ALICE SPRINGS NEWS,
September 26, 2001.



TOURISM: HOW BAD WILL IT GET? Report by KIERAN FINNANE.

It will be a "waiting game" for the travel and tourism industries in the Centre: all businesses are experiencing a downturn, but it's too early to tell just how bad it will be."It's going to be bad, nearly as bad as the pilots' dispute," says Angie Reidy of the award-winning Sahara Tours, and owner or part-owner of a host of other tourism businesses, including the Desert Palms Resort, Toddy's, Bojangles, and the Outback Inn Resort (formerly the Vista hotel). And the impact will soon be felt in other sectors, says Mrs Reidy. For example, she was about to have installed 80 new air conditioners at the Desert Palms, but "I've had to put everything on hold". Mrs Reidy employs around 100 staff. Late last week she was not wanting to think about laying anyone off, but as the cancellations rolled in Ð a group of 40 on the weekend, another group of 80 in early October Ð she said she may have to think about waiting this difficult time out with a skeleton staff. From what was looking like the busiest October ever for Sahara in its 14 years of operation, she now feels powerless, with the impact of the terrorist attacks weighing most heavily.Her business comes for 95 per cent from European travellers: "They have to fly either over the Middle East or over America, I just don't think they'll do it." Downunder Tours, also catering mostly for international travellers Ð about 90 per cent Ð have had five groups, with from 22 to 70 members in each, cancel in the wake of the Ansett collapse. Some business came from stranded groups whom they drove out but it didn't make up for the losses, said operations manager, Chrissy Kinloch."It's a waiting game, and a crystal ball would be handy," says Mrs Kinloch.She said a lot of travel agents were "hovering", waiting to see if more flights would come on line.In the long term, she felt that the market would be restored. "Our clients are mostly retired people. Their travel to Australia is a once in a lifetime experience that they might delay but that they will eventually make sure they have."The picture for travel agency Jetset is looking grim, with "nothing to sell", says agent Richard Gledhill.About 40 per cent of their business was coming from overseas travel: "The confidence has gone from this market," says Mr Gledhill.And even if people were still wanting to travel abroad, there's the problem of getting them to the interstate capitals.There is only the odd seat available (at full price) on Qantas flights over the next two months, and December flights are rapidly filling up. On Monday morning there were just nine seats available on December 22 to Sydney, at $1304. These prices are out of the range of most families going on holidays, says Mr Gledhill.Holiday travel represents about 30 per cent of Jetset's business, and corporate travel the remaining 30 per cent.But, "there aren't many companies in town who want to spend $1500 to send their employees on a training course to Brisbane when last month it was costing them $700."Mr Gledhill said there would definitely be redundancies at the Jetset office.Before the "double whammy" of the Ansett collapse and the terrorist attacks in to he USA, the travel agency business was " a very strong industry", with the five agencies in town all making good money and happy with their market share, according to Mr Gledhill.He thinks all five can weather the current crisis, but at a cost.Marie Kilgariff of Traveland would not comment on this last point, but says her privately owned franchise operation will not be laying off any staff. At the backpackers' resort, Annie's Place, the upbeat Mulga has a reasonably optimistic outlook: "Our business relies on the Ô grass roots' travellers, most of them in Australia for six to 12 months."Mum, Dad and the kids won't sit on a bus but most backpackers will Ð they'll still find a way to come to Alice."We'll experience a slight downturn but it won't be as dramatic as in the motel sector," says Mulga.Bill Coffey, general manager at Lasseters Hotel Casino, where business is about 70 per cent domestic, says they have lost some "room nights", and there is the potential to lose more, but it is "too early to be too pessimistic"."If this situation lasted any more than a couple of months, it would be a worry, but the government is doing a lot to get capacity back into Alice Springs," says Mr Coffey.He expects that by the time the convention centre opens its doors the situation will be resolved "well and truly"."This is not another pilots' dispute," he says.Lasseters has not laid off any staff and "we won't have to in the future either," says Mr Coffey.Tourism lobby group, CATIA, also says it is "too early" to fullyª appreciate the impact of the current crisis. According to general manager Craig Catchlove, the CATIA executive, meeting last Thursday, felt that there was nothing to be done but wait out the next couple of weeks."We simply don't know what we are dealing with," says Mr Catchlove.He said the cross-section of businesses represented on the 15- member executive are all working on contingency plans, but meanwhile are busy with clients who are already here, or with rebooking clients for January and February. He said the best CATIA can do at the moment is to support the Tourist Commission in its work to restore capacity into the Territory. "We need regular scheduled flights for holiday bookings."This is fixable within two to four weeks, but the longer term impacts from the terrorist attacks are harder to predict. "It all couldn't have come at a worse time for us in the Centre Ð this is our peak inbound season, and our international to domestic ratio is higher that anywhere else in the NT."Mr Catchlove says visitation to Ayers Rock is 68 per cent international; to Alice, 55 per cent.Grant Hunt, CEO of Voyages Hotels, which manages the Ayers Rock Resort , made the following statement to the Alice News: "October and November are our busiest months and so we were staffed up ready for high occupancies. "Unless additional airline seat capacity is secured fast, we have little choice but to tighten our belts. "This includes measures such as reducing hours for casual staff [the News understands casual staff worked only one shift last week], not replacing staff who leave and closing one restaurant. "The tragic thing is that demand for the Resort from international tourists is still high with 80 per cent of calls to our Customer Service Centre being reconfirmations and new bookings. All our efforts are concentrating on securing additional air capacity."

