The Top Ender Magazine August September 2020 Edition

Tri-Services Magazine Inc August | September 2020

A magazine created by Defence families for Defence families

Land, Sea, Air

22 RAAF Base Darwin turns 80

44 Cadets go on their first Camp since COVID-19

47 Four Warships in Darwin

Support

8 DCO – Experience our own Backyard!

28 DVA – Wellbeing Approach to Supporting Veterans and

their Families

30 Doctor’s Notes – Defence Blood Challenge

Features and Regulars

4 Parer and McIntosh – 100th Anniversary

20 Blast from the Past – Battle of Gravelines

50 Introducing Tiger Battalion’s new Mascot

Luke Gosling OAM MP

Federal Member for Solomon

Standing Standing up for up Defence for Defence members,

members, families and families veterans and

Assisting ADF members and their families

with local issues

Working to ensure the $5 million Federal

commitment for a Veterans' Wellbeing

Centre in Darwin is delivered as quickly

as possible

Supporting local ex-service organisations

I was proud to serve 13 years in the ADF

SERVING ADVOCATING SUPPORTING DEFENDING

Electorate Office: 3/266 Trower Road, Casuarina NT 0810 | t (08) 8928 0180 DARWIN | e luke.gosling.mp@aph.gov.au

luke.j.gosling

WWW.LUKEGOSLING.COM.AU

@lukejgosling

Authorised by Luke Gosling OAM MP, 3/266 Trower Road Casuarina 0810

St John’s Catholic College is a safe, connected,

learning community for local, boarding and

international students. We strive for excellence and

ensure the holistic development of each student through

a balanced approach to faith, academic, sporting and

cultural activities.

STRONG IN FAITH, EDUCATION AND TRADITION

OUR PROGRAM:

• Delivered by qualified and experienced teachers.

• Small class sizes with a focus on teaching and learning and pastoral

care and wellbeing.

• Our Middle Years curriculum aims to inspire a love of learning.

• Year 7 students are able to choose their own electives.

• Learning Nest, an after school homework centre.

• The senior curriculum builds on providing multiple learning pathways

to ensure our students are engaged learners.

• Pathways into Australian Universities.

A CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY, BOARDING AND

INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE YEARS 7 - 12

08 8982 2222

10 - 54 SALONIKA STREET, THE GARDENS | LMB 13,

DARWIN NT 0801

ADMIN.STJOHNS@NT.CATHOLIC.EDU.AU

STJOHNSNT.CATHOLIC.EDU.AU

CRICOS NO: 00466K

Committee

Executive

Chairperson Nicole Coble

Vice-Chairperson Vacant

Treasurer Stacie Bodnar

Secretary Kylie Kurtz

General Members

Janine Frost, Deb Muir, Gesima Olney

Staff

Editor Emma Short

Art Director Deirdré Bartie

Administration Officer Denna Menz

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

Phone: 0419 274 735 (New number)

Email: thetopender@aapt.net.au

Postal Address:

PO BOX 35874 Winnellie NT 0821

Address:

(Rear of) Building 6, ‘Sahara Room’,

Melville Road, Defence Establishment

Berrimah

DISCLAIMER

The Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated welcomes

manuscripts, photographs or other material for publication;

however, we do not accept responsibility for loss. Please

ensure your copy fits to a specified dimensions and is

received by the editor on the Copy Deadline for the month.

Copy can be accepted on disk or via email. All artwork

produced remains the property of The Top Ender and cannot

be reproduced without permission of the Editor. Editorial

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this publication are

not necessarily those of the Editorial Staff or of the Defence

Community Organisation or Department of Defence. All

articles in this magazine are printed on the understanding

that they are the original work of the authors and not

necessarily those of the Editorial Staff or Designer. Editorial

Staff reserve the right to reject, edit or rearrange any item

submitted. They are not responsible for the accuracy of

items submitted but will make every reasonable effort to

verify information. The Trade Practices Act provides severe

penalties for false and misleading advertising. Because it is

not possible for this magazine's staff to check the accuracy

of advertising claims, the responsibility for accuracy lies with

the person or companies submitting material for publication

in their advertisements. The Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine

Incorporated is a non-profit organisation, partially funded

by the Family Support Funding Program administered by

the Defence Community Organisation. Over 4,000 copies

are produced bi-monthly and distributed free to defence

families, members and units in Darwin and Palmerston.

Revenue raised from advertising helps directly to pay for

printing and production costs as well as improvements to the

facilities used by volunteers.

Printed by

August

1 Darwin Lions Mini Regatta

2 100th Anniversary of Parer &

MacIntosh’s arrival in Darwin in

single-engine aircraft

3 Great Northern Darwin Cup Day

3 Picnic Day

Diary Dates

2020

8 Anniversary of Battle of Amiens

or 3rd Battle of Picardy

6–16 Darwin Festival

DF20 Homegrown

6–14 14th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair

(online)

7 Opening of Telstra National

Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander Art Award

10 Waqf al Arafa – Hajj (Muslim)

15–23 National Science Week

15 Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day

15 Obon (Buddhist)

16 75th Anniversary of

Winston Churchill mentioning

an ‘Iron Curtain’

18 Long Tan Day or

Vietnam Veteran’s Day

20 Hijra – Islamic New Year

(Muslim)

22 Overland Telegraph Adelaide to

Darwin completed 1872

23 Wave Hill Walk-off

54th Anniversary

26–29 2020 Run Larapinta Stage Race

29 SunSmart Lake Argyle

Adventure Race

29 International Day

against Nuclear Tests

31 Onam (Hindu)

September

2 Anniversary of Japan signing

surrender on USS Missouri

6 Father’s Day

11 Desert Mob MarketPlace opens

8 International Literacy Day

10–13 Katherine Bird Festival

10–13 Red CentreNATS ends

11–20 Desert Song Festival (online)

11–20 Parrtjima Festival

11–13 Barunga Festival

16 Vishwakarma Puja (Hindu)

16 International Day for the

Preservation of the Ozone Layer

19–20 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)

21 Fast of Gedaliah (Jewish)

22 Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)

22 Spring solstice

(Southern Hemisphere)

23 AGM of The Top Ender

Tri-Services Magazine

24 World Maritime Day

25 School: Term 3 ends

28 Yom Kippur (Jewish)

24 Sept–

4 Oct

Alice Springs Desert Festival

26 Darwin Saumlaki Yacht Race.

26 Sept–

3 Oct

Kakadu Bird Week

30 2020 Sunbuild

Top End Gran Fondo

86 Cavenagh Street, Darwin, NT, 0800

P (08) 8982 4000 |www.colemanprint.com.au

30 Aug–

8 Dec

Defence Blood Challenge

August/September 2020 1

Darwin’s 5th Battalion, The Royal

Australian Regiment (5 RAR) is

commemorating the Battle of Binh Ba

through a series of events including

the enlistment of a new unit mascot.

Bengal tiger Quintus Durga was officially

enlisted into the Australian Army in a

small military service at Crocodylus Park

on Wednesday, 10 June.

Read more on page 50.

Contents

1 DIARY DATES 2020

24 DCO TINDAL

2 CONTENTS

3 ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

4 PARER & MCINTOSH

100th Anniversary of flight

to Australia

5 FROM THE EDITOR

6 FISHING FOR WORK

The challenges and benefits

of seeking employment

8 DCO – EXPERIENCE

OUR OWN ‘BACKYARD’

14 TERRITORY MARKETS

16 LIMITED CAREERS

17 DCO – COFFEE

CONVERSATIONS

17 OPEN ARMS

18 INDIGENOUS LIAISON

19 2020: THE YEAR

OF LEARNING NEW

THINGS

20 BLAST FROM THE PAST

Battle of Gravelines

First regular

international

passenger air service

America’s Cup win

25 ROBERTSON

BARRACKS FAMILY

GROUP

26 LARRAKEYAH

NEIGHBOURHOOD

HOUSE

27 DFA

From your Delegate

28 DEPARTMENT OF

VETERAN AFFAIRS

Wellbeing approach to

supporting veterans and

their families

29 DVA

Finding your Green Thumb

30 DOCTOR'S NOTES


31 BATCHELOR’S MINING

PAST

34 EXPLORING THE

GREATER DARWIN

REGION

Humpty Doo

36 RIDESAFE

36 KNOW THE TERRITORY

Watch Out! Two Insects

37 THE LONG RIDE 2020

Supporting the Prostate

Cancer Foundation of

Australia | 12–28 Oct 2020

39 WHY WE RIDE?

40 WHAT'S ON IN

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

42 THE TOP ENDER

MAGAZINE

Servicing the Defence

Community for 25 Years

Extracts from the very first

edition

75 Things you should try to

see and do while

posted to Tindal & Darwin

13 FROM THE PADRE’S

PEN

22 RAAF BASE DARWIN

TURNS 80

23 NETWORK TINDAL

Reconciliation

32 ON MEDIEVAL

JOUSTING IN MODERN

TIMES

44 CADETS

Cadets go on camp

2 The Top Ender | Tri-Services Magazine Incorporated

Dates for Submissions

If you wish to submit an article, please contact The Top Ender Tri-Services

Magazine at thetopender@aapt.net.au.

The deadlines for submissions are:

19 August | 21 October

Committee Meeting Dates

Due to COVID-19, meetings may be held virtually, or be limited in numbers.

If you wish to attend, please confirm with The Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine

first – (08) 8947 2657.

26 August | 23 September | 28 October | 25 November

Be on the Mailing List

If you would like to receive this magazine on a

regular basis, please contact us so we can put

you on the mailing list.

We produce six issues a year that are delivered to DHA

houses throughout the Top End. If you live in private rental

accommodation, or a new DHA house, or an area not yet

reached, then ask us to put you on the mailing list. Email

us at thetopender@aapt.net.au.

Likewise, if you don’t yet live in the Top End, but have

come across the magazine and you’d like to know more,

please let us know.

45 A RUSTY IRON FLOAT

45 POEM – THE TYGER

46 HIDDEN GEM – PEEL’S

WELL

47 FOUR WARSHIPS VISIT

DARWIN

49 ... AND FOR THE

TODDLERS

Make a model caterpillar

50 TIGER BATTALION

COMMEMORATES

THE BATTLE OF BINH

BA WITH NEW UNIT

MASCOT

53 FROM THE VET

Emergencies – a trip to the

vet may well save your pet!

54 OVERLAND TELEGRAPH

56 CRAIG'S FISHING

How good is this?!!

57 WHAT’S THE TIDE

DOIN’

57 TEEN SCENE

58 COLOURING

COMPETITION

61 NEED SUPPORT?

Coronavirus Mental

Wellbeing Support Service

Talk to a counsellor

57 ADF CHAPLAINS IN

THE NT

62 HANDY DIRECTORY

Stuffing Days

Stuffing Day is a chance for you to meet and get

to know other Defence spouses, and make new

friends. Come along to the Sahara Room in Defence

Establishment Berrimah and join us in morning tea.

Refreshments are supplied – as are the tools of the

trade, plastic mailing bags, address labels and heat

sealers. Help distribute this great magazine far and

wide! Children are welcome.

2020: 24 September | 26 November

Annual

General

Meeting

51 CURLED ICE CREAM

Father’s Day Competition

Fathers’ Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 6

September. To celebrate, The Top Ender Tri-Services

Magazine will be giving away three Bunnings vouchers

to three readers below the age of 18 years who can

tell us “My dad’s funny because …” in fewer than 100

words. Send your entries to thetopender@aapt.net.au

by Friday, 4 September. Winners will be announced in

the October/November issue.

1st Prize $200 Bunnings Voucher

2nd Prize $100 Bunnings Voucher

3rd Prize $50 Bunnings Voucher

The Top Ender Tri-

Services Magazine

for Defence Families

by Defence Families

Wednesday, 18:30

23 September 2020

Sahara Room

Defence Establishment

Berrimah

Come along! Be a part of a

Defence institution!

25 years old this year!


Feature

Parer & McIntosh

100th Anniversary of Flight to Australia

In 1919 Parer and McIntosh

heard news that the Australian

Commonwealth Government was

offering £10,000 ($18,000) for the

first flight from England to Australia,

flown by Australians, in under

thirty days. This became known as

the Great Air Race, and six teams

entered, along with one French team

that decided to compete anyway.

After all, if they became the first to

reach Australia, even without being

eligible for the prize, the kudos

would have been considerable. Alas,

for them, their small Caudron plane

was unable to continue beyond

Bangkok where they arrived on 8th

December, two days before Ross

Smith’s team arrived in Darwin on

10th.

´ Parar & McIntosh’s De Havilland DH. 9 ‘PD’ at the Australian War Memorial in

Canberra. – Photo: Lucy Campbell

Although the Race had been well and truly won,

Lieutenants Ray JP Parer and John C McIntosh were

not to be put off. After a few months of repeatedly having

their hopes raised and then dashed, they managed to find

a sponsor who was willing to finance the enterprise and

then an aeroplane – a single engine Airco DH.9 powered by

a single Siddely Puma 240hp engine. They departed from

Hounslow Aerodrome to the west of London on 8 January

1920 five weeks or so after the race had been won, and

then they headed off eastwards for 207 days of adventure

and hair-raising exploits.

Parer had spent some time trying to find a partner to fly

with, and eventually he bumped into McIntosh in Sutton Veny

continued on page 9


Regular

From the Editor

Welcome to this (for the Northern

Territory anyway) post COVID-19

issue when once again we are allowed

to travel away from home. We offer

suggestions of a couple of places to

visit, Batchelor (p31) and Humpty Doo

and surrounding area (p34), along

with some of the history.

Two interesting anniversaries should

be celebrated in August. The first is the

100th anniversary of the flight from the

UK to Australia in 1920 in a single-engine

aircraft. The second is the Overland

Telegraph that finally linked the southern

and eastern cities in Australia to London.

Following all the excitement

and events leading up to the 100th

Anniversary of Ross Smith and his team

arriving in Australia in December 1919,

another centenary seems to have been

forgotten – that of the flight of Ray Parer

and John McIntosh (see facing page)

along almost exactly the same route, but

this time flying an Airco DH9 designed by

Geoffrey de Havilland to replace the DH4

as a strategic bomber in the latter half of

World War I. As a model, the DH9 wasn’t

as good as the DH4, being slower and

heavier with a full load of bombs and with

a lower ceiling. The result was that many

men lost their lives flying it. Parer and

McIntosh though were very attached to

their “dear old ’bus” and in it set several

records for single engine aircraft crossing

the Mediterranean, the Syrian Desert, the

first to fly from Europe to Calcutta and of

course to Australia. Their exploits sound

hair-raising, but they were tough and

resourceful, and after the horrors of WWI,

they took it all in their stride – including

rolling a 200L drum of fuel 8km along a

dirt road in Italy.

Visit Alice Springs, or drive up the

Stuart Highway to Darwin, and sooner

or later you will see a sign to a telegraph

station – originally constructed in 1871 or

1872 to house the telegraph operators,

who must have had some very lonely

times in the ‘middle of nowhere’. Barrow

Creek TS is visible from the road, being

about 50m off to the east, while others

are less visible, and some have been

removed altogether. North of Tennant

Creek is the Charles Todd Memorial

commemorating his brilliant telegraph

scheme, which he first proposed in

1859 to Governor MacDonnell of South

Australia. The Adelaide to Perth telegraph

line came next, and he also introduced

electric streetlights to Adelaide!

For the past couple of years, I have

been collecting photographs of the various

remnants of this 19th Century feat

of engineering – its history is fascinating,

and the logistics must have caused more

than a few headaches. I can’t imagine the

cooks on a modern construction team

having to slaughter a cow before having

their dinner due to the lack of refrigeration!

Go to p54 for a brief outline of this

tremendous project, and perhaps visit

some of these sites for yourselves next

time you are passing in your air-conditioned

car!

We have also published for the first

time, a couple of articles by Defence

spouses (Deb Herring p6 and Leanne

Butler on p16), who write about the

problems they have experienced over

the years with their lack of careers,

the problems with finding meaningful

employment using their skills to the

full, and the sacrifices they make due

to the constant moves they make as

they accompany their partners around

Australia. They also suggest alternative

ideas and some advice. If anyone of you

would like to submit an article on this

subject to share your ideas, or to give

advice to your younger selves, we would

love to read it, so contact me at The Top

Ender (details given on p1).

This year sees 25 years of continuous

publication of The Top Ender

Magazine, and we urgently need new

members for the overseeing committee

(no committee, no magazine!). So,

if you have an interest in publishing

or running a magazine please call or

email the office (details on p1).

Last, but not least – make the most of

this dry season in the Territory while visitor

numbers are down – start ticking off the

75 things to do in our own backyard that

the Defence Community Organisation

has come up with (p8).

Emma Short

Editor

The Top Ender

thetopender@aapt.net.au.


Feature

Fishing

for work

The Challenges and Benefits of

Seeking Employment

Life in the Top End involves a lot of outdoor activities. It’s

definitely a terrific posting location for a lot of fishing,

which doesn’t just include the slippery kind!

It’s no secret that Defence spouses face a number of challenges

when sharing life with their serving partner; however,

it appears that one of the most significant challenges is the

frustration of securing meaningful employment with long-term

prospects in each posting location.

If you are a military spouse who has struggled with securing

employment, some of the following challenges may resonate

with you:

» Limited employment opportunities, especially in remote and isolated

locations

» Underemployment in roles that do not utilise your full potential

» Lack of access to flexible work arrangements

» Employer bias against short-term employment during posting cycle

» Difficulty in maintaining seniority in each posting location

» Difficulty in maintaining momentum for career progression

» Frequent changing of employer due to posting relocations

» Loss of entitlements and superannuation between relocations

» Lack of career continuity with numerous short-term roles of 1–3

years on average

» Changes to licensing and registration processes in each posting

location

» Financial turbulence between relocations and spouse unemployment

» Stress, anxiety and disappointment of seeking new employment

in each location.

While most Defence

spouses experience

regular relocations, the

thought of applying for

employment opportunities

in each posting

location can cause a

significant amount of

stress, pressure, frustration

and financial

burden, which can also

spouses are

choosing to

commute for up

to 3 hours daily

to follow their

professional career

pathway

lead to long-term resentment and anxiety towards military

life. It can be tempting for many Defence spouses to give up

looking for employment or following a dream career path

due to the challenges of relocations, underemployment,

job flexibility and inconvenient work locations. In some

extreme cases, spouses are choosing to commute for up

to 3 hours daily to follow their professional career pathway,

or to secure a position with appropriate remuneration to

match their skillset.

Regardless of your current

employment status, employment

of any type can have a

positive effect upon wellbeing

for Defence spouses, such as:

» Increased confidence and

sense of purpose

» Providing new social experiences

and support networks

» Increased financial independence

and contribution to household expenses

» Opportunities for personal and professional development

» Utilisation of key skills, knowledge and experience

one of the

most significant

challenges is

the frustration

of securing

meaningful

employment

» Providing an additional outlet away from the home and military

environment

» Exposure to a variety of new and exciting life experiences

» A positive activity on which to focus during periods of separation

» Increasing capabilities to secure employment in various posting

locations

» Reduction of financial abuse in ‘at-risk’ relationships

» Additional income to support luxury purchases and recreational

activities, which makes military life more enjoyable.

Although seeking employment can

be an extremely frustrating and

deflating experience, it is similar to

the art of fishing! Who knows what

opportunities you might be able

to catch?

It’s reasonable to suggest that we go fishing in the hope

that we might catch something. On some days, we would be

thrilled to catch anything! We also have no idea what we might


catch, which adds to the

anxiety and excitement

of fishing. Sometimes

you get nothing on your

hook, sometimes you

may find something

unexpected (like an old

boot) and sometimes

you may get a fish on

your hook! Sometimes you may think you have a fish on your

hook, but it somehow slips away … Despite knowing that it may

be frustrating, we expect this type of emotional rollercoaster

when we go fishing.

As a job seeker, your ability to transfer this metaphor into

your own experiences can help to relieve the burden and frustration

of looking for work. We already know that if we go fishing

every day, there are no guarantees of catching something. There

may be days when there are many ‘nibbles’ and false hopes

are raised, but we continue casting another hook in the hope

of catching the biggest fish of them all!

Some opportunities may be small, and it’s fine to hold

out for the big fish! You may throw some fish back or you

may decide to keep some

fish to feed your appetite

while you keep looking

for the next one. Some

days you may feel like a

little fish in a big pond,

an insignificant drop in

the ocean or drowning in

the deep end, but it is important to keep casting that net and

trawling for opportunities.

There are also a number of highly desirable, transferrable

skills that military spouses offer, such as:

» Managing competing priorities

» High level of organisational abilities

» Resilience and the ability to persevere under pressure

» Adapting to different environments

» Flexible in changing priorities

» Excellent time management

» Managing tasks independently

» Working to strict timelines

» Organising travel and accommodation.

we continue

casting another

hook in the hope

of catching the

biggest fish of

them all!

it is important to

keep casting that

net and trawling for

opportunities

» Defence Community Organisation

» Defence Housing Association

» Australian Public Service

» Other Federal Government

» Enlistment into the Australian Defence Force / Reserves.

Or you could consider a range of options to work or study

at home:

» Pet sitting

» Dog walking

» Ironing

» Sewing and repairs

» Cleaning – residential and/or commercial

» Gardening

» Party planning

» Tutoring

» Babysitting / child-minding

» Transcribing services

» Airtasker

» Property investing

» Managing a share portfolio

» Costume hire

» Skill sharing / short courses

» Entertainment / event equipment hire

» Craft / candles – Etsy, eBay or local markets

» Amazon business

continued on page 12

There is also a significant number of spouses who feel

frustrated by the constant need to adapt their careers to

suit the military environment. However, it might be worth

focusing on opportunities with a national organisation with

whom you can move in your new posting, such as:

» Working remotely with your existing employer

» Financial institutions

» Large scale retailers

» Toll or Defence removal contractors

» Not-for-profit organisations such as Red Cross, NDIS, Cancer

Council, etc


Support | DCO

Defence Community Organisation

Experience our Own ‘Backyard’

75 Things you should try to see and do while

posted to Tindal & Darwin

With travel restrictions easing, why not explore your

own backyard. Time and money are precious these

days, but you can still enjoy the great treasures the NT has

to offer from wide open spaces, beautiful scenery, cultural

wonders, history, great markets, restaurants and everything

in between.

