Former NT Administrator Ted Egan and wife Nerys Evans terrorised in home invasion

A much-loved former NT Administrator and musician has detailed a terrifying home invasion.

Former Territory Administrator Ted Egan and his wife Nerys Evans are recovering after a home invasion at their Alice Springs home last week.

Mr Egan, 92, told this masthead he woke about 4am on Tuesday December 3, with Ms Evans 84, shouting at two teenage burglars shining torches in the couple’s bedroom as they searched the Connellan home for valuables.

Mr Egan said he shouted expletives at the intruders in Warlpiri and Pitjantjara, yelling ‘Pwerte wiya. Laua’ – meaning ‘police are on their way’ – as the intruders shouted back that they would leave if they got money.

The youths, who he estimated were aged 17-18, eventually fled the property and were driven away in a stolen car by a third-person, taking Mr Egan’s wallet, mobile phone and spare keys for the two family cars.

Former NT Administrator Ted Egan with Nerys Evans.

“Word from the police is they will invariably return, seeking next time to steal our car and load it with stuff like grog, computers, cash and jewellery,” Mr Egan said.

Mr Egan said he had never been more mentally confused since the break-in, and that Ms Evans had been left distraught.

“I’m 92. Had they physically attacked me, they could have killed me obviously,” he said. “Although I’m okay physically, there was never any physical contact with Nerys or me, we’re both mentally distraught, ranging form absolutely furious it happened, to mentally pondering ‘what if’.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour was one of many well wishers who contacted the couple after the break-in, promising to take further action to stop youth crime in the town.

Ms Scrymgour said the incident drew attention to the growing number of attacks on older, non-Indigenous women by young Aboriginal men in the town and the high migration levels into Alice Springs from surrounding communities.

As well as that, the alleged rape of a 29-year-old woman in Alice Springs was another incident that pointed to the enormity of the law-and-order issues in the town.

She said in addition to existing issues with grog, an emerging crisis involving methamphetamines such as ice was also taking hold in the town and surrounding communities.

“We’ve got to stop pussyfooting around this issue and deal with it because people are getting hurt and those people are women, and not just Aboriginal women,” she said.

“We’ve got a number of older women in the town and they’re in fear of their lives. People are stressed and we can’t keep ignoring them. Something needs to happen.

“I’m putting something together for the PM’s office. There’s been a substantial amount of money come into this region, but I think it’s more than about money.”