ENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES SAY NO MORE TO www.tdtimes.com.au | Phone (08) 8962 1040 | Email [email protected] FAMILY VIOLENCE Vol. 45 No. 9 FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2021 $1 inc GST CHECK OUT THE TENNANT CREEK RELIEF SUPERMARKET SPECIALS ON PAGE 7 Bad youth, bad youth: What you Gunner do?
TENNANT residents are calling on the Northern Territo- on the out-of-control gangs of youth in town. Break-ins are Pauline believes the threat to Tennant is heightened with ry Chief Minister to stop burying his head in the sand now not just limited to the hours of dark – with youth waiting residents’ constant fear bound to cause a major tragedy and come to his hometown and experience the crime for residents to leave the house for exercise or work. putting the town in further disrepute to the nation. issues before a young person is injured or killed. There have been reports of the youth waving cheekily “The kids have been back to my house three times but Local resident Steve Moore is one of a growing list of vic- at the front of homes – heightening the angst of Tennant they now know what time I go for a run and take the dogs tims of crime in Tennant Creek and has been broken into Creek residents. and go to work,” she said. three times, with three more attempted break-ins. The Tennant Times spoke to BRADAAG CEO Pauline “They come to my gate and wave at me. They know nothing “The damage to residents is they don’t feel safe in their Reynolds who was broken into last Thursday morning. can happen to them. People will start taking matters into own homes and there’s nothing the police can do because Pauline runs with her dogs in the early morning before their own hands in a bit and somebody is going to get really the courts just let them go,” said Mr Moore. work. She came home from work mid morning to find her hurt and it will most likely be a young child. In Mr Moore’s role as CEO of the Barkly Regional Council, place ransacked. A stereo was stolen but she cared little “Do we really need Tennant Creek to continue being in he says crime and criminal damage are major issues for about that. It was the box of keepsakes of her 34-year-old such a bad spotlight?” Council. daughter who passed away from bowel cancer last year She begged the Chief Minister to help out towns below “We have had many break-ins and a lot of public assets – left rummaged through – that put a knife through her heart. the Berrimah Line immediately.” damaged and it just goes on and on,” he said. Pauline says Chief Minister Michael Gunner is non-re- Another local resident, Tom Machin, is also at his wits’ end. “Just months ago there was about $80,000 of damage to spondent and leaving Minister for Alcohol Policy Natasha Tom has been broken into twice this year. the Bowls Club and now it’s not available for public use and Fyles and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services The first was in January when youth broke the screen door we can’t afford to fix it. We have spent tens of thousands of Nicole Manison to answer calls for action. and barged through the main door and the most recent was dollars fortifying building to keep the vandals out. “There’s nowhere safe in Tennant Creek,” she said. last Sunday. “They are not just stealing but destroying everything – it’s “The town is under-resourced - we don’t have enough “I was awake and they spotted me and were spooked, but ridiculous” police officers, police auxiliary liquor inspectors (PALIs) the damage to the doors was to the extent they came off Mr Moore believes the Police are doing all they possibly or public housing safety officers and it’s time they Gunner the hinges,” said Tom. can, however it’s time for the NT Government to take action started deliverying on his promises.” Continued on page 4.
