Pioneering People

There’s reciprocity between the Territory and its long-term residents. They’ve moulded each other and are part of each other. The land and the locals are both rugged and dry and the people seem to have an inner confidence and wisdom that has bypassed every self-help book or self-discovery course on the planet. Some of the characters were born there, some migrated there, most will die there. Happily. Those who migrated were probably running from or to something – away from a drug habit, alimony payments, the law or to a fresh start - but one things for sure, if they didn’t pass muster they wouldn’t have lasted too long.

While Crocodile Dundee was a creation of Paul Hogan and Hollywood, there are parts of the character that ring true, which undoubtedly contributed to the movie’s success. I reckon a lot of NT’s characters would be more at home with a swag on the floor than cosseted between the crisp sheets of a soft, king-sized bed. If they saw a woman fall victim to a hit and run handbag magger, donging him in the back of the head with a well-aimed can of beans could well be an option. And the scene between Gulpilil and Lynda Kozlowski also has a depth of comment. It went something like:

“You can’t take my picture, Missus.”

“Oh. Do you think the camera will take your soul?”

“No, you’ve got the lens cap on.”

It says something about the savvy and humour of urban Aboriginals and the ignorance of white visitors to the territory. Always ask permission if you want to take photographs.