Join Kristy O’Brien in Timber Creek for tales of love and legacy, on BACK ROADS tonight.
This week, Back Roads ventures to Timber Creek in the Northern Territory, where Kristy O’Brien, serving as a guest presenter, uncovers a unique collaboration bringing benefits to the local community. During her visit, O’Brien explores heartfelt stories of residents discovering love in unlikely circumstances.
In an episode set against the backdrop of one of the planet’s largest live fire training zones, O’Brien delves into the cooperative spirit between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Timber Creek’s indigenous inhabitants, the Ngaliwurru Nungali and Jaminjung peoples. This partnership has led to the ADF inviting these traditional landowners to conduct cultural camps on their ancestral lands, an initiative aimed at passing down ancient traditions to younger generations.
Amidst this alliance, Daniel Jones, a local elder, has launched a successful contracting business focused on providing services like fencing, road maintenance, and cultural burning projects for the military. This venture, primarily employing Indigenous workers, has instilled a profound sense of accomplishment among the community’s youth. Jones’ sister, Lorraine, who served as a Police Liaison Officer in the 90s, attests to the positive impact steady employment has had on these young individuals.
Adding to the rich tapestry of Timber Creek’s history, O’Brien encounters Bazza Burrowes, an 81-year-old steward of the town’s police museum. Burrowes shares tales of a scarcely remembered WWII patrol unit that guarded the area on horseback, further highlighting the town’s long-standing military connections.
Back Roads episode focusing on Timber Creek promises viewers a glimpse into the enduring bonds formed between the ADF and the land’s original custodians, alongside the personal stories that knit the fabric of this unique community.
