An Early Childhood Literacy Project in Alice Springs

As a community service project of the ‘Rotary Club of Alice Springs Mbantua’ I’m working on a project to link sponsors that cover the costs of the Kumon literacy program with early childhood aged Aboriginal recipients (and families) in Alice Springs.  Interviews for the first available scholarship will commence soon.

As this proceeds I am in the process of seeking more scholarship sponsors.  If you live in a capital city in Australia and know how to tap into capital relevant to improving literacy for Aboriginal people in a regional/remote part of our country then this could be your opportunity. 

For more information please visit www.earlychildhoodliteracy.wordpress.com

Letter to editor: 6 months on

A letter in today’s Centralian Advocate:

It has been about 6 months since I quit alcohol. As a young adult my main reason was to send the right message to others in my generation.

I can confidently say that my challenge has been well worth it.  I never drank regularly, a weekend wind-down was always on the cards, but as more than 4 standard drinks on any single occasion is considered a health risk I was in the camp of many in the odd occasion of over-consumption.  Quitting alcohol meant that I could talk about it more and its place in our community.

If alcohol is consumed responsibly then this can be a good thing, it can be a good way to wind down and socialise.

Alcohol becomes a problem when relationships are harmed; when the amount of money spent dips too much into disposable income; when violence or abuse no matter how benign is dished out; when it is seen as an out to whatever personal or social problems persist. For some people the response to any of these experiences is to have another drink.

The problem self-generates.  For some, alcohol is a pitiless addiction.  For too many in my generation and younger alcohol and its misuse is a social contagion.  We egg each other on and poke fun at the hapless incidents. 

Abstaining from alcohol is not a solution for everybody.  I set myself this challenge to see what it was like.  Because alcohol was a weekly ritual it was difficult at first. My mind relied on its calming effects after a long week and mentally I had to adjust. Because I am a busy person it was easier for me to quash boredom without it (having boredom and no purpose is a big issue for many in Alice Springs).

Exercise helped me, as did a healthy addiction to coffee.  What I realised from quitting is that there is so much to life and its abundance that other interests can easily replace alcohol, so long as a kind of semi-dependency caused by years of use is overcome.  Without the after-effects my mind and body is better without it.

To others in my generation I hope these messages resonate.

My experiences with media

Since my involvement with local government one of the most interesting experiences is media engagement. 

In a letter to the editor I submitted the words ‘As an urban Indigenous person’ and then proceeded to criticise the playing of the race card by a prominent Alice Springs person.  The newspaper changed the ‘as’ to ‘to’, completely changing the meaning and context of the letter.  My intention was to start where I’m coming and whilst I have no problem referring to my circumstances as ‘urban’ I certainly would not refer to others the same way because everyone has a different angle.  One word can change the whole context.    

When I was first elected a local journalist asked me about what it meant to have two Aboriginal Alderman.  I repeated the lines (because he kept on seeking a different response) that ‘I was proud to be associated with a Council with Alderman from a diverse range of identities and industries’.  I didn’t want to be drawn into a race-based analysis.  The next day my words were printed along the lines of being ‘proud to be’ on a Council with two Aboriginal Alderman and how this would make a big difference (it may have, but I didn’t want to be drawn on it).  This was my first direct experience.

Following my election as Deputy Mayor I held a lengthy interview where I said a core focus would be to argue for recognition of Local Government in the constitution that evokes Statehood (the document that formalises a new State for the NT).  I said that the new constitution can protect the interests of regions, and Local Government, because of its geographic spread, was one way to do this.  I said that the efforts of Local Government for recognition in the ‘national’ constitution was not worth the time or effort.  The media report said my ambition was for recognition of Local Government in the ‘national’ constitution.

Another interviewer asked me about my family heritage.  I told him the links.  He wasn’t familiar with those family names so I explained other families (more familiar names) who also branched from the original person.  I said that those more familiar names are not my direct family and not to use them but that I told him these things so that he could see how everything is linked.  He used the family names I asked him not to. 

