Australia Day Darwin: Oz Run, Ute Muster, Survival Day draw in crowds
From tackling a fun run to watching a muster of utes parading around the Top End and a showcase of diversity, here’s how the NT celebrated Australia Day. SEE PICTURES AND VIDEOS
Northern Territory
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SIX-YEAR-OLD Marlee Dunstan thought carefully before answering what her favourite thing was about Australia.
SIX-YEAR-OLD Marlee Dunstan thought carefully before answering what her favourite thing was about Australia.
“Vegemite,” she said with a cheeky smile.
“There’s fun stuff (here).”
The young Australian was among hundreds of Territorians enjoying the best of local art, food and culture at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Marlee sat on the convention centre floor to watch as a Thai wedding ceremony wove through the meat pies stalls, live art demonstrations, fairy floss, and booths all showcasing the diversity of the Territory.
Soon after the convention sights were dimmed as the arts youth group, The Youth Mill took to the stage with a mesmerising opening act.
The young Territorians were followed by Electric Fields, King Stingray and other standout local acts.
Survival Day protest call for Don Dale closure
A STORM hovered over the Darwin prison as protesters chanted outside calling for the closure of the Territory’s most infamous youth detention centre.
More than 150 Survival Day protesters lined the chain link fence outside the Berrimah Prison blocks where 43 children, some as young as 10 years old, were currently detained.
As renowned Aboriginal activist Josie Crawshaw spoke as thunder rumbled behind her and ceremonial cleansing smoke rose from the fire.
“These kids will be shackled for the next three to four decades — their lives will never recover,” Ms Crawford said. “We’ve got to close this place down.”
“I want to wish you a happy Survival Day. As bad as it is at 60,000 years plus we’re still hanging in — by our fingernails but we’re here.”
She called for trauma services for all young Australians, saying “I’ve got my faith in the youth”.
Mirroring the speeches and chants sung outside the wires, the children could be heard yelling and banging inside their cells.
A source from inside Don Dale said the children were in their seventh day of isolation, as there were not enough staff to manage Covid safety measures.
A Don Dale contractor who attended the rally, and asked not to be named, said conditions inside were “disgusting”.
He pointed to a beige block of cells 50 metres away from the protest, saying “that’s where the young ones are kept”.
“There’s roaches moving around. They’re living in cages and solid brick walls,” he said.
The contractor said the kids were locked up for 21 hours a day.
The only government representative at the protest was a lone security van which idled just inside the gates with its headlights locked on the crowd.
A Territory Families spokeswoman said no children were in isolation by themselves and there were enough staff to operate the centre in a Covid-safe manner.
“Territory Families, Housing and Communities has comprehensive infection control and response plans in place at our youth detention centres to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of young people, staff, service providers and visitors,” she said.
“In all areas of (Don Dale), young people are undertaking their normal daily routine, including education and recreation.
“Young people are required to wear a mask within their accommodation blocks, and when they are not in their room.
“All young people are closely cared for by the on-site medical service.”
A few roads away a very different Australia Day could be heard.
As the protesters chanted calls for change on Survival Day the horns of the Variety The Children’s Charity annual Australia Day Ute Run echoed over from the Stuart Highway.
BEACH PARTY TAKES TO RED CENTRE
IT may seem like a challenging theme to pull off, but the Alice Springs Australia Day beach party made waves across town.
About 300 Centralians attended the wet and wild event at the National Road Transport Hall of Fame (NTHOF), where the normally dry desert town transformed into a world with sandpits, paddle pools and a water-slide.
“No one gets to go to the beach in Alice Springs,” said NTHOF operations manager Dee Seaman.
“We wanted Australia Day to be all about community, family, barbecues, and beach balls, so we said ‘Let’s bring it to Alice’.” Despite the mercury tipping 36C, families made the most of the public holiday, with Centralians young and old hopping aboard the electric train for an express ride around the hall of fame.
The event was supported by the National Australia Day Council, which is promoting celebrations through a “reflect, respect, celebrate” frameworks.
NTHOF general manager Nick Prus, who moved to Australia from Poland 42 years ago, said January 26 was always a special day for him.
“It’s a real celebration of us getting together as a nation that is so fragmented and has people from all over the world, and also acknowledging our Indigenous population who have been here for thousands of years,” he said
BERRY SPRINGS THONG THROWING
Berry Springs held their iconic thong throwing event out the front of the Tavern with kids and adults competing to see who could hurl a piece of rubber footwear the furthest.
Slats Slater took out first place after he lobbed his thong more than 20m.
“No prize, just glory,” Mr Slater said.
“It’s been a good day at the Berry Springs Tavern.”
Berry Springs Tavern owner Ian Sloan said despite the rain, everyone had a enjoyed themselves and had a good day.
“It’s good to see the staff getting dressed up too with mullets,” Mr Sloan said.
