It's 30 days after Cyclone Lam, and with only about half the cleaning, clearing up etc completed on Elcho, we are now entering Elcho's second Cyclone Warning Zone conditions for 2015. This time it's Cyclone Nathan. At 9.30am Nathan was a Category 1 system, only 998 hPa at it's centre, spinning just off the Queensland coast, with winds of 75 kms/hr heading in a west to north-west direction. We have seen many cyclones form like this, but already we are again under 'Police authority' for the community. With the unpredictable nature of cyclones, the community authorities are concerned.
Tent city is being dismounted, homeless people are moving back to the school, and a general 'unease' and weariness is being felt by those yolŋu as they shuffle from 'hither to thither'.
Yesterday, I felt quite sick and tired with the predictions of cyclone Nathan being aimed at Elcho Island when it was still hovering over Queensland! So-o many variables, such fickled weather, and yet such 'confidence' being expressed that Elcho can, will or could be hit so soon! The tension of keeping people informed early, using 'predictions' for an unpredictable event, is fraught with frustration and miscommunications on all sides... especially as we deal with the realm of the 'possible' or 'potential'. But also the clash of worldviews, the balanda one that wants to 'be prepared' to the yolŋu world of mixed responses, that either 'deals with it when it comes' or 'balanda knows best'. This is not a balanda community, but the emergency services are so, and hence are required to 'take control'. It makes me groan at the weight of what feels like another 'intervention' being laid on an indigenous community where its people are losing more control of their lives and community, under the care and responsibility of others, in what is such an unpredictable climate.
Tent city is being dismounted, homeless people are moving back to the school, and a general 'unease' and weariness is being felt by those yolŋu as they shuffle from 'hither to thither'.
Yesterday, I felt quite sick and tired with the predictions of cyclone Nathan being aimed at Elcho Island when it was still hovering over Queensland! So-o many variables, such fickled weather, and yet such 'confidence' being expressed that Elcho can, will or could be hit so soon! The tension of keeping people informed early, using 'predictions' for an unpredictable event, is fraught with frustration and miscommunications on all sides... especially as we deal with the realm of the 'possible' or 'potential'. But also the clash of worldviews, the balanda one that wants to 'be prepared' to the yolŋu world of mixed responses, that either 'deals with it when it comes' or 'balanda knows best'. This is not a balanda community, but the emergency services are so, and hence are required to 'take control'. It makes me groan at the weight of what feels like another 'intervention' being laid on an indigenous community where its people are losing more control of their lives and community, under the care and responsibility of others, in what is such an unpredictable climate.
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