Territory Day 2020 a day to remember for more meaningful reasons

INSTEAD of the entire Territory focusing on where to buy fireworks and the best location to set them off, this Territory Day we were encouraged to learn about the NT’s history, listen to locally-grown music and support local business, writes DENISE CAHILL.

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COVID-19 killed cracker night but made Territory Day about education and free money.

When Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced in April that the sale and use of fireworks on July 1, 2020 would not be legal this year … punters were outraged.

One reason given for the cancellation was that our hospitals were already swamped treating coronavirus patients and preparing for the pandemic to take hold across the Territory.

There were no resources (or appetite) for our health workers to treat burns victims whose annual foray with crackers had gone wrong — last year there were 17 burns presentations at emergency departments on cracker night, including seven children.

Gunner’s announcement left a question mark over what would become of Territory Day in the year that is one we’d prefer to forget.

Instead of the entire Territory focusing on where to buy fireworks and the best location to set them off, we were being told to respect the origins of Territory Day, remember the good times of the past 41 years, support local business, listen to some locally-grown music and get on board the Government’s tourism voucher scheme.

M ORE DENISE CAHILL OPINION

The MyDarwin voucher scheme needs to continue, even if it’s at the expense of a new pool

Giving people a choice to socially distance will only make it a thing of the past

Organised junior sport is back to make parents’ weekend sleep-ins a distant memory

Hey cracker regulars, did you know we used to be one of those Southerners we regularly take the mickey out of?

But in 1911, the Northern Territory was separated from South Australia and transferred to Commonwealth control and more than 60 years later on July 1 in 1978, the NT was finally appointed as its own Territory.

This year marks the 42nd year since that momentous occasion and it will be remembered for being the quietest Territory Day for emergency services in history.

Some Territorians will recall setting their alarm for midnight to snap up one of the 26,000 $200 tourism vouchers that were gone within 10 hours.

While others who only made it to the wait list were cursing their slow browsers and hoping the lucky punters forget to book their Territory escape within 30 days, forcing their vouchers back in to the pool.

There will also be memories of dining at some of our much-loved eateries who were appreciating every diner they had on Territory Day 2020, the year they struggled to stay open.

M ORE DENISE CAHILL OPINION

No mention of violence or looting in the definition of ‘protest’, just a statement and action

Confusion reigns on border issue as leaders fail to effectively communicate

It’s time to open the borders and get the money flowing again

Territorians also woke up to the news that the City of Darwin was extending its popular voucher scheme that offered discounts of up to $20 at participating local businesses.

Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis was adamant only locals would reap the benefits — making sure the extra $150,000 allocated towards the scheme ended just before borders opened to the rest of Australia, well except for some in the virus-ridden Victoria who will still have to quarantine, on July 17.

But July 1, 2020 was also the day free parking in the city ended.

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Territory Day 2020: despite the lack of crackers there was enough activity to forget coronavirus (at least until July 2 when we had our first case in nearly three months), the Territory election, and the bitter feud erupting over the RSL’s plans to build a new home on the water at the Esplanade.

Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News

Follow @DeniseCahill18