Welcome to My World

From today, Wednesday, 1 December, 2012, National Indigenous Television [NITV] will be available on free-to-air TV for all Australians on SBS 4. I have often thought it would be brilliant if everyone could watch it - and now they can.1 I have learned a great deal about Indigenous history and issues by watching NITV since coming to Alice Springs and have seen some good drama and dancing.  I particularly like the news presenter, Natalie Ahmat, who has a great voice and the best smile on television. Tune in if you get a chance.  
www.nitv.org.au/

[excuse the square brackets, this computer can only do this 9 and this!!!)]

On another note...

My rodent is still around, but retraced his steps hurriedly when I clapped in surprise at seeing him. While the applause was beneficial, I can hardly sit here all day and night making sure he doesn't poke his furry little head around the bookcase for a curtain call, can I? 

What we do with our life

The following link is about just one of the programs run by Batchelor in Alice Springs.

http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/2012/11/27/what-do-you-want-to-do-with-your-life/

Tribute Concert to Ted Egan

I've just spent a most delightful two and a half hours at the final Alice Springs Desert Park Courtyard Session for 2012.  It was my first time, but it’s been on my calendar since before I left Sydney.  I first encountered Ted Egan’s songs on my first trip to the Centre with Teachers’ College in 1977.  In 1995 on our trip around Australia with the girls, Greg surprised me by getting tickets to Ted’s concert.  After the show Ted sat outside with the all the kids and pointed out the constellations in the Alice sky.  Every time I look at Orion’s belt, I remember that night and Ted. His autobiography, Sit Down Up North, was instrumental in my initial understanding of aspects of Indigenous culture, and my desire to learn more.  It well may have planted the first seeds of interest in what I am now doing.   As well as being a prolific songwriter, Ted is an historian, was a teacher and has worked closely with Indigenous communities in a variety of capacities, and is a National Living Treasure…  and a really genuine bloke. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1991 for his services to the Aboriginal people and contribution to Australia's literary heritage.  I was privileged to meet him at a party several weeks ago.

Several talented local musicians sang songs Ted had written, and some of their own, and then we were treated to Ted performing himself – under the Alice stars.  I cannot believe how lucky I am to be here. I left with a smile on my face, and a handful of CDs to entertain me – my original tape has had its day.  You probably know some of his songs  - Two Little Boys recorded by Rolf Harris and Drover's Boy recorded by John Williamson.  Of course, neither of them accompanies their songs on the beer carton – tonight it was the ‘Fosterphone’!  If you don’t know Ted’s songs, download some or feel free to visit me and I’ll introduce you to his musical history of Australia.

Ted Egan with the West Macdonnells in the background

Little visitor

Aforementioned  rodent, who should be deterred by somewhat annoying electric beeper, has just put in a guest appearance and is clearly totally unperturbed by irritating noise. Looks like I can save some power and my ears!

Visitor and Hugs in the Centre

I can't believe it's been nearly two months since I wrote - and more than that since I arrived in Alice Springs. I was blessed with my first house guest of the human variety last week - I try not to count the ants, spiders and small furry rodent who pop by from time to time!

It was so lovely to have Melissa here - especially as she was clearly as besotted with the Red Centre as I am! She now carries a piece of the Heart in her heart!  We also got to share the visit with some new friends from Scotland who I met on my dancing holiday in Victoria.  It was so much fun showing off my new home and hometown.

My Studio Apartment

My kitchen

After enjoying a few dinners and eating way too much on the dancing holiday, I decided to start walking in the mornings.  I finally made the effort yesterday and was rewarded with a kangaroo jumping across the track and a flock of budgerigars flying so close that I could feel the wind as they passed me from behind!

A few days ago I was thinking that one of the things that you really miss when you are away from family and friends is hugs.  There is no one to hug you.  It was a sad thought, and I realised how easy it is to feel very lonely with no close contact.  It's interesting the difference a few days makes.  Today I got several heartfelt hugs from my students.  It was the end of an intensive workshop week, and they had submitted their assignments and were heading off home to various towns and communities in NT, QLD and NSW.  The hugs were unexpected, and treasured.  I was also told I was 'Deadly' - the greatest compliment I could have received.  The Indigenous awards are called the Deadly Awards - the Deadlys.  So ... if I miss out on a few hugs, I can be happy knowing that it is really worthwhile - I am doing something deadly by being here and that is what this time in Alice Springs is all about.