Tindal has always compiled a bucket list for its families,

who have newly posted in, to try and do during their time in

the northern Territory. Sometimes we add to it and sometimes

we have to remove items but it’s a great way to showcase our

great region, and right now the weather is great and we can

freely move around to explore. So, let’s all ‘go and experience

our own backyard in 2020’.

Remember to check in advance to see if the site is open

and operating due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Adelaide War Cemetery

Buley Rockhole, Litchfield

Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu

1. Adelaide River Jumping Croc

Tour

2. Adelaide War Cemetery

3. Australian Aviation heritage

Centre

4. Beer Can Regatta

5. Bamboo Creek Tin Mine

6. Barra fishing on the Roper

7. Batchelor Butterfly Farm

8. Berry Springs

9. Bitter Springs

10. Bombing of Darwin

Ceremony

11. Buley Rockhole, Litchfield

12. Butterfly Gorge, Kakadu

13. Charles Darwin National Park

14. Crab Claw Resort

15. Copperfield Recreation Dam

16. Crocosaurus Cove, Darwin

17. Crystal Rapids

18. Cullen Bay Marina

19. Cutta Cutta Caves

20. Daly Waters Historic Pub

21. Darwin or Katherine Show

22. Darwin Harbour Dinner

Cruise

23. Darwin Military Museum,

East Point

24. Darwin Wave Pool

25. Deckchair Cinema, Darwin

26. Douglas Daly Hot Springs

27. Edith Falls

28. Fannie Bay Gaol

29. Fisho’s at the Latham Club,

Tindal

30. Florence Falls, Litchfield NP

31. George Brown Botanic

Gardens, Darwin

32. Godinymayin Culture and

Arts Centre, Katherine

33. Gunlom Falls, Kakadu

34. Helicopter ride over Nitmiluk

35. Hidden Valley V8 Races

36. Jatbula Trail

37. Jim Jim Falls, Kakadu

38. Katherine Hot Springs

39. Katherine Museum

40. Katherine Outback

Experience

41. Katherine Speedway

42. Katherine and Darwin races

43. Kayak the Katherine Gorge

44. Lake Argyle, Kununurra



continued from page 4 | Parer & McIntosh

Camp where both were awaiting repatriation. Parer liked the

look of McIntosh’s face; he thought he looked like a resourceful

battler. The fact that McIntosh had only ever made one flight

as a pilot, knew very little about mechanics (although he had

invented a bomb) mattered not a jot. They thrashed out the

details, agreed to share everything – expenses and any money

given to them – and then they set about finding the sponsor

and the transport! They were

The fact that

McIntosh had

only ever made

one flight as

a pilot, knew

very little about

mechanics

(although he

had invented a

bomb) mattered

not a jot

then given 48 hours’ notice to

ready themselves for repatriation,

and feeling depressed,

they ended up in the Regent

Palace Hotel on Piccadilly

Circus, where they bumped

into a friend, who put them

in touch with Peter Dawson, a

Scottish millionaire with a distillery.

The result of McIntosh

meeting Dawson was a

cheque to buy an aeroplane,

a second cheque to buy the

one they really wanted, and

a third cheque, for £1,000 to

cover expenses.

Next stop was the Aircraft Disposals Board Depot to buy this

thoroughbred “dear old ’bus”. Extra fuel tanks were added – one

on the old bomb racks (fitted at the Depot, not by de Havilland

who said it couldn’t be done), and one under the undercarriage

giving 118 gallons (447L) and nine hours’ flying time. They

painted ‘PD’ for Peter Dawson on its side. They obtained a

camera and film from Kodak, and they managed to extract a

flying suit each from Burberry knocked down to £25 from £40.

The test flight proved successful, they had paid their competition

fee and had permission to compete, and then the

problems started with the Australian Military Authorities who

thought that they didn’t stand a chance and kept them waiting.

Eventually, having first found Hounslow aerodrome on

their third attempt (in their defence, it had been camouflaged

because of the war), they departed on 8 January 1920 despite

not having heard back from the Australian authorities. Peter

Dawson came to see them off and gave them a bottle of ‘PD

Scotch’ to present to WM Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia at

the time – thus making this flight the first ever freight flight. Mr

Siddely, the aero-engine manufacturer, came to see them off

too and presented them with some spare parts and a cheque

for fuel.

At 10:30am their aeroplane PD (Registration: G-AEQM)

took off into the damp winter air and headed for France into

a fairly strong wind. They encountered their first problem in

France when the clouds and rain forced them down so that they

landed in a field and buckled a wheel. Parer headed into Paris

to purchase another, and McIntosh paid the local blacksmith

to repair a crack in the fuselage. They ended up with a new

wheel, water in their fuel, they had visited the Folies Bergère,

and they now had a plan – in the air Parer was in charge, on

the ground McIntosh was.

The route they followed was the same as that of Ross

Smith & Co, but their trip was dogged by bad luck (damaged

fuel pumps, needle valves, fire in the engine, damaged tail

skid, damaged radiator, bent fuselage, crumpled wings), great

feats (rolling a 200L drum of fuel for 8km!), narrow escapes

(almost being forced into the crater of Mt Vesuvius that was

belching smoke; some rather fierce Arabs in the Syrian desert),

stomach problems from dubious water, ice, intense cold, dust

storms (also experienced in the same area of the Persian Gulf

by the previous competitors) and gales. There was also the

occasional slice of good luck (a sandbank in the Irrawaddy just

large enough to land on when their engine jammed!).

In Rangoon, they were offered the hands in marriage of two

daughters of a Chinese millionaire with dowries of $30,000

each (they declined). In

In Rangoon, they

were offered the

hands in marriage

of two daughters

of a Chinese

millionaire with

dowries of

$30,000 each

(they declined)

´ Photo: Lucy Campbell

Moulmein they crashed

and severely damaged

PD – damaging the undercarriage,

the propeller, the

fuselage, the radiator, and

fuel and oil tanks! They

thought the flight had

ended there, but by dint

of bolting two car radiators

together and obtaining a

replacement propeller for

a larger aeroplane, they

managed to get away.

In Singapore they had to

have two trees removed from the racecourse so they had room

to take off. PD was also now unrecognisable in a new coat

of paint, and a new DH.9 propeller had arrived from Batavia

(Jakarta). In Surabaya they crashed again – and again the

propeller and the undercarriage were severely damaged. The

Dutch commandant sent off to Batavia for another propeller

and undercarriage, and a few days’ later PD and her occupants

were on their way.

Eventually, in reach of Australia, they spent the night at

Atamboea. On 2 August 2020, after a journey of almost eight



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continued from page 8 | 75 Things to do

Magnetic Termite Mounds

Territory Day Fireworks, Mindil Beach

Top End Mudracing, Darwin

45. Leanyer Water Park, Darwin

46. Low Level Reserve, Katherine

47. Magnetic Termite Mounds

48. Marksie’s Stockman’s Camp

Tucker Night

49. Mataranka Hot Springs

50. Mimi Aboriginal Arts and

Crafts, Katherine

51. Mindil Beach Sunset Markets

52. Mine Lookout, Pine Creek

53. Nightcliff Village Sunday

markets

54. Never Never Festival

Mataranka

55. Nitmiluk Katherine Gorge

56. Parap Markets

57. Pee Wee’s at the point,

Darwin

58. Pine Creek Railway Museum

59. Sky City, Darwin

60. Southern Rockhole, Nitmiluk

61. Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin

62. Territory Manor, Mataranka

63. Territory Day Fireworks

64. Territory Wildlife Park, Darwin

65. The Gibb River Road to WA

66. The Lost City, Litchfield

67. Tindal Moonlit Cinema

68. Top End Mud Racing, Darwin

69. Umbrawarra Gorge, Pine

Creek

70. Jasper Gorge Gregory

National Park Top Springs

71. Lorella Springs

Wilderness Park

72. Nhulunbuy, Gove

73. Cahill’s Crossing, Kakadu

74. Ubirr Rock, Kakadu

75. Manbulloo camping ground,

Katherine.

Debbie Marshall

Family Liaison Officer Tindal |

DCO NT

continued from page 7 | Fishing for Work

» Cake decorating / baking

» Catering

» Tendering for local contracts or council projects

» Telehealth or remote counselling (with appropriate qualifications

or registrations)

» Legal services (with appropriate qualifications / registrations)

» Volunteering as work experience

» Continuous education and upskilling.

NB: you will need to conduct your own due diligence to

research legislation, DHA implications, ATO requirements,

Centrelink and licencing, accreditation or registration for

each option.

It can be extremely deflating and degrading to battle with

unemployment and to feel incapable of contributing to household

expenses, especially when finances are tight and bills

continue to appear in the mailbox. But, there are options to

help support you through the process of securing employment

and provide you with opportunities to refine your purpose,

strengths and skills.

With my fish-friendly surname (Herring), I enjoy using the

fishing analogy to help support spouses who are managing the

challenges and expectations of seeking employment. It can be

a tough journey with lots of snags, waves and sharks, but it is

possible to be a Defence spouse and also enjoy the benefits

of a meaningful career.

“You cannot control the wind,

but you can adjust the sails”

Yiddish proverb

Happy fishing!

Deb Herring

Defence Spouse | YOLA Coach


continued from page 9 | Parer & McIntosh

In Surabaya they

crashed again

– and again the

propeller and the

undercarriage were

severely damaged

hours, with the last hour or so spent

worrying about running out of fuel,

they descended through the bushfire

smoke (nothing changes!) and

followed the direction taken by

speeding cars to find the airstrip. They

landed in the area of what is now

Ross Smith Avenue, started to taxi

towards the spectators and ran out

of fuel. Mission accomplished.

They landed in the

area of what is now

Ross Smith Avenue

Their official welcome was

held on Flemington Racecourse in

Melbourne and the Prime Minister

was presented with his bottle of PD

whisky, which was unscrewed from

its position in a quiet corner of the

aeroplane where it had remained

undisturbed throughout the whole

trip. Its label was oily and it had obviously

been on some adventures, but

the amber liquid was fine.

The aviators were each presented

with a £500 cheque and an Air Force

Cross. Their DH.9 aircraft was eventually

presented by the government

to the Australian War Memorial, and

Parer recorded their experiences in

Flight and Adventures of Parer and

McIntosh, by Air from England to

Australia (Melbourne, 1921, 1986).

McIntosh was killed in a flying

accident in Perth on Easter Monday

(March) 1921.

Parer died in Brisbane on 5 July

1967.

From the

Padre’s Pen

Reconciliation

Reconciliation is a beautiful word,

and one we don’t hear often

enough. A profound understanding

of what it means is “the restoration

of friendly relations”, in other words,

reconciliation implies relationships –

healthy, whole, positive relationships.

Obviously, a reconciled relationship

must have been broken or fractured

in order to need reconciliation. Like

me, I’m sure you know exactly what a

broken relationship looks – and feels –

like. Who hasn’t had a broken heart, or

lost a friendship due to an argument or

misunderstanding, or who hasn’t said or

done something that has caused hurt

to another and therefore damaged the

relationship? We know the feelings that

follow, heartache, regret, doubt, grief…

some of the worst feelings or emotions

we can experience. There are serious

implications here for our mental and

physical health, including the quality of

our other relationships, if these emotions

are not dealt with. Good news! There is

substantial scientific and physiological evidence

to confirm that the path to healing

and wholeness from such brokenness

is through forgiveness, and then reconciliation.

I am reminded here of Elton John’s

beautiful song “Sorry, seems to be the

hardest word”. Saying “sorry” – and

meaning it – is a difficult thing to do, but

absolutely critical to maintaining healthy,

whole, friendly relationships. No wonder

then that the National Reconciliation

Week (NRW) begins each year after Sorry

Day, 26 May.

Reconciliation is fundamental to

Christianity, in that Christians believe that

God is ‘reconciling the world to himself

through Christ’ and that every Christian

has a ministry of reconciliation (2

Corinthians 5:19). The NRW began as the

National Week of Prayer for Reconciliation

back in 1993, and was supported by all

the major churches and faith groups.

Christians in Australia have been praying

for, and working towards, racial and cultural

reconciliation for decades. Those

prayers, and good works, continue. Here

is a prayer you can make for reconciliation

across our nation, in our local communities,

and in our relationships:

Lord God, bring us

together as one,

reconciled with you and

reconciled with each

other.

You made us in your

likeness, you gave us

your Son Jesus Christ.

He has given us

forgiveness from sin.

Lord God, bring us

together as one,

different in culture, but

given new life in Jesus

Christ,

together as your body,

your Church, your

people.

Lord God, bring us

together as one,

reconciled, healed,

forgiven,

sharing you with others

as you have called us to

do.

In Jesus Christ, let us be

together as one. Amen.

Authors: Bishop Arthur and Mrs Colleen Malcolm

Chaplain Andrew Knox

Anglican Chaplain

17SQN, RAAF Base Tindal


Out & About

Territory Markets

The Territory is

known for its

markets – some held

throughout the year,

others only for 6 months

when the weather is

at its best. The diverse

cultures of Territory

residents mean that

the markets are equally

diverse featuring food,

fresh produce, and art

from many cultural

backgrounds. Take time

to visit some of the

markets, meet some

friends for a laksa, buy

from a wide range of

locally produced fruit

and vegetables, some of

which you might never

have seen before. Enjoy

the ambience from the

massive shady trees

of Batchelor, watch

Aboriginal artists in Alice

Springs and experience

the bustle of Rapid

Creek. Enjoy what the

Territory has to offer.

Adelaide River

Markets take place (in

normal years) four times

a week between May and

August. This year they are

taking place on Saturdays

and Sundays only due to the

lack of tourism. Taking place in

Glen Huitson Memorial Park,

the long narrow park between

the shops and petrol stations

and the Stuart Highway, the

stalls are sheltered by large

trees so there is plenty of

shade as you walk around.

Second-hand books,

wooden toys, clothing, and

homemade jams, chutneys

and marmalades all feature.

Follow your browsing and

shopping with a drink or lunch

at the pub and an afternoon of

sightseeing (see the April/May

issue of The Top Ender).

Alice Springs Night

Markets operate on

Thursday nights between 4

June and 4 December in 2020,

5:00–9:00pm. There are

plenty of stalls to look at, offering

a wide range of Aboriginal

art, clothing and jewellery,

crafts, books and photographs,

as well as food from multicultural

backgrounds. The markets

are sometimes themed to

reflect local events such as

the Alice Desert Festival and

the Alice Springs Masters

Games, and this year the first

market coincides with the

start of the Tatts Finke Desert

Race. www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/

about-alice-springs/council-events/

night-markets

Batchelor Markets take

place on the second Sunday

of every month from April

(except for this year) until

December, 8 am until 1 pm,

under the oval in the shade of

some spectacular Rain Trees,

and feature local products and

produce. www.marketsandfairs.

com.au/Market/BATCHELOR-

MARKET

Berry Springs

Community Markets

have been running for a few

years now, and take place on

the last Sunday of the month

from 8:00am until noon

at Berry Springs Recreation

Reserve. There is food for sale,

and plenty of stalls of crafts and

collectibles. www.marketsandfairs.

com.au/Market/BERRY-SPRINGS-

COMMUNITY-MARKET

Freds Pass Rural

Markets

are held every Saturday all year

round, 8:00am–1:00pm in

the Big Shed at Freds Pass

Reserve. There are more

than seventy stalls selling

everything from plants and

live poultry, to crafts, beauty

and fashion products, and

food. www.marketsandfairs.

com.au/Market/THE-FREDS-PASS-

RURAL-MARKET

Malak Marketplace –

Organic Farmers Market

in Chambers Crescent Car

Park, operates from 4:00pm

until 9:00pm every Saturday

until 31 October 2020.

Around seventy stallholders

attend, supplying predominantly

organic fresh produce

and food that celebrates the cultural

diversity in Darwin. Come

along to support the local farmers

and artists – enjoy shopping,

live music, and children’s

entertainment, as well as the

food throughout the evening.

www.northernterritory.com/

darwin-and-surrounds/events/malakmarketplace

Mindil Beach Sunset

Market at Mindil Beach runs

twice a week during the Dry

(Thursdays 5:00–10:00pm

and Sundays 4:00–9:00pm).

Come and look at the stalls,

watch the sunset and listen

to the music. There are food

and craft stalls, and hundreds

of people attend so hang onto

your small children. www.mindil.

com.au/


Nightcliff Markets in

Nightcliff Shopping Centre

are an ideal place for a lazy

Sunday coffee or lunch, with

a wide range of foods on

offer. The markets run every

Sunday 8:00am–2:00pm.

www.onlydarwin.com.au/nightcliffmarkets#.XHopcogzbIU

Nhulunbuy Corporation

Community Markets

are held in the Town Hall

on the last Saturday of the

month, 9:00am–12:00

noon. Stalls offer a range

of items, including arts and

crafts, photography, jewellery,

giftware and clothing.

www.ncl.net.au/recreation-andevents/events-calendar/

Palmerston Markets

operate every Friday night

during the Dry (from June

this year until September or

October) from 5:00pm to

9:00pm. The markets are held

in Goyder Square, between

the library and the water

tower. There are craft stalls,

live entertainment, and seasonal,

fresh produce, as well

as food from many different

cultures. www.palmerstonmarkets.

org.au/

Parap Village Markets

in Parap Place, Parap run

all year round, on Saturdays

8:00am–2:00pm, rain or

shine. Food stalls, crafts,

jewellery, clothing, and fresh

seasonal produce are all there

for you to look at and sample.

www.parapvillagemarkets.com.au

Rapid Creek Markets in

Rapid Creek Business Village

(48 Trower Road, Millner)

operate every Saturday and

Sunday all year round from

7:00am until 2:00pm. Get

there early to avoid parking

problems, otherwise you might

have to walk. The markets have

over a hundred stalls, heaps

of vegetables and fruit, and

food for all tastes along with

clothing, jewellery and the like.

www.rapidcreekmarkets.com.au

Todd Mall Market in Alice

Springs runs every second

Sunday from March until

mid-December 9:00am to

1:00pm in Todd Mall in the

middle of town. Extra markets

may be held between May

and August in normal years –

check for 2020! Come along

and look at the wide variety

of items for sale – arts and

crafts items, clothing and jewellery,

books, honey, hats and

mats. www.alicesprings.nt.gov.au/

about-alice-springs/council-events/

todd-mall-markets


Feature

Limited Careers

have been a Defence spouse for nineteen years and most

I of that time I have worked in community service supporting

the wider community, as I chose to stay away from a career

linked to Defence. I tried a number of jobs that I believed

would easily move with us; however, I did not find my

passion until finding community service.

I commenced working in Aged Care where I was supporting

residents in nursing homes with daily activities, and I studied

and successfully transitioned to a demanding role in diversional

therapy working with dementia sufferers. This area of community

service was equally rewarding and taxing and I found I had

to leave as I was becoming too attached to the residents and

suffered when they passed away.

From there I moved into counselling and working with homeless

people. Key to this role was understanding the unique

circumstances that contributed to the client becoming homeless

and developing with them an action plan to address the

underlying causes and support them to gain permanent stable

housing. I have worked with youth, families and single adults,

and know that there is no one reason why people become

homeless. However, there are a few reoccurring themes including

sudden job loss, injury, spousal separation or death and extreme

disadvantage, any one of which can contribute. However, add

a second factor from the list and the likelihood of becoming

homeless is much higher. We are all in general just six pays

away from homelessness.

Over the last nineteen years we have had to move locations

due to postings (as we all do), and each time I have had to

resign my position, find work in the new location and start to

again build my reputation and professional network, coupled

with the need to settle children into new schools and establish

a home in a new suburb. This has also resulted in a patchy work

history and loss of entitlements such as long service leave and

sick leave. Financially I would always drop a significant amount

in pay as new employees start on the lowest increment. For the

last posting we were categorised as MWDU for 12 months, this

was immediately after a 7-month deployment, so was difficult to

say the least, and is not something we are willing to experience

again. At the time we made that sacrifice so I could remain in

my role and continue to build my career.

Now that my partner is approaching the end of his career

and as a result of what I have seen in my work I have decided

to run as a candidate to become an MLA in the upcoming NT

election, my career is taking precedence for the first time. I am

passionate about community service and believe that I will

be able to use my firsthand knowledge of the issues to better

support the wider community, if we have less homelessness,

the associated social problems will also decrease. Darwin is

where we have been posted for fifteen of the last nineteen

years so it is my community and I care about where it is going

and believe I can help.

If I were to provide some advice to my younger self it

would be to try and secure a job with an organisation that has

a presence in all states and territories rather than grabbing the

first offer that came along. Had I been able to achieve this, I

would have qualified for LSL five years ago and had a consistent

employee history. Being a defence spouse does have its benefits

but the sacrifice we make to our careers is often understated.

With Australia’s recent experience of COVID-19, I believe that

the wider community now has a greater appreciation of the

effects of enforced separation on families. As result I would love

to see a national strategy where nationwide companies support

Defence spouses through the ability to carry over entitlements

between roles in different locations. Defence is the only job

that requires an employee to move, sometimes great distances,

so the family must make the decision of being separated long

term or change careers and schools

to keep the family unit together.

