What would Stuart have thought?

Historian and writer Peter Forrest facilitated
the 'Economic Prospects for the 21st Century'
Conference hosted by the Town Council

I couldn't help wondering, as I sat in the conference "Positioning for a Prosperous Future", what would John McDouall Stuart have thought? Two hundred or so national and local figures assembled in Tennant Creek to talk about our economic future!
It was a wonderful honour for me to be asked to facilitate the proceedings of the conference. I must admit that when Ali Khan asked me to come to Tennant Creek for the conference I was just a little doubtful that the ambitious program which he had planned would in fact happen. Like all the doubters, I was stunned by the enormous success of the conference, which brought national attention and acclaim to Tennant Creek.
As the conference chairman, it was my job to listen closely to approximately sixty presentations over two very full days. In the end, I was struck by how well the local speakers performed in comparison with the visitors, who included some very experienced and professional speakers from all parts of Australia.
Senior Warumungu man Ross Williams set the tone when he welcomed visitors to Warumungu country. Ross showed that, in the Tennant Creek area, Aborigines and non-Aborigines have gone forward by concentrating on the things they have in common, rather than on the things which create difference. The message was warmly responded to by the Governor-General.
Elliott McAdam and David Curtis gave outstanding and very positive presentations about Aboriginal affairs. Their contributions were notable for their constructive and practical suggestions, which established a basis for real hope for the future. They showed just how vital is the economic contribution already being made by Aboriginal people to the regional economy, and how that contribution can be magnified for everyone's benefit if we all work together.
Maggie Hickey also spoke in a very constructive and objective way. Her splendidly delivered and balanced paper was in marked contrast to that of a previous speaker, a national political leader (not a Territorian, I hasten to add). This gentleman chose to deliver an election speech, which had quite the opposite effect to that which he intended.
Local mining industry figures Terry Smith (Normandy Gold) and Nick Byrne (Giants Reef) had differing perspectives, but in combination they showed why Tennant Creek's miners have been such positive contributors to the national economy up to now, and certainly will be in the future. Michael Coughlan, also from Normandy, set up a model for dealings between miners and Aborigines.
Another local, the venerable Alf Chittock, also distinguished Tennant Creek when he spoke movingly of the early days of local government in the town. He was unveiling the stone commemorating the achievement of twenty years of self-government. Alf was careful to pay tribute to his colleague of those early days, Bruce MacRae. Alf's simple but evocative speech showed that you don't have to talk for long to get a message across in a very effective way.
I don't want to imply that any of the other presentations were second rate by comparison. Far from it. In particular, Shane Stone delivered what was perhaps the most impressive contribution of all, during the opening session, while Austin Asche displayed the wisdom of Socrates in his summing up. Sir William and Lady Deane quite genuinely charmed everyone by their easily informality, and Sir William's conference speech should be widely published to prick the conscience of all Australians.
So, all in all, Tennant Creek covered itself in glory, both through the quality of its home grown speakers, and through the overall huge success of the conference. And what came out of it all, you may ask? Well, my overall impression was that the conference showed that we cannot hope for a "Big Bang" to solve the problems of the Tennant Creek regional economy, or the economies of dozens of regions like it throughout Australia. Not even the railway, or even two railways as contended by a contingent from Mt. Isa, will come to the rescue if the economic fundamentals are not there.
However, there is hope. The conference showed that Tennant and regions like it already have very potent resources within themselves. Those resources must be nurtured, grown, and employed to best effect. We must then use them to trade more effectively with each other, and with our neighbours. For example, it was made clear that there is tremendous potential in developing logical relationships between Tennant Creek and Mt. Isa. Above all, we must respect one another, and we must share the vision of a better future for everyone.