Alice News Week Ending October 23, 2009

Alice Springs has two newspapers:

• "The Centralian Advocate" is published twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday, and Ken buys it at the stand for $1.40 to read on the bus. Their website is not updated very frequently. http://www.centralianadvocate.com.au/
  
• "Alice Springs News" is published on Fridays and home delivered for free. Their website seems a bit more current if not comprehensive.
  http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/
  

Since we get them both on Friday, I've decided I'll start trying to write and post summary and commentary on Saturdays (not necesarily every week) to give an idea, over time, of what's making news locally.

Journalists are very good at finding two sides (at least) to every story so there's never a shortage of controversy and drama. I'll link to articles I think are interesting and add explanatory notes where I think appropriate. I'll pick and choose whatever happens to catch my attention and won't claim to be unbiased or objective about it. :-)

As always, I welcome feedback!

Real Estate:

Both papers discuss a proposed new five story (!) development. Alice has a significant housing shortage; this is a recurring theme. As I understand it, the government has returned most of the Outback (surrounding area) to the Traditional Owners and what's known as Free Title land (that which isn't controlled by the TOs) is scarce.
http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/s1638story001.html

Crime, Law, Politics:

• A man turned himself in 11 years after a warrant was issued for 41 drug, forgery and stealing charges.
• Police are looking for three boys described as being of Aboriginal appearance and aged between nine and 14 who grabbed a girl on the bottom as they rode past her on bicycles.
• Some complicated testimony was heard from witnesses to and participants in a bar fight that turned into a murder.

Tourism:

• Sadly, a 21 year old Swedish man fell to his death while climbing on the rocks to take a photo at Glen Helen Gorge. His body was recovered by helicopter.
Here's a couple photos I took when Ken and I went there earlier this year. (I hope you're not getting tired of seeing Ken's backside as he heads down the trail...)

I don't think I'll ever get tired of the scenery around here.



A closer look at some of the rocks.



Now, back to the news...

• Uluru (known more commonly in the US as Ayers Rock) has a new viewing area for visitors; some are upset that it is in a spot (selected by the traditional owners) that does not get the sunrise at some times of year. http://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/s1638story003.html

Art, Fashion, and other Fun Things:

• The Paris haute couture firm of Hermes commissioned its first Australian, an Aboriginal, to design a silk scarf for its Summer 2009 collection. The scarf was launched in New York and retails for $530.
• The local art theater, Araluen, is showing "Coco avant Chanel" tonight. It's a bio of the famed fashion innovator filmed in French with English subtitle. (I'm planning to go with a friend.)
  

As you see, our local news is an interesting mix of the parochial and cosmopolitan. I love this aspect of Alice that reminds me, with fondness, of a little girl playing dress-up.