The great experiences we

have had through Defence

though will remain with us

always and we are now

looking forward to the

next chapter of our family

beginning.

Leanne Butler

Defence Spouse


Regular

DCO

Coffee Conversations

The Group Program Schedule for all states

is also available on the Open Arms Website at

www.openarms.gov.au/get-support/group-treatment-programs-and-educational-workshops.

Expressions of Interest for the Group Programs

can be submitted on the Open Arms Website or

directly via email to openarms.centralwest@dva.gov.au.

Alternatively, interested parties can calll Open Arms

direct on 1800 011 046.

Mental Health First Aid A 2-day workshop that

teaches practical skills for helping a family member or

friend who is experiencing mental health problems.

Darwin

Tuesday, 18 – Wednesday, 19 August |

9:00am–5:00pm

With the recent lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and with the

wonderful weather Darwin has been blessed with, DCO

Darwin took the opportunity to hold Coffee Conversations outdoors

looking out on the ocean. Families had the opportunity

to meet the local DCO team and the new Defence Families of

Australia delegate for the Northern Territory, Jessica. If you haven’t

had the chance to meet Jessica, she can be contacted via email

at nt@dfa.org.au.

DCO NT looks forward to meeting you all out and about in the

community and at future activities and events!

Are you aware of the Member and Family Care Plan? The Member

and Family Care Plan is a useful tool to bring together vital information

about personal arrangements, records and emergency details for

your family in one easy reference. The plan also guides you through

important considerations including financial arrangements, home

preparation and maintenance, legal considerations, medical needs,

emergency plans and other practical matters. The questions help you

assess your current level of family readiness and identify issues you

might not have thought about yet.

The Member and Family Care Plan is entirely for your own use,

but you may choose to leave a copy with another family member or

trusted friend in case of an emergency.

You can download a copy from:

www.defence.gov.au/DCO/Resources/default.asp. Click on the tab labelled

Factsheets, and it is filed under Booklets and handbooks.

Sukhjot Kahlon

Family Liaison Officer Darwin | DCO

Operation Life Assist This 2-day workshop

aims to help you see, hear and respond to signals

of suicide – preparing you to work with people

at risk, increase their immediate safety and to get

further help.

Darwin

Monday, 10 – Tuesday, 11 August |

9:00am–5:00pm

Katherine

Thursday, 13 – Friday, 14 August |

9:00am–4:30pm

Doing Anger Differently A 2-day workshop

to help you understand anger and aggression.

Learn to manage your thoughts, deal with aggression,

understand the warning signs, how to deal

with your physical response, how to manage

unhelpful thoughts and boost communication.

Darwin

Tuesday, 1 – Wednesday, 2 September |

9:00am–4:30pm

Operation Life: safeTALK This half-day

course teaches you how become alert to signs

and signals of suicide. Missing these signs, or

being unwilling to engage can make people feel

more alone.

Katherine

Thursday, 10 September | 9:00am–12:30pm


Feature

Indigenous Liaison

´ Flight Lieutenant Normie Grogan

Photo: Sergeant Ben Dempster

© Commonwealth of Australia, Department of

Defence

Flight Lieutenant Normie Grogan

is an Air Force Indigenous

Liaison Officer (ILO) based in

Darwin and believes a strong

and robust sense of humour is

essential for a role like his.

"Humour is a great tool for

breaking down barriers and bringing

people together. That change is a

the second

youngest of

eleven children,

Flight Lieutenant

Grogan is from the

Kuku Yalanji and

Takalak nations of

Queensland

key part of my job," said Flight Lieutenant Grogan, who is one

of twelve ILOs posted to all of the key Air Force bases around

Australia. He added that ILOs were responsible for providing

cultural advice to commanders, driving community engagement

projects and building positive relationships with elders and

traditional owners "[Being] Indigenous ourselves, we’re strong

in culture and serve as a conduit between Air Force and

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around the

country. While there’s more work to do, we’ve come a long

way in building stronger relationships and increasing cultural

understanding."

Born in Cairns and the second youngest of eleven children,

Flight Lieutenant Grogan is from the Kuku Yalanji and Takalak

nations of Queensland. He attended state schools in Kuranda

and Mareeba, Parramatta and Trinity Bay in Cairns, and was

a boarder at the Slade School in Warwick. His interest in the

RAAF stems from his adolescent years, as he had been an

Air Force cadet with 104 Squadron in Cairns for two years.

After leaving school, Flight Lieutenant Grogan pursued a

career in journalism, becoming the first Aboriginal

cadet TV reporter for ABC Brisbane and the first

Aboriginal trainee manager for ABC Radio National.

He went on to work for SBS and Aboriginal radio

stations throughout Queensland and the Northern

Territory, before changing tack and moving into counselling

and community engagement.

It wasn’t until 2018 that Flight Lieutenant Grogan

was able to fulfil his teenage ambition of joining

the Air Force. Bringing years of valuable experience

with him, he was part of the inaugural intake of ILOs

spearheaded by Air Vice-Marshal Steve Roberton.

"My mates are proud of me, and I’m proud to wear the

Air Force uniform, representing my family, my friends, and all

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," Flight Lieutenant

Grogan said.

Flight Lieutenant Rob Cochran

PAO Combat Support Group


Regular

AMWChoir

2020: The Year of Learning New Things

I love singing in groups and singing

in a group of women is the best. I

love having something that is just

for me – something regular to look

forward to.

have been a member of the Australian Military Wives Choir

I (AMWChoir) for less than 12 months. My husband joined

the ADF when he was twenty-one, as a reservist. Four years

ago (age 52), he joined full time and after three years of

MWDU (members with dependents living unaccompanied)

– and the last kid out of school – I moved to Darwin.

When I first joined AMWChoir Darwin, I came to each

rehearsal, got to know everyone, and loved the easy-to-sing

repertoire – songs that met our moods. Darwin choir is small

and very welcoming and some members have never sung in

a group before. We have a safe space where our commonality

speaks for itself – a place to leave the worries behind and sing.

Did you know that the AMWChoir accepts all comers, so

no audition and no pressure? If the choir sings for others and

someone isn’t keen on performing, then she doesn’t have

to. Our motto is ‘Hearts, Voices, Others: first, we sing for our

HEARTS, second we sing for our VOICES, third we sing for

OTHERS’. I have always loved the idea of singing for others, so

when I came to Darwin, I looked for the choir.

Our national repertoire comprises songs selected to resonate

with Defence life. When you join, a small fee covers insurance,

copyright and a full folder of sheet-music to have for the year.

We also have access to practise tracks, so we can try it all at

home. Having a common song list means that if you post

somewhere else, although the people may be new the songs

remain familiar. When we come together as a national choir,

we easily rally a fabulous rendition of an old favourite.

In ordinary times, rehearsals are on first, third and fifth

Thursdays of the month for every location – wherever you

post, rehearsal days are the same. There is also a yearly gathering,

the national workshop. In 2019, we spent two full days

in Canberra, singing with like-minded women in a lovely large

group. We had plenty of social opportunities and performed

twice: the first, a pop-up choir at the Canberra Centre and, the

highlight for me, singing at the Australian War Memorial and

participating in the Last Post Ceremony, at sunset.

Cath (co-founder of the AMWChoir) asked me to be

Coordinator for the Darwin choir, which involves keeping everyone

up to date with what's happening, helping new members

and looking after the music. Siobhan, who is AMWChoir Darwin’s

Choir Director, runs rehearsals and helps us learn how to sound

awesome. We started 2020 with promise, singing snippets of

repertoire to passing crowds at the ‘welcome to Darwin’ open

day, and then we prepared to sing for the première of the movie,

Military Wives, before COVID-19 took over our lives.

Rehearsals in physical locations ceased due to risks that

group singing posed, but we found new ways to sing together

– we organised weekly Zoom rehearsals, using creative ways to

keep us singing. I'm not saying it isn't weird singing to myself

in front of a screen of people who I can't hear, but it got easier,

and I certainly felt lighter after each session. And, there is a silver

lining: we have new members from locations without a physical

choir, even overseas!

We also formed a virtual choir – another learning curve.

‘Build a Circle’, an AMWChoir original song, was recorded by

over sixty individual voices. Defence-connected women and

girls are resourceful and resilient – you can watch us ‘build a

circle’ of song at www.amwchoir.com.

Darwin is a long way from home for many of us, and COVID-

19 has compounded our challenges, but we are finding great

ways to connect socially and keep up with everyone’s news.

When we will be able to sing together in the same room again

remains to be seen, but we are hopeful. In October 2020,

AMWChoir voices plan to sing together, Zooming from each

location – a great compromise in a tricky time.

AMWChoir Darwin would love to meet new members and

find a way to introduce you to the joy of shared singing, while

building a circle of friendship that is portable.

Contact the choir by email at coordinator.darwin@amwchoir.com.

Julie Shepherd

Coordinator | AMWChoir Darwin


Regular

Blast from the Past

Battle of Gravelines

The Battle of Gravelines

(pronounced Grav-leen) that

took place off the French coast

on 8 August 1588, was the final

engagement of Spain’s attempted

invasion of England with the

‘Spanish Armada’. Seeing the

Armada off back home to Spain

is regarded as a great moment

in British naval history, although

if one digs a bit deeper, the final

nail in the Armada’s coffin was

really the weather.

Relations between England and Spain had gradually

been worsening since the start of Queen Elizabeth

I’s reign in 1533 (religious differences, shifting allegiances,

Elizabeth’s refusal of King Philip II’s hand in

marriage, piracy on the high seas and stealing the contents

of Spanish treasure ships all played their part).

Eventually, on his second attempt (the first Armada

was burnt in Cadiz Harbour by Sir Francis Drake in 1557),

Philip II assembled his Armada and dispatched it in July

1558, and it sailed up the English Channel on 29 July

prompting warning beacons to be lit. Somewhere around

this stage of the proceedings, Sir Francis Drake supposedly

coolly finished playing his game of bowls on Plymouth Hoe.

The English fleet, when it put to sea, followed the

Armada up the Channel, but could do little against its tight,

crescent-shaped formation. At this point the Duke of Sidonia

with his ships was due to collect the Duke of Parma and his

men from Calais. They were not ready! The English, on 7

August, then fell back on the proven method of fire-ships –

eight of them – sent in amongst the Spanish fleet causing

mayhem and panic, but no real damage.

On 8 August, the two fleets engaged off the French town

of Gravelines. The huge Spanish galleons and battleships

were armed with plenty of guns, which were of limited

range as the cannonballs were heavy. The English ships had

fewer guns, but they were lighter, fired smaller balls and

their range was greater. They were very successful in their

attack – until the supply of powder and cannonballs ran

out, at which point they had to head off home to resupply.

Fortuitously, the wind blowing up the Channel strengthened

so the only way the Spanish could successfully move

was to continue into the North Sea with the aim of heading

northwards, around the top of Scotland and then southwards

down the western side of Britain towards France

and Spain again. Half the fleet was wrecked in the storms,

the remnants that got back to Spain had taken a thorough

beating, and 20,000 of the 30,000 Spaniards who had

taken part had been lost.

Never underestimate English weather!

https://www.history.com/topics/british-history/spanisharmada#section_6

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z2hbtv4/revision/1


First Regular

International

Passenger Air Service

On 25 August 1919, the first regular international

passenger air service took place between London

and Paris. The company which started the daily service

was Air Transport & Travel Ltd (AT&T), which evolved

gradually with bankruptcy, mergers and take-overs into

British Airways, which was formed in 1974.

The flights left from Hounslow Heath to the west of

London that also saw the departure of many a historic flight

(the aeroplanes and crews competing in the Great Air Race

later in 1919 all took off from there between October and

December of the same year).

AT&T flew Airco aeroplanes – the two-seater Airco 4a,

and the four-seater Airco 16 – and began to advertise the

service towards the end of 1918. Fifteen guineas (fifteen

pounds and fifteen shillings) bought you a ticket from the

door of the Ritz Hotel at 150 Piccadilly in London, to the

Ritz in Paris! At ten o’clock in the morning, a car collected

the passenger(s), took them to Hounslow to be ready to

leave at half past ten (the same trip today on the London

Underground (Piccadilly line) takes well over an hour; by

car the trip could easily take two hours – if there were no

road works …).

At one o'clock, the Airco landed in Le Bourget to the

north-east of Paris, and then passengers were driven to

the Ritz at 15 Place Vendôme, arriving at half past.

Travelling the same route today (but to Charles de

Gaulle outside Paris instead of Le Bourget),allowing for

travelling from Central London to Heathrow, a few stops

along the line from Hounslow, the time take to check in,

and all the extras involved in modern air travel, would take

about six hours minimum.

America’s Cup Win

This is another anniversary, although much more

recent – the 37th anniversary of Australia winning the

America’s Cup, at 5.31pm on 26th September 1983 at

Rhode Island NY, with Australia II (with a completely

new style of keel) skippered by John Bertrand, that

competed against Liberty skippered by Denis Conner.

I think most Australians must have held their breath for

the duration of the last race. I know plenty of us in Britain

listened to the race before heading off to bed, and then

woke to the dispute about who should actually keep the

cup – and where!

The America's Cup is currently held by the Royal New

Zealand Yacht Squadron, and plans are afoot to stage the

36th defence of the Cup. Emirates Team New Zealand

will be defending it between 6 and 21 March 2021.

Photos credits to PEXEL not actual


Feature

RAAF Base Darwin Turns 80

RAAF Base Darwin has witnessed its fair share of history

since its official opening on 1 June 1940. From Japanese

air raids during World War II and the devastation of Cyclone

Tracy in 1974, to the thunderous roar of jet

engines during Exercise Pitch Black in more

recent years – the base has a rich and varied

history.

To celebrate RAAF Base Darwin’s achieving

octogenarian status, personnel were treated to a

special cake-cutting event in the Officers’ Mess,

a building that was strafed by Japanese aircraft

in 1942 and still bears the battle scars to prove it.

Sticking with age-old tradition, the youngest serving member

on base, Aircraftwoman (ACW) Sarah Seabrook of Number

452 Squadron, was presented with a RAAF ensign by Senior

Australian Defence Force Officer (SADFO), Wing Commander

(WGCDR) Andrew Anthony. ACW Seabrook

was also afforded the privilege of cutting the

birthday cake, which was proudly made by the

cooks of Number 13 Squadron.

For the 19-year-old Personnel Capability

Specialist, it was an experience she will never

forget. ACW Seabrook said, “I had learnt about

this tradition in recruits, but I never thought I’d

be the youngest member on a base and get

to take part. I was excited when I was told that I’d be cutting

the cake, but when I was presented with a RAAF ensign by the

SADFO I felt extremely honoured and lucky”.

Acknowledging the path laid by previous generations, Air

Base Executive Officer, Squadron Leader Melanie Free, also

emphasised the importance of staying focused on the road

Officers’ Mess – a

building that was

strafed by Japanese

aircraft in 1942

ahead, saying, “Those of us who serve at

RAAF Base Darwin today take great pride

in carrying on the legacy of those who

came before us. Right now, we’re focused

on building some important infrastructure

that will enable the base to keep fighting

long into the future. We’ll continue to hold

our place guarding the northern approaches – we remain vigilant

and ready 80 years on”.

Wing Commander Anthony, who also addressed the audience,

was struck by the historical poignancy of the occasion,

held in one of the original buildings constructed in 1939. He

I never thought I’d

be the youngest

member on a base

and get to take

part.

said that standing in the Officers’ Mess to

cut a cake on the base’s 80th birthday was

a surreal experience, adding, “We stood

together in the same space as Air Force

officers eighty years before us, and we’re

part of a team that shows the same commitment

and dedication in its service to

the nation – a very proud moment.”

Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran

PAO Combat Support Group


Regular

Network Tindal

Network Tindal is now back up and

running in the community centre.

However, due to COVID-19 we do

have some restrictions.

ALL persons entering the property must:

» Wash their hands or use the hand-sanitiser before signing

in or going past the sign-in station

» Adhere to the 1.5m social distancing rule

» Follow the floor markings set out throughout the property

» Bring their own water bottle(s)

» NOT share food

» Register their attendance through our ticketing system to

ensure that we keep within our number limit

» NOT attend if you or someone close to you has been unwell

and to wait at least 48 hours after symptoms have gone

to attend.

We have some new groups

to add to our community house

• Tindal’s Cooking group

Saturday 7am–5pm

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1227102394153949/

• Weekend playgroup

Sunday 9–11am

Email Networktindal@gmail.com

We are in need of some volunteers for our groups

so they can continue to run, if you would like

more information, please give me a call or email –

information below.

More events will be posted on our private Facebook page

– Network Tindal Buddies and circulated via the BIC.

Yoshi Marshall

Coordinator | Network Tindal

New contact information:

Email: networktindal@gmail.com

Mobile: 0407 651 533

Updated schedule of Groups:

Playgroup

Monday & Thursday 9–11am


Creative Craft

Monday 7–9pm:

Email networktindal@gmail.com

Book Club

Third Tuesday of the month 7–9pm


Bubs & Bumps

Wednesday 9–11am


Gamers

Thursday and Saturday 12pm–late

Email Networktindal@gmail.com


Support | DCO

Defence Community Organisation

Tindal

our families had

lots of fun flying

their colourful kites

family member to continue his journey.

Noah and Ruby in Katherine also

decorated an impressive Eaton, ready

to start a new adventure.

Coming up …

Due to the restrictions surrounding

the COVID-19 pandemic over

the last few months, DCO Tindal has

had to be a little bit creative and think

‘outside the box’ for our community

engagement activities.

Some of our

activities included:

Kite making and flying

ADF members and families in

Katherine recently took part in our ‘Kite

making and flying’ activity. Members

and families were given a kite kit

to decorate at home and then take

outside to fly in the gorgeous NT dry

season.

The wind was perfect for getting

some great hang time and our families

had lots of fun flying their colourful

kites around Tindal.

NAIDOC Week craft packs

ADF children in Tindal were given

a craft pack to help celebrate NAIDOC

Week 2020. In the pack was a wooden

boomerang, a scratch art boomerang

and lots of instructions on how to paint

aboriginal dot paintings and the meanings

of the symbols.

Eaton in an Envelope

ADF children in Katherine and

Tindal in the NT have been enjoying

our ‘Eaton in an Envelope’ activity. A

brightly coloured Eaton was sent by

Xavier and Grace from Tindal NT to

Indianna in Brisbane QLD. Indy took

Eaton to her favourite park for a play

before sending him on to a friend or

We also have a Brick by Brick

Challenge for children, families and

single members to build their own creation

and submit photos for judging. In

the next edition of the Top Ender we

will have our winning entries and some

information about our Recipes from

the Road Cook Book and Travel guide

and Archie’s Bold Art competition that

was run during the dry season.

DCO Tindal is slowly reverting to

face-to-face activities as our NT restrictions

slowly lift and have already started

planning our father’s day cake decorating

activity, Coffee Conversations, LIKE

lunches and the Junk to Funk Sculpture

competition. Stay tuned for more great

activities coming up soon.

To find an event near you, check

out the national events calendar on

our homepage.

Debbie Marshall

Family Liaison Officer Tindal

Defence Community Organisation NT

https://www.defence.gov.au/DCO

#ADFkids #ADFfamilies #ADFcommunities

#KatherineNT


Regular

Robertson Barracks

Family Group

Adjacent Lone Pine Chapel, Robertson Barracks

email: robertsonbarracksfamilygroup@gmail.com | Contact: 0490 151 944

The RBFG were busier than ever during the COVID-19

restriction period, running Fit for Robbo and Playgroup

programs online with committee members creating and

distributing hundreds of craft bags to help keep kids and

parents busy during the lockdown period. The craft bags

were very well received and the RBFG committee were

nominated for a ‘Territory Hero’ award for their efforts –

amazing work team!

Towards the end of the lockdown period RBFG joined with

seventeen other Defence community groups around Australia

and have been taking part in the twelve-week ‘Defence Virtual

2020 Race Around Australia.’ The 36 members of ‘Team Robbo’

have been putting in an incredible effort and are currently

sitting in second place

The 36 members

of ‘Team Robbo’

have been putting

in an incredible

effort

with team members regularly

meeting together

to enjoy the beautiful

outdoors and increasing

the team’s step count

together – keep up the

great work!

Shortly after the

COVID-19 restrictions lifted, the Centre was o-fish-ally reopened

and we jumped straight back into activities with the rescheduled

Darwin Harbour Fishing Charter trips. Twenty-four lucky RBFG

members made some finn-tastic catches and there were smiles

all round.

The Centre was also abuzz shortly after reopening with

members making some bee-autiful beeswax wraps. This session

was very popular and so much fun – we’ll definitely be looking

at running this activity again in the near future.

Fit for Robbo attendees have been enjoying the amazing

dry season weather and were very excited to be back at the

Centre finally after the recent playground upgrade. These fun,

supportive sessions cater for all fitness levels and are a great

way to kick start the week!

Our Kids Club sessions also started up again and we’ve had

a great time enjoying playing soccer outside in the beautiful

weather, crafting and finished off the term by visiting Kingpin

and playing laser tag and ten-pin bowling.

Playgroup has been a wonderful mix of out-and-about sessions

with visits to Adventureland, Howard Springs for nature

play and fish feeding, and also Centre-based sessions. We finished

off with our end of term ‘Shake it Off’ party where Fairy

Jill showed off her amazing face painting skills and Georgie ran

an awesome music and movement session. The kids had an

absolute ball and we look forward to seeing everyone again

in Term 3!

If you’re new to Darwin, or have been here for a while and

are looking for a fun, friendly and supportive community please

join the ‘Robertson Barracks Family Group’ Facebook page to

find an session that suits you.

