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June 19
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Wednesday
June 20
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& Jordan
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Thursday
June 21
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Friday
June 22
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Saturday
June 23
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June 24
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Monday
June 25
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Tuesday
June 26
Peg McFarlane
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Alice
Springs
Wednesday
June 27
Brenton McRae
Alec Ross
Tennant
Creek
Thursday
June 28
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Peter Davenport
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Friday
June 29
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June 30
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July 1
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Repeater
Station - Chat Archive
Chats and Forum Archives
| Biographies
| Special
Dates
| Room |
Chat
with Alec Ross |
| Topic
|
Alec
Ross' amazing life |
| Jun
27, 12:29: |
Lionel>
Thanks Brenton, that's very helpful, I'll give him a call. Who's
Alec Ross? |
| Jun
27, 12:29: |
Jim>
Who Are you |
| Jun
27, 12:30: |
Brenton>
Hi I'm Alec I'm a tour guide and I was actually a bungalow child
who lived here when I was a kid. |
| Jun
27, 12:30: |
Jim>
do you know me |
| Jun
27, 12:30: |
Bongo>
Alec is a relative of the great surveyor John Ross ... I think
... he has some audio interviews on http://www/.connectingthecontinent.com |
| Jun
27, 12:30: |
Courtney>
hey |
| Jun
27, 12:32: |
brigid
has entered the room |
| Jun
27, 12:32: |
jerry>
hello!!!!!!!!!! |
| Jun
27, 12:32: |
Emily>
i am with a person called Paul and he says hi 2 Jessica
coz he thinks its a hot name |
| Jun
27, 12:32: |
daniel>
Hey Bongo where did ya' get the site? |
| Jun
27, 12:32: |
Eleanor>
Hi Bre!! |
| Jun
27, 12:33: |
Bongo>
Alec ... what was it like to grow up at the Alice Springs Telegraph
Station? |
| Jun
27, 12:33: |
Anthony
has entered the room |
| Jun
27, 12:33: |
jellybean>
Hey Brigid |
| Jun
27, 12:33: |
matthew>
what type of work are you doing |
| Jun
27, 12:33: |
Melanie>
welcome everyone to the chat room...in this chat we are talking
to Alec Ross |
| Jun
27, 12:34: |
Brenton>
It was a lot of fun in a way, it gave us an education and we
really became friendly of everyone who was there |
| Jun
27, 12:35: |
Brenton>
Emily I live in Alice Springs |
| Jun
27, 12:35: |
Bongo>
Alec ... what did you do for fun when your were a kid? |
| Jun
27, 12:36: |
Melanie>
So Alec how long have you lived in Alice Springs? |
| Jun
27, 12:37: |
Brenton>
For fun we had a billy cart and we played down at the water
hole we mostly talked and played around in a group. |
| Jun
27, 12:37: |
Bongo>
Alec ... what do you do now? |
| Jun
27, 12:37: |
Melanie>
Alice asks-So Alec how long have you lived in Alice Springs? |
| Jun
27, 12:38: |
Bongo>
Alec, is it true that when you were kids you used to slide down
a rock into Alice Springs ... and that rock is shiny now
because of all the sliding you kids did? |
| Jun
27, 12:38: |
Brenton>
Mel I have lived in Alice Springs for most of my life ever since
I was brought here but I also have lived in the areas around
Alice for a while aswell |
| Jun
27, 12:38: |
Mrs
B has entered the room |
| Jun
27, 12:39: |
Brenton>
I'm a tour guide at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station |
| Jun
27, 12:39: |
Melanie>
Dandi asks- Alec Ross what do you do that has to do with
connecting the continent |
| Jun
27, 12:40: |
Melanie>
Alec Ross is Brenton |
| Jun
27, 12:41: |
Brenton>
Bongo yes we did slide down the rock but it's shiny from the
water when it runs down the rock |
| Jun
27, 12:42: |
Melanie>
Dandi asks- What's it like in alice springs |
| Jun
27, 12:42: |
Bongo>
when was the last time you slid down the rock? |
| Jun
27, 12:42: |
Brenton>
Mel I was a bungalow kid who lived here during the time when
the teleraph line was running I know how things really happened
round here |
| Jun
27, 12:42: |
Battam
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:42: |
Brenton>
Bongo, lets just say it was a long time ago! |
| Jun
27, 12:43: |
Melanie>
kelly asks- how long have you brenton been working at the
alice springs telegraph station |
| Jun
27, 12:43: |
Bongo>
was it a good time .... living in the Bungalow? |
| Jun
27, 12:43: |
bingo
has entered the room |
| Jun
27, 12:43: |
Brenton>
Mel Alice is a great town where everyone knows everyone there
is lots of things to do all the time |
| Jun
27, 12:43: |
Melanie>
jelly bean asks- Brenton, Do you know about the overland
telegraph line? |
| Jun
27, 12:44: |
Bongo>
what do you know about John Ross, the surveyor ... is he related
to you? |
| Jun
27, 12:44: |
Brenton>
Bongo it was great living in the bungalow but the best thing
was that we got an education |
| Jun
27, 12:46: |
Brenton>
Yeh of course I know about the overland telegraph line |
| Jun
27, 12:46: |
Melanie>
Were there other kids getting an education with you? |
| Jun
27, 12:46: |
Brenton>
Yes we were all educated together |
| Jun
27, 12:46: |
Alice
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:47: |
Melanie>
what was that like? |
| Jun
27, 12:47: |
Brenton>
Mel it was different but it was for the best |
| Jun
27, 12:47: |
Melanie>
nina asks- Alec Ross have you lived in AliceSprings? |
| Jun
27, 12:47: |
Bongo>
what do you know about John Ross, the surveyor ... is he related
to you? |
| Jun
27, 12:48: |
Brenton>
I don't know much about JR but I think I am related |
| Jun
27, 12:49: |
Brittany
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:49: |
Brenton>
Mel course I have lived in Alice Springs that is where I have
lived my whole life |
| Jun
27, 12:50: |
Bongo>
Alec, when you were there during the telegraph days ... did
you ever actually use the telegraph to relay a message ...
