Tangentyere Council has taken on a new name and a new incorporation that will see the organisation continue to advocate for and deliver services to Alice Springs town campers.
Read Tangentyere's media statement here.
Recent work carried out for CAAAPU
The Central Australian Aboriginal Alcohol Programs Unit is keen to use it's cultural and clinical expertise to deal with the use of the drug Ice in Central Australia.
CAAAPU has presented to Northern Territory Parliament Select Committee about the issue. Click on the highlighted links to read the submission.
CAAAPU has also been putting forward their case in local and national media. Read their media release here.
Bouncing back
It's been a little while between blogs. Distracted by events nationally and closer to home I guess. But onwards and upwards.
I came across this piece by Jane Caro today. I don't agree with all she says but she certainly makes some good points, especially when it comes to communicating and marketing the message.
Have a read and let me know what you reckon.
Skate don't hate
For some reason the Alice Springs Town Council has decided to continue to ban skaters in the northern end of what was Todd Mall - despite putting in some very flash and expensive skatable furniture.
Last week it was reported our mayor told his colleagues that it was all ok to skate in this area now it was no longer a Mall. But last night the councillors were told that no, by-laws absolutely forbid the fearsome sk8ers from putting their wheels to the ground anywhere in the CBD.
Foot traffic is pretty sparse up this end of the ex- Mall - hence the millions of dollars that was spent digging it up and making it car friendly, but not skate friendly. Councillors refused to look at amending by-laws to allow sk8ers to use the furniture I assume was put there largely for their use, and of course to give people somewhere to chill while they wait for the bottle-o to open.
There was a very positive reaction on social media when it was reported that the ex-Mall (what do we call this place now?) was open for sk8 business. Our youngest councillor Chansey Paech was commended for working to ensure sk8ers and the general public could happily co-exist.
Paech says he's very disappointed but happily he isn't giving up the fight. He's started a poll on social media to gauge reaction and hopefully get his fellow councillors to realise that sk8ers aren't out to mow them down and most pursue their activity responsibly.
Wouldn't it be great to see young people pursuing an active outdoor activity in a part of our CBD that really only attracts a crowd when the takeaways open?
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Goodbye Winter
This weekend we lucky Centralians said seeya later to winter.
It’s nothing scientific, it’s just local lore that has it the weekend of the Old Timer’s Fete is the start of our Spring.
I like the Old Timers Fete. If you aren’t from Alice you probably won’t understand what makes a large chunk of the town’s population go out to the local old folks home for a fete.
Henley on Todd is for tourists – the Old Timers Fete is ours.
You have to get there as soon as the gates open to score the best preserves and cakes. I’m never able to make it in time to line up outside the gates of Old Timers of a sunny Saturday morning to score a prime jar of chutney.
I get there for the left overs. Usually I end up with the grapefruit marmalade. This year, not even that, ‘tho I did score a great satay and delish fruit salad.
It’s very old school as far as fetes go and I reckon that’s what gives it charm. There’s book stalls, white elephant, treasures (junk), plants, cakes, handmade things galore.
It’s a nice way to say hi to a couple of glorious weeks of Spring. Though with 35 degrees forecast for later this week Spring may only be a day or two this year. That’s life in the desert.
My First Blog
For a writer, I’m a very late comer to the world of blogging.
Lots of reason/excuses. Too busy writing other’s stuff to do my own; I’m too boring (I don’t really think this, it’s just an excuse); I’m a real writer not a blogger (I know, where do I get off) and heaps others that seemed valid but I’ve now forgotten.
So after being mildly bulled into it (thanks Pete) and inspired by others (thanks girl+bike) this is it.
Now I’m a blogger.