The Lie of an Empty Desert – Alice Springs

Often when people think of the desert, they think of acres of sand and an empty landscape. They think of huge vacuums of heat and yellow dunes that roll for miles. They don’t know about the red earth and the trees that stud Central Australia, or the wildflowers amongst the grass, or the budgerigars that descend in flocks after a season of rain. They don’t see the hunting kite cruising on an arc of wind, or the wallabies hiding in the rocks. The desert is full of life.

The township of Alice Springs swells in the desert, and a myriad of towns and communities exist around it. These places are remote, clustered as they are under the same sky. Alice provides resources and a hub for these communities, nursing a population from many different backgrounds and nationalities. Living together in such a relatively small town means people rub up against one another more frequently; it also means we have the connections and strength to support one another when life gets tough.

How often do we look at something as though it is empty? We disregard without bothering to find out. It is the lie that keeps us restricted. Like a curtain, this perception hides what really exists, and steals new experiences from those who believe it, as well as the chance to find what is actually out there – stunning beauty and rare energy.

                                               A Desert Filled With Life - Central Australia

Many people are born in Central Australia, and for some, their heritage stretches back thousands of years. Others have settled here from foreign places, drawn by the opportunities for work, and propelled by their own courage to try something different and see what the Red Centre is really like. Some are trapped by the spirit of this place. I know that for myself when I watch the dawn and sunset, I feel that even though life in Alice is not easy, it is worthwhile. This town is fractured, but it is also sewn together by the contributions of many and the bond of shared isolation. We watch life in the rest of Australia move on around us. And life moves on here, too.

A lot of people in Alice are connected to other places through family, and when times are more certain, travel. Our town has a reputation. Visiting Central Australia discloses the truth. The desert is not empty. It is different from other places. Traveling here reveals the fullness of the heart of Australia, and the diverse people who call it home, some forever, others for just a season. But no matter how long you find yourself in this unique place, it marks you.   

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