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Paterson St, Tennant Creek (08) 8962 2626 @BPTennantCreek Opinion news Published weekly on Fridays PublishedWebsite: weeklywww.tdtimes.com.au on Fridays Website: www.tdtimes.com.au Tennantites feel like hostages Editor: Tash Adams Main officeEditor: phone: Tash Adams(08) 8962 1040 o By CATHERINE GRIMLEY Main officeMobile: phone: 0447 186(08) 636 8962 1040 LIKE a lot of people in town, I was not born here. Email:Mobile: [email protected] 0447 186 636 I am a “southern import” who was dragged up here when NewsEmail: Reporter: [email protected] Catherine Grimley News Reporter: Catherine Grimley my husband got a job at Nobel’s Nob. Mobile: 0409 281 390 I was pregnant at the time and the culture shock of moving Email:Mobile: [email protected] 0409 281 390 Email: [email protected] from a major city to a country town was certainly a unique The views expressed in TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES are not experience. necessarilyThe views theexpressed views held in TENNANTby the Editor. & AllDISTRICT content isTIMES copyright are andnot That was 35 years ago, and I think I almost qualify as a maynecessarily not be reproducedthe views held without by the permission. Editor. All content is copyright and local these days. may not be reproduced without permission. DINNER GUESTS: Graham Stinson NIGHT OUT: Morgan Lehnert, Rianna Ashton, I have never had anda driver’s Jenny license, Kitching. never seen the need Pauline Reynolds and Ana Beranaliva. A LOCAL PAPER IS ONLY POSSIBLE BY THE for one, so I have always walked almost everywhere. CONTINUINGA LOCAL PAPER SUPPORT IS ONLY OF LOCAL POSSIBLE ADVERTISERS. BY THE Even when my daughter was a teen, we would take our CONTINUING SUPPORT OF LOCAL ADVERTISERS. As a small community newspaper we rely on YOU – the readers, the dogs out for a walk and were never concerned about it as businessesAs a small communityand the organisations newspaper we– to rely keep on usYOU to –date the andreaders, provide the there was nothing to be worried about in Tennant Creek – usbusinesses with the latest and theinformation organisations and news – to breakingkeep us into thedate Barkly and provideregion. there may have been the odd troublemaker (every town us with the latest information and news breaking in the Barkly region. has a couple) but nothing so bad that you had to fear for DEADLINE:DEADLINE: 5pm 5pm each each Wednesday. Tuesday. your safety. EDITORIAL: [email protected] However, in the last 12 months or so, this has changed for EDITORIAL: [email protected] the worse, I still walk most places, and my job means that ADVERTISING:ADVERTISING: [email protected]@tdtimes.com.au I tend to get about a bit, but these days I try to avoid being PrintedPrinted byby NTNT NewsNews -- DarwinDarwin PrintPrint Centre,Centre, 11 PrintersPrinters Place,Place, McMinnMcMinn Street,Street, DarwinDarwin NTNT 0800.0800. out on the street after dark, or even just on dusk. I no longer feel it is safe to be out when large groups of l TDT reporter Catherine Grimley with Acting The Tennant and District young people are wandering the streets with no regard for Prime Minister Michael McCormack last month. Times is published by Jasmin Afianos, 139 others and bad attitudes. dently say I was never scared of them, and some I am still Paterson Street, Tennant Creek NT 0860, and Over the years I have volunteered with community groups friends with to this day. printed by Peter Baldwin, that work with kids and teens, a lot of whom are now parents Tennant Creek needs help (as does Alice Springs), so the Carpentaria themselves. Newspapers, 112 people who live here do not feel like prisoners or hostages Camooweal Street, I never had a problem with any of them, and I can confi- to a bunch of children. Mount Isa Qld 4825.
A ROARING PRIDE: Merrin Thompson Ashton, Kim Stewart, Lyndell Allen, Marlene Hicks, Ian Hicks, Ruth Preuss, Kate Foran, Ashley Leeson and Peter Hogan form the committee. Lions Club CONSTRUCTING reminisces a year of BuyYOUR VISION Fresh activities Celebrating 30 years in 2019! at annual Buy Local Providing a safety service for women and their childrenTennant including: & Beyondchangeover is a new local business that can 3 24-hour crisis accommodation dinner purchase THEand Lions Clubsupply of Tennant fresh fruit and vegetables. 3 Outreach Creek held their annual 3 Counselling Changeover Dinner at the Memorial ClubHOW on Satur- TO ORDER 3Safety planning day night. 