Walk a while update June 2020
It’s been a while since this page was updated for many reasons. It has been a challenging and sad time through 2019 for us all on the team…with the loss of our key players which we reported last year being very ill. We were so grateful for all your love and prayers. Sadly they are no longer with us, but their passion and legacy live on in the work and their families. It makes it even more important to see the cross completed as they really saw this as so key to the community. Lets help this happen in their honour too.
We were delighted that Tim’s wife Berni and their two sons Daniel and Isaac were able to visit Ikuntji in January 2020 and were so blessed to meet the community and capture the vision for the Cross and Creative Arts and Technology Centre.
The latest news letter is copied which gives the current status..
COVID-19 Lockdowns:
The Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory – including Haasts Bluff and Papunya – are still in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Indigenous people are considered to be in the high-risk category if they contract the virus, so our friends have been staying close to home. But they have not been idle – far from it. They have been gathering together for Sing Along almost every night and they have been actively praying for each other, for their friends in other communities, and for us as we carry on with various projects on their behalf.
Creative Activities:
A second Indigenous music album is in production at the moment. Searching for an Answer, by Douglas Multa, is a collection of 10 tracks that will soon be available on CD and USB. We’ll send you a quick note to let you know when you can order your copies of this new album - and of Simon Dixon’s album, which was produced late last year.
The Cross Project:
All the geo-tech work has been completed and the base plate for the Cross is now at the top of the mountain, ready for us to lay the concrete foundations. The photo above shows where the Cross will be located. You will see some local children next to the marker which has been placed right where the Cross will be built, on top of Memory Mountain. The COVID-19 travel restrictions have stopped us from continuing with the work on the mountain for the past 2 months, but we have been making progress in other areas.
We have purchased another Suzuki Vitara that will be modified for the job of getting all the Cross components up the Mountain ready for assembly. Our Bobcat has been taken into town for maintenance so it will be ready for work as soon as we can recommence.
As soon as the lock downs are lifted, we are ready go to … but …
… we still need additional finance to complete fabrication of the Cross components and then to erect it. When we come out of COVID, we want to come out victorious.
Can you help? You can go here right now to donate to this important project.
Once the Cross is completed it will become one of Australia’s major tourist icons, bringing much needed revenue into isolated Indigenous communities. This project is crucial in helping our Indigenous people gain financial independence, as it will create many new businesses and new job opportunities.
Any financial donation you can give will be gratefully received and will allow us to complete this important project on behalf of the Indigenous people of central Australia.
The Cross is THEIR project and they are praying it will be completed very soon.
Another way you can help is by passing this news on to anyone you think may be interested in helping to bring the dream of our Indigenous people to fruition.
Winter Clothing & Blankets Needed Now:
We are organising a shipment of winter clothing and blankets to go out to central Australia. While the desert days are warm all year, winter nights in the desert can be bitterly cold. You can help by sending your clean, second hand winter clothing and blankets to become part of this shipment. Or maybe you would like to purchase some inexpensive new items. Our Indigenous communities don’t have access to many of the things we city folks take for granted – including discount department stores where they can buy reasonably priced clothing. The photo above shows how pleased the families were with our shipment last year.
If you are able to donate any clean clothes or blankets, please send them to the Ken Duncan Gallery, 414 The Entrance Road, Erina Heights NSW 2260.
All clothing donations must be received by June 30th, so we can sort them and pack them ready for despatch in early July.
And please don’t forget, your cash donations are urgently needed as well. Please go here to donate now.
Thanks and blessings from the Walk a While Board.
Ken Duncan, OAM