HENLEY CROWD DOWN BUT TAKINGS HOLD. Report by ERWIN CHLANDA.

The air travel mayhem affected Saturday's Henley on Todd, with the crowd down about nine per cent, and 16 interstate schools Ð usually providing the backbone of competitors Ð cancelling. But event executive officer Bill van Dijk, overseeing the fixture despite a cracked rib says, Rotary won't be worse off financially when compared to last year because Lockwood had come on board with $15,000 as the main sponsor. Bill, the main driving force behind the madcap regatta since 1995, estimates his final event Ð the 40th overall Ð had a crowd of about 3000 with a "smattering" of overseas visitors. Founder Reg Smith was crowned King of Henley, and the service clubs say, international uncertainty notwithstanding, there will be another Henley on Todd next year.

NEW GOVERNMENT: SO FAR, SO GOOD, SAYS BUSINESS. Report by ERWIN CHLANDA.

Chamber of Commerce boss Neil Ross says he is "hopeful and confident that the new Government will have the interests of Central Australia at heart". "The early indications, I think, are positive." Mr Ross says ministers in the Territory's first ever Labor government "get out and about" and have already held a Cabinet meeting in Alice.He says he met Minister for Central Australia Peter Toyne, Chief Minister Clare Martin and Industries and Business Minister Paul Henderson with whom he was "impressed" because he has a "quick grasp of the issues" and is "very much middle of the road in his political leanings, quite favourably disposed towards business interests". Says Mr Ross: "I'm hopeful we will be able to work as closely with him as we were able to with the last government." He says in view of the Budget black hole, while it may merely be an accounting issue, "I would be the last one to advocate unnecessary spending." Mr Ross says the NT has an "enormous problem with government debt and I would hope the new government have a responsible approach to that". At the same time the government should honour commitments about upgrading the Tanami Road over three to five years," something the previous government never addressed to our satisfaction". Mr Ross says businesses are keenly looking forward to changes in the workers' compensation laws: "There has been a paper out there for over 12 months and doing nothing. I believe if the CLP had been returned they were going to address that issue and introduce legislation. The new government has indicated it will introduce legislation based on that paper by early next year." Mr Ross says the current regime is "very, very expensive" for employers. "Most have seen a tripling of premiums over the last two or three years. "There are issues of how benefits are paid and for how long." Mr Ross says the new government has shown a willingness to be " more consultative" before introducing legislation. "If they hold to that I think that would be a positive. "I would certainly be hopeful of having a more open style of government than the previous people did. "One of the major issues the government will be judged on is how they address the social issues of Aboriginal people, like anti social behaviour, health, education, housing. "If there is not a significant improvement in those outcomes in the first term of office or so I think they will be judged a failure. "I think they have a more conciliatory approach, rather than the Ôgo to the courts' type of approach that the previous government had with Aboriginal issues. "I hope they'll work more constructively to have those issues addressed."Mr Ross says in the wake of the recent mayhem in aviation the Alice tourist industry is "in trouble". "It's not a disaster but they'll have to work out how to cope with a substantial downturn." He says Pine Gap will continue to contribute to the local economy, gold prices are holding up, and railway spending is committed for the next three years. In the longer term there should be strategies for affordable airfares, but at the moment the focus needs to be on "just getting people here".

