Indigenous Australians Tiwi – coming home

Heide Smith flying from Darwin to Bathurst Island "on a wing and a prayer"

flying from Darwin to Bathurst Island “on a wing and a prayer

It’s April 11 at last, and I am off to Bathurst Island north of Darwin. Love these small planes. You can see so much. Can’t wait to be back to my other home, the Tiwi Isles. Though only for a week, I hope to see old friends again. My friend, Sister Anne Gardiner AM is seated in front of me. The landing is bumpy and the updrafts make the little plane tilt from side to side and it’s very hot and steamy. It is still the wet season, yet the country looks dry. “We have not had much rain lately” Maggie Kerinaiua comments. “Many swamps have dried out”.

landing on Bathurst Island - Sister Ann Gardiner flew in with me

landing on Bathurst Island – Sister Ann Gardiner flew in with me

But on the first morning there, we have some rain. That will make the crocs happy, I am thinking; always keeping an eye open for these monsters, as I walk along Tarrantippi Beach later that evening.

Evening walk Tarrantippi Beach Bathurst Island photographed by Heide Smith

Evening walk Tarrantippi Beach Bathurst Island

If you want to see more of my photographs of Indigenous Australians, there are over 300 images of the Tiwi on my website.

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