Untold Territory

Crow Corner gals, Toni and Megan, do their first zoom in the lead up to the final interview release of Untold Territory - season 1, 2024.An unedited yarn about a few of the hurdles faced during the first year, an update on guests and the weighing up of whether to do a season 2 or not!Cheers, from the couch at Crow Corner!

Carney wholly represents the saying 'a life well lived’ and there is still a lot more to come.We pick up from Carney's early beginnings as a Northern Territory Police Officer in Alice Springs - which he was not enjoying so much. A chance position opening at the outback Police Station in the remote Aboriginal Community of Kintore changed all that for Carney. Over 20 years in remote policing takes it's toll on the mind and body, and Carney does not wrap any of the truth in bubble wrap for you.Kick back and listen to the fabulous storyteller that is Carney Ganley in part two of his story.**Sadly, since recording this, Carney’s father passed away. We are all sending our deepest condolences to you, Carney, and family.

In Kim's second episode, Kim delves into the steep learning curve of having a neurodivergent and epileptic son. She juggles motherhood, work and volunteering - we are yet to determine how she slept!Part of Kim's written response was something we loved so much as it summed up what we all think of the NT:"It's the cool dry season mornings with the smell of fresh bushfire smoke early in the fire season... It's the raucous calls of a Blue Winged kookaburra competing with the bugle at the Anzac Day dawn service... It's the lime green foliage in the ironwoods in September, the pink blaze of the Turkey Bush flowers during camping season..."Sit back, turn it up, and listen to the 2nd part of the story that is Kim McLachlan!

Kim grew up in a rugged part of the Northern Territory with no power, no phone and no siblings!She had a wild and free childhood with parents she fondly calls 'misfits' and the influx of visitors in the dry, particularly 'Nanna' Doreen Waldock, an Aboriginal elder from the lands of what is now known as Kakadu National Park. There is no doubt that it was a tough upbringing, one that the majority of our listeners could not even possibly picture!Kim did distance education all the way to year 12 because she wanted to prove someone wrong! She 'scraped through' despite getting awards throughout and left home not long after to pursue a life of her own. Part one will take you on Kim's early life journey of a truly remote upbringing, feeling heartbreaking loss and finding enduring love.

Who knew that some great life advice would come in the form of a washing machine analogy? What a story!Kate Ganley, a girl that grew up in rural New South Wales and attended one of Australia’s top boarding schools. A cheeky kid and a rowing champion, who did well at university, Kate signed tup o do a medical degree.The Northern Territory was a place she had hardly heard of and was certainly not on her planned life path, until, a short volunteering trip to a remote indigenous community in Central Australia, saw her life plans take a dramatic turn and she has been here ever since.Feisty and passionate, Kate has run in NT elections, had a stint on Katherine Town Council, organised the famous Barunga Festival and had many adventures in between. Now Kate and her husband Carney along with their children Tjak and Goldie, are running a successful tourist venture, the ‘Gorge View Bush Retreat’ located on beautiful Jawoyn country at the gateway to the magnificent Katherine Gorge and Nitmiluk National Park.When visiting the Northern Territory do not go past the Gorge View Bush Retreat - with glamping tents, swimming pool, and a beautiful outdoor deck to dine at night on homemade pizza, and be enveloped by the setting of the red sun and the haunting music of master didgeridoo player Dalabon man, Manuel Pampkal .For more information log on to: Gorge View Bush Retreat : Katherine Gorge NTFollow them on Facebook and Instagram

In Part Two, John shares his rollercoaster of adventures around the top end that include surviving two major disasters - Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in Darwin 1974 and the Katherine Floods on Australia Day 1998. Never one to shy from a challenge, he has not only worked for many years as a Surveyor, but has also worked in childcare, aged care, and the Department of Public Housing, finally ending up in his dream job with NT Parks and Wildlife.John was awarded Life Membership to the NT Political party, the Labor Party, where he played a pivotal role in getting the then ruling Labor Party to put a moratorium on fracking in the NT. He continues to lobby for the Right to Assisted Dying Legislation to be established.It is certainly a life of variety, hardship, and resilience, but also a story of love and joy for people and country. Now in his 70s, John is retired and enjoying putting together his musings and stories, for posterity and to help record the history of the Northern Territory.

John King dreamed of being an Astronomer - but ended up being a surveyor! A career that has led him to play a major role in documenting and charting our vast Northern Territory landscape.In Part One, John takes us along on his journey of growing up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s in the hot tropics of a post-war outpost that is fast developing into a city in the top end of Australia. Sultry nights and family barbecues filled with days at school, swimming, cycling, football and fishing with his mates and his time at University pursuing his career.John’s vivid memories take us back in time, telling many of the untold stories that are part of the fabric that shapes our unique culture, in this ancient part of Australia today.

Rob's life journey began in Adelaide growing up in an academic and musical family. He studied Agricultural Science and ended up in the Northern Territory in the mid 1960’s working for the NT Government Department of Primary Industries at a research farm at Tortilla Flats, an hour or two South of Darwin.Whilst growing rice and working with buffaloes, Rob soon became involved in activism, in particular the Free East Timor movement. A cause that has seen him organising rallies and conferences in Darwin, supporting and saving refugees and organising boat loads of food and aid to East Timor.  Now heading into his eighties, Rob has spent a lifetime of activism and a love of agricultural science. He is not afraid to call a spade a spade and does not suffer fools gladly. This is an epic story that only Rob Wesley Smith can tell.