Kassandra Vuat

Centre Coordinator

Robertson Barracks Family Group

What’s on each week

at the RBFG centre

Mondays

9–10am

10am–12pm

Fit for Robbo group workout

Coffee & Cake

Every second Tuesday

5–7pm

Fridays

8.30am–12.30pm

Kids Club (for ages 1–12 years)

0–5s Playgroup


Regular

Larrakeyah

Neighbourhood House

Email: larrakeyahhouse@hotmail.com

Mobile: 0447 586 591

The first six months of 2020 certainly did not go as originally

planned; many of our families have faced some

trying times. For some it has been that our partners have

been away longer than expected, some of our partner have

been home when normally they are away, some of our

partners are away and we are not sure when they will be

home as they are stuck in another state. In true Defence

style we have all just embraced whatever has been thrown

our way and made the most of whatever situation we are

in! Well done to all of you for remaining strong and being

the awesome Defence partners you are!

We have been delighted to see our own little community

grow over the past six months with many new faces attending

our activities. We have been exploring Darwin with our weekly

Bumps and Bubs group and our Playgroup, visiting many different

parks and we have certainly found a few favourites!

We started up our Ladies’ Dinners again and enjoyed a

delicious dinner and amazing sunset at the Darwin Ski Club;

our regular lunches and coffee catch-ups have also been well

attended.

The end of the term really felt like it came around quickly,

but we managed to celebrate it with Playgroup and Bumps

and Bubs visiting Adventure Land in Gateway. The children

had a blast and I noticed a few tears from the kids when some

of our mums tried to leave! Our Kids Club kids got to spend

some time together at FlipOut – it really is a wonderful place

to burn off energy!

We hope that many of our families managed to explore

around the NT during the school holidays as it has so much to

offer and is a unique place. My Facebook newsfeed has been

full of photos of all your road trip adventures so far! You do not

even need to venture far.

We have a few new activities planned for Term 3, and we are

looking forward to celebrating our 30th birthday in August, so we

hope that you will be able to join our celebrations.

A reminder to everyone that all our activities are open to any

Defence family in Darwin and our goal is provide a space where

everyone feels welcome! Please check our Facebook group

Larrakeyah Neighbourhood House Community Group for

details on our regular activities.

We also wanted to take this opportunity

to let you know that if you

need any support of any kind, we

are always here for you, so please

reach out.

Charné Saunders

Co-ordinator | Larrakeyah Neighbourhood House


From your Delegate

Support | DFA

PostingConnect

Defence Families of Australia is an advisory body that was

established in 1986 to advocate for Defence families. Its

executive team is based in Canberra with several National

Delegates located in key locations around Australia. These

delegates allow DFA to advocate for Defence members and

their families at a local level.

Contact Jessica at nt@dfa.org.au or follow her on the DFA

Northern Territory Facebook page.

Have you heard of

PostingConnect?

DFA delegates were given the opportunity of being involved

in user testing sessions of the PostingConnect platform. Being

a part of this testing allowed a better understanding of the

needs of ADF members and their families through real-time

feedback. To find out more we talked to Amanda Walters from

the PostingConnect project.

What is PostingConnect?

PostingConnect is an exciting new tool that has been built

by Defence to guide Australian Defence Force (ADF) members

and their families through the posting experience. It provides a

platform that streamlines the posting process through intuitively

guiding members or their nominee through each step, including

seamless access to the Defence Housing Australia (DHA) and

Toll systems.

Exciting Features and Benefits

» Connecting posting services – intuitive integration

that provides direct access to Toll and DHA websites, removing

the need for multiple logins.

» Nominee access and support – ADF members can

provide access to a nominee such as a partner, family

member, friend, or colleague, for assistance in completing

posting tasks and accessing information and support.

» Accessible on any device – PostingConnect will be

accessible from any device, including mobile phones, tablets

and computers, both on and off the Defence Protected

Network (DPN).

Who is it for?

The initial release of PostingConnect will be available for

ADF members (permanent forces) undertaking a domestic

posting that involves a relocation. If you fall within this category

you will receive an email to your Defence PROTECTED Network

(DPN) account inviting you to access the platform within one

week of your Posting Order being issued.

PostingConnect will also be available for nominees of ADF

members, such as a partner, family member, colleague, or

friend. Nominees will be provided with their own login details

to assist the member with completing posting tasks and will

be able to access the same information and support as the

member.

When will PostingConnect be

available?

PostingConnect is scheduled to be available from

September 2020. Stay tuned for your email invitation on the

DPN to access PostingConnect and start enjoying the benefits

of the tool for your next posting.

More Information

Further information is available on the PostingConnect

website at ext.defence.gov.au/postingconnect.

Jessica Hanison

National Delegate – Northern Territory and Kimberley

PostingConnect will also be

available for nominees of ADF

members, such as a partner,

family member, colleague,

or friend

Get in touch

Mobile: 0418 807 548

Email: nt@dfa.org.au

Facebook: www.facebook.com/

DefenceFamiliesofAustralia


Support | DVA

Department of Veterans' Affairs

Wellness Wheel

Wellbeing Approach to

Supporting Veterans and

their Families

To ensure focused and relevant support for veterans and

their families at all stages of their lives, the Department

of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) is shifting to a whole of life focus

on wellbeing. This approach empowers veterans – whether

ex-serving or current members, those who are single or

with families with children, working as civilians or who

have left the workforce and are retired – to achieve greater

independence for themselves and their families throughout

all stages of life.

The wellbeing of veterans and their families is the core

business of DVA, which has identified the following key areas

to maintaining wellbeing:

» Health

» Education and skills

» Housing

» Employment

» Income and finance

» Social support and connection

» Recognition and respect.

Support for veterans and their families, and a sense of connection

at a local level, is important at all life stages. This support

can be fostered through:

» Ex-service organisations or ESO

» Local community

» Social groups for defence families or partners

» Defence Community Organisation

» Open Arms.


Veterans and their families in Darwin can also visit Billeroy

Veterans & Families Community Centre.

The overarching objective of the veteran support system is

driven by improving the lives and wellbeing of veterans and

their families. Amongst other things this includes supporting

a successful transition for veterans into civilian life, successful

rehabilitation for any injuries sustained and taking a whole-oflife

approach that can be

The wellbeing of

veterans and their

families is the core

business of DVA

achieved by supporting

and educating veterans

in health and wellbeing

to prevent or minimise

injury or illness.

In many cases, the

reintegration into civilian life can be a significant stressor for

current serving members. Programs and initiatives that enable

opportunities for social integration may relieve some of the

stress and anxiety of transitioning. Contact a local veteran support

group who may be able to assist you and provide social

support.

One initiative that supports this approach to wellbeing is

the provision of Veteran Health Checks for all former serving

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members that provides an

opportunity for veterans to access a comprehensive health

check by their General Practitioner (GP). All former ADF members

are eligible to access the One-off Veteran Health Check

with a GP and if you have left the ADF from 1 July 2019, you are

also eligible for an Annual Veteran Health Check for the first five

years after you transition. Early intervention and targeted referrals

can help you enjoy better health outcomes and manage your

health during your transition to civilian life. This is one of many

DVA initiatives aimed at supporting veterans’ wellbeing. For

more information, visit www.dva.gov.au/veteranshealthcheck.

DVA visits all NT bases regularly, meeting with ADF

members to provide information on available services and

benefits. To make an appointment to discuss transition,

eligibility for entitlements or other aspects of your personal

circumstances call us on 1800 555 254 or email darwinvan@dva.gov.au.

More information is available online at

www.dva.gov.au.

Meghan Bailey

Deputy Commissioner | Department of Veterans’ Affairs


Support | DVA


Finding your Green Thumb

As human beings we love being around nature.

Connecting to nature makes us happier and healthier

even if we do not actively seek opportunities to immerse

ourselves in it. Whether it is growing vegetables, indoor

plants, flowers or succulents, incorporating activities like

gardening into your life may be of benefit to you and your

family.

Being active in the garden can be great way to stay physically

fit. Moving your body through mowing lawns or stretching and

kneeling in the garden comes to great benefit to your body.

Gardening is also a great way to relax and meditate, providing

opportunities to

focus on an activity with

mindfulness and to get

away from the stress of

everyday life. Involving

the whole family is a

great way to spend quality

time together while at

the same time educating

children on sustainability.

If your children are fussy eaters, they may be keen to try

new foods that they helped to grow. Growing vegetables and

herbs that are suitable to the climate is a fun way to learn about

food and nutrition. Learning how to grow your own food helps

people of all ages understand that fruit and vegetables grow in

seasons. Eating produce that is in season, especially from your

own garden has further nourishing benefits. You can find out

more about what can grow in the Northern Territory by visiting

https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/food-crops-plants-and-quarantine/

traditional-vegetables.

Are you a plant lover who has tried to maintain indoor or

outdoor potted plants with not much luck? There are some low

maintenance plants that may be a great starting point. Talk to

your local nursery to learn what plants will suit you and your

home. Some examples of these include Peace Lilies, Jade

Plants, Aloe Vera, Dieffenbachia (although you should be wary

of this plant and treat it carefully – its sap is filled with calcium

oxalate crystals that can cause pain as well as swelling of the

lips and throat), Zamioculcas zamiifolia and ferns.

Jacqueline Cleghorn

Community Support Adviser

Department of Veterans Affairs

providing

opportunities to

focus on an activity

with mindfulness

and to get away

from the stress of

everyday life


Regular

Doctor's Notes


Running from September to December again this year is the annual

Defence Blood Challenge and it’s a great opportunity to donate.

Firstly, a little bit about blood. Blood is made up of red blood cells, white

blood cells, platelets and plasma — red blood cells carry oxygen around

your body, white blood cells fight infection, platelets help your blood to

clot, and plasma is the yellow coloured liquid that it all sits in. Plasma also

contains some other important things like proteins, clotting factors and

electrolytes.

When you go into a blood bank to

donate blood, there is the option of

donating either whole blood or plasma

(there’s a third option down south where

you can also donate platelets, but that’s

not an option up here because platelets

are a bit more complicated).

Whole blood is collected from a vein

and stored in a bag, and then sent to the

lab to be separated into red blood cells,

plasma and platelets. The red blood cells

are then manufactured into a product

called ‘packed red blood cells’, which

are transfused to bleeding patients and

non-bleeding patients with anaemia (a

condition of low red blood cells or haemoglobin).

Whole blood is

collected from a

vein and stored

in a bag, and

then sent to

the lab to be

separated into

red blood cells,

plasma and

platelets

Plasma is collected via a method called apheresis, where the machine

removes whole blood, separates out the plasma, and returns everything

except for the plasma to the donor. The benefit of this is that you can give

more plasma than you would for a whole blood donation and you can also

donate as often as every 2–3 weeks, compared to whole blood donation

where you can only donate every 12 weeks (any sooner and the donor

might become anaemic). The trade-off for giving plasma is the donor

usually spends 45 minutes in the donation chair, whereas for whole blood

the donation can be done in 15 minutes. Once the plasma is donated, it

is then sent to the lab to and will be used in any one of eighteen different

ways, including for burns, trauma, surgery, cancer, vaccines and many more.

The ADF has participated in the Defence Blood Challenge for over ten

years and contributed over 120,000 donations in that time. Last year the

ADF met their goal of 9,000 donations, which is estimated to benefit over

27,000 lives — not bad for just a few months of work!

The military and blood donation have a long history together going back

to some of the first blood transfusions given in the American Civil War to

bleeding patients following leg amputations. The World War I prompted

the development of blood banks and establishing donation and transfusion

techniques. More recently, research that has come out of the Iraq

and Afghanistan wars has revolutionised how we now transfuse trauma

patients in the civilian world. And closer to home, the

ADF is currently involved in some exciting research

into frozen platelets, which one hopes could lead

to lifesaving platelet transfusions becoming available

away in remote locations on deployment and at

sea, as well as in rural and remote parts of Australia.

So, if you can, please role up your sleeves and

donate. It’s a quick and rewarding, and probably the

easiest thing you could ever do to save someone’s

life.

To find out more information and make an

appointment please see donateblood.com.au.

Dr Andrew Flint

Medical Office | Royal Australian Navy


Batchelor’s Mining Past

Feature

Rum Jungle South Lake

1 Medical Receiving Station

Town Centre

Tourist Information

Karlstein Castle

Bernie Havlik Avenue

During the Dry, the small town of Batchelor, some twelve

kilometres or so west from the Stuart Highway, is a

brilliant green oasis amongst the surrounding dry scrub and

red earth. The shop is popular with tourists who need something

cold after a day out in Litchfield park, and many people

just pass through for this purpose. We made use of the

picnic tables near the shop back in early 1997 and ended up

admiring the thick tropical buffalo grass! I’d never seen grass

like it, and in the Wet of 1998–99 we planted our back lawn

too, sprout by sprout in the rain. I digress. But what else

is there to see in the

The single men’s

quarters are

now used by the

Batchelor Institute of

Indigenous Tertiary

Education

area? Plenty. I visited

at the end of June

and read every sign

I could, which took

me several hours!

To give a potted

history of the town,

the first settlement

here was in 1912 with

a demonstration farm named after Egerton Lee Batchelor, a

former Minister for Education and Agriculture who had died

not long before.

In August 1949 Jock White, a prospector, discovered uranium

which led to the Rum Jungle uranium mine being developed by

Consolidated Zinc on behalf of the Australian Atomic Agency

Commission (AAAC).

Three years later in 1952, the area was surveyed by

Trevor Miller of NT Administration with a view to establishing

a township. He embraced the

the concrete

foundations

of the various

buildings are

still visible

amongst the

bush

concept of the ‘garden city’, a

popular movement throughout

Europe in the early 20th

Century. The houses were built

amongst the existing trees, and

today all the streets are shaded,

although recent buildings have

not followed the same concept.

Around the oval behind the

shop, where the market is held

on the second Sunday of the

month, the rain trees are huge, providing plenty of deep shade

for everyone – and one can admire the sun beating down on

the more exposed areas while eating an ice cream!

By 1955, 94 houses, a primary school, post office and

hospital had been constructed, along with significant infrastructure,

and facilities for single miners. Batchelor wasn’t officially

gazetted as such until 1977 as until then it had been part of

the mining lease, although the NT Administration took over the



Feature

On Medieval Jousting in

Modern Times

One of the few places in the

modern world where one can see

medieval jousting taking place is

Medieval Times in Los Angeles. I

journeyed there to take a look at the

differences between what one can

see, and what historical sources and

logic tells us about the reality of 500

years ago.

Medieval Times was billed as ‘Jousting, horsemanship

& falconry plus a 4-course, utensil-free meal

served in a castle-like space’. In reality, it’s a very large

warehouse with an indoor arena, shop and café.

The jousting show was a pretty good, if choreographed,

display by ten riders, twenty ‘squires’ and some very welltrained

horses – and a hunting falcon. It all took place in a

stadium seating 1,600 people, where we were all served

a three-course meal and drinks pretty well simultaneously.

The USA does logistics so well.

After riding displays featuring the horsemen in simulated

mail armour, with some impressive tent-pegging, they got

down to business. The fighting scenes took place to the

accompaniment of a long-winded explanation about how

what was being billed as a tournament would become

a fight to the death between ‘the Queen’s knights’. The

faux-mail was swapped for plate, with what looked like

motorcycle helmets sprayed silver. I got a close-up view of

one of these and was able to see that a tough-looking mesh

was secured across the inside of the eye-slits.

The jousting matches used a barrier down the middle

of the stadium, with each horseman spurring his steed

along the length of his side of the barrier, aiming his lance

off to the left across the neck of his horse. Someone had

been doing their homework, as unlike in the 1960s film

Camelot, some of which was shot down the road from

where we were, in Hollywood. In a scene between Arthur

and Lancelot, the writers researched so badly they had the

two aiming their lances off to the right, with the shields

therefore rendered useless.

Both riders in these modern jousts aimed for the shield of

the other. In just about every match one lance splintered and

broke. This led to variations: another round, or if one ‘knight’

was angry with the other, he might try to ride down his unhorsed

opponent, who by now had pulled out his backup weapon of

sword or mace or flail.

In medieval times aiming for the shield was apparently the

usual, preferred mode of tournament jousting, but like all such

games it was preparation for warfare. There the armoured and

horsed man-at-arms might well aim for an enemy’s helmet. This

was a smaller target but if hit it would inflict greater damage and

likely unhorse the man. Hitting the shield gave the possibility

of throwing the enemy soldier off his horse, but – as was the

case with these modern riders – high-backed saddles designed

to hold the rider in place were the norm.

unlike in the

1960s film

Camelot, some

of which was

shot down

the road from

where we were,

in Hollywood.

In a scene

between Arthur

and Lancelot,

the writers

researched so

badly they had

the two aiming

their lances off

to the right,

with the shields

therefore

rendered

useless

The lances in this modern jousting

were made of timber, and in

most cases broke and splintered,

leaving the rider with only half a

length of spear which was useless

enough to throw away. Using the

backup weapons from the saddle

was a possibility both then and now,

but facing a rider still armed with his

complete lance would have left one

at a considerable disadvantage. A

horseman intent on damage would

simply have couched his lance and

ridden straight at the lance-less man,

probably spitting him or knocking

him off his horse with some injury.

Similarly, a rider off his horse

would have died facing a horsed

man with a lance. The speed of the

horse – the skills of the rider, the

length of the lance, and the kinetic

energy all contained in the ‘package’

would have seen him helpless. A

sword, mace, flail or battleaxe would

not have been a useful enough

weapon. These modern riders,

however, played it for suspense. The

horsed soldier inevitably had a bit of

a go, but then slid off to continue

the combat on foot. The arena was

divided into eight sections by colour,

and we were all urged to cheer on the knights of our colour.

The man-to-man combat was (of course) highly choreographed,

but well done. One of my perennial annoyances as

depicted so often in movies was immediately apparent – the


helmets were discarded. This would have resulted in a quick death

in reality. The head is an easy target for a downward blow, and

even a glancing blow from an edged or percussive weapon would

have resulted in serious injury or death. Not having the helmets on

gives two advantages to the show: the combatants can shout at

each other, and we in the audience can see their facial emotions.

The evening ended after an hour and a half, with the

good guy winning, and all parading on their horses, having

miraculously come back to life or recovered from their injuries.

An impressive and different ‘knight out!

Dr Tom Lewis OAM | Military Historian

Dr Lewis’ latest book is Darwin

Bombed – a history for young people

of the first air raid on Australia in WWII.


Regular

Exploring the Greater Darwin Region

Humpty Doo

´ Fogg Dam. Photo: SW Bartie

As we continue our journey of discovery into the greater

Darwin region, we encounter Humpty Doo. The name

Humpty Doo in itself just seems totally exotic and intriguing.

What are the origins of the name? No one seems to know

where the name comes from. However, the most likely

reason for the name seems to be the use of ‘humpty doo’

in Australian slang to mean ‘all wrong or upside down’.

Certainly it was a term used in Darwin in the late 1800s

as a local tavern in the City was called Humpty Doo and it

advertised free drinks after 5pm in the Northern Territory

Times & Gazette of 31 July, 1896.

Humpty Doo can be found some 35km from Darwin with

a population of between five and six thousand people who live

on large rural style blocks of land. Some mangoes and vegetables

are produced on these blocks, but many are owned by

those people looking for

produced over a

hundred tonnes

of salt-water

barramundi for the

Easter market this

year.

more space and privacy.

One of the local farming

success stories is that of

the local Humpty Doo

Barramundi farm. Started

twenty years ago it has

grown significantly and

produced over a hundred

tonnes of salt-water

barramundi for the Easter market this year. Ironically, this success

story is situated on the site of the dismal failure of the Humpty

Doo rice trials.

The Humpty Doo rice trial was a private investment with

extensive government support that looked at developing the

region into a rice growing area. The project started 1955 with

some international investors from America (radio, TV and film

stars included) and it leased just over 300,000ha of sub-coastal

plains from the Adelaide River to Arnhem Land. However only

about 2,000ha of rice was ever planted. By 1964 the project

ended due to financial constraints. Failure of the project was

multifactorial, climate, rice variety, soil type, etc. However, the

legacy of this initiative has left us with Fogg and Harrison Dams

that were built to irrigate the rice paddies.

Fogg Dam

The RAAF Airfield Construction Squadron constructed Fogg

Dam in 1956 as part of the governments pledge to provide

infrastructure to support the production of rice. The dam soon

became a refuge for water birds especially in the long dry

season. In 1959, Fogg Dam was declared a Bird Protection area

due to the vast numbers and variety of birds in the area. It is

deemed to be in the top ten bird watching spots in Australia

with 230 different birds sighted there. All these birds, together

with the aquatic Dusky Rat population, attracted predators


the snake

population was

very low by the

end of 2019

and it is said to have the

greatest snake biomass

in the world, although

with the recent abnormal

wet seasons and

lack of food (the Dusky

Rat population having

dropped dramatically

due to flooding), the snake population was very low by the

end of 2019, and many of those captured were emaciated

and starving.

In 1982, it was declared a conservation reserve and the dam

and its surrounding wetland cover just over 1500ha. In 2009,

it was made a heritage site due to its history with the Humpty

Doo Rice Project.

This reserve is open all year and has all-weather access.

The best time to view the reserve is in the late wet or early dry

season. Take a trip in the early morning or late afternoon to

experience the best from your visit. Several short walks have

been laid out to demonstrate the different ecological niches

in the reserve. The dam

wall is accessible by car

but not for walking due

to the threat of saltwater

crocodiles. Viewing platforms

are provided. Take

an early morning walk

and discover Fogg Dam

for yourself.

Cultural Experiences

Pudakul Aboriginal Cultural Tours is located just off the

Arnhem Highway between Humpty Doo and Fogg Dam. This

Aboriginal owned and operated enterprise offers you the

opportunity to gain insight into Aboriginal culture. They provide

accompanied excursions

to Carroboree Billabong,

Litchfield and Kakadu Park

where you become privy

to local knowledge and

history. In addition, they

have art classes where

you learn how to paint

´ Fogg Dam.