3 ReferralsSend your email addressPresident to Kate us Foran and gave every Monday evening we will send a product a report of the activities of and price list for you toLions complete over the last year and and return. All orders need to be in to us by 4pm l Are you experiencing violence? the impacts of COVID on Thursday andthose products activities, howeverwill be available for collection on Tuesdays. l In crisis? one of the biggest and most l Any size orderimpactful can be of the placed. activities Order by the carton or by the kilogram. Have many troublesOrders and need will comewould pre-packaged have to be the distri- in boxes marked with your name on it. someone to talk to? bution of meal packs to the All accountscommunity are 7 indays response from to delivery, payable into our account. the destruction of the local For confidential support call the Refuge IGA supermarket.FREIGHT IS COVERED BY US! Office Bearers for the com- FREECALL: EMAIL:ing [email protected] were introduced PHONE: 0411 842 597 with Kate remaining presi- dent for another year, ably supported by a committeeContact: Pennie Cowin 1800 114 904 that includes Peter Hogan, P2 TENNANTPhone & DISTRICT(08) 8962 TIMES 1940 FRIDAY 19 MARCHMerrin 2021 Thompson-Ashton, Kim Stewart, and Marlene CIVIL CONSTRUCTION Email for crisis accommodation and support Hicks. services: [email protected] Tennant Creek can look BULK HAULAGE Email for outreach program services and forward to another year of MINE CONTRACTING support: [email protected] Lions being a vibrant and supportive part of our com- T+618 8962 2056 phillipsearthmoving.com.au EARTHMOVING PLANT HIRE munity. P2 TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2020 news Calling Barkly musos: Win your music pressed to vinyl! BARKLY musicians are urged to enter a competition with the main prize comprising having their music pressed to final. Air Raids Records owner Ryan Sage is running the “On the Record” competition to help a Territory artist or band develop their music career. “Obviously we love vinyl,” said Mr Sage. “It’s the best and only way to listen to music. Vinyl is final. More and more artists are realising this and releasing their music in record format. Obviously it’s a bit of an outlay for those just starting out in the industry, so we want to help them overcome that, and get more exposure as an artist.” On the Record is open to all musicians and bands who can prove they are Territory res- idents, not yet signed to a label, and have never had their music pressed to vinyl before. “To enter, you need to send us your two best original tracks,” Mr Sage said. “All ages and genres are accepted. Entries will be judged by a panel of experts.” The winner will receive 100 copies of their two songs pressed to 7” vinyl in a colour of their choice, with their own cover art design. “We’ll also hold a launch party, and the winner will have the chance to perform on stage,” Mr Sage said. On the Record is open for submissions now, and closes on 1 May. The winner will be announced on 29 May 2021. Email your two tracks to [email protected] COVID vaccines start DELIVERING LIFESTYLE TIPS: Anyinginyi’s Reanna Bathern and Stephanie Parlow at the Basic Living Skills session held at Marlungku- Kari Child and Family Centre on Wednesday. rolling out in Tennant COVID-19 vaccinations in Tennant Creek Phase 1A which includes at risk front-line will continue today with 48 “Territorians” health care workers, border entry and quar- scheduled to receive their first dose. antine workers. New program teaching The second vaccines in town were admin- “It does not include aged care residents or istered on Tuesday by the Federal Govern- staff, or disability care residents or workers ment to aged care and staff, with 13 local as this is the responsibility of the Australian locals basic living skills health workers receiving their first dose in Government under Phase 1A,” they said. A NEW Basic Living Skills Program began on Wednesday morning at Marlung- town last week. The Tennant Times asked for specific ku-Kari Child and Family Centre. “The first COVID-19 vaccines were ad- numbers but the response from NT Health A joint program between Marlungku-Kari, Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation ministered in Tennant Creek last week by includes Territory-wide figures, not town and CatholicCare NT, it is designed to work with families to improve the health and the Commonwealth Government who were specific. safety of families, improve living environments and enhance skills in day-to-day tasks. administering to aged care residents and “Second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine staff,” said an NT Health spokesperson. Covering health topics, easy cooking, budgeting skills, time management and com- as part of Phase 1A (which includes at-risk munication skills, most of the program takes place within the resident’s home and “Tennant Creek has been allocated suf- frontline health care workers, border entry works with whole household to enhance the sense of community overall. ficient doses to vaccinate their Phase 1A and quarantine workers), commenced in the priority population.” Northern Territory on 15 March,” said the NT So far they have 13 local families as part of the program as well as 6 families from Health spokesperson. Mungkarta with hopefully more to come, it is a program which has the potential to NT Health says the data relates only the improve the whole community. vaccinations provided by the NT Govern- “As at close of business on Wednesday, ment’s Department of Health as part of 206 Territorians received the second dose.”
Tennant Creek Be part of Australia’s TYRE CENTRE first regional deal! Colin & Staff of Tennant Creek Tyre Centre wish our Apply to join one of our working groups. customers a happy & safe Easter break. Contact the Barkly Backbone Team for more information: Phone: 08 8962 0091 Email: [email protected] EASTER CLOSURE DATES We will be closing from midday Thursday 1st April and will begin trading again 8am on Tuesday 6th April.