On a completely different topic the following is a Stateline interview, my first foray into tv journalism: 

MELINDA JAMES: They’ve been described as racist, unconstitutional and even wacky. Alice Springs Town Council has proposed eighty four new by-laws that have stirred up angry public debate. The by-laws cover a range of issues including a prohibition on people sleeping in the dry Todd River bed, drinking alcohol in public and demonstrating without a permit.

Alice Springs Deputy Mayor John Rawnsley says the aim of the by-laws is to improve the town. I spoke with him earlier today.

MELINDA JAMES: John Rawnsley, welcome to Stateline.

JOHN RAWNSLEY – Deputy Mayor, Alice Springs: Hi Melinda, how are you?

MELINDA JAMES: It’s fair to say that these proposed by-laws have caused quite a stir in Alice Springs, isn’t it?

JOHN RAWNSLEY: Oh look, it’s been twenty years since the by-laws have been revised. Recent changes to the local government act give local councils and shires more powers in relation to creating their own by-laws. This is a big project that were working on, previously we worked on by-laws in relation to trolleys and of course council’s got a lot of great initiatives such as the cash-for-cans scheme amongst one. But, you know, we encourage public discussion in relation to a wide range of issues and so we’ve taken the course of putting these draft by-laws out for public comment.

Op-ed: Alice Springs and alcohol policy

My first printed opinion piece was published in the NT News as a follow up to my commitment to quit alcohol for one year.  I was grateful for the opportunity.  The piece suggests three policy ideas concerning alcohol in Alice Springs.

Over the fold is a pdf version of my original submission and a scan of the News piece.

The following is my original submission:

As the first from the Generation Y (those born 1980-1995) to be elected to a municipal Council in the Territory I was honoured in March this year to be elected Deputy Mayor of Alice Springs. My generation lives within a specific set of circumstances and I am obliged to advocate reform with this in mind. In my new role my first decision was to quit alcohol for one year.

My main motivation is to set an example. If the National Health and Medical Research Council recommends no more than 4 standard drinks on any single occasion then excessive alcohol consumption in the Territory is commonplace. Too often we leave the task of finding solutions to policy makers without realising that it is also us who can build a social and cultural intolerance of alcohol misuse.

(continued over the fold)

An Important Story

Excerpt from Alice Springs News…

By ERWIN CHLANDA

Mark Lockyer says he began drinking at age 12.
At 17 he moved out of Hidden Valley, where he had grown up, so that he wouldn’t remain an alcoholic.
“I didn’t want to die from drinking,” he says.
But his aunty, to whom he was very close, did.
His mother, now an invalid, remained in the squalid town camp, and so he maintained a connection with this source of much anti-social behaviour in Alice Springs.
As a kid he himself was an occasional player, roaming the town in gangs of six to a dozen kids, “from the camps, the bush and urban kids” – stealing hard liquor, “bottles of grog, rum, vodka” – and food from bottle shops and supermarkets.
Mark’s mother lives in an exceptionally neat house amongst the Hidden Valley mayhem.
It’s 3.30pm on Friday.
Most able-bodied adults in Alice are still at work, but across the road, in a freshly renovated house, painted in garish blue colours, the daily drinking party is getting into full swing.
There are about two dozen young men and women, many already under the weather.
The scene outside leaves little to the imagination about what the interior would look like, recently refurbished at taxpayers’ expense.
Says Mark: “There are already graffiti, smashed doors and windows.
“It’s almost back where it started, trashed.
“There are 15 to 20 people, beds, mattresses, beer cans all over the yard, 12 year old girls drinking and smoking dope.”

(continued here.)

Alice Springs Innovative ideas forum

Recently the Alice Springs Town Council hosted an innovative ideas forum facilitated by Ted Egan.  I submitted the following ideas (the final one was in the top 4).  Surprisingly, the idea in relation to Slamball received more support than I expected and was spoken to by one participant (only a small number of participants were aware of what it is!).  Other ideas submitted to the forum included extreme sports generally and this idea can be linked into the Slamball proposal.

ideas-for-innovation-workshop_nov-081

The Todd River flowing

Last week the Todd River was at its brink.  This photo was taken at about 6pm when the Todd was at its strength.  I was on the footbridge at the side closest to East side.

