'We are the joy, the sadness, the anger and the peace.' With these moving words, Adnyamathanha Elders Aunty Enice Marsh and Geraldine Anderson opened a significant gathering in Port Augusta last month. People from the Flinders Ranges and the Kimba farming region, still threatened by the federal government's plans to deposit the nation's radioactive waste, met again 'on the country in between'.
For some months now, no further government decisions have been taken — or at least not conveyed — as to the preferred final site for the nation's long-lived intermediate and low-level nuclear waste.
On 18 December, following the Barngala people's similar move in August against the Kimba Council, the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association (ATLA) of the Flinders Ranges took to court the local council's ruling to exclude non-resident Traditional Owners from a community ballot on the matter. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, representing ATLA pro bono, see the situation as a justice issue. The 30 January decision deadline has come and gone.
Peter Woolford is the chairperson of the aptly named 'It Goes Against the Grain' group of farmers and townspeople of the Kimba region who oppose the dump and its threat to their international grain markets. From his long interview for the 7.30 Report on 28 March, only a few brief words survived the final cut, but he was pleased it was his main point: 'We're not activists — I'm a third generation farmer.'
His report to the Port Augusta gathering spoke of much activity, notably that the anti-dump farmers' stand at the Cleve Field Days had attracted 1000 petitions. Meanwhile, farmer colleague Tom Harris, now on the Kimba Council, provides 'some balance' to the otherwise pro-dump farmers/townspeople councillors.
Originally bound to the Flinders by the tragic loss of his ten year old brother there in 1959, Greg Bannon, chairperson of FLAG (Flinders Local Action Group), paid tribute to the Adnyamathanha: 'Support from the TOs in community from the start has been great and inspiring and has given strength to the rest of us who have no home but here.' FLAG's many activities include writing letters, making submissions, media appearances, presenting to the local council, and more.
Meanwhile the mental anguish of community conflict and concern — either for country or from the cash benefits promised by government — continues within both communities. The 7.30 Report highlighted this, with people on both (mainly pro) sides of the issue given voice. As Woolford wondered aloud to us in