Somewhere New

I've discovered there are lots of advantages in going somehwere new.  They are, in no particular order:

• you can wear the same clothes you've been wearing for years and as far as everyone else is concerned they are new
• you learn to really look at your surroundings - each tree, corner, shop and face is new
• every conversation is new, as is the person you are having it with, and you have no idea what you might learn
• it's fun arguing with other people's stereotypes e.g. I like living somewhere where you can smile at people when you walk past them.  (Apparently people only smile in country towns, and absolutley never in Sydney!)
• simple things like catching a bus, which drives the locals crazy, is fun.  I actually appreciate not having to walk 10 kms to work, whereas other people are annoyed that the bus is late, there are not many of them, and they are probably late anyway.

Today's high point was when I was walking home from Target with my rather bulky purchases, a young girl from north of Cairns was walking past me, and offered to help me carry them home.  We chatted all the way, and it's fun sharing journeys.  She is working at Kings Canyon resort and hasn't seen an apple since last time she was in town, and has some plans for her next job - on the high seas with any luck.

So today's words of wisdom - take time to have a conversation with someone you haven't spoken to before - your journey can start without you travelling too far from home (and without having to carry bulky parcels) :)

School of the Air (and Internet)

Last Saturday I met a family from Tanami Downs, a station out on the Tanami road.  The 9 year old girl studies by School of the Air, another of John Flynn's projects.  These days it is more School of the Internet, as they use computers for their lessons, and a Skype type program for chatting with their teachers.  Twice a year they come into town and have a week with the teachers and other kids, where they get a chance to do group work and do a bit of sightseeing.  This time they stayed at the Old Telegraph Station, and recreated what school would have been like for children in the 'old days'.  The girls wore bonnets and they addressed the teachers as they would have 100 years ago. Here is a link the Alice Springs School of the Air.  The first transmission was made from the Royal Flying Doctor Base.

http://www.assoa.nt.edu.au/index.html

My new friend spoke animatedly, non-stop about the week, the songs, and what she had been learning.  She also introduced me to some words from the two languages of her family - two quite different Aboriginal languages.  It put a whole new perspective on multilingualism, for here is a young girl who lives 12 hours away from Alice Springs on a dirt road, and yet she is fluent in English and is being taught 2 other languages. 

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My work is interesting and every day I gather information from my colleagues (in fact anyone I meet), which will better prepare me for meeting my students next week, and for delivering my courses through workshops and online delivery (the modern distance education).   For many this is new and confronting, just as it is for anyone being introduced to technology and university study simultaneously.  There are the added complications of Internet access and speed in remote areas.  I'm sure I will find out more about the problems next week.

I am lucky that everyone I meet is so willing to share what they know, and we are constantly learning from each other.  At the moment I am preparing a course in Classroom Management, and I am most impressed that this is actually taught these days.  In the past, teachers learnt more by trial and error, and observing what did and didn't work for other teachers.  I'm a strong advocate of anything which reduces the pain a teacher needs to go through in the journey to being a great teacher.

The McDonnell Ranges rise unexpectedly from a very flat landscape dotted with salt lakes, random tree lined riverbanks with little water, and the odd cratered hills. I’d remembered the beauty of the ranges, but the view and the colours still took my breath away as I flew into the airport.  Each day I have walked into town using the bridge over the river.  There is no need to, as there is not a drop of water to be seen, but everyone seems to use the bridge - except for the locals sitting in a circle in the shade on the river bed, just as their forbears did for centuries before the bridge was built.

I have already learnt a little of the situation regarding education in the Northern Territory and beyond, especially in the Aboriginal communities, and am eager to learn more.  The next 16 months should be more than a little interesting.