A strong memory I have is walking across the footbridge at around 9pm, the sound of water running, the street lights dim with light reflecting across the water and the cool dry air.  The Flickr bar to the right has more photos.

Generation Y and Alice Springs

The other day I met with a local journalist interested in featuring a story on the Generation Y (those born 1980-1995). 

Our meeting prompted discussion about the nature of politics and future generations.  When we looked at issues that the Gen Y are interested in we came up with familiar themes: cheaper flights interstate to encourage the high social mobility (that the Gen Y share across the western world); more recreational opportunities; more accommodation options and all the other issues that other generations are interested in (community safety, community pride, et cetera.). 

A strong feature of our present generation is the strength of our economy.  The current generation is fortunate to live in these circumstances and there are many work opportunities available.  We haven’t experienced a recession as other generations before us have. 

We talked about how the difference between generations is largely the result of changes in technology.  I’ve met senior people who came to Alice Springs when they were young and had no electricity, fridges, televisions, et cetera.  Younger generations are now exchanging money over the internet and spend increasing amounts of time engaging social networking sites.  Mobile phones and computers are common place.  The contrast is significant.

More over the fold.

Significant drop in murders in Alice

ABC News reports a significant drop in the murder rate in Alice Springs.  The previous rate was attributed to the extent and nature of alcohol and substance misuse.  The reduction is said to be the result of the Intervention and alcohol restrictions.  The significance of the drop will no doubt be presented in the form of an evidence-based analysis of such policies.  Attributing such a drop to the detail of such policies – and pinpointing which actual policies attributed to the drop – is a pursuit more complex than defined methods.  In the meantime we can be safe in the knowledge that a change has occured.   

Blogging and local politics

The popularity of blogging has increased rapidly in recent years.  The tools available from host sites (e.g. google, wordpress) are incredibly versatile and user-friendly.  While there is still contested debate about its impact one fact that is recognised is its use in the local political arena.   

Fellow Alderman Jane Clark has had a blog for a number of years.  As far as I’m aware there is no other blog with Centralian content with relevance to politics.

Alice Springs hospital presentations resulting from stab wounds

The PM program (found here) has reported a significant drop in stab-wound related presentations to Alice Springs hospital.  The comments from Dr Jacob Ollapallil, head of surgery, are remarkable.  The cost benefits must be significant, not to mention the emotional and other health related problems that have been diverted. 

Because of the extent of reform across a broad range of policy areas it would be difficult to ascertain the direct source of this reduction.  The assertion that it is attributed more or less to alcohol restrictions is a difficult claim to substantiate.  Other reforms such as welfare quarantining and the response at the bonding social capital level as a result of the intervention are other crucial factors.  With the impending review those measures that will be seen to be successful should be strengthened.  On the information before me I’m yet to be convinced that furthering alcohol restrictions is effective in the present policy circumstance.   

Having said that the report from the PM program is cause to be optimistic.  They are preliminary results but what has been demonstrated is that a significant and positive shift can occur within the space of a relatively short period of time (at least in the policy sense).

Alice Springs Town Council elections 2008

I have just finished a campaign for the Alice Springs Town Council elections (March 2008).  The primary count is complete and all candidates are awaiting the distribution of preferences.  Until this time most candidates (including myself) are uncertain if we will be in the top 8 vacant positions.

I’m glad the campaign is over.  I feel I worked very hard in facilitating the campaign and can now put that process behind me.  If elected I intend to provide regular posts in relation to issues facing Alice Springs and Central Australia and my contributions to the Town Council.

For now I want to relax and focus on my other tasks that have been put aside during the campaign.

A loss for communities West of Alice.

Central Australia has witnessed one of the most serious car crashes in a long time.  Six people have passed away.  The deceased, all young people, come from a region where a number of communities and homelands consist of hundreds of people (perhaps a small, few thousand) with a common language and other affiliations.  Losing six relatives in this way will come as a sudden traumatic shock to all these people.  It is a loss of significant proportions.  My heart goes out to the families.