175-177 Paterson Street, Tennant Creek [email protected] Address: First Floor, Government Centre, Ph 8962 2361 63 Haddock Street, Tennant Creek NT 0860 TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2021 P3 news Bad youth, bad youth: What you Gunner do? From page 1. Springs and Katherine. “We got the police around but they couldn’t “I don’t want to say there will be vigilante fix anything so I had two doors I couldn’t groups but no-one believes the NT Govern- close. There was no choice but to barricade ment right now,” he said. the doors with things like washing machines “The fear, tension and futility has been and couches. We couldn’t sleep the entire building up and the more it carries on while night and I had work the next day.” the NT Government continues to show its Tom says he lives on what is locally known inaction – people may start taking matters as “Snob Hill”. into their own hands. “Usually we are safe and out of the way from the break-ins, but we have seen an “The police are doing their best – it’s now increase in numbers of youths on their bikes time for the NT Government to do theirs.” now and that’s unusual for this side of town.” While the Chief Minister is only speaking Tom says the feeling around Tennant Creek about the COVID-19 situation, locals in is one of despair and common place with Tennant believe the real threat for Central everyone he talks to. Australia is not the virus. “What’s really quite evident that something Both Pauline and Tom agreed the imme- is wrong and something is not working and diate threat is the mental health and safety the NT Government needs to go back to of Central Australian citizens and the safety the drawing board and take a different ap- of the youth holding towns to ransom – not proach,” he said. COVID-19 which the Chief Minister solely “Residents are constantly afraid and expect speaks about publicly. to come home to find their home broken into. Residents have also told the Tennant Times “I spend less time with friends and don’t the NT Government’s expenditure to boost want to be out of my home in case I get tourism was a complete waste, with tourists burgled again.” too scared to come to Central Australia after Tom believes the youth crime crisis is also the youth crime crisis in Alice Springs was effecting employment in the town, with new aired nationally on A Current Affair. recruits not willing to accept positions be- A new Facebook page called Action for cause they feel unsafe. Tennant Creek 2021, similar to the page He also has called for the Chief Minister Action for Alice Springs, has been formed to step up his game and address the issue where residents are posting where gangs of and help struggling towns like Tennant, Alice the youth are congregating. CONSTRUCTING YOUR VISION
LOOKING BRIGHT: The Sun Cable team: Jett street, Jess McLeod and CEO David Griffin with Barkly MLA Steve Edgington and Deputy Mayor Ronald Plummer. Edgington meets with Sun Cable team to discuss world’s largest solar farm in Barkly BARKLY MLA Steve Edgington met with the team from Sun Cable this week – the company which has signed a milestone agreement to advance the $22 billion Australia-AASEAN Power Link). Mr Edgington said the project will see up to $8 billion invested in the Barkly which will host the largest solar farm and renewable energy system in the world “The project will see up to $8 billion invested into the Barkly region, which will host the largest solar farm and renewable energy system in the world,” said Mr Edgington. “The sun-soaked Barkly region has been chosen as the ideal location for a solar farm and battery storage facility, which will be built across 12,000 hectares near Elliott. “Once operational, power from the site will be available 24/7, with the solar farm supporting the 30GW storage facility.” Mr Edgington said as well as the Barkly’s sunny, cloud-free advantages, the facility will capitalise on the close access to road and rail. The project will create 1,500 jobs during construction and 350 ongoing positions once operations begin. Construction for the project is expected to begin in October 2023 and, by 2027, the CIVIL CONSTRUCTION AAPL will have the capacity to provide a significant amount of renewable energy for BULK HAULAGE the Northern Territory, as well as up to 20 per cent of Singapore’s electricity supply. Once up and running, it’s estimated the project will export $1 billion worth of solar MINE CONTRACTING electricity each year. “The AAPL will go along way towards putting the Barkly region back on the map when T+618 8962 2056 phillipsearthmoving.com.au EARTHMOVING PLANT HIRE it comes to jobs, economic development and renewable energy,” said Mr Edgington, P4 TENNANT & DISTRICT TIMES FRIDAY 19 MARCH 2021 news
Tennant streets receive overdue resurfacing THE smell of bitumen was strong this week as the • Ambrose Street (from Blain Street to Peko Road Barkly Regional Council (BRC) started its road - 788m). resurfacing upgrades project. • Haddock Street (from Peko Road to Staunton BRC CEO Steve Moore said the upgrade project for Street - 764m). Tennant Creek roads was well overdue, with many • Schmidt Street (from Stuart Street to Windley of the streets cracked vertically and diagonally. Street -511m). Mr Moore said the last time the roads were resur- • Schmidt Street (from Windley Street to Wattle faced was in excess of 20 years. Street - 608m). It was a $400,000 project, with Council applying for • Staunton Street (from Peko Road to Ambrose an additional $350,000 to allow for the next series Street - 1453m). of priority road upgrades. • Windley Street (from Leichhardt Street to Pater- The roads upgraded included: son Street - 435m). • Ambrose Street ( from Peko Road to Shamrock • Pinnacles Road (from Haddock Street to Paterson Street - 910m). Street - 217m).
the oldest Club in the Territory