Comments for Alice Springs News

Comment on Gallery consultation confusion by Dan

Dan — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 02:53:36 +0000

It seemed quite clear that they actually didn’t want to answer any questions, unfortunately their tech wasn’t working real good so their prepared questions weren’t being asked.
The government is going to continue to struggle to control the information about this gallery, and I wonder what those Indigenous artists from other places will think when they are told it goes against cultural protocols to show their work in this space.

Comment on Gallery consultation confusion by Yvonne Driscoll

Yvonne Driscoll — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:41:45 +0000

I can’t believe that the gallery is still being built on an area that the custodians do not want and many locals don’t want it there either.
Why but reconsider the site and build the gallery south of The Gap, don’t wreak our oval.

Comment on Gallery consultation confusion by Jon

Jon — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:51:41 +0000

Follow the money. Who benefits? Who stands to gain? A fraction of this expense on this architectural monster could be used to regenerate the Todd Mall, buy up the abandoned buildings and give each major centre of Indigenous art its own premises.
Are we concerned with advocating Ingenious art or cash for architects and builders?

Comment on Gallery consultation confusion by Rod Moss

Rod Moss — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 08:58:08 +0000

Hard to say anything positive about this project. I recall Hetti and Philip’s arduous and diligent work being totally neglected. South of the Gap to acknowledge Arrernte protocols, or the Desert Park, both had community support, at the well-attended council meetings I joined.
I was shocked at the proposed architectural structure’s lack of sympathy with its surrounds. The building needs to draw the eye in, to hint at least on the cultural treasures within.

Comment on Gallery consultation confusion by Brian L

Brian L — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:54:51 +0000

How much money has been spent on this project so far? Clear and simple: we need to know this!
Surely it is basic government responsibility to be able to advise this? Who are the companies and individuals benefitting from this development that is shrouded in secrecy?
What about the $50m committed for the Desert Cultural Centre? Please don’t say they’ve moved that money into the gallery?

Comment on NT firm Sitzler gets major national award by Frank Baarda

Frank Baarda — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:55:27 +0000

Thanks Alex.
That information was very useful. I have since contacted Ivan Jordan (the author of Tom and Pat). The 1963 date was wrong.
Ivan has provided me with some more source material and together with your response I have a fair chance of getting my facts straight.

Comment on NT firm Sitzler gets major national award by Alex Nelson

Alex Nelson — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 03:35:38 +0000

@ Frank Baarda: I referred to an old email from 20 April 2017 (at the time when Sitzler Bros. closed in Alice Springs) on the topic of the early years of the Sitzler brothers in Alice Springs, which is quoted in part below:
“Was informed last night that the Sitzler brothers were sponsored in 1956 by local builder Dick Drogemuller. Paul and Peter Sitzler emigrated from Germany in 1955; Paul came to Alice Springs to work for Drogemuller in 1956 and Peter arrived here the following year. They went into business for themselves in 1958. Interesting to consider how the migration assistance schemes of the 1950s in this one instance led to such a massive direct influence on the economy and appearance of modern Alice Springs.
“Peter Sitzler died in January 1992 following an 18 month battle with cancer. Paul Sitzler left town for SA a decade later, in February 2002, together with wife Minna, who was the first Deputy Administrator of the NT (appointed by CM Shane Stone). She was replaced by Pat Miller who still holds that position [retired in September 2021].
“Michael Sitzler (son of Peter) was the managing director of Sitzler Bros. by the early 1990s. His younger sister Virginia was a classmate of mine during all my school years.”
Hope this information is useful.

Comment on NT firm Sitzler gets major national award by Frank Baarda

Frank Baarda — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 22:51:34 +0000

I’m trying to write a book (my second) and wrote something on Sitzler Bros.
In Tom and Pat (by Ivan Jordan OAM and Ed Kingston-Hesperian Press 2022) I find that:
Paul Sitzler after having emigrated from Germany in 1963 had worked as a carpenter in Yuendumu in 1965. Tom (Fleming) had helped Paul in sponsoring Paul’s brother Peter to come to Australia. Tom and Paul became lifelong friends and in 1968 the construction firm of Sitzler Bros. built the Yuendumu Baptist church.
Yet in the above article I find:
Sitzler started in Alice Springs in 1957 as a partnership between brothers Peter and Paul Sitzler with remote area construction.
Furthermore, in an ABC report from April 2017-I find:
SITZLER BROS TO CLOSE: After 55 years operating in Alice Springs, construction company Sitzler Bros Pty Ltd is closing its operations.
According to the statement, the closure of Sitzler Bros does not impact on its sister company, Sitzler Pty Ltd, operating in Darwin and Adelaide.
That makes Sitzler Bros. having started in 1962.
Can someone please help me untangle the contradictions? (Alex Nelson?)

Comment on Movie buffs in reversed ute, beneath a star-filled sky by Morgan Richards

Morgan Richards — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:24:41 +0000

We screened Mad Dog Morgan at the Wanngardi Starlight Cinema in 2017. Audience response was pretty good I think.
Great painting, Rod!

Comment on Alice national Aboriginal art gallery: Don’t hold your breath by Dan

Dan — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 10:20:21 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong Erwin, but was Mr Franey who spoke at the end of the information session re the gallery 19th September, saying that, those senior Mparnte-arenye women, custodians for that women’s site have not given their consent and that Lhere Artepe’s consent only came after they were told that it would go ahead anyway. With no consent they could not negotiate any benefits for their members.