³ Humpty Doo Golf Club. Photos: SW Bartie

The dam wall is

accessible by car

but not for walking

due to the threat of

saltwater crocodiles

offers you the

opportunity to

gain insight into

Aboriginal culture

your own Indigenous art under a mentoring eye. Take a tour

or take advantage of the onsite accommodation and stay over

for the night or a few days.

Didgeridoo Hut and Art Gallery is located on the right as

you turn off Stuart Highway onto the Arnhem Highway. It no

longer has regular opening times, so you need to call to ensure

a viewing.

Humpty Doo Golf Club

Tucked away between the rural blocks of Humpty Doo

is this great little golf course. This nine-hole course with two

tee positions for each hole is a par 72 course that measures

5,855m. Don’t be surprised if you find some of the resident

wallabies enjoying the manicured fairways with you. This course

may be rural, but the facilities are top notch. It is family-friendly

venue with an air-conditioned clubhouse, a restaurant, bar and

children’s playground. Visitors and social players are welcome.

So, play a round of golf and then stay for a bite to eat and

experience true local hospitality.

Watering Holes

Humpty Doo Hotel (on the corner of the Arnhem Highway

and Zamia Road) and Humpty Doo Tavern (in the Humpty Doo

shopping centre) are the two local pubs. Now I have seen some

reviews that are scathing of these pubs and I feel this is all to

do with the expectations that have been created. These are not

pubs with walls decorated and steeped in tradition; they are not

pubs for fine dining, although the food is great with generous

portions and the prices reasonable. No, these are pubs that

cater for working Territorians who have finished a day’s work

in almost 100% humidity. These are pubs are where you will

experience a true authentic interaction with locals having a

meal and a couple of cold ones. It can get loud and rowdy so

get into it and enjoy the people NOT the room. As a reference

check out the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee with its Walk About

Creek bar. It’s the people who make the bar, and that’s what

these bars represent when we use the term ‘authentic’.

Shane Bartie

Explore the Northern Territory

http://www.explorethent.com

https://www.flickr.com/people/swbartie/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/Explore The Northern Territory


Regular

RideSAFE

ADF Motorcycle Rider

Safety Training:

Defence-funded

advanced motorcycle

rider training

The Australian Defence Force Motorcycle

Rider Safety (RideSAFE) programme

aims to reduce the number of motorcycle

accidents, injuries and fatalities to ADF

members.

Motorcycle rider training delivered by

Defence-contracted training providers delivers

two levels of training:

Level 1

For Whom Recently acquired your licence,

have not been riding much, are returning

to riding or wish to improve basic skills and

confidence.

Covers Primarily slower speed bike handling,

obstacle avoidance, road awareness

(defensive riding), emergency braking and

cornering.

Level 2

For Whom Experienced and more confident

riders who ride regularly, either commuting or

socially and who wish to improve their riding

skills and confidence.

Covers Provides advanced road skills with

a focus on improved cornering, braking and

defensive riding at higher road speed limits.

What is critical to your

safety?

» Mental Attitude

» Alertness

» Skill.

Information

On the DRN – visit Defence People Group

PeopleConnect / RideSAFE

http://drnet/People/RideSAFE/Pages/RideSAFE.aspx

Course Registration via Defence Campus,

search ridesafe

https://campus.defence.gov.au/Saba/Web/Cloud

Contacts

Training Administration:

ld.trainingnominations@defence.gov.au

Program Manager: ride.safe@defence.gov.au

Darwin Course: 30 September 2020.

Know the Territory

Watch Out!

Two Insects

Thank you to the Department of Health for supplying the calendars

of the Salt Marsh Mosquitoes and Biting Midge.

For more information on either of these pests, visit the Department

of Health’s website:

https://digitallibrary.health.nt.gov.au/prodjspui/bitstream/10137/1409/3/Saltmarsh%20

Mosquito%20Pest%20Calendar%202019.pdf

https://digitallibrary.health.nt.gov.au/prodjspui/bitstream/10137/1408/3/Biting%20

Midge%20Pest%20Calendar%202019.pdf

August

September

Biting Midges

August

September

Salt Marsh Mosquito


Feature

The Long Ride 2020

RideSAFE 2020 –

Tri-Service

Motorcycle Safety

Program

The Long Ride. Applications for

courses specific to participating in

The Long Ride (Program Guidelines

para 13 refers) are to be made by

email to ride.safe@defence.gov.au

containing the following:

» Subject Heading: Application for

RideSAFE – The Long Ride

» Personal particulars including your

name, rank, unit,SERCAT, phone

number and PMKeyS number

» Preferred RideSAFE Campus course

offer (number and date)

» Evidence of Long Ride registration incl

payment.

Supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation

of Australia | 12–28 Oct 2020

The Long Ride 2020 is an annual event when motorcycle riders raise awareness

of prostate cancer and raise funds for the PCFA. Prostate Cancer is the

most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and over 20,000 Aussie males are

diagnosed every year. Of these, sadly more than 3,300 die each year, which

is statistically more deaths annually than female deaths from breast cancer.

The LR2020 aims to encourage men to talk about this insidious disease and seek

early treatment when symptoms arise. If detected early, prostate cancer is highly

treatable. The ride also encourages camaraderie through meeting other riders along

the way and is an amazing experience.

This year the LR2020 will run between 12 and 18 October 2020 and, subject to

the lifting of border restrictions, is planned with Victor Harbour in SA as the destination

from all states and territories. The full routes from each state can be found at www.

longrideaustralia.com. Registrations are now open and will close at the end of August.

Should border restrictions prevent the ride to Victor Harbour, an alternative intrastate

ride, remaining inside the NT, will be promulgated on approximately the same

dates.

Defence members who participate in the LR2020 can do so under defence duty,

meaning they do not need to take leave to participate in the event.

Personnel interested in participating in the LR2020 or wishing for more information

can either visit the website, www.longrideaustralia.com or submit an email to the NT

with Victor Harbour in

SA as the destination

from all states and

territories

Delegate for the LR2020, Commander

Mark Taylor at mark.taylor10@defence.gov.au.

Donations via the website are also

welcome. Visit https://thelongride2020.

everydayhero.com/au/northern-territory-longriders-2020.

WO Peter Freund

Military Support Officer – Navy

Defence Community Organisation NT


continued from page 31 | Batchelor’s Mining Past

town from the AAAC in 1971. Many, if not all, of the miners’

buildings are still there although used for other purposes. The

single men’s quarters are now used by the Batchelor Institute

of Indigenous Tertiary Education, focusing on learning that supports

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

To start the tour, almost immediately after you turn off the

Stuart Highway onto Batchelor Road there is a sign for 1MRS

on the left. This is the World War II site of

No 1 Medical Receiving Station, RAAF. It

covers quite a large area on the side of

the hill, paths are still quite well defined,

and the concrete foundations of the various

buildings are still visible amongst the bush.

Have a look around and read the signs, and

you’ll realise how difficult life must have been.

If you continue along the road into Batchelor it is very easy

to by-pass the town proper as you reach a roundabout – turn

left to the airfields (both WWII airstrips, one is still in use, the

other is on private property and is suffering from an excess of

gamba grass) or continue right along Rum Jungle Road to the

active mine.

To visit Rum Jungle South Lake, turn around and take the

first right to Litchfield Park and after roughly

4km there is a sign off to the left. When

we visited in 1997, we came over the hill

and there was a lake in front of us, very

obviously sitting in an old mine site. Now

the shores are surrounded by trees and shade, and there is

a very pleasant shady picnic area at the far end, with varied

birdlife. Further land rehabilitation is taking place.

Back in town, if you head half-left along Tarkarri Road you

will pass the Museum (open at weekends unless by appointment)

and the castle, before arriving at the shop on your left

in view of the Tourist Information with its single bookcase book

exchange on the right. I must mention at

this point that there are plenty of maps so

you can find your way, with all the points of

interest being marked including the Mine

Manager’s house, a Sidney Williams hut

(that corrugated mainstay of WWII construction),

and other landmarks in Batchelor’s

hundred-year history.

Back up a bit – the castle! In the best tradition of eastern

European castles, Karlstein Castle sits atop a rocky ‘mountain’

like the full-sized original in Bohemia. It was a labour of love

on the part of Bernard Havlik who lived in Batchelor between

1974 and 1978 as a uranium miner. When he finished mining,

he became part of the town’s gardening team, and, being frustrated

by this rocky outcrop decided to do something about it.

It took him five years to build the castle, and he continued to

perfect and maintain it. The original castle dating from 1348 is

white, while this one from 1978 is blue.

The castle sits in a small park dedicated to Bernie, still fondly

remembered today by residents. Also named after him is the

Bernie Havlik Avenue that runs parallel to Rum Jungle and

Batchelor Roads – a double row of trees (featuring mangoes,

tamarinds, flame trees and others) with a broad grassy walk

between them.

there is a very pleasant shady

picnic area at the far end,

with varied birdlife

On the corner of the Avenue, near the roundabout and overlooking

the airfield, is a large boulder displaying several bronze

plaques commemorating WWII, The RAAF Wireless Units, a

visit by General Douglas MacArthur in in 1942, those men and

women who served locally, and the plaque for the Australian

Special Wireless Group mentioned

in Hidden Gem June/

July pp48–49.

Batchelor Outdoor

Education Unit is also off

Tarkarri Road, where your children

may end up if they go on a school camp, maybe to enjoy

kayaking in Rum Jungle South Lake.

I mentioned the two airstrips earlier – the first, easily visible

from the roundabout, is still in use and various aircraft can be

seen on the asphalt. The RAAF also used it during the biennial

Exercise Pitch Black in 2018 (2020’s exercise was cancelled).

Its claim to fame was that it is the only airstrip in the world to

cross a railway! It was originally built in the mid-1930s when

the North Australian Railway

was also active. During the war

however, it had to be extended

to allow the large USAAF bombers,

the B-17 Flying Fortresses

to land – that must have been fun for all parties involved. In

addition, many RAAF units and the Royal Netherlands East

Indies Army Airforce used it for a base for flying missions, and

the whole lot was defended by 22nd Anti-Aircraft Battery.

Karlstein Castle sits atop a

rocky ‘mountain'

Continue heading south for about 3kms and you will see

the unmaintained continuation of Coach Road heading off to

Adelaide River, while to your left is a gate (private property,

permission is required for

entry) and a track that leads

to Gould Airstrip, mainly used

by RAAF Units. The taxiways

of the two airfields connected

with each other so facilities

could be shared. Check out

Gould at the following link: https://milepegsnt.com/site/gouldfield-base-camp/.

Its claim to fame was that it is

the only airstrip in the world

to cross a railway!

Heading back towards town, you will come across the old

railway station, on your left after a couple of kilometres on

the corner of Fowler Road. There is a wide grassy area, some

rusting iron (the remains of a crane or pulley?) and a banyan

tree spreading over some concrete. On the other side of Fowler

Road, can be found a 3m-length of railway embedded in concrete.

There is plenty of accommodation in Batchelor should you

wish to spend a weekend there as Litchfield National Park with

its waterfalls and bushwalks is a short drive away.

Finally, perhaps head to the shop for a cold drink.


Regular

Why We Ride?

motorcycle

myths

unfortunately

occur

Photo by Nick Wehrli from Pexels

This is a question that most motorcyclists would have an

easy and quick answer for. It was also the title of a 2013

movie that followed on from the On Any Sunday (OAS)

series of cult movies, which captured some of the passion

of motorcycling and the camaraderie between friends and

families who ride together. The flat track racing footage

in the original OAS is still quite epic, when you consider

that the movie cameras were strapped to the side of the

riders’ open face helmets. The cameras, about the size of a

house brick, were counterbalanced by a twelve-volt battery

pack on the other side of the riders’ helmets. They were

then expected to ride at 140mph (225kmph) along the

straight and take the corners 100mph (160kmh), resulting

in them slewing sideways, around a one-mile dirt track.

The 2013 film Why We Ride movie is an 85-minute sports

documentary, packed with memorable moments, depicting

generations of motorcyclists who live each day to the fullest

on their two-wheeled machines.

Sharing their love of motorcycles, and I

was heavily influenced by Bruce Brown’s

1971 film On Any Sunday, during my

motorcycling formative years. It was then

good to see a modern depiction of

the same message, modernised in

Why We Ride.

I encourage you to ring up some of your riding buddies,

find some suitably chilled liquid refreshments, order in some

Uber Treats and spend an afternoon watching both of these

motorcycle classics and then finish the night off with On Any

Sunday – The Next Chapter, Closer to the Edge about the Isle

of Man TT Races and the Aussie Classic – Stone. Do everyone

a favour though, if alcohol is involved, Drink Responsibly and

Ride Responsibly, but remember these two elements need to

be separated by time and a limit on consumption. Also, if you

are on a restricted license – sleep over and then ride responsibly,

the next day. Your licence will thank you.

To most people who enjoy other sports or pastimes, motorcycles

make no sense; they make even less to those who have

had a previous bad experience involving a motorcycle, and in

whom this trauma still resonates. Due to these considerations,

motorcycle myths unfortunately occur, so I will set the record

straight and bust a few right now.

Bikes don’t stop any more quickly than cars, they can’t be

seen as easily, they can’t corner as quickly as cars, and for shopping,

they definitely don’t carry a week’s shopping home in

one trip. However, when you balance these negatives with the

primary positives, that they are fun, easy to park, they can be

cost effective and they are great therapy and exercise, some of

the negatives will quickly fade away.

The idea of motorcycles bringing a sense of calm and ease to

the mind, might not be apparent when you are in traffic bumper

to bumper, gridlocked in your daily passage to and from work,

whilst navigating one of our major cities’ arterials.

Thankfully our local traffic density is minimal and if you are

appropriately licensed and skilled, lane filtering is a safe and

manageable way to keep moving in slow traffic, but the ability to

find fun in anything is really an individual thing that demonstrates

one’s ability to look at life through a positive, emotionally-healthy

lens. Some riders may not find particular pleasure in riding in

cold, wet, rainy conditions ‘down south’ or in the steamy, wet,

tropical conditions, that we Top End riders face, which ironically

comes with the Territory.

In the meantime, if the weather doesn’t suit – watch

those films and documentaries!

Grom


Regular

What's On

in August and September

Please be aware that although these

dates were correct on 28 June,

events can change at short notice.

Please confirm with the organisers

before spending money or travelling

to the event.

Now running! Relay for Life Instead of being the usual

event at Gardens Oval and elsewhere across Australia, this has

become an online event ‘running’ laps of Australia! Go to the

website to see how it works and register or donate. By 28

June there were 4,114 kms to move the baton in the first

lap of Australia. www.cancercouncilfundraising.com.au/relay-for-life/

2 August Darwin Lions Mini Regatta Organised by the

combined Lions Clubs in Darwin, this year’s smaller event

features boats made from recycled drink cans and cartons.

Due to restrictions, the event will be held at the Darwin

Waterfront (not Mindil Beach!) and boats will be limited in

size. https://beercanregatta.org.au/

6–14 August Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Run by the

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation, the popularity of

this event has increased dramatically, both with the artists

and the public, since the inaugural fair in 2007. There is

an enormous range of Aboriginal art available for purchase

presented by Aboriginal-owned community arts centres –

textiles, paintings, jewellery, sculptures, weaving, dancing

displays and more. This year the event will be held online!

You will still be able to purchase works of art, but this time

from Indigenous-owned art centres online. ‘Attend’ talks

and watch demonstrations by the artists, watch dancers

from the Torres Strait and Mornington Island, or attend the

Lyons Cottage Aboriginal Bush Traders to learn about bush

foods. www.darwinaboriginalartfair.com.au

6–16 August Darwin Festival DF20 Homegrown This

event is now a 10-day celebration of the NT lifestyle featuring

online activities and live performances. Civic Park in

Darwin will yet again be transformed to a bustling site of

food and entertainment. The Lighthouse will not feature,

but there will be a replacement outdoor stage instead.

www.darwinfestival.org.au/news/darwin-festival-2020-homegrown/

26–29 August 2020 Run Larapinta Stage Race is a

four-day, four-stage trail race in the MacDonnell Ranges,

over rocky terrain and steep slopes, through the remote arid

region and the heat of central Australia. There are two races,

the Malbunka covering 130km, and the Manatjira covering

80km. Participate for the full 4 days or single stages.

www.runningcalendar.com.au/event/run-larapinta/ .

29 August SunSmart Lake Argyle Adventure Race

appears to be going ahead, registration is now open, but

if you live in NT send an email to gt@fitevents.com.au

instead. Do not officially register. You will be put on a

waiting list and if the border opens you will be registered.

More details about this energetic event involving swimming,

running, kayaking and cycling, either solo or in teams of up

to four members relay-style are available on the website.

http://www.lakeargyleadventurerace.com.au/

30 August 2020 Sunbuild Top End Gran Fondo This

first live cycle race post-COVID-19 consists of several

divisions of different distances, with the longest from

the Darwin Waterfront to Territory Wildlife Park and back.

To find out how to participate, check the website. Their

Covid Action Plan is in the process of being approved.

www.topendgrandfondo.com.au

10–13 September Katherine Bird Festival Now

back for its third year, the festival is a chance for anyone

with an interest in birds to participate in the four days

of the event. www.northernterritory.com/katherine-and-surrounds/

events/2020-katherine-bird-festival

10–13 September Red CentreNATS This three-day

event for those who love cars and the smell of them (and

burnt rubber!) is a chance for competitors from around

Australia to exhibit their ‘wheels’ and compete. The organisers

are still planning this event, although of course it could

be cancelled at short notice. Keep an eye on the website.

www.redcentrenats.com.au

11–13 September Barunga Festival in Barunga, celebrates

the anniversary of the Barunga Statement, an historic

milestone, comprising a log of claims regarding land rights,

ownership of traditional lands and self-determination. It was

written on bark and presented to the then Prime Minister

Bob Hawke by Alarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja

on 12 June 1988. Tickets required. www.barungafestival.com.au/


11–20 September Parrtjima – Lifting our Spirits

Learn about 60,000 years of stories and culture through

the medium of light and technology, with the emphasis

this year being on ‘water, cosmos and country’. Using the

natural canvas of the Outback near Alice Springs, this 2 km

long show from the red desert plains to the ancient rocks

of the MacDonnell Ranges explains the ancient culture of

the Arrernte people. www.parrtjimaaustralia.com.au

Photos: Birdlife Top End

11 September–25 October Desert Mob

MarketPlace. This year’s reduced exhibition draws together

Aboriginal art centres in Central Australia to display a wide

variety of art and crafts, with artists and art centre managers

on hand to sell, inform and inspire. The MarketPlace

is held in the Araluen Arts Centre, and will display paintings,

ceramics, prints and textile works. This is a chance to

buy original art from the exhibitors themselves. Although

this event is now in its 30th year, the official anniversary

will be held in 2021 when restrictions have lifted.

www.desart.com.au/desert-mob/

24 September–4 October Alice Springs Desert

Festival, www.northernterritory.com/alice-springs-and-surrounds/

events/desert-festival

26 September Darwin to Saumlaki Yacht Race departing

at 10:00am. Organised by the Darwin Sailing Club, this

race covers 283 nm between Darwin and the Tanimbar

Islands of Indonesia. Registration closes 24 August.

www.dwnsail.com.au/sailing/regattas-and-events/darwin-saumlaki/

26 September–3 October Kakadu Bird Week

Kakadu is home to more than a third of Australia’s bird

species, and so is a paradise for bird lovers. Meet traditional

owners, Parks Australia and local birding specialists to celebrate

the Top End’s diverse birdlife. Take part in free bird

activities and join expert-guided tours. www.northernterritory.

com/kakadu-and-surrounds/events/kakadu-bird-week-2020

Cancellations

Alice Springs Marathon and Half Marathon

www.runningcalendar.com.au/event/alice-springs-running-festival/

Alice Springs Rotary Henley on Todd Regatta

www.henleyontodd.com.au/

Garma Festival in Nhulunbuy.

Tickets bought for 2020 will be valid for 2021.

www.yyf.com.au/pages/?ParentPageID=116&PageID=208

Skills, Employment and Careers Expo

www.business.nt.gov.au/business-events/skills,-employment-and-careersexpo

Spice Islands Darwin Ambon Yacht Race www.darwinambonrace.

com.au/

For more information, and to find out about other

events in the region during 2020, check the Tourism

Top End website

www.tourismtopend.com.au/events.

Also check the websites for the different city and

town councils. This list is far from complete, and please

be aware that although these dates were correct at the

time of writing, you are advised to confirm them.


Feature

The Top Ender Magazine

Servicing the Defence Community for 25 Years

First Cover

Second Cover


Celebrating!

Extracts from the very first Top Ender edition:


Regular

Cadets

Cadets go on Camp

The AFX Camp was the first cadet activity since the start of

the shutdown due to COVID-19 in March. It was hosted

by the Army Cadets, and included 150 tri-service children,

mainly from army families.

The week-long event was held at Defence Establishment

Berrimah, and the cadets learnt how to shoot, camp and live

on ration packs at Coomalie Creek.

Senior cadets in the Navy, Army and Airforce ran team-building

and survival exercises, while attended by adults from each

unit to oversee the activities and behaviour. No mobile phones

or external communication were allowed unless there was an

emergency.

Leading Seaman Jemma Beyer

Senior leader of TS Darwin | RAN Cadets

New contact details

803 SQN AAFC

Mobile: 0429 721 694


Feature

A Rusty Iron Float

POEM

The Tyger

By William Blake

Tyger, tyger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand and what dread feet?

