Living in Central Australia makes one creative. Being so far away from the usual comforts that 90% of Australians take for granted makes you become involved with things you would not think possible living in a City. Read my holiday review to find out what we got up to in Hermannsburg!
On the weekend of the 17th of October 2009, the people of Ntaria (Hermannsburg) opened their community’s historic site, the Hermannsburg Mission, to enjoy a day of entertainment, showcasing the various arts that the community is involved in.
Ntaria is on Western Arrernte land, and is home to the traditional owners of places like Palm Valley, Tnorala (Gosses Bluff) and various other sites. Traditional Owners are people whose families inhabited specific areas. Whilst they may not live in these locations now, due to age and various other factors, they still have the strong connection to the land, stories of which are sung through songlines and passed onto future generations.
Ntaria is home to several well known Artists (both painting and performing), including the country music performer and Golden Guitar winner Warren H. Williams, the Ntaria Ladies Choir and the Hermannsburg Potters. Ntaria’s artistic days go back to when Albert Namatjira started painting his amazing water colour landscapes of the area, which continue to this day via the students of the Hermannsburg School.
I travel to Ntaria fairly frequently, and every time it never ceases to amaze me how friendly and welcoming the local people are. It does come down to respect of course – if you respect their ways, they respect yours and you have a common ground to work from.
Ntaria is a remote community. Although its just 130km from
Alice Springs, a lot of people don’t make the trip out to see this wonderful place. Even less entertainers make the trip. And, that’s what made the Hermannsburg Spectacular so good. People actually made the journey – and that was the aim of the day. To provide the community with an event to entertain them, and hopefully get some interest from the people of
Alice Springs.
Communities don’t follow specific dates and times like us whitefellas do. Things happen when they happen – so there isn’t a date set for next years Spectacular as yet. But one thing is for certain, there will be one – and it will be bigger and better then this years event. If you happen to be in
Alice Springs when it’s on, do your best to travel the 130km and experience the day, but get there early or you will miss out on the Apple Strudel – but that’s another story.
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Alice Springs? Comment below to share your NT holiday reviews with fellow travellers!