road. All of a sudden I could see people inside the UFO, looking atme and they looked like real humans how scary. It wasnt until the next cabin of The Ghan passed the southerners car when he realised that not every light in theNTs darkness is a UFO. with Alyssa Betts outtheback@ntnews.com.au Our reluctant hero gets out of his depth after dark TERRITORY TALE THE skinny so far. The bearded lady in cuffs. Her undersized barra in the boot. Evidence. One chopper. The fat bloke (Normwithmilk powder, hoping to make it back to Dingos before Boof wakes) nowhere to be seen. Its nearing shift change. Still no sound, no sign. SgtWatsin sparks up aWinnie Blue. The bearded one pipes up in the back,mewling. You shouldnt have tried a runner, Watsin says. Normsmoving slowly out of earshot. Hes busy pushing his old thick body through brush. Hits bog, water; knottedweeds at his knees. The bad plan: wade around the copper in the dark. Drag his way back on to the damwall further down and hot-leg it under cover of dark to themain road. Hitch a ride back to Dingos? Too latemaybe? Crawling in the ditch, chin-high in gummydamwater. Saltie place, this. God. Oh bloody bloody god. Sploosh. Head under. Feet thrashing. Normbreaks surface to hawk out wads of weed. Hes in one of themmain pools by thewall, deepwater. In the dark he swims blind, bashing at thewater, reaching for ground. Ker-whang. Ohmy f***ing bloody arm. Norm rockets out of thewater. On dry land. No. Shit. On a croc trap. A hiss comes fromhis right. Norm is not feeling great. DOYOU think you couldwrite a chapter of the Tale?Have a go, we may even print it! Send yours to outtheback@ntnews.com.au Read the Tale from the start at www.ntnews.com.au/tale Red Centre party Santa brings goodies for Outback Christmas BIG DAY: A man dressed as Santa Claus hands out gifts to children at a Christmas party held for traditional homeland Aboriginal children at Kings Creek Station near Kings Canyon in the NT. Residents from the homeland communities of Ukaka, Wanmarra, Lilla and Ulpanyali in the Kings Canyon region attended the event as gifts were distributed by Father Christmas KINGSCANYON: Inguwa inturtai! Nuarta tharrala. Taarna kurrkanha kaarama, Jesus relh-errehala Nurnnah ilutjika, Nurnanh ilutjika. Silent Night never sounded sweeter and the spirit of Christmaswas nevermore real than it was at Kings Creek Station on Sunday. Tears flowed freely when eight traditional Aboriginal girls sang Christmas carols with their grandmother, Jillian Seven, themost senior woman from Ukaka homeland. We have practiced formany days, every day, she said after the cheering had died down. We sang in Arrernte, our language, for the little baby Jesus. Then came the calls where are you Santa? andmore than 40 children squealedwith glee as the very sweaty jolly gent in red sprang from a giant present. Mums, dads and grandparents from the homeland communities of Ukaka,Wanmarra, Lilla and Ulpanyali in the Kings Canyon regionwatched as eager little hands clutched the plethora of gifts distributed by Father Christmas. When youve got nothing, this is the biggest day of your life, said SymonConway,manager of Kings Creek Station and organiser of the Christmas party. Its incredible to see how these kids dont fight over the toys and how there is no squabbling, only happiness. They are so grateful; I hope it gives them some inspiration, and I want to see these kids have a Christmas like all other kids. Christmas at Kings Canyon did not end on Sunday. Round two starts ChristmasDay morningwhen the Conway family, their staff and friends gather to make food drops to the four homelands in a co-ordinated effort that will cover a 140km radius. Each food dropwill have enough hams, turkeys,meats, fruit and vegetables, Christmas puddings and icecream, bread and anything else we can think of tomake sure everyone has a festive and healthy Christmas, Mr Conway said. This is quite possibly the first time these kids and their families have enjoyed such ameal on Christmas day. Mr Conway has beenworking for severalmonths to co-ordinate this event, and with the help of funding fromTourismNT, The Smith Family and local Alice Springs companies, including RockCityMusic andClark Rubber, as well as the staff at Kings Creek Station,Watarrka National Park andKings Canyon ResortChristmas came early to Central Australia. As he talked about the children and their Christmas party his eyes were glisteningwith tears. But, after all, its Christmas, and every child deserves a Christmas. Its incredible to see how these kids dont fight over the toys there is no squabbling, only happiness SYMONCONWAY