[singlepic=23,320,240,,]Today we slept in until nature called us both at 7.00am. After breakfast and a quick shower, we departed the caravan park at 9.00am and made the short trip through the Heavitree Gap into the township of Alice Springs. After parking the motor home in the “designated area”, a mandatory photograph was taken from the centre of the Todd River before we made a quick visit to the information centre. We had a brief look in Todd Mall before Elaine located a couple of shops to purchase some aboriginal designed fabrics. We did a quick shop in Woolworths before departing to Simpsons Gap.
The views of the MacDonald Ranges on the way to Simpsons Gap were nothing short of breathtaking. Similarly, the same could be said of Simpsons Gap. It left us both spellbound with the beauty of the area. Our thoughts went out to the Aboriginal artist, Albert Namatjira, when we stood looking at white gums trees and the words written by Bruce Woodley (The Seekers) and the song, “I am Australian” where the lyric states “I am Albert Namatjira, I paint the ghostly gums”. In fact, a lot of the words in the song could be seen today and over the past couple of days.
I came from the dreamtime from the dusty red soil plains
I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame
I stood upon the rocky shore
I watched the tall ships come
For forty thousand years I’d been the first Australian. I came upon the prison ship bowed down by iron chains.
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I’m a settler.
I’m a farmer’s wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man I became Australian. I’m the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the depression
I saw the good times come
I’m a bushy, I’m a battler
I am Australian We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian. I’m a teller of stories
I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira
I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse
I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed Matilda
I am AustralianI’m the hot wind from the desert
I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys
I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky
The rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land
I am AustralianWe are one, but we are many And from all the lands on earth we come We share a dream and sing with one voice:
I am, you are, we are Australian
I am, you are, we are Australian.
“She” passed a comment that whilst we love New Zealand, the views of the mountains around Alice Springs are the equal of what we have experienced and raved about in New Zealand. After Simpsons Gap we moved on to Standley Chasm. Again, another wonderful experience with many a photograph taken to remind us in the future. We returned to Alice via The School of the Air that currently has 83 children enrolled. What is being done for education is again remarkable and is being helped by technology and the internet. Before returning to the caravan park, we stopped at Anzac Hill to enjoy the view over Alice. It is also important to record that the problems with the local indigenous people are very easy to see. It is in central Australia where you see the true full blooded aborigines and all they seem to do is sit around in groups. We have been told to keep well clear and not to make eye contact.
The evening meal consisted of BBQ steak, peas and potatoes.