Say's it my birthday!

Say's it my birthday!   La la la la la la la la!

Now that I have finally arrived in Alice Springs, it's time to go....shopping!   Then, off to the casino!  wooo hooo!!!

Alice Springs has a big, outdoor, open mall area, where I planned to spend the afternoon, window shopping for Aboriginal art.   After checking into my little room, I walked over to the outdoor mall.    It was quite eerie.  most of the shops were closed, which I found odd, being a tourist town, and it being Saturday afternoon and all.   But, I guess being after 2 pm, it was time for a siesta.   Or time for the party to begin.    the area was pretty desolate accept for the Aboriginals, who seem like they had started the party hours ago.   It's my understanding that the reason they come to town to drink is because they are not permitted to in their communities.   It is common knowledge that drinking is a major problem for Aboriginals.   Just as it is for Native Americans.  And a good deal of the rest of us!  I did not take any pictures of the people, out of respect for the people.

I did a bit of research on it (see http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/health/aboriginal-alcohol-consumption.htm), and Traditionally Aboriginal people consumed weak alcohol made from various plants.
Their problems with alcohol began with the white invasion.  Many Aboriginal labourers were paid in alcohol or tobacco (if their wages were not stolen). In the early 1800s a favourite spectator sport of white people in Sydney was to ply Aboriginal men with alcohol and encourage them to fight each other, often to the death.

Interestingly, Aboriginal people were initially denied alcohol consumption because it was feared that "natives were more adversely affected than others" when consuming alcohol.  When, in fact, it was, in fact, white people who introduced Aboriginal people to alcohol.

Photo by Connor Carson.

In 1964 a majority of Legislative Council Committee members voted that, for the Northern Territory at that time, alcohol should also be made available to Aboriginal people.   Now, at most of the Aboriginal communities, it is not permitted to consume alcohol.


The Alcohol Management Plans, introduced in 2002 (I know this took place in Queensland and around Darwin, but, not sure about Alice Springs), fuelled problems such as binge drinking and the setting up of drinking camps on the outskirts of communities outside the restricted zones. Where police were not present, sly-groggers carted their alcohol through the main streets for all to see. Others risked their lives when they tried to smuggle grog into their towns through crocodile-infested swamps.

Speaking of drinking, I went to the bottle shop to stock up on wine for the hiking adventure.  I had to show my id, and unfortuantly, not because I look like I am 18.  Really!    They actually put your id through a scanner to check for it's validity!  even if you look twice that age!     Then, as the guy was ringing up my purchases, he asked me where I was going, and where I was planning on drinking these bottles of wine.  At first, I thought he was just being friendly, and I started telling him about the big, planned adventure to Larapinta trail.   Then, I realized, that no, he really did want to know where the wine was going to be drunk!  and they took a record of it!  On the way back to my little room, in broad daylight, I thought someone might come along and swipe my wine!   Needless to say, I found out how fast I could walk while carrying a sack of wine.


I don't care who knows
by Dougie Young - Aboriginal

They say it's a crime, drinking beer and wine
It's gonna lead a poor man astray.
When it comes to grog, I'm a fair dinkum hog
I guess I was born that way.
I'm gonna drink it and roam til the cows come home
If it gives my poor heart ease
I don't care who knows, I work for my dough
I'll spend it as I please.

I was cutting a rug; they threw me in the jug
And as the magistrate looked down
He said, Youngie Doug, you're a wine-loving mug,
You're a menace to this town.

I'm gonna put you away; in the cell you will stay
Until you learn more sense.
I broke down and cried. It was a doggone lie.
For I wasn't the same he said.
I spent a day in jail and they paid my bail.
And as they opened up the big iron door.
I shook my head as I sadly said.
I'll never get drunk no more.
I made a vow I'll give it up for now
And let the blood roll down my vein
Until a friend of mine, he had a flagon of wine
So we turned it on again.
People in town they just run us down
And gave us a big bad name
Say we drink and fight, but it's quite all right
Because the other is doing same

But after a while, they're gonna hang their heads
For we wasn't such a very bad guy
I'm feeling sad and I'm gonna be mad
If they hang around my grave and cry.

They say it a crime drinking beer and wine
It's gonna lead a poor man astray
When it come to grog, I'm a fair dinkum hog.
I guess I was born that way.
I'm gonna drink it and roam til the cows come home,
If it give my poor heart ease.
I don't care who knows, I work for my dough
I'll spend it how I please.

This song was written by Aboriginal man Dougie Young for the movie My Survival As An Aboriginal.


after my not so successful shopping expedition, (it's tough to shop when the stores are closed) and the bottle shop experience, I decided it was time to head to the casino.   So, back to the little room for a shower and a change of close, and then down to wait for a cab that I had arranged for pickup.

after waiting, and waiting for said cab to arrive, a couple of blokes from the same motel confirmed that they to were going to the casino, for lack of anything better to do, and would share a ride with me.

After arriving at the casino, they went their way, and I went to the card table.  Damn, no 3 Card poker, which is my favorite game, but, not to be swayed from gambling (it was my birthday, after all!)  I settled for Black Jack.   After awhile, I figured I better get something to eat before the beers went to my head, so, I ordered a sandwich and went out side to eat.  On the way, this man comes up to me and says:  "I know you!"

I looked at him.  I am in Alice Springs.  I don't know anyone from Alice Springs, nor do I know anyone visiting Alice Springs....Ah!   the man from the airport!   After the shattering disappointment of not having a greeter with a special sign with my name on it (see previous post), I had to wait for the 2nd shuttle bus to fill up with people.   He spoke to me while we were waiting.  Yes, I did "know him".   Well, kind of.  that is I spoke 2 sentences to him.  Ok, maybe that doesn't count as knowing. 

Anyway, he asks me  "where are you staying?"   As if I would tell him!  

"Down the road." I responded vaguely.

"I am staying at the casino, why don't you stay with me?" 

I just look at him.  I don't even know this bloke's name!   besides, I don't do one night stands, and I told him as much.

He says "Just look at this!   Just look at this!"  as he points to his chest. 

"Yes, it is a nice chest.  but....really, I don't know you."    
and he shouts again "Just look at it!"  "Just look at it!"   as if he just couldn't understand why I wouldn't take him...right there, right then, on the poker table.

and then a vision comes to my mind.....as I try not to burst out laughing I reminisce about the following episode of Saturday night live...I could only find a partial clip....



Oh, and in case there was any doubt in any of your minds, I chose not to get a closer look "at it".  :-)