Territory Day 2012
On the first of July each year Territorians celebrate Territory Day, marking the commencement of Self Government in the Territory on 1 July 1978. The day is celebrated across the Northern Territory in a number of ways, including the famous Territory Day fireworks (both public and private). I can honestly say this holiday is very widely celebrated and it is like the 4th of July here. Private fireworks have started around 5pm and will no doubt carry on well in to the night - if one just listened to the sound it sounds very much like the news reports of Syria! Happily for us we are not in that awful war zone and our bangs are accompanied by some very impressive firework displays. We had a family bbq and after another two night shifts I awoke to the gorgeous smells of a bbq - what a treat. After our meal we hurridly rushed out the door to park up at East Point to give us a fantastic vantage point to overlook the Mindil Beach official fireworks. Unfortunatley, in the rush to go we forgot our camera and the camera on my phone would not work as my phone needed charging! I have borrowed some pics from the official government website to give you all a taste of the spectical. The official fireworks lasted a good twenty minutes and we were VERY impressed. The were indeed spectacular.
It is worth noting that as this is the only day of the year fireworks are permitted (and even as we were heading home there was a bush on fire the Firies are working hard tonight!) , Territorians compete with one another to see who can produce the most amazing displays to commemorate the day and watching the fireworks over the Timor Sea was a spectacle. We will gladly take bookings for folks who wish to visit us next year and joiun us for this day I can assure you it is nothing like you've seen before. What a day. Happy Territory day folks!
Cor! Is the Northern Territory totally self-governing, then, and not accountable to the main Australian Government? If so, does this apply to all the different states?
ReplyDeleteYep all the states are self govening up to a point and have their own elected govt. They then pass their own laws, taxes etc. Some of which are then overseen by Federal Parliament in Canberra which in turn passes additional laws such as the carbon tax that comes into effect from today bumping up the price of energy.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite complex to say the least!
For goodness sake remember your camera next year!!
ReplyDelete