NT

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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Peak industry organisation CANEGROWERS is ready and willing to lead the way to a more profitable and diversified future for sugarcane outlined in a new roadmap. “This document has been two and a half years in the making. It is exciting as a cane grower to be at the starting point of a new chapter in our sugarcane industry’s story,” CANEGROWERS Chairman Owen Menkens said. “We are ready to lead the transition, working with existing and new investors.”

Organisations representing the Australian sugarcane industry will form a series of working groups to implement their first whole-of-industry vision and roadmap. The Sugar Plus vision released at the Developing Northern Australia Conference, positions the industry as Fuelling the Future of Food, Energy and Fabrication.

“The sugarcane industry has identified an exciting and transformational future of sustainably producing sugar and bioproducts at the heart of regional communities. The roadmap outlines opportunities for a substantially larger industry. A growing bioeconomy industry will enable Australia to become increasingly self-sufficient, improving economic resilience and national security”: Anne Stünzner, CRCNA CEO.

The NSW country town of Leeton is about as far removed as possible from Afghanistan – geographically, culturally, politically and religiously – but it has set the gold standard for how Australia can successfully integrate refugees into local communities.

Vandals have struck again, this time breaking into the Tennant Creek Speedway Club’s canteen and causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage by destroying doors and locks, smashing fridges, electrical boxes and bain maries and tipping bins over ... The not for profit club survives on entry nominations and fundraising with some support by grants.

The Midnight Rangers, a five piece group of ragtag misfits finally living the dream of playing their own take on country music in the utopia town of Tennant Creek for one night only at the Memo next Wednesdsay, before crawling up the Stuart highway to perform at the Darwin Fringe Festival ... The band formed with the sole purpose of bringing their own take of country music to a new audience.

Kate Foran. There is always great variety in the veterinary industry, you just never know what adventures the next phone call will bring! Recently, Valmai and Steve Jones, who breed Savannah Droughtmasters up at Renner Springs Station, requested a Vet come up to fertility test their bulls.

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Tom Zaunmayr, National Indigenous Times. When Jingili Elder Pompey Raymond reflects on the Northern Territory’s oil and gas industry, he sees careers for young people, education, community infrastructure and a pathway to protect his country. A senior ceremony man born on Beetaloo Station, Mr Raymond believes the debate around industry is often hijacked by those who should not be speaking for the region.

Alice Springs Beanie Festival Screenshot: Alice Springs Beanie Festival Related story: The art of beanie crafting comes to Tennant Creek

As a part of the Humanities curriculum, Middle Year students were given the task of coming up with ideas for creating a micro business and then making it happen. On Wednesday morning the results of all their hard work was on display as they held Markets at the High School.

Kate Foran. Next Friday is the annual Territory Day celebrations, a rare day on which Territorians can indulge their love of fireworks, as residents are still allowed to purchase fireworks to set off themselves. It is a heap of fun and much loved by many. There is a down side, however.