 

Sunday 26 August 2012

I went to John Flynn Memorial Church this morning.  1n 1977, on a Teachers’ College trip to the Centre, a busload of us descended on the church.  It was communion, and we had doubled the congregation, so they had to hurriedly fetch some more wine.  This morning there was no busload or wine, but there were a number of visitors.  The Minister was in Sydney, so a couple from the congregation led the service.  The sermon was delivered by a pilot of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), which was fitting, as John Flynn was at the heart of many of the services provided to the folk of this area.  He was known as ‘Flynn of the Inland’, a Minister who initiated health care services, the RFDS and the School of the Air, an education service for children in areas so remote that they may otherwise have been deprived this basic human right. He lived his faith rather than preaching it, and today people are still reaping the rewards of his dedication.

The pilots of the RFDS have to undergo intensive re-accreditation to ensure they are able to deal with any situation which may arise in the arduous circumstances which are their norm – these areas are prone to high winds, sandstorms, flooding, and very often the flights are made in response to accidents or illness on roads or properties in areas where landing strips are a wish rather than a reality.  The re-assessment is rigorous and fortunately he passed.  May he and the other pilots and RFDS team members continue to be safe in the air and on land.

 

 

http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/about-us/our-history/the-john-flynn-story/

Today (Sunday 1 September) I went to the RFDS Museum with a Sydney friend who was visiting with Sing Australia.  It's hard to believe how much has been achieved from one man's vision and the hard work of so many.  It's possible to get a casualty from the alice Springs area to Adelaide or Darwin in 3 hours flying time - with expert medical care all the way.

Elsewhere, I also heard the story of someone who some 40 years ago drove a car in Lae in Papua New Guinea.  There were numerous rivers, but only half of them had bridges.  One was too deep and they managed to push the fan into the radiator - making a hole the size of her thumb.  What did they use to stop the hole? Bread!  It only needed replacing once, and got them to their destination. 

Resourcefulness.  That's one of the points in the workshop I'm preparing for my teachers. I think I'll use this story as an example.

 

 

Why the title?  It was going to be ‘Janice in Alice’, but as this is just the beginning of the adventure and even I wonder where it will lead, I thought this was more appropriate.

Thanks to Melissa and www.quotablequotes.com
 

What am I doing in Alice Springs? I have long wanted to live here for a few months – to drink in the atmosphere, the colours and the stories.  I have also wanted to get into Teacher Education.  And more recently I have wanted to slow down a little – reduce the time spent travelling, that sort of thing.  So when a SEEK email came through offering exactly that - Teacher Education Lecturer until December 2013 - I had to apply.  I believe you should never apply for a job (or enter a competition for a prize) that you do not really want – you might just get it!  (And end up a long way from anywhere, and certainly a long way from where you started!)

Given that the job is in Alice Springs, it is, not surprisingly, working with the Indigenous population – Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE).  After I was offered the job, I checked my application several times to make sure I hadn’t accidentally ticked the box asking if I was of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. (I hadn’t!)  It is yet to be seen if I have biiten off more than I can chew! (spelling intended)

Initially, I had all the standard doubts – Am I crazy?  Why am I leaving my family behind?  Why am I leaving a workplace where I love my co-workers, who are such special friends, and my students who are so delightful to be with? Why am I not content with what I have?  But then I thought – content people don’t change things, and there are things which need changing.  And I am an educator, and I should use my skills in whatever way I can to encourage the teachers of tomorrow. 

Teach a student, teach one; teach a class, teach many; teach a teacher, teach hundreds. (Janice)

Many years ago a good friend gave me a wall hanging which read:

            To teach is to touch a life forever.

I also believe that

            To teach is to be touched forever.

So here I am with the blessing of my family, and the support of my friends, heading into my own ‘Wonderland’!  I have been humbled by the extent of the support from so many folk, and the welcome I have received in Alice, where I was met at the airport and given my own bedroom in the home of my new boss.  The house hunting starts soon.  The job starts on Monday.




The plane I flew up in

The two choices available for those leaving Alice on Thursday

I feel comfortable here already, but then I am still on holidays! The town of Alice Springs is more like it was when I first came here in 1977, or even 1988.  The people are friendly, and, for better or worse, it has all the standard facilities and shops you would find in any suburban shopping mall – all within walking distance of home and each other.