ALICE KIDS: FEARING WAR, HOPING FOR PEACE. Report by STEPHANIE HARRISON.

The terrorist attacks against the United States have left many questions in the minds of the children of Alice Springs.I asked 10 year old Kade from Bradshaw Primary School what he believes will happen now. He thinks that World War III will break out : "I hope it doesn't though," he said.Kade thinks the people of Australia are in danger, "because if America's involved in World War III, Australia's bound to be in it as well. And if Australia's involved, towns like Alice Springs will be too."He said that a Catholic sister had told him that America has started a war. He also heard her say that there may even be a bomb planted in Alice Springs. Scary stuff!"Mum reckons it's horrible what's happened. She can't believe how the towers have been decapitated!"Dad reckons it's terrible as well."Someone from somewhere like Russia is probably responsible for these terrorist attacks. I don't think it was someone from America," said Kade.It's now common knowledge that America has declared war on terrorism. Some people, like Kade, are expecting a world war. I myself have heard that the Muslims have declared a holy war against Christianity. Exactly what that would involve I'm not sure but if it goes ahead, it will be anything but pleasant. A 17 year old Centralian College student heard that if there is a war, Afghanistan is going to bomb either America, Israel or us. She said, "It's not something that will ever go away. There will never be complete peace. If one country attacks another, they'll retaliate and it will just keep going on. Maybe one day in the future this will be settled but at the moment, it's just a big mess."Alex from St Philip's College is 13. He said his religion teacher at school said what had happened was pretty sad and horrible.Alex said, "I reckon they'll track down that bin Laden guy. America will try and bomb out his bases and wipe out the terrorists. This will probably just bring more attacks on America."If war does break out and America needs help, Australia will probably offer things like weapons, tanks and soldiers. It will be bad if there is a war because heaps of people would die."Alex thinks that Muslims are the biggest religious group in the world: "They're willing to die for their religion because they believe in it so strongly."Many people have been talking about Pine Gap getting bombed. Alex said: "If Pine Gap found out they were going to be bombed, I think they'd evacuate all the Americans from the area but not the rest of us! "The bombs probably wouldn't make it though because they'd be spotted. Pine Gap is two mountain ranges away so if they did bomb it, the nuclear fallout probably wouldn't reach us. Afghanistan's more likely to drop bombs on Washington and New York than Alice Springs anyway."14 year old ASHS student Beth said that at school in class, the teachers took down the names of students whose parents worked at the Space Base so they could be contacted to offer them moral support from the school. "Yes, I'm worried that there may be a war. I think it's really sad," she said. Beth has been praying for a peaceful solution, and although she's a Christian, she doesn't think it's the Muslims' fault: "It was an extremist group that did it." Beth doesn't want war and she is not sure whether bin Laden is even to blame. Many people feel this tragedy is very close to home. The nephew of one of Beth's friends works at the Pentagon and escaped the explosion by not going out for a smoke to his usual spot on the day of the attack. How lucky was he! A boy from Ross Park said he had an uncle who was volunteering to help clean up the rubble at the crash site. Another boy said that his teacher had a friend who was in one of the planes that crashed.What really brought it home to him and 15 year old Dash from ASHS, was the fact that Aussie icon Ian Thorpe was at the World Trade Centre the day of the disaster. He'd left his camera at the hotel he was staying at and went to get it Ð when he returned, the disaster had happened. Relieved Thorpe fans out there, I bet!Randy,15, is from the States and he said, "I think it's terrible that it happened."He's been watching it all on the television and thinks that if there's going to be any bombing, America will be more likely to bomb Pakistan and although he thinks it's terrible what has happened over there, something like this was coming to America. Julie, the mum of a couple young teenagers, said she recalled hearing a number of kids comment that they thought America deserved it. Sadadeen Primary School student David is 10. He said that he discussed it more with his family than he did at school. There was one American teacher at Sadadeen who was personally affected by it."I want a peaceful end," he said. As for myself, I'm not sure what the future holds for America, Afghanistan, the world... I just hope that there is a peaceful end to all of this. One kid's mother said she has seen a couple of petitions on the internet trying to get criminal justice rather than choosing a war and there is a plea to understand these other cultures and to make sure that there is hard evidence against people who are being accused. Sounds good to me! I don't think war is the answer because it causes even more pain and sufferings and more loss of life. Is this what the people of the world want?

PIONEERS TAKE THE AUSSIE RULES FLAG - AGAIN!

