Elders speak out on Alice Springs ‘crisis’ on Australia/Invasion Day
Alice Springs residents marked January 26 in two very different ceremonies, with the town’s troubles still front of mind for many. How a region in crisis marked the day.
Northern Territory
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Two manicured lawns on opposite sides of Alice Springs have played host to two very different ceremonies commemorating the anniversary of Australia’s colonisation.
One celebrating Australia Day outside the council offices, the grass enveloped by temporary fencing to keep out an anticipated raging horde of violent drunks that never materialised.
The other, marking Invasion Day under the shadow of a 4m high John McDouall Stuart, cast in concrete and armed with a long rifle on the hospital lawns more than 160 years after he became the first white man to arrive there.
At the first event, mayor Matt Paterson welcomed Alice Springs’ newest citizens from all across the globe, while the town’s citizens of the year for 2023 were announced.
After being named Alice Springs Young Citizen of the Year, a humble Jordon Humphreys, who lives with ADHD and scoliosis, said he felt there were many others more deserving.
“For me it means a lot because it means I’m able to make a difference for my community, and as someone with two disabilities, platforms like this are very rare for people like me,” he said.
Reflecting on the bad press the town’s youth had received, the 17-year-old said it was important to remember those doing the wrong thing were only a small group that wasn’t representative of the wider community.
“I feel that that’s something we need to keep in mind going forward, there are so many great young people in the NT and I feel like it would be unfair to put a label on all of us,” he said.
Around the corner, under the explorer’s gaze, the topic of what to do about the problem of mostly Aboriginal youths wandering the streets and causing trouble was front of mind for many.
Arrernte and Anmatjere Elder Pat Perrurle Ansell Dodds laid the blame on the Commonwealth government’s 2007 Intervention and the Territory government’s contemporaneous council amalgamations.
“These people can’t go back home on their homeland, and these children should be back there learning their culture and who they are in this country and that’s not happening,” she said.
“Alice Springs is Arrernte country, but they see it as a white man’s town, they can disturb it.”
Ms Ansell Dodds said alcohol restrictions announced during Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit this week were ignoring “the bigger picture in town”.
“These kids need help, not put in detention centres, they are so angry with their life and they’re going to play up, that’s how people are when something goes wrong in their family and that’s what’s happening to them,” she said.
“I’d like to see support for them to go back on their homeland.”
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