Amoonguna residents fear the worst as alcohol ravages community

Kids in this place, just up the road from one of Australia’s most troubled towns, seem blissfully unaware of a problem their parents fear they’ll soon face.

Jaydene Turner, 25, with son Devvon Webb, 6, at Amoonguna. Picture: Riley Walter

In the shadows of the MacDonnell Ranges and under the cover of age-old gum trees, the community of Amoonguna feels like a world away from the troubles of Alice Springs.

Six-year-old Devvon Webb rolls around in the mud pit he has created in the front yard of his family’s home, as he escapes the searing desert heat with the garden hose.

Just a short drive from the besieged desert town, where kids their own age wander the streets alone at night, the children in the Aboriginal community play happily, blissfully unaware of the temptations kilometres up the Ross Hwy.

Though Amoonguna is not immune to the social issues that have engulfed Alice Springs in recent weeks.

Devvon’s grandmother, Rosina Dixon, who has lived at Amoonguna her entire life, says she has witnessed first-hand the destruction in her community caused by alcohol.

“Suicide happens out here a lot,” she says.

Six-year-old Devvon Webb plays in the mud at Amoonguna, unaware of the issues in Alice Springs affecting kids his own age. Picture: Riley Walter

“Only when there’s drinking it happens.”

It’s not just the adults in the community affected either.

“The kids hang around with their parents while they’re drinking,” Rosina says.

“I see a lot of that out here.

“Different groups of families, when they get together, they start fighting.

“Couples, they fight, they argue and they take off in the dark to do stupid things to themselves.”

Things changed in Amoonguna last year when the federal government’s Stronger Future legislation – keeping communities and town camps dry – lapsed in July.

Residents in Amoonguna, an Aboriginal community a short drive from Alice Springs, say violence and suicide increased when the Northern Territory’s alcohol laws lapsed in July. Picture: Riley Walter

Since then, the issues that go along with alcohol use in communities have worsened.

But in recent weeks, the government’s restrictions on alcohol purchases in Alice Springs have improved the situation at Amoonguna.

Last week, the NT passed laws to reintroduce blanket alcohol bans, with the option for communities to opt out should 60 per cent of the community vote in favour of allowing alcohol in.

An alcohol management plan would also need to be developed and approved by the director of liquor licensing.

The ballot for the vote, run by the electoral commission, would see community members over 18 able to vote on the bans.

But Rosina hopes the positive impact less grog has had hangs around.

“We have problems out here,” she says.

“Some people out here, they can get really violent towards us.”

Almost a decade ago, Rosina’s mother was killed when she was hit by a car on the outskirts of the community after she had been drinking with friends and family.

“She walked out on the road and didn’t see the vehicle coming,” she says.

The community would be safer for both women and children if it was completely dry, she says.

“It’s not safe for the little ones,” she says.

Jaydene Turner, 25, with son Devvon Webb, 6, at Amoonguna. Picture: Riley Walter

“I prefer the place to be dry how it was before.”

Along with her sister, Rosina heads out after dark each night on Amoonguna’s night patrol picking up kids wandering around the community and gives them a lift home.

They drive up to the highway and back offering anyone a ride home to anyone who wants one.

It’s their way of keeping kids at Amoonguna safe and stopping them from ending up on the streets in Alice Springs, where Rosina has seen the problems worsen.

“What can they do about the kids?” Rosina says.

Devvon’s mother and Rosina’s daughter, Jaydene Turner, 25, both fear the issues in town could make their way out to the quiet community if things don’t change quickly.

“Last year we had kids coming out here in stolen vehicles,” says Rosina, who has seen children her grandson’s age on the streets.

Carl Stevens, who lived at Amoonguna until he was about 10, says he sees kids as young as six on the streets in Alice Springs. Picture: Riley Walter

Carl Stevens, who lived in Amoonguna until he was about 10 before going bush, says he fears for his own childrens’ futures after seeing kids as young as six on the streets in Alice Springs.

“It’s too young,” he says on the drive out to his former home.

He says the older kids in town are leading younger ones astray and setting a bad example.

The NT government will introduce new legislation when parliament sits next week that will ban alcohol from camps and communities unless 60 per cent of residents vote to allow grog back in.

Rosina fears that given the choice, people will vote booze back in.

“Most people, they love their alcohol,” she says.

“If they’re having a vote, I reckon they will want alcohol in the community.”

Demitria Hayes, 8, rides a motorbike at Amoonguna without a care in the world. Picture: Riley Walter

Until the new alcohol legislation is introduced, bringing with it the possibility of grog returning to the community, Amoonguna is somewhat of an oasis away from Alice Springs where kids can be kids.

“Our kids out here just do their things,” Rosina says.

As if on cue, a little girl in a singlet and with a beanie in place of a helmet roars past on a small blue motorbike, smoke filling the street.

Like Devvon, Demitria Hayes, 8, is without a care in the world away from the problems life in town can bring with it.

She stops, grins ear to ear for a photo, and takes off back up the road.