Tunnel
Creek is a 750m long natural tunnel carved through the Napier Range. I approach
the tunnel wearing bathers and carrying a torch. I am not wearing aqua shoes
which means I slip a few times.
One slip
causes me to think to myself. I have experienced this tunnel. I have a vague
idea of what people living down here went through. Following people all the way
through the tunnel may cause me to fall and will not increase my understudying
of Jandamarra.
The bus travels and shows us a couple of films.
The first film is about Jandamarra. He led other Aboriginals
in a military campaign against the newcomers. Tunnel creek was his most famous hideout. He won a few
battles but eventually lost the war. He was killed outside Tunnel Creek in
1897.
Another film is screened. Swimming The River. It tells the
story of noble savages living in peace and prosperity. Evil, white men come and
take their land. The white men shoot and
poison the people living there. The Aboriginals lived there for 60,000 years in
peace. They cared for the land and looked after each other. Their society was
destroyed. Now full of drugs, alcohol, mental ill-health, domestic violence and
suicide.
The film Swimming The River offers no solutions or ways
forward.
Broome did not begin with a railway station and central GPO.
It sprawls over the red sand in the simmering heat. No central rest area for
truck drivers and tourists. Cable Beach
is the obvious centre and Cable Beach stretches.
Broome contains a network of good roads connecting cafes,
shops , beaches, pearl farms, tourist attractions and Chinatown.
We wander beside the roads to Chinatown. Chinatown is a
collection of widely dispersed shops. The shops all have a proprietor with a
Chinese name selling the usual curios. We pass a few intimidating shops selling
pearls.
We join our tour for dinner. We are not asked to give an
introductory speech to our group.
Breakfast. I choose my ideal breakfast. The guy sitting next
to me chooses his ideal breakfast which is different. The staff are all
friendly and helpful. Smiling, not anxious and stressed. One lady has a
frangipani in her hair. Perhaps they are
happy because it is the beginning of the dry tourist season. The wet non-tourist
season has ended and the tourist are bringing life and money.
We begin in Broome.
According to tourist marketing Broome has a population of 15,000 and is
the gateway to the Kimberley and home to pearl farms. Kimberley has a
population of 35,000. An area of 420,000 square kilometres.
I discover that Broome is Cable Beach. When we walk to Cable
Beach. The grassy park above the beach is home to bongo players, guitarists,
people lounging and relaxed hippies.
At Cable Beach we
discover choices.
Go left if you want to walk on the sand. Wiggle your toes in
the sand. Peer at sea weeds and crawling molluscs leaving a trail behind themselves.
Go left if you want to waddle in the warm sea water. Get
close to camels. Practice your introductory speech for tonight’s dinner.
Go left if you want to feel the breeze in your face and hear
the waves. See acres of flat sand dissolving into gentle waves. Mingle with
walkers, strollers, runners, bike riders, dog walkers, fisher people and
photographers.
Go right if you want to drive in your blessed four-wheel
drive on the sand.
A long time ago I was deluged by articles and advice telling me in order to be a successful and
good boss I had to conduct exit interviews. Interview people when they
left. I immediately thought good in
theory. In practice sounds like a short film.
One day a long time ago I wrote a script. I (and others) then turned the script into a short film.
I then realised that Youtube didn't exist.
Well if Youtube hasn't been invented I will enter the film in a short film competition.
The film still exists. Look at the film and then you can
decide:
If the film was made today, would it differ?