or was it just used for government purposes? |
| Jun
27, 12:51: |
Brenton>
Bongo it was srtictly only for government purposes and government
officials |
| Jun
27, 12:52: |
Ann>
sorry I've come in so late - hi brenton, alec and everone in
the room |
| Jun
27, 12:53: |
Brenton>
john ross was my great grandfather |
| Jun
27, 12:54: |
Bongo>
does John Ross have many other relatives still alive? ... is
there any family tree or recorded family history? |
| Jun
27, 12:55: |
Ann>
Can you tell us what John ross's role was in the Overland Telegraph
and what he did when the telegraph was completed? |
| Jun
27, 12:55: |
Brenton>
a couple of weeks ago i actually got to meet a todd ross who
was also a great great grandchild |
| Jun
27, 12:55: |
Karen
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:56: |
Brenton>
Ann John Ross' role was a surveyor |
| Jun
27, 12:56: |
serrin
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:56: |
Melanie>
Was that exciting? |
| Jun
27, 12:57: |
Ann>
just got my telegram from the Alice Springs page on this site
- it's great! |
| Jun
27, 12:58: |
Ann>
hey this chat room is going brilliantly - you're all stars of
the Net |
| Jun
27, 12:58: |
david
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 12:59: |
Melanie>
Alec, what do you do these days in Alice |
| Jun
27, 12:59: |
Brenton>
it was very interesting to meet him, as we are related |
| Jun
27, 13:01: |
Ann>
Alec are you in as Brenton, or is that Brenton McCrae? |
| Jun
27, 13:01: |
Bongo>
yeah ... someone sent me a telegram from this site also ...
|
| Jun
27, 13:01: |
Brenton>
i am under the name of brenton |
| Jun
27, 13:02: |
Ann>
I remember meeting you at Alice Springs - what a fascinating
person you are |
| Jun
27, 13:02: |
Brenton>
thankyou ann |
| Jun
27, 13:03: |
Melanie>
Dandi asks - Brenton can u answer my question on how long
have you lived in Alice Springs |
| Jun
27, 13:03: |
Bongo>
Alec, use the options button on this page to change the name
Brenton to Alec ... and save confusion |
| Jun
27, 13:03: |
Brenton>
did you take a tour of the station? |
| Jun
27, 13:04: |
Ann>
Yep, I took a tour of the station - it's a beautiful place,
and so facsinating |
| Jun
27, 13:04: |
Alec>
is that better? |
| Jun
27, 13:04: |
Ann>
Alec - I overheard you talking to a tour group and couldn't
help but listen! |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Alec>
well im very glad that you enjoyed it |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Melanie>
Yes that makes it easier!! |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Ann>
tell us a bit about what life was like there for a kid |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Alec>
ann thats what a lot of people say |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Bongo>
I have an eight year old daughter who thinks your voice is sexy
... she has listened to all your interviews on this site
... so, you have at least got one new fan! |
| Jun
27, 13:05: |
Melanie>
Alec do you take tours through the station?? |
| Jun
27, 13:06: |
Alec>
well i think im flattered |
| Jun
27, 13:06: |
Alec>
i do melanie. i am the tour guide |
| Jun
27, 13:06: |
Melanie>
oh...well you must know alot then!!! |
| Jun
27, 13:07: |
Alec>
during the bungalow period i was actually a resident inside
the buildings and now i show people around, its very interesting
for them |
| Jun
27, 13:07: |
Ann>
what was it like being a resident there? |
| Jun
27, 13:08: |
Melanie>
Cosi asks - Alec, what type of tour is it, ie historical
information or life stories. |
| Jun
27, 13:09: |
Ann>
alec - tell us about this amzing life - I am intrigued |
| Jun
27, 13:09: |
Alec>
well as a young boy, it was just another home for me, lots of
other aboriginal boys and we were looked after by the missionaries |
| Jun
27, 13:10: |
Ann>
did they look after you well? |
| Jun
27, 13:10: |
Cosi>
Sorry Melanie, don't know how the whisper thing happened, how
do i fix this? |
| Jun
27, 13:11: |
Alec>
