The Road to Darwin

Chapter 4 – The Alice

Rolled into Alice Springs, literally: a strong head wind burnt up all the petrol. As the sun set in the west (I presume it was the west because that’s where the sun sets where I … Read More

The Road to Darwin

part one

Ben Laycock

Chapter 1 – Hattah

We leave Castlemaine on the last day of July, heading for Darwin and beyond. We don’t see anything to write home about on the first day. Inglewood seems like a thriving little … Read More

Bob’s Convoy

by Ben Laycock

PART ONE : The Long Road to the Far North

We set off from Castlemaine on a glorious afternoon: three enthusiastic, intrepid activists on a journey into the heart of darkness. We are not alone. Bob … Read More

The Queen Must Die!

An Australia Day Reflection (satire)

by Ben Laycock

I don’t celebrate Australia Day, because l am a traditionalist. The blackfellas have a long tradition of not celebrating Australia Day, dating back many thousands of years. It is this ancient tradition … Read More

Greetings From Beyond the Pale: Expulsion from the Garden of Eden

Ben Laycock  

A long days journey into night finds me stranded once more. Far from home, far from civilisation, far from certain of my place amongst this motley crew of cowboys, tomboys (Carol), ferals and hippies.

The camp is … Read More

Greetings from Beyond the Pale: Carol

Ben Laycock  

After fully immersing myself in the various mud-baths on offer around Derby, it is time to move on. Always time to move on. I am approaching my final destination …

I set off many moons ago … Read More

Greenwash: Big Jamboree in Sleepy Hollow

Ben Laycock

Thinking people all around the world are coming to the inescapable conclusion that the whole God-damn place is run by a cabal of Corporate Psychopaths. If you count yourself amongst the cognoscenti who share this unshakable belief, you … Read More

Greeting from Beyond the Pale: Derby – City of Mud

Ben Laycock  

We bid a fond farewell to Fitzroy Crossing and its quaint country pub and head for Derby (pronounced Derby), the once bustling capital of all the Kimberley, now but a faded replica of its former self. Derby … Read More

Greetings From Beyond the Pale: Fitzroy Crossing

Ben Laycock  

We bid a fond farewell to the Mary River and head south till we hit the Fitzroy River; the longest river in the Kimberley and one of the last wild rivers on earth: No dams, no diversions, … Read More

Greetings From Beyond the Pale: A Gathering of the Clans

Ben Laycock

PART 9: A GATHERING OF THE CLANS

What have l stumbled upon here? Part conference, part corroboree. There are mobs from Beagle Bay and one Arm Point, Kolumbaru on the Timor Sea, Oombulgari, Yakanarra, Jigalong, Lajamanu. … Read More