Camps grog
ban to go

The ban on alcohol in town camps, widely flouted, will be phased out in favour of alcohol management plans formulated for each camp or clusters of camps.
First in line for plans will be Mt Nancy and Palmers camps on Basso Road and Larapinta Valley camp.
Staff from Licensing, Regulation and Alcohol Strategy in the Department of Justice have begun work with Tangentyere Council on the development of the plans. KIERAN FINNANE reports. Full story»





1000 trucks make
Alice roar to life

There is a small reunion every year and a big one every five for the National Road Transport Hall of Fame.
This year’s was huge: The Hall’s Liz Martin, an organizing wizard, says “we stopped counting at 6000” and chances are 8000 people had come to town for the event.
There was a tent city at the Hall itself, caravan parks and hotels were booked out, Blatherskite Park was chockers, dozens of caravans and mobile homes were parked at the Racecourse, and many in private backyards.
“Just as well the grey nomads came in their self-contained rigs,” says Liz.
She and her team fed 3200 people on Saturday night, including 1400 at the Hall under the stars, 200 at the RSL, 500 each at Ooraminna and the Quarry with Tailormade Tours; 100 each at the Steakhouse and Bo’s.
The reunion culminated in a parade through Alice of 750 registered  trucks – and quite a few not registered ones – with half the town or more lining the Stuart Highway between the Truckstop and the Hall.
When it comes to trucking royalty Lindsay Johannsen (above left) is Prince Charles.
His father, Kurt, was a road transport legend, widely credited with the invention of the self-tracking road train, and opening up The Centre with contraptions he built or modified.
Needless to say his behemoth “Bertha” – a 1939 Diamond T – was a treasured entry in the parade with Kurt’s Dodge Coronet perched on the back (above right).
It was surely one of the earliest alternate energy vehicles, with the option of powering the conventional internal combustion engine with gas produced in a wood burner fed with timber picked up along the way. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. Full story»



Above: This year’s local inductee into the Wall of Fame was John F Ryan who passed away in 1999. His family received the award on his behalf (from left) Adam, Jerome, Mayor Damien, and Brendan. Mr Ryan’s widow, Carmel, is in the middle. John and Noel Buntine formed the Ryan and Buntine transport company in the early '60s and brought a B Model Mack to town. Photo courtesy Shell Rimula, the sponsors of the wall. Below: Frank Latorre with his immaculately restored Foden.





Real Estate Institute silent on role of Framptons
boss as probes by police & govt. board continue

The Real Estate Institute of Northern Territory Inc (REINT) has failed to respond to three enquiries from the Alice Springs News about whether David Forrest (pictured) has been stood aside as the organization’s southern region representative.
Mr Forrest is a principal of Framptons First National Real Estate which is the subject of a fraud investigation by the police and an enquiry by the NT Government’s Agents Licensing Board.
The probes follow the collapse of Carey Builders, causing losses estimated in the millions to several home buyers in Alice Springs. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. Full story»




Tough talker on Islam set to test freedom of speech



The head of prison education in Alice Springs, who has published attacks on Islam, says he is set to test freedom of speech in the NT.
Robin Henry said in a blog: “Given that Islamic law, values and culture are not compatible with Australian law, values and culture, it’s destructive to permit muslims to immigrate to Australia.”
And: “We don’t want any more Islamic trouble in Australia than we have had already.”
A work colleague of Mr Henry’s, John Davis, who says he is a Muslim, has contacted the Alice Springs News and Chief Minister Paul Henderson. A spokesman for Mr Henderson says: “Once these allegations were brought to our attention, they were referred to the Chief Executive of the Department of Chief Minister for investigation.
 “As these matters are currently under investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.” ERWIN CHLANDA reports. Full story»



Nuisance rains are a worry for fire fighters

The normal window of opportunity presented by winter for prescribed burning in The Centre has been limited by “on again, off again” rains.
In this regard the rain has been “a constant source of annoyance” since the Finke Race weekend, says Rod Cantlay, Senior Fire Control Officer (South) for Bushfires NT.
Long range forecasts lead him to fully expect more rain coming into Spring: “The vegetation will continue to grow and we’ll just have to be opportunistic about burning.” KIERAN FINNANE reports. Full story»



Good school attendance
is getting results

If a measure of success in education is achieving the national benchmarks, then the children attending the Irrkerlantye Indigenous Unit at Bradshaw Primary School are experiencing  success.
In the Year 5 class of 2009, eight out of nine students were at or above the national benchmarks in numeracy; seven out of nine were at or above the benchmarks in spelling and writing.
The numbers weren’t as good for reading, with only two at or above the benchmark. However, the school is confident of improvement, says Acting Principal Brenda Jolley, with strong attendance building across the year levels. KIERAN FINNANE reports. Full story» Pictured is Siobhan Turner, an ambitious student, determined to progress to Year 12.




Transport Hall wizard is a natural born story teller



Liz Martin OAM says humbly she wrote, My Territory, My Life, My Story not because it was her story but because of “some of the legends” she’d been fortunate to meet.
But you only have to dip into it to realise that the scope of the book goes beyond this: here’s a natural story-teller who’s led a richly varied life, both in the Top End and The Centre, has an eye for detail and character, a strong and heart-felt sense of her times and can bring it all to life on the page. KIERAN FINNANE was at the launch. Full story»







Feeding the multitudes

How do you put dinner on the table for 1000 people?
It’s not so hard after you’ve done a dinner for 2000, says Peter Collins.
That’s how many he and business partner, as well as wife, Julie fed at the last big truckies reunion back in 2005. 
Saturday’s dinner was under the stars in a week that had been dogged by rain and cloud.
Last Friday as Peter and his team began setting up, he was unfazed. She’ll be right. And as it turned out she was: the night was cool, a little breezy but clear.  Setting up the tables began at 1pm; it took the next six hours. Volunteers lent a hand – the Scouts, for whom it was a fundraiser, and Liz Martin's loyal band.
The serving staff arrived at 6pm. Many of them are graduates of hospitality courses at St Philip’s and have worked for Peter and Julie before, including their daughters Rebecca and Natalie. KIERAN FINNANE reports. Phot by LISA LEE. Full story»












Tennant’s fest spirit

You can get into the festival spirit early with a visit to  Tennant Creek this weekend, when they stage their 21st Desert Harmony Festival, with bands, dances and a parade featuring creations such as Cheeky Dog in the 2009 parade (picture at right).









Nancarrow Arrow is down and out with the flu but no-one is feeling sorry for him. Ian Sharp in  Letters to the Editor argues we've heard all about "do gooders" and it's high time to take note of the "do badders". Full story»


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