After a visit to Doctor’s Gully Peel’s Well (see p46), or perhaps you’ve been

feeding the fish at Aquascene, stand in the carpark facing up the hill, and

over on your left by the side fence of Aquascene is a large cylindrical drum

with a hole running through it. This is one of the floats or buoys that kept

the boom net across the harbour during

The net was some

6km long, in fact

the longest in the

world

World War II in position. A plaque upon

its side also commemorates the Catalina

Squadrons that moored in the sheltered

water of the bay.

In 1939, it was decided that Darwin was

one of five major ports needing antisubmarine

defences in the form of boom nets to

protect ships in their harbours. The Darwin boom net was started in 1940 but

not completed until 1942. The net was some 6km long, in fact the longest in the

world, and stretched from Dudley Point, just metres south of East Point, across the

harbour to West Point on the Mandorah side. Near the centre of the boom there

was a ‘gate’ to let ships pass in and out of the harbour. It was suspended on the

surface by steel buoys and pinned to the

suspended on the

surface by steel

buoys and pinned

to the bottom by 5-

and 8-ton concrete

‘clumps’

bottom by 5- and 8-ton concrete ‘clumps’

or blocks.

Today, when you look across the sparkling

blue waters from East Point towards

Mandorah, it is hard to imagine what a

massive and complex operation the boom

net was in 1942 and the number of ships

required to tend it.

HMAS Kangaroo, Kara Kara, Karangi and

Koompartoo patrolled the net and operated the gate. Other floats can be seen at

Darwin Military Museum at East Point.

What the hammer? what the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? What dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Did He smile His work to see?

Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tyger, Tyger, burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

Born in Soho, London in November 1757,

William Blake was mainly taught at home

by his mother. He had his first vision aged

four and continued to experience them for

the rest of his life. These, coupled with his

love of the Bible and intense spirituality,

inspired and influenced his writing and art.

He studied art and engraving, and finished

his apprenticeship as a journeyman copy

engraver in 1779, and married Catherine

Boucher a few years later. During his

lifetime his works were met with varying

degrees of success and one reviewer

went so far as to label him a lunatic. He

died in 1827 of an ‘illness that has no

name’. The Tyger was first published in

Songs of Experience in 1794 as a ‘contrary

poem’ paired with The Lamb in Songs of

Innocence in 1789.


Regular

Hidden Gem – Peel’s Well

Doctor’s Gully is, as we all know, one of Darwin’s iconic

tourist attractions, a ‘must do’ for families and children

of all ages. At high tides, a multitude of fish of all kinds

comes in for a free feed supplied by visitors, it’s a sort

of ‘fishy takeaway’ but the customers tend to gorge the

donated goodies as fast as they can!

So, where is this hidden gem? Rather

overshadowed by the fish feeding activities

and other attractions, there is a signposted

diversion and pathway, often missed, to

Peel’s Well. It’s a short walk from the end

of the Esplanade up Daly Street and left

into Doctor’s Gully Road. Ahead of you, on

the corner 100m ahead, passing the YMCA building on your

left, there is a small sign and a steep staircase and path down

through the remaining rainforest. For the non-walkers, the Tour

Tub bus calls there frequently from town.

The walk on a bright dry season morning is filled with cool

green shade and brilliant dappled light

filtering through the tall trees meeting overhead.

There is a rusty brown creek of the

sort you wouldn’t want to paddle in, and

as the path turns towards the sea, on the

far side of the creek is a rather nondescript

concrete-sided square well – Peel’s Well

– ‘functional’ is the word that springs to

mind. Continuing down the slope the path

eventually comes out behind Aquascene. Cross the carpark,

admire the rusty debris on the beach, remnants of World War

II and then walk up the path back to the Esplanade.


is a small sign and a

steep staircase and

path down through

the remaining

rainforest

The Gully has, since the settlement of Darwin, had a variety

of uses, now as a tourist attraction, as a World War II base for

Catalina flying boats and later as the base for Carl Atkins’ early

harbour salvage operations after the war ended. It is said that

he started attracting the fish to the Gully with kitchen scraps.

But why the names Doctor’s Gully and

Peel’s Well?

Going back to Darwin’s beginning as

‘Palmerston’, the one thing which was

essential for life was water, resident settlers

needed water and any visiting ship would

need to fill their drinking water tanks for the

journey home. When Goyder’s overland

telegraph survey party arrived in February

1869, one of its first tasks was to find a reliable water source.

Searching in the paperbark forest above the Gully, the survey

party doctor, Doctor Robert Peel, discovered a freshwater spring

providing ample and constant supply. The area around the

spring was cleared, the locality became colloquially known as

Doctor’s Gully and the well, Peel’s Well,

both after the good doctor!

on the far side of

the creek is a rather

nondescript concretesided

square well –

Peel’s Well

Health was a priority for the early settlers

and Darwin’s first hospital built on the

headland, immediately north of the Gully.

Fresh sea air and a water supply were

essential to those early patients and staff

who battled malaria and the many injuries

that resulted in the heavy work of establishing

what became Darwin Town.

In 1873, Lindsay Crawford impressed with the quality of the

water opened a brewery making beer and soft drinks, although


Four Warships visit Darwin

Feature

´ HMAS Arunta and Stuart

² HMAS Canberra, amphibious assault ship.

³ HMAS Hobart, guided missile destroyer.

In late June and early July, four RAN ship were seen down at the wharf. What

were they up to?

They were part of a joint task force on the way to RimPac 2020 (an international coalition exercise), which was being

hosted in Hawaii. HMAS Arunta and Stuart (both Anzac class frigates) HMAS Canberra (largest ship in RAN fleet)

and HMAS Hobart (newest addition to RAN Fleet) all docked in Darwin to restock and refuel before heading off across

the Pacific to Hawaii. In addition, members of 1 Aviation Regiment from Robertson barracks are also attending RimPac,

and their aircraft together with the ships will attend as a joint task group. In Darwin four ARH Tiger reconnaissance

helicopters were loaded aboard amphibious assault ship HMAS Canberra.


Peter

Cavanagh

PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND TAX AGENTS

Over 40 years local knowledge &

experience in the tax industry

PALMERSTON

Shop 8 Palmerston Shopping Centre

email: palmerston@petercavanagh.com.au

CASUARINA

Unit 3 / 289 Trower Road, Casuarina

email: casuarina@petercavanagh.com.au

• Most refunds back in 14 days

• Electronic lodgements of

all Tax Returns

• Late lodgements available

8932 4522

Fax 8932 4292

8945 7455

Fax 8927 5521

“Continuing to support Defence staff by providing an honest

professional service in a language that can be understood”

MARK WINN formerly at

RAAF BASE SERVICE STATION

PHONE: 8981 4630

FAX: 8941 2124 PO Box 39872 WINNELLIE 0821


... and for the Toddlers

Make a model caterpillar

You will need

» Sheets of brightly coloured light card, or thick paper

» White card

» Black card

» Scissors

» Glue

» Cups or jam jar lids and bottle tops as templates for the

various body parts.

Method

1. Draw around a cup as a guide and cut between 6 and 12

discs from the brightly coloured thick paper or light card

(these will be the segments of the caterpillar).

2. Using a jam jar lid cut a larger disc (the head) from coloured

paper.

3. Draw small circles (using bottle tops) and cut out the eyes

from white card .

4. Draw 2 small circles on black card (or empty out your paper

punch) to make the pupils of the caterpillar’s eyes.

5. Cut 6 narrow oblongs from the black card as legs.

6. Cut two long, thin pieces of card for the antennae.

7. Starting from the tail, apply some glue to about a quarter

of the width of the circle, place another circle on top, so it

overlaps and sticks firm.

8. Repeat with the other discs of paper, leaving the head until

last. Depending on where you apply the glue, your caterpillar

can be straight or curved.

9. Glue on the whites of the eyes, then the black pupils.

10. Glue on the antennae.

11. Glue a leg to the front and back of each of the first three

segments.

12. Admire.

13. Make a large cardboard apple or leaf (I’ll leave the design

up to you!) for the caterpillar to eat. Cut a slot in it and feed

the caterpillar through.

continued from page 46 | Peel’s Well

it closed due to his ill health and was up for sale by early 1874.

The site of the brewery is no longer visible.

The value of a reliable water supply was also recognised

by three Chinese residents, the Ah Cheong brothers, who

quickly cleared the fertile soil and established a highly successful

market garden. This supplied Darwin residents and

importantly, the hospital, with fresh fruit and vegetables. The

brothers gained a formal lease over the garden area in March

1875 and returned to China, probably quite rich, in 1920.

Some remains of the original Chinese jetty are still visible at

very low tides. The lease was then transferred to George and

Stella Carrol who ran the market garden operations until they

were evacuated after the bombing of Darwin in 1942.

After that, the gardens became run down and became a

military storage area. Whatever fresh vegetables were needed

by the military and civil residents came from newly established

gardens further inland, as far away as Adelaide River township.

Remnants of both the Catalina base and Carl Atkins salvage

base still remain littered over the beach you pass through when

visiting the Gully and Well.

The Well was officially gazetted as the town water supply

in 1877 and although now heritage listed, is sadly in need of

some restoration. However, it is well worth visiting as an essential

historic ingredient in the development of today’s city.

Lt Col Mike Bowman (Ret’d)


Feature

Tiger Battalion Commemorates the Battle of Binh Ba

With New Unit Mascot

´ Private Quintus Durga in her home at Crocodylus Park.

She is the fifth tiger to hold the position of mascot.

² Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew

Dirago (left, with folder) and Crocodylus Park Zookeeper, Dani Greenwood, address guests at the enlistment

of the new unit mascot Private Quintus Durga

³ Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, The Royal

Australian Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Dirago

conducts the enlistment ceremony of the unit’s new

mascot Private Quintus Durga (top left)

Photos: Lance Corporal Brendan Austin | © Commonwealth of

Australia, Department of Defence

Darwin’s 5th Battalion, The Royal

Australian Regiment (5 RAR) is

commemorating the Battle of

Binh Ba through a series of events

including the enlistment of a new

unit mascot.

Bengal tiger Quintus Durga was officially enlisted into the

Australian Army in a small military service at Crocodylus

Park on Wednesday, 10 June.

Commanding Officer 5 RAR, Lieutenant Colonel Matthew

Dirago, said that the ceremony coincided with the 51st anniversary

of the Vietnam War’s Battle of Binh Ba (6–7 June 1969).

“It is only fitting that we welcome our new mascot during this

special anniversary, which illustrates the Battalion’s remarkable

history and fighting spirit,” Lieutenant Colonel Dirago said.

The Battalion completed two successful tours of Vietnam

and fought in the Battle of Binh Ba, the most significant battle

in the Battalion's history involving fierce close-quarter fighting.

It was on the Battalion’s return from their first tour that

the tradition of a unit mascot began. Lt Col Dirago explained,



Dining

Curled Ice Cream

Since the first article for Shopping and Dining, this page

has always featured a conventional shop or restaurant.

In the aftermath of COVID-19 in the Territory, we head

outdoors to introduce you to Curled Ice Cream that frequents

some of the popular areas around the Darwin area.

Positioned on the southern end of Sattler airstrip on a

sunny Sunday afternoon, the trailer is hard to miss. Added

to that is the advantage of being able to pull off the Stuart

Highway easily, even if you miss the first turn-off, and of

course there is ample room for parking! I have sampled

Raspberry, Salted Caramel and Chocolate flavours, and the

taste and texture have to be experienced.

Curled Ice Cream is a 100% Darwin developed, owned and

operated business. Craig and Darlene Finck created Curled Ice

Cream in September 2016 after coming across the Thai Rolled

Ice Cream machines whilst on holiday in Malaysia. They have

been operating at markets, events and roadside stops ever

since, creating their delicious Curled Ice Cream delights.

Craig and Darlene are long term Top End Residents. Although

they grew up two hours apart in Victoria, they met in Timber

Creek in 1997. They worked in remote Top End communities

for nine years and started a family before moving to Darwin.

Once in Darwin they fell in love with the vibrant market food

scene and Curled Ice Cream enabled them to become part of it.

Curled Ice Cream makes its ice creams from their all-natural

ice cream mixture on cold plates kept at minus 20 degrees right

Curled Ice Cream

is a 100% Darwin

developed, owned

and operated business

in front of you as you order. Darlene and Craig created their

own recipe because they wanted their ice cream to be creamy,

decadent, and most importantly, natural. Their ice cream mix

contains no preservatives, fillers, colours or artificial flavourings.

It is also gluten free.

When you order your ice cream the Curled Ice Cream artisans

pour the base mixture onto the plate before adding your

chosen flavours. Then they use their paddles to chop and blend

Where to find Curled Ice Cream

Nightcliff Esplanade

Chapman Road Carpark on Thursday (4 to 8.30pm)

Zuccoli

IGA on Friday (4 to 8pm)

Malak Market

Saturday (4 to 9pm)

Sattler Airstrip

(3.5km south of Coolalinga traffic lights)

Sunday (12 to 5pm)

For a truly Territorian taste treat try Curled Ice Cream!



continued from page 50 | Private Quintus Durga

“Quintus Durga joins a line of striped mascots since the Battalion first

received a Sumatran cub named Quintus from Taronga Park Zoo

following its initial tour of Vietnam in 1967”.

More recently, 5 RAR has maintained a longstanding partnership

with Crocodylus Park, which has been the home to the

unit’s mascot since 2004.

In an interview before Quintus Durga enlisted, Lt Col

Dirago said, “We greatly appreciate Crocodylus Park allowing

their tiger to join the Army,” adding, “We are looking

forward to welcoming Quintus Durga as the mascot of the

‘Tiger Battalion’ and helping with her care and upkeep at

Crocodylus Park. Our ongoing relationship with this Darwin

cultural institution is a great way for us to engage with the

local community".

Earlier in the week, 5 RAR soldiers and officers attended

another important ceremony at St Mary’s Star of the Sea

Catholic Cathedral in central Darwin where two new brass

plaques were unveiled to accompany the Battalion’s Queen’s and

Regimental Colours, which are now on display in the Cathedral.

The Colours were laid up in the Cathedral after being replaced for

the 50th Anniversary of the Battle last year. Placing the plaques in the

Cathedral shares the history of 5 RAR with the local community, creating

an opportunity for the public to remain connected to the men and women

who served under the Colours.

Captain Rebecca Griffith

continued from page 51 | Curled Ice Cream

the ice cream to the point at which it is frozen enough to be

spread thinly on the plate. The paddles are then used to scrape

up the ice cream creating their signature curls. Food and a show!

Curled Ice Cream has ten regular flavours: Mint Condition,

Mango Madness (using local mango of course), Milo, Double

Choc, Salted Caramel, Oreo Garmi, Coffee Chilled, Nutta Butta

(Nutella® and peanut butter), Raspberry and Choconana

(banana and Nutella®). Curled also makes the coffee, chocolate

and salted caramel fudges used in making the above flavours.

Darlene and Craig have also created a coconut milk version

suitable for vegans, those with lactose intolerance and paleo

followers, as well as those whose cultural/religious beliefs preclude

the consumption of milk. The vegan Mango Curls created

with the locally sourced mango are divine.

Keep an eye on their Facebook page (Curledicecream) for

their pop-up events and their limited special flavours such as

Ferrero Rocher Curls, Lemon Cheesecake Curls and Rum ’n’

Raisin Curls. Their contact details are listed on the page if you

are interested in booking them for private events.


Regular

From the Vet

Emergencies –

a trip to the vet may well

save your vet!

Like humans, there are many diseases and injuries from

which your pet may suffer that should be seen to by a

vet. A good rule of thumb is: if you’d take yourself to the

doctor with the problem your pet has, then take it to the

vet! Usually, a trip to the vet for one of these problems is

not life-threateningly urgent but there are times when pet

owners need to make the distinction that their animal is

suffering severely and delaying the visit to see the vet is not

an option. Determining whether something is an emergency

or not (especially when it

is 3am!) can be difficult,

especially when your pet

cannot talk. Luckily in

Darwin, there is always a

vet on call for emergencies

whom you can ring for advice to determine if your pet’s

current situation is just that!

True emergencies, normally cause pain, life-threatening

effects or both. If not attended to properly or complications

develop, all have the potential to lead to dire consequences.

When reading through the following list of common emergencies

for which pets should see a vet immediately, try to imagine that

it is you or your pet with one of these conditions. Would you

have already been heading

straight to the hospital

(maybe even in an ambulance!),

GP or vet rather

than giving it a second

thought? If you answered

yes, you are doing the right

thing by you and your pet’s wellbeing!

in Darwin, there is

always a vet on call

for emergencies

call your veterinary

clinic first (even

if you are on the

way)

In the event that your animal shows any of the signs below,

call your veterinary clinic first (even if you are on the way). This

is even more important outside of business hours, as in Darwin,

there are no 24-hour clinics, only a 24-hour, on-call service, so

the vet will need time to get to the clinic. They will be able to

triage the problem over the phone and determine how quickly

your animal needs to be seen.

Major emergency reasons to call or take your pet to

the vet (some very Top End specific*) as soon as possible:

1. Bleeding

2. Choking, retching, difficulty breathing, or non-stop coughing

or gagging

3. Unable to urinate or pass faeces or obvious pain when trying

4. Sudden onset bloated abdomen

5. Overheating*

6. Pregnant animal in labour who is having contractions but

not producing any babies

7. Attacked or bitten by another animal (e.g. dog, cat, snake*,

crocodile*, pig*, buffalo*)

8. Any injury or abnormality of the eye(s)

9. Suspected ingestion of a poison (e.g. rat bait, snail bait) or

foreign object (e.g. fish hook, toy)

10. Seizuring/staggering

11. Collapsed, inability to move legs, severe lameness or suspected

broken bone

12. Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety

13. Severe vomiting and/or diarrhoea

14. Will not/cannot eat or drink

15. Unconsciousness

16. Known to have been hit by a car (with or without external injury)

17. Increased salivation (e.g. Cane toad poisoning* – if your pet is

not yet vomiting or seizuring, the vet will mostly likely tell you to

wash their mouth out with a wet cloth for 10–15 mins before

coming into the clinic).*

The above list is not exhaustive, so if ever you are in doubt

of the severity of an issue with your pet, talk to your clinic or

an on-call vet. They will be able to help you grade the urgency

of the problem. It is always better to be safe than sorry!

Dr Kate Daymond

Litchfield Vet Hospital

1

The information in this article has been

adapted from the Australian Veterinary

Association (AVA) Covid-19 Working Group

client fact sheet. For more information go

to https://www.vetvoice.com.au/articles/

advice-to-pet-owners-during-covid-19-from-the-australian-veterinaryassociation


Feature

Overland Telegraph

´ Lameroo beach, Darwin

´ Lyon’s Cottage, or BAT House, Darwin

What is regarded as one of Australia’s

greatest engineering feats reached

completion 128 years ago this month, on

22 August 1872. This was the Overland

Telegraph that opened up Australian

communications to Europe by reducing

the time for correspondence from around

three months to seven hours. Australia was

suddenly able to learn current news and

keep up to date with world affairs.

Where did the telegraph run? Where in the

Territory can you see the remnants?

The project was overseen by Charles Todd, after whose wife Alice,

Alice Springs was named [their great-great-granddaughter Alice

Thomson, a British journalist wrote about the project in her book The

Singing Line (Anchor Books: 2000)]. The Overland Telegraph, funded

by South Australia, was completed in just under two years, which

when you consider the difficulties of supplying equipment, food and

water for the workmen in the harsh conditions that they faced, and

the distances involved, was nothing short of extraordinary.

from

Banyuwangi

at the eastern

tip of Java to

the nearest

capital city some

1,861km away

Charles Todd had already connected

Victoria to Adelaide by telegraph. The

nearest cable from Europe was in Java,

Indonesia, and it was decided to connect

this to Australia by running a cable

beneath the sea from Banyuwangi at

the eastern tip of Java to the nearest

capital city some 1,861km away, which

happened to be Palmerston in the

Northern Territory. The South Australian

Government agreed to finance the

3,200km overland part of the telegraph provided that the British Australian

Telegraph Company managed the submarine part. Agreement reached

between both parties, with everyone happy, the work began with surveying

the route.

The first leg, Adelaide to Port Augusta, had already been completed

in 1856, which left two more sections, Port Augusta to Alice Springs and

Alice Springs to Port Darwin (the port area of the town of Palmerston).

Before work began though, the land had to be surveyed so that the

route could avoid hills and swamps while having access to plenty of

wood and adequate water. Due to time constraints – 18 months having


Refrigeration

was non-existent

so dinner ‘on

the hoof’ was

supplied

been allowed for the line’s construction

to be completed by 1 January 1872 – the

surveying team wasn’t very far ahead of

the construction team. Refrigeration was

non-existent so dinner ‘on the hoof’ was

supplied, with cattle being slaughtered

when required. After completion of the

telegraph line, supply of the repeater stations

with fresh meat remained an ongoing problem, and cattle and sheep

were transported regularly to supply the telegraph operators.

The surveying trip followed John MacDouall Stuart’s route from his 1862

expedition as much as possible. It was while finding a way through the

MacDonnell Ranges that William W Mills, the sub-overseer of Sub-section

C of the project, found the landmark now known as Simpsons Gap. He

named the sandy riverbed after Charles Todd, and the largest of the

waterholes after Alice Todd. Alice Springs Telegraph Station subsequently

became the heart of development in the area.

The first pole at the northern end of the Overland Telegraph was

planted on 15 September 1870, and

The first pole

of the Overland

Telegraph was

planted on 15

September

1870, and there

were 36,000 of

them

there were 36,000 of them (placed

80m apart), each one topped with an

insulator on which the cable could sit.