A great privelage

This year I’ve had the great privelage of coaching an under 10s mixed basketball team.  It was a first time experience.  I was able to meet 10 children, each with their own personalities and ways of learning and engaging tasks.  I’ve witnessed a process of development and hard work.

Every week during games and in training we stand in a circle and review what we’ve done.  Our saying is ‘believe, work hard, achieve’.  A number of players know this by heart and recite it when I ask our team what our saying is.  I teach them that they can apply this to anything in life and, if ‘you believe in something, and if you work hard, then you will achieve’.  The limits are endless. 

A policy to beautify local areas

Some months back I visited Diarama Park (behind Diarama village) and posted here.  The visit sparked a policy idea that could lead to tangible application. 

The outcome of the policy would beautify parks and natural landscapes across Alice Springs.  And not just in small regions or parts, but a wholesale application across the town as a whole.  A successful strategy would substantially improve the visual quality of where we live. 

Such an outcome would lift social capital and build a sense of community ownership and pride.  As word of mouth and personal experience is a powerful marketing tool for tourism beautifying Alice Springs across the board would create a lasting and positive impression. 

Details of the policy idea over the fold.

Flannery and Geothermal technology

Today’s Centralian Advocate produced a story about Tim Flannery and his suggestion of a central facility located in the Central Australian desert based on the use of geothermal technology.  The facility would provide energy to other parts of Australia and would serve as a base for the processing of minerals.

There are several exploration companies searching for appropriate locations to use this kind of technology.  One prominent location is in South Australia, but apparently there are large quantities of land that could potentially be used for thispurpose.

Given its existing services and base, the railway line and proximity to the ports near Asia, if a location could be found close to Alice Springs then this location would be ideal. 

As a solar city, the town of Alice could be complimented in several ways if it could serve as an energy hub for the processing of minerals from across Australia and energy supply to regions where it is in demand.  

Diarama park: Conservation Volunteers

Conservation volunteers recently completed the landscaping of Diarama park.  The park features in various media and is a story in the Town Council magazine (inserted in last weeks Alice Springs News).

I visited the park the other morning.  In one word, ‘magnificent’.  The landscape, design, choice of sand and materials and features is breathtaking.  The full colour red of the Sturt Desert Peas blends in with the overall concept. 

The volunteers designed the concept, submitted it to the Town Council for approval, and facilitated the project.  There are many skills involved, and it is something that all involved in the project can be proud of.  Practical achievements like this instill a sense of value in terms of the skills developed.

Fran Kilgariff and the Territory’s core economic challenge

Alice Springs Mayor, Fran Kilgariff, presented a paper to the Bennelong society, found here.

An excerpt:

2006 census figures indicate that the indigenous proportion of our population is growing faster than the non-indigenous…Mal Brough said in a recent talk to the National Press Club (15/8/07) that over 2000 kids in the NT, between 6 and 15, are not enrolled for school, let alone attend.  In my opinion the biggest economic issue for the NT today is that a rising proportion of the population is neither educated or job ready and unless that can be remedied then our future economic growth is untenable.

Facilities in Alice Springs

I was recently told by a Queenslander that Alice Springs has many facilities for a town our size.  An American told me how he is fortunate to play baseball on a weekend during the evening, under lights and in perfect weather. 

The town is expanding in terms of infrastructure, with various units and buildings constructed.  Plans are put to the public for an in-door pool in addition to the current town pools (and in the same area). 

Further, there are still many possibilities, such as a slide or series of slides designed for younger people, or a water park.  A concept plan with research into the sustainability and feasibility of the idea would be a necessary first step.  Water resources is an obvious issue, as is commercial viability.  The time to commence such research is now. 

Alice Springs Desert Park

Earlier this month our family went to the Alice Springs Desert Park.  For $40 we paid for a Territorian pass, and are now entitled to attend at any time for one year (two adults and two children under 5).