(N.T. A.L.P. ELECTION FUND RAISER.)
The concept for this trip is still being finalised. I am happy to
negotiate any aspect of it, including cost (LETS currency most
welcome).
Basically, you will be travelling up the Track with me and members
of my family, and making use of my cross-cultural experience and
contacts with local people. My partner, Helen, is a medical doctor
with experience in the Centre. She also speaks good German.
We are interested in picking up what is actually happening, rather
than following a mindless schedule. With that in mind, and to put
some initial form on things, I have been working on the following
approach.
STUDY THEME: Recognition and Reconciliation with First Australia.
We meet our Elder relatives - and through them the country.
MAJOR OBJECTIVES: (1) Personal development.To develop that part
of our self which enables us to relate well with First People.(To
further attune our Being with Cosmos.)
(2) To develop an appreciation of the
central place of Aboriginal people and their culture in the
Australian ecosystem. (To come to see First People for what they
are - the human representatives of the living country.)
MINOR OBJECTIVE: Explore areas of personal interest with
Aboriginal people.
DATE: Begins ALICE SPRINGS 11 JULY ends ALICE SPRINGS 25 JULY.
COST: $1,500 (approx $100 per day). Cost includes road travel and
assumes hire of vehicle, camping, accommodation, food and generous
payments (I estimate a third) to Aboriginal people. Net profit to
go to the N.T. ALP election fund (see below). Good value.
There are three components to this exercise - educational,
authentic travel and enjoyment.
Study component: I will provide some extracts of a carefully
chosen key texts before we depart. In addition, if people have
particular areas of interest, I may be able to provide some
complementary reading.
Travel component: (More details below) We start at Alice Springs
on 11 July, and quickly move to Ti Tree - where we can begin to
feel the Centre. From here, we move north to the outback town of
Tennant Creek and into Warumungu country...to liaise with
Aboriginal people on terms acceptable to them if possible. No fake
displays. Return to Alice Springs by 25 July.
Enjoyment component: Bring a musical instrument by all means. We
will camp under the stars and around the camp fire where possible.
If we don't enjoy ourselves, why bother?
Food will be largely camp fire cooking. Specials from the land as
they present themselves. No excessive alcohol consumption.
Costs: People will have to get themselves to and from Alice
Springs at either end of the trip. There are several other good
things to do in the Centre, and advice is freely given.
Why a fund raiser? One of my reasons for making this trip is to
put some energy into restoring balance to life. I believe that
removing the present CLP government from office is vital to the
well-being of people and country. Only the ALP has a realistic
chance at achieving this. I am not a member of any political
party, and this idea is my own initiative.
A SKETCH OF POSSIBLE TRAVEL ROUTE.
The strip of country I expect to cover is between Alice springs
and Tennant Creek. Not a well trodden route, and full of
surprises. It is not sightseeing at Uluru, Kakadu or the Katherine
Gorge.
While what we do is always subject to negotiation, I would expect
to pick people up from Alice Springs. We could stay at a low
impact place like Toddy's Cabins (or Bazzo's Farm would be ideal
if we could get it). People could begin to get to know each other
here.
Then, move fairly quickly to get out of the busy 'force field' of
Alice and move up the Stuart Highway to Ti Tree (population 50).
It is important to get to Ti Tree early - you can feel that you
are in the Centre here. Choice of accommodation here will depend
on numbers. There is some reasonable accommodation at the school,
or we could camp out at Clancy's Place across the road.
At Ti Tree we may (repeat - may) be able to make some day trips
out in the bush with local Unmatyere people. Last year when I was
there the bush potatoes were happening and we went out with the
women to dig them. A taste of the country is important. These
trips also provide an ideal context for interacting with First
People.
The length of our stay at Ti Tree will depend on what's happening
on the ground there. Unmatyere people are also producing
paintings, and we could probably get to talk to the artists.
>From Ti Tree, we could move to Barrow Creek (pop. less than Ti
Tree). Even though Barrow creek is on the main highway, it is
by-passed. We would probably be based at the newly established
Aboriginal Resource Centre. Perhaps we could learn a little of the
local contact history and explore contact with Kaytej people at
nearby Neutral junction.
Moving north, it might be possible to overnight at a house at the
Aboriginal settlement at Ali Curang (formerly Warrabri). We will
need to apply for permits. A taste of culture shock for
Anglo-Australians?
Then, we can either rush off to Tennant Creek to reassure
ourselves that all is well with a hit of town life, or we can move
camp to the Devil's Marbles. It is great to spend time wandering
around this complex in the morning or evening. Ideally we would
pick up an Aboriginal guide (or two) at Ali Curang to help us with
this.
Next stop - Tennant Creek (a few days). Hot showers. Dinner at the
Dolly Pot Inn a must. Comprehensive tour of town and region -
contact history, mining, Warumungu land claim, contemporary
situation. Meeting with Member for Barkly - Maggie Hickey? We can
see a lot in a short time here. Should also be able to arrange for
bush trip with local Warumungu women.
I will be negotiating with senior men for us to move back down the
road to an unused outstation where we can spend some days - or
longer - with senior men and women. No promises.
A BIT ABOUT ME.
My qualifications: Academic: Studied philosophy and anthropology
(1968 -1976) in New Zealand. Main interest in structural study of
mythology. Tutored University and adult students in New Zealand
and Australia off and on since 1972. (Victoria University,
Wellington NZ; James Cook Uni, Townsville, Qld; Adult Ed,
W.E.A./Sydney Uni; Macquarie Uni, Sydney; W.E.A. Wollongong;
presently part time in-house tutor Aboriginal Education Centre,
Wollongong Uni.)
Lionel Murphy scholar 1990 (Dialogue between two systems of law.)
Not much published in print media. Articles in Cultural Survival
Quarterly; Conference proceedings (Aboriginal Issues,
Ecopolitics). Few polemics posted at various anthropology
conferences. Several major and minor works in progress.
Ten years applied experience with First People in the Northern
Territory at the grassroots level. Worked as senior anthropologist
(land claims) with the Central Land Council (1980-83): Community
Development Officer at Julalikari Council (Tennant Creek) 1986:
small-time cross-cultural consultant (Aboriginal Sacred Sites
Protection Authority, Central Independent Television).
No, I am not fluent in Central Australian languages. I hear better
than I speak, but I'll be working on removing my mental blocks,
too. Most Aboriginal people speak adequate English.
Organising trips etc: Responsible for welfare of number of
temporary field staff while at Land Council. No risks taken. Have
organised trips with Aboriginal people before (Bus trip from
Tennant Creek to Canberra; Study tour by Aboriginal people from
Tennant Creek of Alice Springs organisations). Plenty of camping
experience.
Going on what my friends - who have accompanied me before - say, I
think anyone who is prepared to put up with a little bit of
discomfort (flies and dust) will have a trip which they will long
remember. The spinifex country has to be seen to be appreciated.
We will be keeping the numbers down (absolute maximum of eight
excluding my mob) to ensure minimal impact.
I need to finalise arrangements by about 22 June. A deposit of
$500 will be required them. Full refund if unable to travel.
Payment of balance before departure from Alice Springs.
If you need any specific information, please contact me:
Bruce Reyburn, P.O. Box 257, Thirroul NSW 2515 Phone work (042)
213776 (Aboriginal Education Center, Wollongong University mon,
tues, wed) or home (042) 673828
e-mail reyburn@peg.apc.org