At the southern end in Stirling near

Port Augusta, the first pole went in two

weeks later. The line, a single, galvanised,

8 gauge (approx. 4mm diameter)

iron wire, weighed over 300 tonnes,

and that had to be transported too,

along with pins, tools and the wherewithal

to anchor each pole firmly in the

ground with the telegraph line securely

attached. Add in tents and basic food supplies for the workmen, and the

logistics were a mammoth operation. Subsequently a second wire, of

copper, was added in 1899, and then a further copper wire was added in

1941. The total cost was $676,120, about double the original estimate.

The undersea cable arrived in Darwin and was hauled up Lameroo

(Daem-Ro) Beach just below the

the final join

was made

on 22 August

1872 (almost 8

months behind

schedule) at

Frew’s Ponds

Esplanade in Darwin on 18 November

1871 and was connected the next day.

Work on the southern and central

sections went well, but the northern

section from Darwin southwards ran

into problems in November of 1870

when rainfall of up to 10” (250mm) /

day caused flooding and waterlogging.

The men were plagued by mosquitoes,

suffered disease and finally complained

about the rancid food. They were

sacked and shipped back to Adelaide. The northern section, of which only

362km of poles and 208km of wire had been constructed, was divided

into four and the parts were worked on separately until the final join was

made on 22 August 1872 (almost 8 months behind schedule) at Frew’s

Ponds, 35km south of Dunmurra and 640km south of Darwin. The site is

now called Frew Ponds Overland Telegraph Line Memorial Reserve, and

1600m east is the memorial to Charles Todd and some telegraph poles

(altered to carry telephone lines).


´ Katherine Telegraph Station

´ Katherine, Tower to keep wire out of the river

´ Charles Todd Memorial


Regular

Craig's Fishing

² The Sardine Squirrel is a crowd

favourite in our billabongs.

´ Craig with a very nice Darwin Harbour Golden Snapper.

How Good is This?!!

With the weather absolute bliss, it’s no surprise that the

bluewater fishing has exploded. Talk about quality

… big Jewfish are abundant on the inshore and offshore

reefs at the moment, with the biggest nudging 140cm last

week! Even the land-based anglers at Dundee beach are

hauling them in during the high tides. Night-time has again

proved to be the best time to catch them around the Darwin

Harbour Reefs and Wrecks, and fresh squid baits have been

the go. Positive reports have also come from the new FADs

placed 20-odd kilometres offshore from Nightcliff.

Personally, I’ve had a cracking year on Golden Snapper and

they have all come close to home. I like to fish rubbly ground

off Emery Point and Six Mile Buoy. Again, night-time is best and

60gm Slow Rocker jigs have been irresistible to 60+cm models.

Out wide, the Sailfish have been scarce; however, the windy

conditions certainly haven’t helped. As the wind eases, expect

to see better results.

As usual, the cooler temperatures have slowed the Barra

fishing a little, although Darwin and Bynoe Harbour Flats are

still returning nice fish to 75cm. Junior B52’s, Rapala 8cm Flat

Raps and the NEW 90mm Samaki Redic minnow are my go-to

lures for these locations. The large flats at Shoal Bay is always

a great option this time of year as the shallow water does tend

to keep the water temperature up a little bit, hence some nice

fish to 88cm reported of late.

Surprisingly, Hardys and Corroboree Billabongs are both

returning some fun fishing with Saratoga and Barra caught mainly

on the rockbars during early morning and the Jackall Squirrel79

in Sardine colour was the best for me.

Get into Craig’s in preparation for your next outing …

we will give you the very latest info on what’s happening

and where.

Craig Grosvenor

Craig’s Fishing Warehouse

present this voucher at

Craig’s Fishing Warehouse

to receive 25% off all lures instore!

CRAIG'S FISHING WAREHOUSE – Shop 2 | 1 Berrimah Road | Truck City | Berrimah

Phone: 8947 4867 Email: sales@craigsfishingwarehouse.com.au


e

m

4 5.15

7 3.74

8 4.96

4 2.42

2 5.53

8 3.64

7 5.06

2 2.09

6 5.97

2 3.40

1 5.32

1 1.73

1 6.38

8 3.12

4 5.64

6 1.38

3 6.75

8 2.84

5 5.96

8 1.08

4 7.05

6 2.57

5 6.26

7 0.87

3 7.25

5 2.33

6 6.49

6 0.78

0 7.35

7 2.12

9 6.61

3 0.85

4 7.34

1 1.97

7 6.61

2 1.10

8 7.20

6 1.89

7 6.47

1 1.52

1 6.95

5 1.88

1 6.23

3 2.07

6 6.59

6 1.93

2 5.93

1 2.68

4 6.15

4 2.01

1 5.65

2 3.26

2 5.70

2 2.06

7 5.53

9 3.64

3 5.32

0 1.99

Regular

What’s the tide doin’

Teen

NORTH COAST – DARWIN 2020 AUSTRALIA, NORTH COAST – DARWIN

TIMES AND HEIGHTS 2020 OF HIGH AND LOW WATERS | TIME ZONE – 0930 LAT 12° 28ʼ S LONG 130° 51ʼ E

202

Scene

Time Zone –0930

Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Time Zone –

August

September

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m Time m T

0442 6.14 0431 5.77 0614 6.79 0537 6.81 0004 1.86 0536 7.18 0031 2.25 0026 2.08 0033 2.75 0

1 1044 3.40 16 1029 3.61 1 1229 2.39 16 1146 2.44 1 0615 6.84 16 1158 1.31 1 0615 6.73 16 0601 7.26 1 0602 6.44 16 0

SA 1600 5.40 SU 1552 5.00 TU 1753 6.10 WE 1722 6.27 TH 1234 1.78 FR 1759 7.24 SU 1247 1.13 MO 1247 0.12 TU 1247 1.00 WE 1

2256 1.52 2240 1.97

2358 1.25 1822 6.71

1906 7.24 1917 7.98 1921 7.31 1

0541 6.56

2 1145 3.02

SU 1655 5.70

2348 1.28

0628 6.89

3 1231 2.67

MO 1743 6.00

0032 1.11

4 0709 7.10

TU 1309 2.39

1826 6.24

0111 1.04

5 0744 7.19

WE 1343 2.18

1907 6.40

0145 1.09

6 0815 7.17

TH 1416 2.06

1946 6.45

0216 1.26

7 0841 7.05

FR 1447 2.02

2023 6.40

0243 1.54

8 0903 6.87

SA 1518 2.04

2059 6.25

0307 1.90

9 0924 6.62

SU 1549 2.12

2136 6.02

0331 2.31

10 0944 6.32

MO 1623 2.24

2216 5.74

0400 2.78

11 1006 5.94

TU 1703 2.41

2303 5.44

0442 3.26

12 1031 5.52

WE 1751 2.58

0002 5.18

13 0549 3.71

TH 1106 5.09

1852 2.69

0121 5.06

14 0718 3.99

FR 1217 4.70

2013 2.66

0319 5.29

15 0902 3.94

SA 1433 4.64

2136 2.39

17

MO

18

TU

19

WE

20

TH

21

FR

22

SA

23

SU

24

MO

25

TU

26

WE

27

TH

28

FR

29

SA

30

SU

0520 6.28

1120 3.20

1642 5.49

2331 1.52

0605 6.75

1201 2.76

1727 6.00

0015 1.10

0645 7.17

1240 2.31

1811 6.48

0056 0.81

0723 7.48

1319 1.87

1855 6.85

0133 0.69

0758 7.64

1358 1.50

1940 7.09

0209 0.78

0829 7.63

1438 1.23

2026 7.14

0244 1.09

0858 7.47

1518 1.11

2112 7.00

0319 1.60

0926 7.15

1600 1.18

2200 6.68

0357 2.24

0954 6.68

1645 1.43

2252 6.23

0438 2.94

1025 6.10

1736 1.80

2354 5.75

0538 3.60

1106 5.46

1842 2.18

0120 5.42

0725 4.00

1229 4.87

2014 2.38

0321 5.55

0949 3.82

1458 4.81

2148 2.25

0441 6.00

1110 3.29

1617 5.21

2256 1.95

0024 1.43

2 0648 7.02

WE 1259 2.07

1831 6.43

0056 1.32

3 0718 7.14

TH 1326 1.84

1906 6.66

0125 1.31

4 0742 7.16

FR 1352 1.67

1938 6.77

0150 1.43

5 0803 7.09

SA 1417 1.58

2009 6.77

0212 1.66

6 0821 6.96

SU 1443 1.56

2039 6.66

0234 1.97

7 0838 6.75

MO 1509 1.63

2111 6.47

0255 2.34

8 0856 6.45

TU 1540 1.80

2145 6.20

0320 2.78

9 0914 6.06

WE 1614 2.08

2225 5.86

0352 3.27

10 0930 5.62

TH 1655 2.40

2315 5.51

0449 3.77

11 0949 5.15

FR 1751 2.71

0024 5.22

12 0628 4.13

SA 1021 4.67

1913 2.88

0220 5.22

13 0842 4.08

SU 1358 4.39

2102 2.71

0402 5.70

14 1025 3.61

MO 1543 4.91

2219 2.24

0454 6.27

15 1108 3.04

TU 1636 5.59

2313 1.71

17

TH

18

FR

19

SA

20

SU

21

MO

22

TU

23

WE

24

TH

25

FR

26

SA

27

SU

28

MO

29

TU

30

WE

0617 7.27

1224 1.82

1808 6.87

0038 0.95

0652 7.60

1302 1.25

1853 7.34

0114 0.87

0724 7.75

1338 0.80

1937 7.60

0149 1.02

0751 7.73

1415 0.53

2020 7.64

0222 1.38

0819 7.53

1453 0.51

2102 7.43

0257 1.92

0846 7.15

1532 0.75

2145 7.01

0333 2.57

0914 6.60

1613 1.23

2233 6.44

0414 3.24

0945 5.92

1701 1.86

2331 5.85

0521 3.85

1023 5.17

1807 2.48

0054 5.41

0739 4.09

1226 4.50

1951 2.83

0307 5.49

1015 3.58

1523 4.77

2140 2.71

0424 5.92

1103 2.97

1626 5.35

2245 2.38

0509 6.32

1139 2.47

1710 5.90

2329 2.08

0545 6.63

1208 2.08

1748 6.35

5 5.73

0532 6.44

8 3.67 31 1154 2.79

7 5.22

MO 1710 5.68

4 1.78

2345 1.65

The Bureau of Meteorology gives no warranty of any kind whether express, implied, statutory or

otherwise in respect to the availability, accuracy, currency, completeness, quality or reliability of the

information or that the information will be fit for any particular purpose or will not infringe any third party

Intellectual Property rights. The Bureau's liability for any loss, damage, cost or expense resulting from use

of, or reliance on, the information is entirely excluded. Tidal predictions for Northern Territory Ports are

l Moonsupplied by the National Last Tidal Centre Quarter of the Bureau of Meteorology, copyright reserved.

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2016 represented by the Bureau of Meteorology

Moon Symbols New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Last Quarter

Tides provided with permission of NT Government, Department of Transport

https://nt.gov.au/marine/for-all-harbour-and-boat-users/check-the-tides/tidal-information-nt-ports

2

FR

3

SA

4

SU

5

MO

6

TU

7

WE

8

TH

9

FR

10

SA

11

SU

12

MO

13

TU

14

WE

15

TH

0013 1.42 0056 2.26

17 0611 7.48 2 0637 6.77 17

Career SA 1236 Pathways 0.71 MO 1313 0.99 – TU

1844 7.71 1936 7.29

A Warning 0050 1.38

18 to 0121 Newbies

2.34

0642 7.61 3 0659 6.72 18

0033 1.73

0640 6.97

1257 1.53

1854 6.95

0059 1.71

0701 7.02

1321 1.33

1924 7.08

A warning: 1928 for 7.94those of 2004 you 7.24newly 2040 arrived 7.69 from the

United Kingdom, 0125 1.54 don’t assume 0147 2.49 that career 0225 pathways 2.64 are

19 0711 7.58 4 0723 6.58 19 0750 6.70 4

the same MOin 1349 Australia 0.11 as WE‘back 1408 1.11 there’. THIf 1445 you are 0.76interested FR in

2009 7.92 2034 7.09 2121 7.29

pursuing a trade, there are VET (Vocational Educational Training)

0201 1.86 0216 2.70 0311 2.97

courses 20 available

0741 7.37

here in 5secondary 0747 6.35

schools, 20 0829

whereas

6.20 5similar

courses might TU 1427 only 0.24 be available TH 1437 at 1.37 sixth form FR 1526 colleges 1.40 in SA the UK.

2050 7.65 2106 6.86 2205 6.80

Check with your school’s Careers Advisor about your aims to

0238 2.32 0248 2.99 0406 3.32

ensure that 21you 0813 don’t 6.96waste 6 time, 0812 effort 6.02 21 and 0914 money 5.61going 6in the

WE 1506 0.65 FR 1508 1.74 SA 1611 2.11 SU

wrong direction because you didn’t realise what was available.

0122 1.78

0718 7.00

1344 1.20

1952 7.10

0144 1.95

0737 6.91

1408 1.18

2021 7.02

0207 2.19

0756 6.73

1436 1.28

2050 6.85

0318 2.86 0326 3.33

22 0845 6.39 7 0839 5.63 22

Skills,

TH 1547 1.28

2218 Employment

SA 1545 2.18 SU

6.61 2227 6.21

0405 3.41 0421 3.67

and 23 Careers

0920 5.69 8Expo

0914 5.19 23

0232 2.51

0816 6.44

1505 1.52

2121 6.59

0259 2.89

0834 6.07

1535 1.87

2159 6.25

This very

2312

popular

6.03

and

2324

well-attended

5.88

event that

travels around

0525 3.86

the NT has

0545

been

3.89

cancelled

0056 5.64

24

for 2020.

1010 4.94 9 1024 4.73 24 0827 3.28 9

Instead, go SAto 1739 the 2.74 website MO www.business.nt.gov.au/business-events/

1751 3.00 TU 1417 4.82 WE

1951 3.51

skills,-employment-and-careers-expo and follow the various links.

0332 3.32

0851 5.63

1611 2.30

2244 5.86

0423 3.77

0912 5.16

1704 2.72

2348 5.51

There is 0739 information 3.88 on 0740 careers 3.72 (Career 0935 2.85 Development

SU 1249 4.43 TU 1305 4.61 WE 1532 5.30 TH

Association) 1916 and 3.17 training 1932 (Skills 3.11 Recognition 2112 3.48 Centre), the

demand for 0211 jobs 5.50 (high demand 0209 5.83 and critical 0317 jobs 5.71 in the NT;

26 0940 3.35 11 0908 3.15 26 1019 2.44 11

Department

MO 1512 of Trade 4.86 Business

WE 1500 and 5.20 Innovation

TH 1623 5.81 (DTBI)).

FR

The

DTBI website

2105

also

3.16

includes an

2105

events

2.91

calendar.

2213 3.31

0558 4.11

0950 4.66

1826 3.02

0124 5.38

0823 4.01

1336 4.38

2021 2.97

Interested 2214 2.91 in 2210 Volunteering?

2.58 2258 3.12

0426 6.05 0408 6.55 0437 6.05

28 1106 2.33 13 1048 1.67 28 1123 1.70 13

For those of you who wish to get involved with volunteering,

Volunteering 2259 2.66 NT 2301 acts 2.30 as a go-between 2334 2.96 between

WE 1652 5.99 FR 1656 6.73 SA 1742 6.68 SU

volunteers and 0501 those 6.31 requiring 0450 6.89 volunteers. 0507 6.20

0314 5.72

0957 3.43

1530 5.03

2150 2.55

0413 6.25

1041 2.74

1624 5.82

2246 2.06

Visit their TH 1729 website 6.45 www.volunteeringsa-nt.org.au, SA 1746 7.35 SU 1817 6.99 click MO on Find

2334 2.45 2346 2.13

Volunteering Positions, select the various filters, and see what

0529 6.50 0527 7.13 0005 2.83

appears. 1200 1.63 1209 0.45 0534 6.34

0458 6.76

1120 2.01

1713 6.58

2332 1.65

SU 1312 0.28

2132 7.19

FR 1633 2.03

25

27

TU

29

30

0025 5.58

0337 5.75

1030 2.79

1609 5.45

1134 1.95

FR 1804 6.82

Alternatively, if nothing appears that appeals, 1850 7.20contact the

organisation 0004 directly. 2.31

31

0553 6.64

TU 1339 0.98

2143 6.55

SU 1635 2.63

Please SA bear 1224 in 1.35 mind though, that many organisations don’t

1836 7.08

have the insurance to cover under-18s, and if you are over 15

© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia and wish 2019, to Bureau work with of Meteorology children then you will need to obtain

Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical your Working TideWith Children Card or ‘Ochre Card’ from SafeNT

Moon Phase Symbols

www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Police/Community-safety/SAFE-NT.aspx.

New Moon

First Quarter

Full Moon

www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/pre-employment-screening-workingchildren-checks-and-police-checks/part-b-state-and

(yes this is correct).

Last Qu

10

12

TH

14

15

0041 5.71

0318 6.17

1003 2.42

1603 5.98

1129 0.99

SU 1833 7.79

0105 2.16

0636 7.24

1325 0.06

1959 7.94

0144 2.35

0713 7.05

WE 1405 0.29

MO

25

27

FR

29

30

2253 6.32

0522 3.56

1015 5.01

1708 2.79

2348 5.90

0654 3.56

1212 4.63

1824 3.29

0213 5.59

0403 5.87

1054 2.05

1705 6.28

1151 1.39

MO 1219 1.15

0101 2.72

2 0631 6.47

WE 1318 0.97

1952 7.32

3

0131 2.75

0702 6.43

TH 1348 1.06

2024 7.23

0204 2.83

0732 6.30

1420 1.26

2057 7.08

0241 2.98

0806 6.09

1454 1.57

2134 6.86

0325 3.17

0843 5.80

1531 1.96

2216 6.60

0420 3.34

7 0932 5.44

MO 1618 2.40

2304 6.34

8

TU

10

12

SA

14

15

0531 3.41

1044 5.11

1720 2.84

0001 6.13

0653 3.24

1229 5.01

1840 3.17

0106 6.02

0813 2.81

1415 5.35

2010 3.30

0214 6.06

0919 2.21

1536 5.95

2127 3.22

0314 6.22

1014 1.58

1639 6.61

2230 3.06

0405 6.43

1102 1.01

1734 7.17

2322 2.89

0450 6.63

1146 0.58

1824 7.58

0009 2.76

0532 6.77

TU 1228 0.34

1910 7.79


17

TH

18

FR

0

0

1

2

0

0

1

2

0

19 0

SA 1

2

0

20 0

SU 1

2

0

21 1

MO 1

2

22

TU

0

1

1

2

0

23 1

WE 1

0

24 0

TH 1

1

0

25 0

FR 1

2

0

26 1

SA 1

2

27

SU

0

1

1

2

0

28 1

MO 1

2

0

29 1

TU 1

30

WE

31

TH

0

0

1

1

0

0

1

1


NAME: ....................................................................................

AGE: ....................................................................................................

ADDRESS ...............................................................................................

Croc Cove Colouring Competition

..............................................................................................................................

POST CODE:...............................................................................................

EMAIL: .......................................................................................................

PHONE: .....................................................................................

Entries close on Monday, 24 August 2020.

Send a good quality image of your artwork to

thetopender@aapt.net.au or post it to PO Box 35874,

Winnellie, NT 0821. Winners will be notified by

post/phone and announced in

The Top Ender.

Congratulations

go to Tess, aged

5, from Eaton, for

winning the colouring

in competition in the

June/July issue.

Congratulations!


continued from page 55 | Overland Telegraph

Charles Todd planned one repeater station every 250km,

some of which can still be visited. Heading southwards, the

Repeater stations were:

» Yam Creek

» Katherine

» Daly Waters

» Powell’s Creek

» Tennant Creek

» Barrow’s Creek

» Alice Springs

» Charlotte Waters

» The Peake

» Strangways Springs

» Beltana.

Yam Creek Telegraph Station (TS) was also known as The

Shackle, named after a break in the line where travelling operators

could communicate with their colleagues up and down

the line using hand-held apparatus. It is off to the east of the

Stuart Highway on the Grove Hill Road, although the building

is no longer there.

In Katherine, due to regular flooding during the Wet, a stone

tower was built on each side of the Katherine River to keep the

wire well above the water. Follow the road to Knotts Crossing

and the tower is on the left. Nearby, close to the airfield and

the museum, is the original telegraph station with plenty of

explanatory signs and artefacts.

Tennant Creek TS can be visited – there is a pamphlet to

explain the building, but the key has to be collected from the

Tourist Information.

Barrow’s Creek TS (its name has since changed slightly) is

a few metres to the east of the Stuart Highway and was the

site of an attack by some Kaytetye warriors in 1874, resulting

´ Barrow Creek Telegraph Station

´ Adelaide GPO. – Photo Julia Short

in the death of the operators, one of whom managed to tap

out a farewell to his family. In 1928, there was another massacre,

this time due to a trapper being killed by Aborigines on

Coniston Station. The resulting reprisals resulted in the deaths

of seventy Aboriginal men, but due to the racist opinions of the

day, the Mounted Constable George Murray in charge of the

disgrace was exonerated of all charges! In 2001, Barrow Creek

again made the headlines during the hunt for Peter Falconio, a

British tourist murdered by Bradley Murdoch who also abducted

Joanne Lees who subsequently escaped.

Many of the Repeater Stations became local centres for

people to gather and build; Tennant Creek, Daly Waters and

Alice Springs are three such sites. Others today are rather off

the beaten track, the Powell Creek TS ruins being an example,

to the west of the Stuart Highway 220km north of Tennant

Creek. Yam Creek TS was removed.



continued from page 57 | Teen Scene

A Day Out

Charles Darwin National Park is easily accessible from Tiger

Brennan Drive, and is open until sunset; it protects the Port

Darwin wetlands and contains 36 of the 51 of the local

mangrove plant species.

