NTCA saves Christmas for a majority of remote Territory station residents

After a change in Chief Health Officer directions, a last minute dash down the Stuart Hwy with boxes of goods has saved Christmas for some remote residents.

IN a last-minute dash before Christmas, more than 2300 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits were delivered to remote areas by the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA).

The snap decision came after the Chief Health Officer’s announcement last week that residents in remote areas were able to use RAT kits to fulfil testing requirements on days three and six after returning to the NT.

DK Grazing Company “jack of all trades” Kelly White said the new change in regulations had “given everyone peace of mind”.

Ms White said remote workers were “able to go home to their families and know that they can come back and with a workable solution to coming home”.

She said the new ruling suited her family as her daughter attended boarding school interstate.

“It was a great relief to receive the email from Will (Evans),” Ms White said.

NTCA chief executive Will Evans personally delivered RAT kits to locations along the Stuart Hwy, such as Adelaide River Post Office and Daly Waters Inn, for safe keeping and for “people to be able to grab”.

Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Will Evans delivers Covid tests.

“For some of the members, these tests are going to be really important today, tomorrow and the next couple of days around Christmas time and important in the coming weeks,” Mr Evans said.

“Rapid antigen tests offer real time analysis of potential Covid-19 infection and for us that’s a really good starting point for managing the opening of the borders.”

About 100 remote NTCA members will be benefiting from the last-minute road trip.

Mr Evans said the government needed to communicate with local RAT kit suppliers about their plans in the foreseeable future.

He said local suppliers would order more RAT kits if they knew for sure how long the CHO direction would stay in place. “They (NTG) need to be communicating to the suppliers of these tests so they’re able to purchase high volumes them and get them out to remote regions,” Mr Evans said.

Katherine Nutrien Ag Solutions merchandise manager Wayne Scotney graciously agreed to support the NTCA by safe keeping RAT kits for their members to collect.

“Most of the members are our customers anyway – it’s a service we’re pleased to assist with,” Mr Scotney said.