I didn't get to take photos there, the lady I was travelling with doesn't like it when you are working ... a shame ...but I am going to google some pics that I think tell the story ...
Workwise it was challenging but positive, the most challenging part being the managers of the MoneyBusines service who are sceptical about our ability to help, and like to do things their own way. The Tiwi's were really friendly, love their jobs (there are four of them) and I really enjoyed meeting them. Can't wait to go back.
Not in such a hurry to stay again at the "donga." A donga is essentially a furnished shipping container. This one had bathroom facilities, but was very old, dusty and dirty. Not to be mistaken, as dad apparently did, for a condo. Note to all Donga (does not equal) Condo!!!
Sam, who I was working with, has done a lot of work on the island, particularly with Tiwi Design. She took me to visit the art centre, which was fantastic. There were a number of artists working there, and Sam knew most of them. One of the most famous Aboriginal artists in the country works ou
t of Tiwi design, Jean Baptiste Apuatimi. Jean is 69, and incredibly funny and vibrant. She currently has a travelling show of her paintings, which is apparently going to London soon. She would love to go, and talks of drinking tea (or a beer!) with the Queen, but is probably unlikely to go due to her age/health.There is lots of poverty on Tiwi Islands. A lot don't speak English. Most do not understand the concept of debt. It's hard to explain, and its not that they look for hand outs, they just don't understand having to pay for something that is given to them. So they will often sign up for humbug schemes, not realising what they have done for months or even years. A superannuation company came over a few years back and signed a group of Tiwi's up for Managed Super funds. They didn't know they had to do annual statements etc, and ended up getting fined by the government. Fortunately it got sorted out in the end, but the superfund made a "shitload" of money and ripped these people off completely.
Another women received a personally addressed letter from an African "minister" telling her that she was entitled to $75k in return for sending them her bank account details. She came back to the Money Business team 2 or 3 times hoping that they would be able to organise the money for her. So its not just us whitefellas that are robbing them blind.
Most of what the workers do is get their clients on to internet banking so that they can see their account balances. Because there are few atms and even fewer computers, the Tiwi's waiting for their centrelink payments will frequently check their bank balance at atm's that aren't from their own bank. They will sometimes check every hour for 2 or 3 days. And the atms charge for checking bank balances, so if they have no money in their accounts, they go into debit and then get overdrawn charges. The workers try to get them to understand the costs, but it is a battle.
Ok, so thats it for Bathurst Island for now ... will write another blog about Darwin proper for the last few days
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