For the history buffs there are a couple of storage facilities

from World War II to look at. The site, officially an Explosive

Ordnance Storage Area, later known as the Frances Bay RAAF

Explosives Complex, was

protects the Port

Darwin wetlands

and contains 36 of

the 51 of the local

mangrove plant

species

one of the network of the

many military sites built

around Darwin at the

time. While most of the

bunkers are built into the

sides of the hills, a couple

are free-standing, and

one such bunker is open

to the public and contains

examples of ammunition,

furniture, and ammunition cases, all explained with plenty of

interpretive signs.

There are several off-road cycle paths if you wish to burn

off surplus energy that range from easy to advanced, winding

around the area, and again there are plenty of signs to explain

the different routes and access points. A map of the trails can

be found at www.nt.gov.au/leisure/recreation/mountain-biking/

charles-darwin-national-park.

At the top of the escarpment there is a large, open, grassed

area with barbeque facilities, toilets and tables, together with a

wonderful view across to the city of Darwin itself. It is a great

place for a picnic lunch or birthday get-together. A word of

warning – the insect life is vigorous and very hungry, so take

your insect repellent with you. Enjoy yourselves!

that range from

easy to advanced,

winding around the

area

continued from page 59 | Overland Telegraph

In addition to connecting colonial Australia to the rest of

the world, construction of the telegraph line had several other

consequences. The discovery of gold at Yam Creek, Pine Creek

(nearby) and Tennant Creek resulted in gold rushes which led

to the construction of the North Australian Railway down to

Pine Creek. The maintenance track for the telegraph line gave

rise to settlements along its length and thus evolved into the

Stuart Highway. Central Australia became available to European

settlement, and by 1890, less than a decade later, all the grazing

land along the line had been taken up by the budding pastoral

industry.

By 1935, alternative methods of communication meant that

the Overland Telegraph was no longer carrying international

messages. Most poles were converted to carry telephone lines

(so have a ‘T’ shaped top) during World War II – the unaltered

originals are a single pole with an insulator at the top, and a

few of these still exist. By the 1980s the line was unused, and

poles and wire were removed.

Returning to the submarine cable: this was deliberately cut

in 1942 as WWII rapidly approached Darwin, so that Japanese

intelligence couldn’t tap into it. The tidal zone of Lameroo Beach

(the Larrakia people know it as Daem-ro) where the cables

came ashore in Darwin was declared a Heritage site in June of

this year to protect them. Up the cliff and across Centennial Park

and the Esplanade, on the corner of Knuckey Street is Lyons



Due to alterations in telephone numbers and recent postings,

the updated contact list for Chaplains is given below.

ADF Chaplains in the NT

Navy On-call: 0409 662 823

Shaun Foster HMAS Coonawarra Australian

Christian Churches 8935 5388 | 0400 514 375

Celebrating over 30 years of quality Christian Education in Palmerston.

www.pcs.nt.edu.au admin.pcs@ntschools.net

Cottage, also known as the BAT (British Australian Telegraph)

house that was built as accommodation for the staff who operated

the underwater cable.

Lyons Cottage is one of the oldest heritage buildings in

Darwin, and is currently occupied by Aboriginal Bush Traders,

and is a very popular place to visit and sample the bush tucker,

drink coffee, and buy Aboriginal arts and crafts, while looking

at the wonderful sea views across the harbour.

If you are heading down the Stuart Highway, it is worth visiting

a telegraph station or two – life must have been very lonely

and hard for the operators, miles away from their families.

Coronavirus Mental

Wellbeing

Support Service

NEED SUPPORT?

TALK TO A COUNSELLOR

Call 1800 512 348

Beyond Blue provides:

» An online community forum

» Information, advice and strategies

» Helpful resources

» A website that’s kept to date

» A place to connect with the community

» Online forums for discussions.

Beyond Blue provides information for men, women, the old,

the young, LGBTI, multicultural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

people, as well as providing information on pregnancy and early

childhood.

Website https://coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au/

Suicide and crisis support

Call 000 if you are a threat to others, or yourself, or if

there is an emergency.

Call Lifeline 13 11 14 for support.

Kelvin Harris Fleet North/ HMAS Coonawarra

Anglican

8935 5183 | 0457 712 743

Army On-call: 0427 713 963

James Hall 8/12 Anglican

8925 2457 | 0429 345 167

Piotr Kowalczyk Regional Support, Roman

Catholic 8925 2662 | 0409 778 462

Chris Lindsay 1 CER Presbyterian

8925 6414 | 0418 428 337

Garth Mayger 1 CSSB Roman Catholic

8925 9005 | 0419 869 187

Phil Riley HQ1 BDE Anglican

8925 2018 | 0407 283 050

Ricky Su 5 RAR Baptist

8925 2754 | 0408 684 783

Airforce On-call Darwin:

0477 308 064

Airforce On-call Tindal:

0427 890 054

Mitch Herps RAAF Tindal Anglican

8973 6032 | 0438 493 232

Andrew Knox RAAF Tindal Anglican

8973 6033 | 0457 803 372

Nathan Runham RAAF Darwin Presbyterian

8923 5015 | 0419 694 178

Angela Stanfield RAAF Darwin Anglican

8923 5016 | 0417 953 396

All three services provide a 24/7 on-call number for emergencies.

Each unit / Ship / Base has its own chaplain who can assist. If

your chaplain is not available, please contact the on-call number

for your Service. Denominational or faith-specific ministry can be

arranged as required.


Regular

Handy Directory

The Top Ender

Office........................................................................................................8947 2657

Advertising................................................................... thetopender@aapt.net.au

Website.......................................................... www.thetopendermagazine.org.au

Editor..................................................................................................0447 324 984

Emergencies and Useful Contacts

Emergency Services........................................................................................... 000

Police Assistance Line................................................................................ 131 444

Crime Stoppers NT........................................................................... 1800 333 000

Night Patrol.........................................................................................1800 101 645

Defence Switchboard....................................................................... 1300 333 362

All Hours Support Line..................................................................... 1800 626 036

1800 IMSICK...................................................................................... 1800 467 425

Health Direct .................................................................................... 1800 022 222

Poisons Information Line............................................................................131 126

Lifeline........................................................................................................... 131 114

Royal Darwin Hospital.......................................................................... 8922 8888

Darwin Private Hospital.........................................................................8920 6011

Palmerston Regional Hospital...............................................................7979 9200

Defence Family Helpline.................................................................. 1800 624 608

Family Violence and Counselling................................................... 1800 737 732

Defence Housing Australia........................................................................ 139 342

Snake Catcher....................................................................................1800 453 210

Tropical Cyclone Information NT.....................................................1300 659 211

SES Emergency Helpline............................................................................ 132 500

Secure NT........................................................................ www.securent.nt.gov.au

Power and Water.............................................................................. 1800 245 090

Defence Bases and Establishments

Defence Establishment Berrimah

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8935 4269

Mess Manager........................................................8935 4422 / 0437 795 258

Larrakeyah Barracks

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8935 5598

Officers’ Mess.....................................................................................8935 5570

ORs’ Mess............................................................................................8935 5591

Sergeants’ Mess................................................................................. 8935 5580

RAAF Base Darwin

Airmen‘s Mess.................................................................................... 8923 5517

Front Gate.......................................................................................... 8923 5549

Officers Mess..................................................................................... 8923 5482

Sergeants’ Mess................................................................................. 8923 5505

RAAF Base Tindal

Airmen‘s Mess....................................................................................8973 6240

Front Gate...........................................................................................8973 6228

Sergeants’ Mess..................................................................................8973 6385

Robertson Barracks

Front Gate...........................................................................................8925 3700

Officers’ Mess.................................................................................... 8925 3548

ORs’ Mess............................................................................................ 8925 2514

Sergeants’ Mess..................................................................................8925 6702

Defence Community Houses

Larrakeyah Neighbourhood House............................................... 0447 586 591

Email.............................................................. larrakeyahhouse@hotmail.com

Network Tindal................................................................................... 0412 619 277

Email.......................................................................networktindal@gmail.com

Website......................................................................... www.networktindal.net

Robertson Barracks Family Group..................................................0490 151 944

Email..........................................robertsonbarracksfamilygroup@gmail.com

On-base Services

Canteens

AAFCANS

Cafe Central, Robertson Barracks.......................................... 8925 2542

Darwin Canteen, RAAF Darwin...............................................8981 2508

Shout VC Canteen, Robertson Barracks.................................8925 6720

Tindal Cafe, Convenience & Fuel Station...............................8973 6201

Navy Canteens

National Operations Manager...................... 8935 5144 / 0477 477 147

Outpipes, Larrakeyah...............................................................8935 5144

Military Banks

Australian Military Bank

Larrakeyah Barracks.................................................................8981 2245

Robertson Barracks.................................................................. 8995 7800

Defence Bank

Robertson Barracks.................................................................. 8936 6400

RAAF Darwin..............................................................................7923 2500

Tindal..........................................................................................8965 1600

Hairdressers

Larrakeyah Barracks......................................................................... 8935 5596

RAAF Darwin – Julie-Anne.....................................8923 5153 / 0402 235 731

Robertson Barracks – Hair Dooz..................................................... 8925 3300

Robertson Barracks – South End Barber Shop..............................8925 6723

Uniform and Equipment

Regional Clothing Store, Robertson Barracks..................................................

Retail (Purchases)..................................................................... 8925 8828

CIP (Exchanges)........................................................................ 8925 8823

Tailor...........................................................................................8925 8831

Email................................................jlun.clothingstore@defence.gov.au

Tim’s Medal Mounting.................................................................0448 129 531

Email............................................................. timsmedals@bigpond.com

Bulletproof NT....................................................................................8947 0935

Email............................................................info@bulletproof-nt.com.au

Defence Support Services

National ADF Family Health Program............................................ 02 6266 3547

Email...........................................................adf.familyhealth@defence.gov.au

Website.................................................................... www.adffamilyhealth.com

Defence Community Organisation (DCO)

Website......................................................................www.defence.gov.au/dco

Darwin Office..................................................................................... 8935 7900

Email.........................................................DCO.darwin@defence.gov.au

Tindal/Katherine Office..................................................................... 8973 6186


Email........................................................... DCO.tindal@defence.gov.au

Defence Families of Australia (DFA)

National Convenor........................................................................1800 100 509

Email...................................................................... convenor@dfa.org.au

National Delegate NT and Kimberly – Denisa Cochran Spadova

Mobile....................................................................................0418 807 548

Email................................................................................... nt@dfa.org.au

Chaplains

Army On-call......................................................................................0427 713 963

Navy On-call......................................................................................0409 662 823

RAAF Darwin On-call....................................................................... 0477 308 064

RAAF Tindal On-call.........................................................................0427 890 054

Veterans and Defence Community

Support

Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).......................................... 1800 555 254

Website..................................................................................... www.dva.gov.au

Defence Service Home Loans..................................................... 1800 722 000

Provider Enquiries........................................................................ 1800 550 457

Open Arms (24hrs)...........................................................................1800 011 046

Website..........................................................................www.openarms.gov.au

Legacy Northern Territory.................................................................... 8948 0830

Email.................................................................................legacy@legacynt.org

Website.......................................................................... www.legacy.com.au/nt

Red Shield Defence Services – Salvation Army

Gerald Mitchell............................................................................. 0400 642 881

Email..........................................gerald.mitchell@salvationarmy.org.au

Mairi Mitchell................................................................................ 0400 642 881

Email............................................mairi.mitchell@salvationarmy.org.au

Returned Services League (RSL)

Darwin North .....................................................................................8945 0701

Katherine (via Secretary)............................................................ 0407 130 095

Nhulunbuy......................................................................................... 8987 0600

Palmerston.................................................................................... 0488 001 862

Tennant Creek .............................................................................. 0499 564 031

Veterans Australia (NT)

Email.............................................................. sec@veteransaustraliant.org.au

Advocacy Assistance.............................smatdp@veteransaustraliant.org.au

Kookaburra Kids............................................................................... 1300 566 525

NT Community Engagement Coordinator .............................. 0427 755 398

Email.....................................................steph.hritter@kookaburrakids.org.au

Website.................................................................www.kookaburrakids.org.au

Useful Defence Contacts

Comsuper

ADF Cover......................................................................................1300 001 977

ADF Super..................................................................................... 1300 203 439

DFRDB............................................................................................1300 001 677

Military Super (MSBS)................................................................. 1300 006 727

Defence Housing Australia (DHA)............................................................ 133 342

Website.....................................................................................www.dha.gov.au

Defence Relocations and Housing Manager NT.......................... 0458 241 867

Email......................................................................... drhm.nt@defence.gov.au

Toll Transitions.................................................................................... 1800 819 167

Defence Tax Management Office (CTMO).................................... 1800 806 053

Email.................................................taxation.management@defence.gov.au

Health

Hearing Australia........................................................................................ 134 432

Down Syndrome Association NT......................................................... 8985 6222

Email......................................................... admin@downsyndroment.com.au

Website ..........................................................www.downsyndroment.com.au

Epilepsy Centre – Epilepsy Association of SA & NT......................1300 850 081

Email............................................................enquiries@epilepsycentre.org.au

Website.................................................................. www.epilepsycentre.org.au

Community Care Centres

Alice Springs Community Health Centre.........................................8951 6711

Casuarina Community Care Centre................................................8922 7301

Katherine Community Health Centre..............................................8973 8570

Karama Child and Family Health Clinic..........................................8922 7301

Nhulunbuy Community Health Centre.......................................... 8987 0435

Nylander Child Health Clinic............................................................8922 7301

Palmerston Community Care Centre............................................. 8999 3344

Tennant Creek Community Health Care.........................................8962 4218

Northern Territory Department of Health (DOH)............................. 8999 2400

Website............................................................................ www.health.nt.gov.au

Top End Mental Health Service............................................................ 8999 4988

Wellness Centre ......................................................................................8946 7176

Email......................................................... cdu.psychology.clinic@cdu.edu.au

Website........................................................www.cdu.edu.au/wellness-centre

Helplines

Lifeline (24hr).......................................................................................... 131 114

Kids Helpline (24hr).....................................................................1800 551 800

Parent Helpline – Karitane (24hr)............................................. 1300 227 464

Parentline.......................................................................................1300 301 300

Pregnancy and Birth Services

Helplines

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Helpline......................................... 1800 882 436

Birthline Pregnancy Support ......................................................1300 655 156

Breastfeeding Helpline................................................................ 1800 686 268

Childbirth Education Association Darwin........................................... 8948 3043

Email............................................................................ info@ceadarwin.asn.au

Website ........................................................................ www.ceadarwin.asn.au

Darwin Homebirth Group.................................................................... 8922 5522

Email................................................................................dhbginfo@gmail.com

Website...............................................darwinhomebirthgroup.wordress.com

Family Planning NT................................................................................8948 0144

Website................................................................................ www.fpwnt.com.au

Australian Breastfeeding Association ........................................... 1800 686 268

Health and Care Support

Cancer Council NT

Alice Springs...................................................................................... 8953 5920

Darwin.................................................................................................8944 1800

Katherine.............................................................................................8971 2022

Website............................................................................www.nt.cancer.org.au

Carers Australia NT............................................................................... 8944 4888

Website............................................................................. www.carersnt.asn.au

Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG)

Website..................................................................................www.dsnsg.org.au

National Coordinator....................................................................1800 037 674

Email....................................................... national.coordinator@dsnsg.org.au

Darwin Coordinator......................................................darwin@dsnsg.org.au

Katherine/Tindal Coordinator.................................katherine@dsnsg.org.au

Bereaved Parent Support NT|SIDS and Kids NT ...............................8948 5311

24-hour Emergency Support Line..............................................0448 849 234


Email.....................................................................................info@bpsnt.org.au

Cradle Support Group.................................................................0438 272 353

Website................................................................................. www.cradle.org.au

Sports and Activities

Australian Air Force Cadets 8 Wing

AAFC 801 Squadron – Winnellie...................................................... 8923 5713

AAFC 802 Squadron – Driver......................................................0473 816 694

AAFC 803 Squadron – Tindal.....................................................0427 397 495

AAFC 804 Squadron – Alice Springs.............................................. 8953 4484

Australian Army Cadets .................................................. 8935 5174 / 8935 5488

Email................................................................. aachq-nt@armycadets.gov.au

Australian Navy Cadets ...........................................................................................

Training Ship Darwin..................................... TSDarwin@navycadets.gov.au

Training Ship Melville Bay, Nhulunbuy.TSMelvilleBay@navycadets.gov.au

Girl Guides NT.........................................................................................8981 3628

Email......................................................................... girlguidesnt@iinet.net.au

Website...........................................................................www.girlguides.org.au

Playgroups Association NT (PANT)......................................................8945 7775

Website.....................................................................www.playgroupnt.com.au

Email...................................................................admin@playgroupnt.com.au

RAAF Darwin Fishing Club – Sgt Tracy Sylvester.............................. 8924 2045

RAAF Darwin Golf Club...................................................................0459 746 306

Email............................................................................. raafgolf16@Gmail.com

Swimming

Masters Swimming............................................................................. 8981 5919

Alice AUSSI...........................................thecullenanes@ozemail.com.au

Darwin Stingers..................................................... stingers@iinet.net.au

Palmerston Sharks..............................info@palmerstonsharks.com.au

Goldfishbowl Swim School...............................................................8931 1000

Email.......................................................................gfish2@bigpond.com

NT Swim School.................................................................................8948 1000

Email............................................................info@ntswimschool.com.au

Website.........................................................www.ntswimschool.com.au

Palmerston & Rural Swimming Club

Head Coach Daniel Gerlach.......................................................0400 299 622

Email.....................................................info@palmerstonsharks.com.au

Swim Dynamics Swim School.....................................................0421 631 624

Email............................................................... info@swimdynamics.com

Website.............................................................www.swimdynamics.com

Scouts NT................................................................................................ 8948 0994

Email.................................................................... admin@nthq.scouts.com.au

Website...........................................................................www.nt.scouts.com.au

Surf Life Saving NT................................................................................ 8985 6588

Email.........................................................................surf@lifesavingnt.com.au

Website...................................................................... www.lifesavingnt.com.au

Local Government and Regional Councils

Alice Springs Town Council.................................................................. 8950 0500

Barkly Regional Council........................................................................ 8962 0000

Belyuen Community Government Council.........................................8978 5061

Central Desert Regional Council .................................................... 1300 360 605

City of Darwin........................................................................................ 8930 0300

City of Palmerston................................................................................. 8935 9922

Coomalie Community Government Council .....................................8976 0058

East Arnhem Regional Council ........................................................... 8986 8986

Katherine Town Council.........................................................................8972 5500

Litchfield Council .................................................................................. 8983 0600

MacDonnell Regional Council ............................................................. 8958 9600

Nhulunbuy Corporation....................................................................... 8939 2200

Roper Gulf Regional Councils ..............................................................8972 9000

Tiwi Regional Council ............................................................................8970 9500

Victoria Daly Regional Council .............................................................8972 0777

Wagait Shire Council ............................................................................. 8978 5185

West Arnhem Regional Council ...........................................................8979 9444

West Daly Regional Council .................................................................8901 3920

Government

Department of Human Services .............................................................. 132 468

Centrelink

Carers............................................................................................... 132 717

Families........................................................................................... 136 150

Medicare

General Enquiries...........................................................................132 011

Complaints and Feedback...........................................................1800 132 468

myGov Helpdesk.................................................................................... 132 307

Motor Vehicle Registry NT............................................................... 1300 654 628

Website................................................................................ www.mvr.nt.gov.au

Road Report .......................................................................................1800 246 199

Website....................................................................www.roadreport.nt.gov.au

Bureau of Meteorology.....................................................................1800 659 214

Website ...................................................................................www.bom.gov.au

Animal Services and Animal Care

Pounds and Animal Shelters

Alice Springs Animal Shelter......................................8950 0500 / 8953 4430

Darwin.................................................................................................8947 2099

Katherine.............................................................................................8972 5500

Palmerston..........................................................................................8935 9977

Injured Wildlife

Wildcare Alice Springs.................................................................. 0419 221 128

Wildcare Darwin......................................................8988 6121 / 0408 885 341

Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary.......................................................... 0473 992 581

Katherine Wildlife Rescue Services.............................................0412 955 336

RSPCA (Darwin)......................................................................................8984 3795

While the information contained in the Handy Directory is considered

by the employees and committee of the Top Ender Tri-Services

Magazine Inc to be true and correct at the date of publication,

changes in circumstances after the time of publication may render

the information inaccurate. The information may change without

notice, and the Top Ender Tri-Services Magazine and those working

on its behalf, cannot be held in any way liable for the accuracy of any

information printed and stored, or in any way interpreted and used,

by the reader.


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Playing an important role for

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across the length and breadth of the

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values the diversity, knowledge and

ranging perspectives offered by our

committee.

If you would like to play a

role in the magazine or to

receive more information on

joining the committee, send

us an email or come along

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08 7970 0150

At little Flyers Childcare,

we aim to inspire exciting

play opportunities

Located conveniently near Darwin Airport on Osgood Drive,

Little Flyers Childcare Darwin offers a premium long day care

program. We embrace the image of the child as a competent,

confident, creative and active learners, and our energetic team

of educators are committed to offering an outstanding

program of learning.

Email: director@littleflyersdarwin.com.au

Address: 10 Osgood Drive - Eaton

Hours: 6:30 am to 6:30pm

Website: www.littleflyersdarwin.com.au

The Top Ender Magazine August September 2020 Edition

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