Alice Springs 1/27

After a 30-40 minute fight we arrived in Alice Springs, a town of 29,000 people. Hard to believe it could have this many people since Ayers Rock is not to far away and only has 450 people. Alice Springs is a town rich in natural resources. We were told its main industries are mining, cattle, and tourism. We helped out their tourism industry today and and took a trip around town, stopping at major historical venues. Most of the places we visited were inside and air-conditioned, so we were able to escape the 112 degree plus temperature for a little while.

Our first stop was the Aboriginal Art Gallery. This gallery was home to original tools, spears, boomerangs, paintings, clothing, etc. of the Aboriginal people. It also housed the worlds most expensive piece of Aboriginal art. This artwork consisted of four to five canvas panels that stood probably 7 feet tall. It was sold in an auction for over $1 million dollars back in 2007. The lower level of the gallery featured art you could purchase. Some of the art work was absolutely amazing. It was interesting to see the difference in style painting from generation to generation.

Next stop was the Royal Doctor Flying Service. The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (aka The Flying Doctor) is an emergency and primary health care service. The RFDS was designed for those living in rural, remote and regional areas of Australia. Similar to Alaska in regards to rural populations, many individuals cannot access a hospital or general practice due to the vast distances of the Outback. This place was right down Casta's ally. While the rest of us found the service to be interesting, Casta loved it. Who knows, maybe some day she will be a flight nurse with a similar service back home.

Now off to the School of the Air. This school is an educational service for children living in remote areas of Central Australia. In the Alice Springs program, there are currently 140 children enrolled in various grades from preschool to 9th grade. It was called the School of the Air, because lessons were transmitted through radio. Only until recently the school received a grant for educational resources such as computers web cams, printers, etc. The children all log on to their computers (at a designated time per grade level) and interact with fellow students and teachers for daily lessons. Homework is sent via postal service. Four times a year, for social interaction, the school flies the children to Alice Springs for a "in school week". During this week the children get to attend a public school with children their own age and get some face to face time with the students and teachers they see everyday online. The week is also filled with fun and games for the whole family.

Second to last stop was the Overland Telegraph Station. Built when settlement in Alice Springs began in 1871, The Overland Telegraph Station was a repeater station for lines that ran from Adelaide (Southeast) through Alice (Central) and up to Darwin (North). The line also linked Australia's south and southeast to the rest of the world. From Darwin, the telegraph line traveled underwater and on land to Indonesia, Singapore, Burma, British India and across Asia and Europe to London.

Our last stop was Anzac Hill, a memorial for those who lost their lives in battle.