A Referendum and the Red Centre

Our nation is headed towards a referendum fueled by different opinions and conversations diametrically opposed to each other. We see the rawness of the repercussions of this discussion in the day to day life of Alice Springs. How far will these hopes and dreams for Australia reach? Will they alter life in the Red Centre?

In addition to the sparks set off by politicians, I have been watching the news of the fires up north, as well as the smaller blazes around town. Smoke hangs over parts of the desert like challenge. In the suffocation of a summer amplified by the pressure of the impending referendum, I know I need to find the bright spots in our arid environment. 

Sturt's Desert Peas in Alice Springs (Photo credit: Wendy Marr)

Currently, the iconic Sturt's Desert Peas bloom all over town, adding their scarlet to the dust. They grow year in, year out, regardless of the circumstances, their vividness representing the dynamism of the outback community. We may be isolated, but we are not asleep. We watch the world turn from our position in the heart of Australia. And when the time is right, we also are susceptible to the winds of change.

There are a myriad of opinions and political views floating in the media at this current time. No matter which one I take, or which one you feel strongly about, the will to survive in the harshness of the outback prevails. May we always add colour and beauty to our environment. And despite our differences, may we transform the hue of this landscape into something unique and unforgettable.