Pioneer Football Club marched to their 29th Premiership in the CAFL on Sunday in a game that should be labelled a hallmark event. It was played fairly, there were no reports, and at the final siren the better team won. The score to be recorded for posterity was Pioneer 11.11 (77) to Rovers 8.10 (58).In conditions which were overcast and not as oppressive as finals days in years gone by, Pioneer ran on having seen their Under 18 team defeated by South 7.11 to 5.9; and then the Reserve Grade beaten by West 11.9 to 10.12. For Pioneer this was a body blow as they always love to run onto the ground at 2.30 on the Day of the Year, having notched up an early flag.Lachlan Ross got the Eagles humming within the first minutes of play with a six pointer. This didn't settle the nerves however as Leo Jarrah stood tall in the Rover goal square and defied the onslaught of plenty to mark and goal for the Blues. Pioneer then replied through the man Rovers' coach, John Glasson feared most in his pre match deliberations Ð Graham "Chisel" Hampton. It was in this opening stanza that "Chisel" proved his worth, making way for Farron Gorey to plant the next goal for the Eagles. In Rovers' court it was Herman Sampson who came into play by scoring their second goal which had the score close at the first change 3.4 to 2.4 .In the second quarter Pioneer were able to establish some ascendancy, by scoring 5.1 to 0.2. Lachlan Ross opened the salvo; followed by a "Chisel" Hampton contribution; then a major from Trevor Dhu. It was not that Rovers lacked possession, but more the nullifying effect Kenny Cole exerted across the half back line which denied the likes of Glasson the chance to get the forward line firing. The Pioneer veteran, Ian Taylor chimed in with a further Eagles' goal followed by another from Farron Gorey. At half time there was a sense of deja vu from the AFL game on Saturday afternoon when Pioneer stood tall at 8.5 (53) to 2.6 (18).In the third term Pioneer lost the services of two key players. " Chisel" Hampton came off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury and soon after Lachlan Ross walked from the field clutching his elbow. The loss of key players signalled a warning sign to coach Roy Arbon, and more significantly in the same time frame Rovers mounted a charge. Leo Jarrah had the chance to prove his true worth in front of the sticks and with strong play out marked his opposition and posted two valuable goals. The elusive Sherman Spencer broke free to post two more goals in the quarter for the Blues, but there was a rallying reply from Pioneers, who kicked their only goal for the term thanks to Trevor Dhu. Such is life in sport, and at the three quarter siren Pioneer were up, but far from home. The score sat at 9.8 to 6.8.Daniel Stafford, who had played a quiet part in the game to date, was able to keep Pioneer in front by scoring early in the last quarter, but then again, Rovers instilled a real interest in the event by replying with goals. Edric Coulthard, who received a " pearler" of a tap out of the pack from Jarrah, posted six points. Herman Sampson, elusive in the firing line added with another, and Rovers were again in with a chance, 10.8 to 8.10 with about 10 minutes to go. Tensions rose among sections of the crowd when Trevor Dhu was awarded a late tackle and proceeded from the scoreboard pocket flank to the goal front, making for a simple conversion. This gave Pioneer the break needed to secure a victory. The green and gold colours held possession and played attacking football to the final siren, winning by 19 points.Roy Arbon and his team accepted the Premiership flag, and the "Rolls Royce" Graeme Smith was presented with the Everingham Medal for best player in the grand final. For both sides however, many players deserved a place of honour. Kenny Cole was the player who defied a continuous bombardment of Rover attacks. He kept the Moose Glasson quiet, which was a severe blow for the Blues. Wayne McCormack produced the kind of bursts from backline to the forwards which break games up and make things happen. Nathan Pepperill produced footy of the highest order and so did Geoff Taylor. Another unsung hero deserving a place on the pedestal is Peter O'Donohue.For Rovers, the winning of a premiership could have been a dream come true. Last year they were bottom. They moved from the Memo Club to the Todd Tavern, and they looked pretty shaky when they began their year. The "Moose", who had a dream to coach, took the reins, and with the help of a few true believers, began the march out of the cellar. On Sunday they were perched at the last step, and to many, in with a chance. They may have lost the flag, but as a club nothing has been lost and an enormous amount gained. Rovers will be a CAFL force for years to come.

DRAMA CLASS PUTS DREAMS ON STAGE. Review by KIERAN FINNANE.

