Issue 16

The Don Zoellner review of Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) reports a "return on investment" at the rate of $19.90 gained for every dollar spent on it by the NT Government, conjuring up the impression of an ingenious product on the open market resulting in a sensational windfall for the Territory taxpayer. But this would be a misinterpretation. COMMENT by ERWIN CHLANDA. PHOTO: Dr. Zoellner.

The hype was huge when nearly five years ago, a $10m Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) project linking businesses across the outback was launched in Alice Springs with a video link across much of the nation.
Not much is left of that today as a report commissioned by the NT Government has little good to say about the organisation that, the report claims, "myopic optimism that … is further demonstrated in the self-referential nature of the Board, the senior management and those with whom it decides to engage."

In September 2009, DKA CEO John Huigen (blue tie) and NT Minister Chris Burns (on the screen at left) in Darwin joined Federal Parliament and nine towns in Desert Australia via a video link on Monday to launch an initiative that will make the buck stop in the outback. Joy Taylor, DK Network Development, did the talking in The Alice. Ron Saint (seated at right), from project partner Telstra, was in the launch audience. ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

This righteous desert babe left us 10 days ago. Her life was not a procession of unparalleled, certifiable, gold medal, high-achieving wins, but an impressive battle scar and zesty tribute to the vitality of soul-force, writes BETH SOMETIMES. She was seventy-five, and taken out suddenly by a massive stroke. While she was in hospital five years ago after the first stroke, we hung out and talked extensively and I wrote something of a story of her life. Here is a much abridged version, published with the permission of Amanyi’s daughter, Linda Stanley. She also gave permission for photos of Amanyi to be published.

Owner Kam Buckley (at right in the photo), owner of KafeGonzo which in its new location still has the same trendy vibe. But it is now packed to the rafters with paintings, pictures, books, novels and magazines in organised chaos. Kam is pictured with artist James Tudor. JENNIFER RAJHER reports.

Alice Springs author Rod Moss has won the Chief Minister’s Book of the Year Award for his memoir, One Thousand Cuts, while the graphic novel, The Long Weekend in Alice Springs, by Craig San Roque and Joshua Santospirito won the Non-Fiction Book Award.

Bottle shop watch takes cops from street patrols – and do the kids know it! COMMENT by HAL DUELL.

Stories and pictures you won't see in John Pilger's film 

Priorities are shifting at Arlparra, also known as Utopia. Traditional owners did not want it to develop as a community, but to rather be a resource centre, delivering services to people living on their homelands. But in a visit to the area this week Member for Namatjira, Alison Anderson, was told that the push from locals is now for “housing, housing, housing” at Arlparra. KIERAN FINNANE travelled with Ms Anderson ahead of the heavily promoted broadcast of Pilger's Utopia on SBS this Saturday.

Message to the "we'll all be ruined" brigade: There's plenty of scope in Alice Springs for growing a business – and quite without government handouts. Just ask Lisa Perry. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. PHOTO by TAYLOR CHALKER.

Governments have inflicted "significant" budget cuts on the Alice Springs based Arid Lands Environment Centre, says its CEO Jimmy Cocking (pictured). ERWIN CHLANDA reports.

A mystery source of interference is causing disruption to mobile phone calls in Alice Springs and also to internet users linked to 3G and 4G access for browsing and emails.

The Town Council is proposing a 5% rate rise largely to cope with increases in electricity costs. ERWIN CHLANDA reports. PHOTO: Mayor Damien Ryan.