LETTER: The book called Alice Springs ignores its most appealing features

Sir – Recently I purchased a book, entitled Alice Springs.
Looking forward very much to reading it, I was sadly disappointed.
Not included in this book are the very wonderful things that make Alice Springs so special.
Such as the stunning landscape, breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, the equally stunning, harsh and spectacular bush.
The town with its multicultural population. Wonderful schools, offering our children outstanding education, arts, music, sporting that they may not get anywhere else in Australia. Our children often travel extensively in these areas, often overseas. These opportunities maybe not offered in other cities or states. Teachers who come from many different places in Australia and even overseas, offering a paramount experience of education for our children.
Sporting facilities, some of which are unsurpassed. Beautiful parks, great shops, not only the ones geared for tourism. You can purchase in Alice Springs almost everything a family needs. People with much experience in the world of business have come here, settled and offer the necessary business experience and skills that residents require. An excellent health system. Doctors, dentists and specialists all frequently visit Alice Springs. The list goes on …
How about the interesting and informative museums Alice offers, School of the Air, Araluen, Desert Park, Reptile farm, Royal Flying Doctor Service,  Women’s Hall of Fame, Desert Park, Old Telegraph Station, Olive Pink Botanic Garden. Just to mention some of the wonderful places full of history.
How about the Western MacDonnell Ranges, or the Eastern MacDonnell Ranges. Not a mention of them.
How about the amazing stories of our early pioneer families, their travels to reach this unforgiving country, no mention of them!
I acknowledge that our Aboriginal population has many problems; many of these problems are extraordinarily difficult. We all feel for these people and the writer of this book, Alice Springs, who highlighted the social aspects of these people, surely must realise that there is also much being done for the care of these families and there are many people who work tirelessly for our Aboriginal population.
The book, however, focused only on the situations of our Aboriginal people making the whole story centred in this area without including anything about the people and the opportunities that are available.
If the author wanted to only write about social justice, that is fine, but it shouldn’t be called Alice Springs.
I was very disappointed, because Alice Springs is a wonderful place to live and the majority of the people, both Aboriginal and European, love Alice Springs for what it has to offer.
Janice Heaslip
Alice Springs