well my father is scottish and my mother a full blooded aboriginal
women |
| Jun
27, 13:12: |
andrew>
hello |
| Jun
27, 13:12: |
Alec>
at the age of four my mother gave me to the missionaries to
be cared for |
| Jun
27, 13:12: |
Ann>
do yo consider yourself to be one of the Stolen Generation? |
| Jun
27, 13:13: |
Bongo>
did you ever see your mother again ... after you were four? |
| Jun
27, 13:13: |
Alec>
very well, i wouldnt be where i am right now if it wasnt for
my start in life |
| Jun
27, 13:14: |
Ann>
how do you think your life might have been different otherwise? |
| Jun
27, 13:14: |
Alec>
i dont consider myselft a part of the stolen generation, and
if so i am grateful for it |
| Jun
27, 13:14: |
Alec>
yes i saw my mother, we reunited and then she died a year later |
| Jun
27, 13:15: |
david
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 13:15: |
Alec>
who could say how my life would be otherwise, |
| Jun
27, 13:15: |
Ann>
that must have been sad when you mother died, do you still see
other children from the Bungalow? |
| Jun
27, 13:16: |
Alec>
its hard to know, we were all young and we parted to different
missionaries over australia |
| Jun
27, 13:17: |
Ann>
what age did you go there ,a nd when was that? |
| Jun
27, 13:17: |
Alec>
charlie perkins was at the bungalows the same time as i |
| Jun
27, 13:18: |
Ann>
I felt pretty sad when Charlie passed away - it was the end
of an era in some ways |
| Jun
27, 13:18: |
Alec>
i am unsure of my age, as there were no records kept, the missionaries
gave me a birthday, so i am fairly vague as to my age |
| Jun
27, 13:19: |
Bongo>
must be still thirty something ... hey alec??? |
| Jun
27, 13:19: |
Ann>
like you and I bongo! |
| Jun
27, 13:19: |
Melanie>
Do you have a day that you celebrate as your birthday? |
| Jun
27, 13:20: |
Alec>
i feel like thirty somthing so you must be right |
| Jun
27, 13:20: |
Ann>
I feel like something but not much like thirty |
| Jun
27, 13:21: |
Cosi>
It's called gravity! |
| Jun
27, 13:21: |
Bongo>
Alec ... is this the first time in a chat room for you? ...
if so ... what do you think of this form of communication?
... it sure is different to morse code! |
| Jun
27, 13:21: |
Alec>
i celebrate on the 6 of april, but its not much of a celbration
nowdays |
| Jun
27, 13:22: |
Ann>
Alec - where did you go after you left the Bungalow? |
| Jun
27, 13:22: |
Alec>
im finding it very hard to keep up, i dont even like using the
phone |
| Jun
27, 13:24: |
Alec>
after the bungalow.... |
| Jun
27, 13:24: |
Bongo>
well ... you are keeping up very well ... especially a while
ago when there were over 30 chatters in here ... doin a
great job, Alec ... and if Andrew is still doing your typing
... give him a pat on the back too ... good kid, that one! |
| Jun
27, 13:24: |
Ann>
I'd be really interested in your opinion Alec on the answers,
if there are any, to problems in Aboriginal health in the
outback |
| Jun
27, 13:24: |
Kate
has left the room |
| Jun
27, 13:25: |
Alec>
there is a huge heath issue in the bush |
| Jun
27, 13:25: |
Alec>
however more and more aboriginal people are taking the focus
and becoming health workers or learning basic first aid |
| Jun
27, 13:25: |
Cosi>
What is your favourite form of communication? Is being a tour
guide rewarding? |
| Jun
27, 13:26: |
Alec>
nothing better than a good face to face chat |
| Jun
27, 13:26: |
Alec>
i love being a tour guide, its very rewarding |
| Jun
27, 13:28: |
kym>
Alec, what tours do you do? |
| Jun
27, 13:28: |
Alec>
well it has been great talking to all of you, i am due back
at the station. a young boy called andrew will be chatting
to you at 2pm cst |
| Jun
27, 13:29: |
Ann>
you're a legend, Alec. I'm off now - see you in AS next time! |
| Jun
27, 13:29: |
Alec>
thankyou |
| Jun
27, 13:29: |
Melanie>
Thanks Alec it been great |
| Jun
27, 13:30: |
Brian
has entered the room |
| Jun
27, 13:31: |
Bongo>
thanx heaps Alec |
Created by Kate Dibben, Open
Access College, South Australia, Australia
email:
kdibben@oac.sa.edu.au
|
