Youth

The frequent claim by police that it cannot act on street kids unless they are committing a crime does not seem to hold water for the person in the street when they look at Territory legislation ... These issues have been broadly discussed in Alice Springs for years, including in an ongoing campaign by Tourism Central Australia (TCA), representing the region’s economic lifeblood. “If a child is on the street at 2am or even later, they should come under the care of the Government,” says TCA’s CEO, Danial Rochford.

Unruly youths have struck Tennant Creek’s most vulnerable again, this time a much-respected volunteer of the community. Adrian Calyun is well-known around Tennant Creek as a volunteer, teacher and youth worker, and last Friday night he was victim to theft and vandalism.

Not even jet lag ... could distract Grafton’s busiest and most determined eight-year-old from putting her foot down and kick-starting her 2023 racing season with three podium finishes earlier this month ... After finishing third in both races in her Stock Polaris RZR 200, Ruby decided to drive her Polaris Off-Road RZR 570 to familiarise herself with her new vehicle under race conditions in the Endurance Race, and was happy to cross the finish line in second place.

Donald High School. After a two-year break, Year 11 students undertook a week’s work experience last week. Fifteen students travelled to Ballarat to work at a variety of workplaces, and two students stayed in Donald. Students worked in the fields of aged care, education, hairdressing, fitness, tourism, civil engineering, accountancy, building and construction, steel fabrication, and agriculture.

Dr Simon Quilty. Today,  National Close the Gap Day, while there is a lot of focus on alcohol, crime and violence in communities such as Alice Springs, it is the long-term, underlying issues that are the real problem here. We are definitely experiencing difficulty in attracting, retaining and housing health professionals right across the NT, addressing this issue in isolation of the greater social disparity only makes the problem worse.

Primary Producers SA has awarded $14,200 on behalf of the E.W. Stevens Trust to students from remote and regional areas of South Australia, assisting them to continue with their studies. The grants are designed to help relieve pressure on regional families in difficult financial circumstances, by providing support to meet the costs of education ... grant recipient Geordie Pryde from Robe is looking to break into the IT sector.

While spectators are used to watching youngsters mounted on their ponies doing all sorts of things, pony trots is attracting more and more young drivers. Pony trots is for children aged six to 17 years old with ponies who are no bigger than 13hh in height, and the races are conducted at meetings in the same way as the big guns.

The Memo Club Manager has called for action after the windows of the Club’s courtesy bus were smashed by youths throwing huge rocks, for the third time in months. Now the Memo has no choice but to halt its popular bus service out of safety of its staff and patrons and is now looking at the expense of installing plexiglass over the windows.

Alesha Millard. If you’ve been fortunate enough to meet six-year-old Huxley Hall, then you’d agree he probably had you won over within the first 5 seconds from his sweet, cuddly and perpetually grinning smile ... It was a whirlwind first few weeks adapting to life with a beautiful newborn, pending heart surgery and learning all about Down syndrome and how life was going to change.

Australia’s leading NDIS online therapy provider, Therapy Connect, is virtually stepping into the classroom, providing early intervention and diagnosis to children in remote communities and slashing years off patient waitlists. It is estimated that around 180,000 children in rural NSW are in desperate need of childhood development services that are not available in their region.

NORPA is creating a pop-up theatre making space and creative studio in a pavilion at Lismore Showgrounds that will be at the centre of the theatre company’s activity for 2023 ... “It is important for the NORPA Makers Hub to be in Lismore": NORPA’s Artistic Director Julian Louis.

Narrandera won the final of the Milliken Shield ... It was the first time in 29 years that Narrandera has won the Shield ... “These boys showed their talent, their will to learn and their will to win. It is fair to say that the game was won by a team of all outstanding performers”: Coach Jono Schofield.

The Upper Murray Pony Club (UMPC) made a well received return to Corryong on Sunday, holding its first rally day since the 2019-2020 bushfires and having recently relocated from Tintaldra to the Corryong Recreation Reserve. Club president and Chief Instructor, Heidi Walton, declared the day a huge success with five junior and four adult riders completing the day’s activities.

Out now!

When it comes to dealing with social and crime problems in Alice Springs, what are the legal obligations of government departments and publicly funded NGOs? How well are they following their mission statements? How much taxpayers’ money do they get and how are they spending it?

Alyssa Walker. Last Thursday night ... the 2023 Lions’ Youth of the Year saw a single, brave young Year 12 student facing one of the greatest fears known to humankind: public speaking ... Erika Bickett started with a call for change, stepping up to challenge the ATAR system currently in place within all Australian schools.

Karen Jones. Congratulations to our four juniors who made the NT Title A Main. A first for three of them it was a learning curve racing against some very experienced quick drivers.

There is more to a career in the visual arts than meets the eye! The National Summer Art Scholarship is an immersive and comprehensive arts program for young people interested in a career in visual arts ... one of the 16 recipients from around Australia is Meg Miles.

Shane’s lucky break came as a result of his carer Samantha De Jersey’s encouragement for Shane to apply for a stable hand position with Clear Mountain Fairview Thoroughbred Horse Stud at Greenmount ... Mick liked the boy’s enthusiasm, respectful nature and willingness to learn and he soon became an important team member.

Serena Kirby. Seventeen-year-old snowboarder Henry Edmondson has had another hectic 12 months ... Having just returned from numerous overseas trips Henry is now ranked second in the Oceania Freeride category for under-18 males and ranked 13th in the world.