NT

Cape York leaders are reserving judgement on a federal government decision to axe the Northern Australia committee which guided growth and community development across the region for almost a decade. Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald, said the Labor government had “abandoned” the economically diverse region at a critical time.

A significant aspect of Closing the Gap in East Arnhem Land is the creation of new industry, jobs and business on country. Announced over the Garma Weekend, the Territory Labor Government has released the East Arnhem Regional Economic Growth Plan – a collaborative 10 year plan which sets ambitious goals for economic and jobs growth across the 33,000 square kilometres of the region.

The Ultimate Festival of Wheels, Red CentreNATS returns to the stunning heart of Australia in September, and this year’s program takes things up another notch with the inclusion of a Thursday evening qualifying program at Alice Springs Inland Dragway (ASID). The additional evening is to cater for the ever-growing program, and will see ASID open for qualifying for both Round 1 of the 2022/2023 Burson Auto Parts Australian Top Fuel Championship and Top Doorslammer Australia. This means the fastest cars on earth will be heading to the Red Centre.

NT Farmers Association is pleased to announce that they will be holding a North Australia Food Futures Regional Roadshow in Mareeba from the 30th to the 31st of August 2022. The roadshow provides an exciting opportunity to learn about what is happening in agriculture in Northern Australia.

We Al-li is providing culturally informed-trauma integrated workshops in Tennant Creek and is planning to visit communities across the Barkly. The programs, which are free and open to all community members, are for health, sharing culture and regenerating the spirit.

A Tennant Creek High School teacher has been named among Australia’s top educators in the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Awards. Senior Teacher for Inclusion Fransina Norval was recognised for her work in combining in-formed practices, with a wealth of experience teaching in special education and growing a strong support system for her students with complex needs.

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Tennant Creek kids were lucky enough to be able to participate in dance/hip hop workshops with artists Matty, Franceska and Michael from Indigenous Outreach Projects (IOP) this week. The week was full of workshops, run with assistance from Julalikari, culminated with a dance performance at Nyinkka Nyunyu on Saturday night.

Showcasing the best of the Barkly’s creative talents and providing memorable and exciting experiences for all ages, the Barkly Regional Arts (BRA) 33rd Desert Harmony Festival is set to be as fun and engaging as ever ... BRA will light up for an evening of poetry, music, circus and dance featuring acts by Kasey Chambers, Olive Knight and many more artists.

Kate Foran. It is such a privilege working in the vet industry! You get the chance to get up close with so many gorgeous creatures; mostly companion pets, but occasionally with some of the spectacular wildlife that lives in our Barkly region as well. This week was extra special, we received a visit from a stunning reptile! A local ranger brought in a juvenile Spencer’s Goanna to us.

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There was creativity on display at the CWA Hall recently as two separate groups participated in Resin Pouring workshops led by Craig Eibeck, who came up from Alice Springs to introduce the techniques of resin pouring.

There may have been dramas aplenty, but in true Tennant style, a brand new committee successfully brought back one of the major events of the year – our local Show ... There were still plenty of rides, food stands, sideshows and showbags to be had, as well as government stands, lots of free range politicians, including the Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, who officially opened the Show, and market sellers with a range of goods.

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I recently had the pleasure to attend the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) conference in Canberra.  It was a pleasure because it gave me perspective on how we are functioning in Katherine, compared to other councils across the whole of Australia.  There were also some key take away points for me, which are worth sharing ... One of the most alarming messages we heard was about the loss of trust and retreat of democracy across the world. 

The highest rainfall in a decade has turned the red earth of Central Australia into a spectacular carpet of green vegetation ... With recent drier and hotter than average autumn days, the grasses are haying off quickly, increasing the fire risk with heavy fuel loads across the landscape. Bushfires NT (BFNT) and Parks and Wildlife have been hard at work with NTFRS, DIPL, Alice Springs Town Council and other landholders jointly planning fire mitigation strategies both within Alice Springs municipality and across the region.

Tennant Creek celebrations for NAIDOC Week kicked off on Monday morning with the March from the NLC Office to Nyinkka Nyunyu for the NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony. The theme for this year is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! and is an encouragement for systemic change that must be done together, as well as a celebration of those who have driven and led change over the generations.

The Tennant Turf Club will receive $1 million over the next 10 years as part of the NT Government’s new funding agreement with Thoroughbred Racing NT (TRNT) ... Tennant Turf Club President Mike Nash welcomed the announcement with open arms.

The Elliott basketball court was the setting for the Barkly Regional Deal Governance Table meeting recently. This was the first time a Governance Table meeting was held outside of Tennant Creek, following a commitment from the Governance Table to speak with people across the Barkly to hear their priorities for their community and region.

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