Dreams, an original play by Year 12 drama students at Centralian College staged last Friday and Saturday, is the most articulate expression of Alice youth culture and concerns I have seen; it is also inventive, imaginative, both funny and sad, and grapples with serious information and ideas. The play opens with a "world round-up" of what dreams have meant in different times and cultures. Presenting this type of information was not the young actors' forte, but the scene was beautifully held together by song Ð an original composition by Tashka Urban, who also took on minor roles in the play. (Urban's music throughout helped maintain cohesion and added a lovely depth to the theatrical experience.)Cut to: a very recognisable girl in our town, Sam, played with natural ease by Alison Pickett (at right in the picture). Sam is the least troubled of the cast of characters: on the brink of adulthood, confidant, fun-loving, longing to take full charge of her life. Under the influence of her friend Cody Ð a "bit of a hippie chic" Ð she is keeping a dream journal. She relates a dream which puzzles her: back-projected video effectively depicts the dream images, and is very well integrated with the on-stage action. What the dream means is a question, for the moment left hanging.In comes another friend, Angel (Kristiana Cook, at right in the picture, who handled the emotionally charged role most convincingly): her family is in upheaval, she is full of uncertainty and feels that nobody understands her, not even Sam who "doesn't ask the right questions". Angel's dream, particularly well shot on video, serves to emphasise her feelings of isolation. (By now it is clear that the play will concern itself primarily with the emotional significance of the characters' dreams, rather than with their often seductive surrealism.)Sam and Angel are joined by Cody (Kaylene Williams in a well-judged performance), and soon after, by new boy in town, Michael (Lachlan Mennie, also responsible for the video work). Cody's background is unconventional Ð her mother lives in a lesbian relationship, her dad is loving but alcoholic. She has spent her early teen years in Sydney and finds herself something of a freak (branded a "feral" and "tree hugger") in Alice. Michael's father is an abusive drunk; Michael's biggest fear is that he'll end up like him. We learn all this via a few deftly written monologues and exchanges between the friends. The writers showed a good ear for dialogue, and a fine sense of economy.The pivotal scene, cleverly directed, is a party: everyone is drinking, but the boys are getting drunker than the girls. Communication isn't great: the genders find each other at best impossible to understand (the girls are into pop, the boys into heavy metal), at worst, destructive (Michael's biggest fear is realised before he passes out). In the wake of the party, Angel does some serious thinking, about being true to herself, not doing things because other people tell her to, and giving herself a break, including a good rest. Cody reconciles with Michael, despite the ugly scene between them at the party, good humouredly helping him towards a better understanding of himself, and thus, with believable maturity, breaking down one more barrier to her being part of " the scene" in Alice. Sam finds the "key" to her dream, and is full of hope for the future. These young creators manage to steer clear of the common plaint that nobody understands youth: rather they pose the challenge of understanding themselves and come up with the goods, an empowering experience, I'm sure, and an inspiration to their audience. Spliced into the storytelling were a couple of satirical takes on dream analysis, one in the form of a game show "Unlock Your Dreams". These worked, they were entertaining, but they weren't integral, I thought, to the whole production. If they were going to take their material further Ð and I hope they do Ð I think pursuing the Sam-Angel-Cody-Michael story would yield the most fruit. Director and teacher Glenda Ward is to be commended for her willingness to take on Dreams Ð a potentially risky venture Ð and her contribution to its artful triumph.




LETTERS: The football league must clean up its act.