“We had a competition for most best dressed bogan staff, at the moment it’s between Kaiden Oats and Michael Wass.
With a cheeky grin, Mr Sloan joked and said “they’re going to get paid this week as their prize”.
‘THE WAY FORWARD’: WELCOME TO COUNTRY FOR AUSTRALIA DAY
WEAVING through the iron wood smoke the silhouette of dancers led the crowd to the rhythmic beat of the didgeridoo.
Larrakia countrymen, women and children hosted the welcome to country at the Darwin Waterfront this morning.
Dancers, musicians and storytellers marked Australia Day, also known as Invasion Day and Survival Day.
More than 100 people walked through the cleansing smoke as Trent Lee tended the flame.
The Larrakia man said the Iron wood was the most powerful smoke used for ceremonies.
“I think it’s good that we’re starting to get together,” Mr Lee said.
“That’s the way forward.”
“So we can walk together all different nationalities together.”
As an Aboriginal man, Mr Lee said the title ‘Australia Day’ was difficult for his family.
“It’s a tough one,” he said.
“We refer to it as a family as Survival Day.”
Mr Lee said today’s ceremony was a sign of growth for Australia.
“When I was young this stuff didn’t happen,” he said.
“We don’t do it for us, we do it for everyone.
“It’s a privilege for me.”
UTE MUSTER DESCENDS ON NOONAMAH
MASSES of hotted-up cars with flying flags of pride dotted the Stuart Hwy for the Aus Day Ute run.
The mass convoy started at the Hidden Valley Raceway taking off at 10.30 and concluded at the Noonamah Tavern where Australia Day revellers filled the pub.
Every one huddled undercover as heavy rainfall poured over the busy event but It did not stop people from celebrating the national day.
Howard Springs power couple Arnold and Lee-Anne Beazley arrived in their Holden Commodore with the first 100 vehicles convoy which was escorted by the police.
Mr Beazley was up at 4am on Wednesday preparing his pride and joy for the Ute Run with an extensive collection of flags.
“Australia Day gives me pride for the country that we are blessed to be in,” Mr Beazley said.
Ms Beazley quickly added, “and if you’ve got a ute you’ve gotta flaunt it”.
Palmerston couple Louise and Bill Waddell came out to spent their Australia Day with a few cold ones at the Noonamah Tavern and spectate the Aus Ute Run.
“We’re going to watch the muffler throwing event, some thong throwing and watch utes and cars come in,” Ms Waddell said.
“Australia Day is about coming together and uniting as one.”
Alanna Opperman dressed as Priscilla queen of the desert took out Best themed Ute, best chick Ute, best dog Ute but Fletcher her goat unfortunately did not take home the best dog costume award.
Her Ute was iconic Australia themed Ute covered in Ned Kelly, Don Bradman, “famous bin chicken”, Croc Dundee, storm boy, John Williamson, Lee Kernaghan, Kylie Minogue and more.
Ms Opperman would make Kylie Minogue jealous with her outrageous and quirky outfit.
“Pretty much like a dog and comes with me everywhere”
The idea for Ms Opperman’s costume idea was born last October and she has been preparing her mascaraed since.
“I actually only finished about 10.30pm last night and an early start this morning at 4am,” Ms Opperman said.
Ms Opperman joined the first 100 Ute convoy line about 4am becoming the 46th ute to line up for the event.
MORNING OZ RUN AT DARWIN WATERFRONT
HUNDREDS of runners laced up and wrapped flags around their shoulders for the Oz Run at Darwin Waterfront.
Gilbert Cox crossed the line in first place for the 2.5km circuit.
“It’s good to be back out running again,” he said.
Huw Spring finished second place and Emma Stark third.
Runners added weird and wacky touches to their outfits. Lobo Mojado clutched to a life-size vaccine pass for the race and as he crossed the finish line, roared and waved the document over his head.
After recently moving to Darwin from Melbourne, a sweaty start to the morning was all worth it for Ryan Doherty who took out the first place for the 5km circuit.
Comfortably securing bragging rights, Mr Doherty was heading home to spend the rest of the day with his wife and kids.
David Odling-Smee, 84, didn’t let his age hold him back and was a force to be reckoned with as he strode over the line in style.
“I like running – I just plod and keep going and don’t stop, no tactics, the key was finishing,” Mr Odling-Smee said.
An Aussie flag sat over Oz Run advocate Ted Mumme’s shoulder as he jogged over the line.
He said he loved participating in the race every year to “celebrate being an Aussie”.
“I always do it, the only thing that changes every year is the flag gets smaller because I’m getting older so it gets lighter,” Mr Mumme said.
“I’m going to keep doing this until I drop dead.
“I’ve been running in the Oz Run since they started it – the only time I didn’t do it was because they had a cyclone one year and cancelled it, I was really ticked off.”
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