Sir,- An unhealthy odour hangs over the controlling body of football in The Centre, the CAFL, caused by two issues: the expulsion of Yuendumu Community from future participation, and the sale of alcohol on game-day. Yuendumu, expelled following an incident at the Country football preliminary final, were not allowed to present a case. CAFL have shown all the classic hallmarks of a totalitarian regime on this matter. On ABC radio (Sept. 8) a CAFL Board Member said "they have no case"! CAFL Board certainly need a refresher course in democracy. One of the umpires allegedly assaulted has contacted the Alice News and informed them that he was not physically assaulted but was verbally abused. This confirms what one of the persons involved claimed in the Alice News (Sept. 12): that he only pointed a finger at the umpire. Also, a news item (ABC radio, 6.30am, Sept. 18) quoted a police superintendent who said that for what happened after the game he failed to see why the Yuendumu Community has been expelled. He made the point other people have also made, and that is, Yuendumu players went to the assistance of the umpires. It is interesting to note that, despite police presence at the ground, no assault charges have been laid. It would be also interesting to read the umpiresÕ reports regarding the post match incident. Anyone who has experience with life on an Aboriginal community knows that sport, in particular football, is one of the positive aspects of community life. People are proud to represent their community. Likewise, people are very proud of those who do perform for their community. To serve up a double whammy to Yuendumu Community, both seniors and under 17's no longer able to play for Yuendumu, is a cruel blow indeed. It is no good CAFL saying that the players are free to play elsewhere. That is where they are so wide of the mark in understanding what community life is about.CAFL [also] have to address their sale of alcohol at Traeger Park. On Grand Final Day people were intoxicated before the first bounce (12.30pm) of the first game. It was open slather with the selling of alcohol. At times at the main beer booth people were standing six deep waiting to get served. The attendants were under prolonged pressure and little or no attempt was being made to refuse people service who were already affected by alcohol. There was a nasty incident in the crowd at about 1.30pm Ð the main game still an hour away Ð plus an even more serious one towards the end of the day, when a person was evidently stabbed. [These] were a real blot on the day. The latter incident saw two special police response vehicles rushed to the ground plus three paddy wagons. This on top of an already heavy police presence at the ground. CAFL need to be less prepared to prostitute the well-being of people and the sport in order to make a quick easy dollar out of the sale of alcohol.
Graham Buckley
Alice Springs

Sir,- Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson's charge that Air New Zealand is responsible for Ansett being "completely and comprehensively driven into the ground", is an over- exaggeration, to cover-up Rupert Murdoch's and TNT's role in running it into the ground. There's no way the Government will tell the truth about Murdoch, because they need his support for the upcoming election.Here are the facts: News Corp. Ltd and TNT Ltd wrested control of Ansett from founder Sir Reginald Ansett in 1979. After buying TNT's share in 1996, Air New Zealand's purchase of News Ltd's controlling share was approved only in June 2000. But just six months later, in December 2000, the litany of safety problems started with the first grounding of six Ansett planes by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). It is estimated that Ansett's total fleet of 69 planes requires $5 billion in maintenance and upgrading.Former CASA chairman Dick Smith laid the blame on News Ltd, in an interview with 2UE on Sept 14: "Air New Zealand might have been stupid to buy it without due diligence, but the problems existed when News Ltd was operating it and basically milking it and running it into bankruptcy." Even Murdoch's own Mark Westfield (The Weekend Australian, Sept 15, 2001), had to admit, "Certainly Ansett had been starved of investment funds for nearly a decade as its previous owners, TNT Ltd and News Limited (publisher of The Weekend Australian) sought to sell their stakesÉ News and TNT had spent only the bare minimum on Ansett in the meantime while the partners awaited buyers."The only sane solution to the Ansett crisis is what US physical economist Lyndon LaRouche has proposed for the embattled US airlines: the government shouldn't bail out bankrupt companies, but it should keep the strategically important infrastructure functioning by organising a long term, low interest credit that can keep the planes in the air. We're now in an economic depression, so we need a new deal.
Peter Flynn
Citizens Electoral Council Senate candidate for NT

Sir,- Not long before our local election, my husband was unfortunate enough to have had an accident where he was unable to vote in the normal way. Therefore we thought we'd do the proper thing and organize a postal vote for him.Off to the (ex)Chief Minister's I go with my two kiddies in tow, one aged three and another seven months. ÊI was absolutely appalled by their lack of friendliness and downright rudeness when I went to see them. ÊOf course, they were probably a little stressed with the up- coming election, but I believe that is no reason for being rude to the public, that is, the voting public. ÊI thought in hindsight, because my husband had the audacity to have an accident so close to the up-coming election, they were worried that he may not be able to get his vote in on time. I also believed she didn't quite believe my explanation, hence the surly look... ÊSo the next day when I brought back the signed forms, I brought back the certificate saying of his injuries. No, she didn't want to see it. Was she just rude naturally?I must add, to be honestly fair, not long before my first trip to the Chief Minister's office, I went to Richard Lim's office and the people there were absolutely wonderful. ÊI thank them profusely.I must warn these people from our ex pollies' office and of course our new minister's office, I may only be (for the moment) a stay at home mum, or just one voter, but one person can make a huge difference. ÊMost businesses realise that the reception is the first impression most people get of their enterprise. Ê
N. Young
Alice Springs

Sir,- Could you help me find my brother. His name is Dennis Broad. He left England about 1958 or Ô60. That was the last time I saw him. He would be about 70 or 72. My email is . I live in the USA, Florida.
Frank Broad

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