Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now, a journalist and photographer who moved to the Northern
Territory in the late eighties, working as a freelance writer
and photographer for a number of Australian newspapers and magazines,
has compiled a photo book called Decades in Darwit. It
highlights the major stories making national headlines and front page
news over the years.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
In the book, David Hancock explains that he arrived in
the Top End to promote a skydiving event in Katherine
and quickly became sold on the easy going mindset and
spectacular landscapes and wildlife, interesting people and largely intact Aboriginal culture.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
And he's never left. And he joins me in the
studio right now. Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
David, Hi Eddie.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Lovely to have you in the studio. Thanks so much
for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Now I had a look at the I've had a
good look through the book. I've had another look at
it just now. Some of the photos that you've taken
are just incredible.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Oh well, thank you very much. I mean, you've got
to be in a place where things are happening, and
I've always felt that the Top End, or at least
Northern Australia is where it's been happening for quite a
while now.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
You must have seen and certainly covered some really interesting
stuff over the years.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Talk me through. I mean the book.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It's like I said, the photographs are incredible, but there's
also you know, stories attached as well, or you know,
a bit of detail about what those photos are all about.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Talk us through some of what have been the highlights.
I guess well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I mean, the book itself is full of highlights of
at least my life. In terms of my work, we
were very lucky during that period. This book covers a
period from nineteen eighty six to two thousand and one.
I'll be putting out two other books as part of
a group of books. But everything, there was a lot
(01:50):
of things happening up here during that period. I mean,
it started more or less with I mean, I remember
one of the biggest, most moving and powerful occasions was
the Barunga State in nineteen eighty eight, and that was
when Bob Hawk and Jerry Hann came up here to
receive the bark petition from indigenous elders from Central and
(02:12):
Top End. That was an amazing feeling and time and
a moment and the story of the photoes I shot
went around the world for that. And then the other
major thing all things, One of them was the euthanasia debate.
You know, as many people may know that the Northern
Territory was the first jurisdiction in the world to pass
(02:35):
euthanasia laws. I worked closely with doctor Philip Niskei during
that and followed that all the way through. That was
and there were some really touching moments in that, particularly
the people who wanted to use that legislation, and unfortunately
that led legislation was repealed by the federal government, and
so that was an interesting issue to follow through. There
(02:57):
was the Jabaluka blockade, where indigenous people and environmentalists fought
against the expansion of ranger uranium mind to Jabluka and
they were successful. There was another issue that went global,
and then of course the other thing that stands out
was the invasion of these or not the invasion, but
(03:18):
the referendum for independence in each team or and the
subsequent violence that followed. And a lot of these team
areas people fled to Darwin sought refuge here while the
UN went in to sort it all out. So they're
probably some of the bigger things, but really a lot
of the smaller things were the things that really I
really enjoyed shooting, you know, the people, the places, the
(03:42):
ridiculous things that some people did, and some of the
really important people things.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's the interesting thing I readon about journalism, whether it's
you know, through photographs, even through my trade obviously on
the radio, is that people often think that those really
high profile jobs are the ones that you know the most,
that are the best to cover all the ones that
you sort of you know that you remember the most.
But a lot of the time it is the people
and those personal stories that you cover that sort of
(04:10):
touching more, don't the.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Oh yes, I agree, And you know most journalists do
search those stories out. I mean, you can't ignore the
big ones. They're all there in front of you who
just sit back and let it happen. But when you
find the good thing about the North and the territory
in particular, you know, there's a lot of interesting people
out there doing so many interesting things. And that was
(04:33):
why I was reasonably successful, is because the newspapers, you know,
like The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian and
magazines like time and the bulletin. They really wanted to
hear a lot of those stories, and yeah, for me,
it was a good move.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What have been some of the most rewarding projects that
you've worked on?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Well, one which kind of it would be a bit
surprising those very supportive of the solo car race, and
that started in eighty seven and it's been going regularly
ever since. And I saw a lot of children who
were the sons and daughters of my peers get involved
(05:14):
with it, and over the years a lot of them
have gone on to work in engineering and alternative energy.
And for me at the time, I just thought this
was a wonderful concept racing across the continent and solar power.
But the rewards for the territory I think have been
(05:34):
quite considerable. A lot of these young kids who are
now adults have gone on to be leaders in their field,
and that gave me a good feeling over a long
period of time.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Are Are there any photos that you look back at
and you go, wow, I did a good job with
that one.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
There's a lot of photographs I look back on and
think I was lucky.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, Well, it's all about being in the right place.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, that's right. Yeah, but it's the old story. The
harder you work, the luckier, that's right. But the last
photo in that book, which was the election, the election
in two thousand and one, the end of COLP domination
of twenty seven years, It was when the Labor Party
came in for the first time and I was at
the Waratars Club where the Labor Party was having its
(06:27):
big knees up and I was lucky to get a
lovely shot of three women, Claire Martin, Rosemi Tippalura and
Barbara James, and it went you know, it was picked
up Nashally and you know, people did call it one
of the best political photographs taken in Australia ever. It
(06:49):
may well or it may not be. I don't care really,
but it just summed up, just summed up a beautiful
experience with.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Yeah, it's a beautiful photo as well. You know, it's
a really lovely photo. And so many of the photographs
that you've taken are And I guess, like you said, though,
it's not only about being in the right place at
the right time. It's how hard you work and all
those hours that's why you're in the right place at
the right time, because you're at everything. It must have
(07:16):
taken a lot of man hours realistically over those years
to get some of those incredible photographs.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, I traveled a lot, and I was prepared to
travel outside. Though back in the day, you know, there
was the old saying that if it didn't happen past
the behrom of line, it didn't happen. But I made
a point of getting out bush and traveling around. And
the next book after this is basically covers my exploits
for magazines. I did a lot of writing and shooting
(07:43):
for The Strange Geographic and R. M. Williams and a
lot of other big magazines where I traveled. Even I
traveled for longer periods, and I kind of think that
maybe my family life suffered a bit, but I was
at home a fair bit, and really I'd spent a
lot of time with my kids, so it all evened
out in the end.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Absolutely. Now, why did you decide to compile the books?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Well, I've always had it at the back of my
mind that I needed to get these done before I
moved on to anything else. This is my eighth book,
and I've got two books I really want to do,
and I'm in the process of shooting one on Rivers
and the other one on artam Land.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Right, but I know they're going to take up a
fair bit of time, and I thought I'd better get
these three out of the way before I move on today.
So you know, it's something I had to do.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, good on you, I reckon.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
It's wonderful And they are like, it's such a fantastic
book just going through it. I suppose for me because
my mind thinks very politically, and you kind of you've
you've got all that history in the back of your
brain all the time that you look through it and
you go, oh wow, look at that photograph. You know,
look at that moment in time that's been captured through
a photograph. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I mean back in the day, everyone thought political things
were the most important things on TV. These days, you know,
they think politics is important, but really it makes up
most of it is only about five percent of it
is relevant, And really the most important things is what
people are doing, what normal people are doing, and the
(09:15):
struggles they're going through, the successes they're having, the richness
of their culture. You know, those things are the things
that will last through time. And you know, if I
can contribute to that in some small way. I'm pleased
to do it.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Good on you. Now, where can people get their hands
on the book if they're.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Can Well, people who live in Darwin can get them
at the bookshop in the mall. I'm going to have
a launch in November, so I'll put that out on
my Facebook and if they're out of Darwin or in
the state, they can buy off my website.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Good stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Well, thank you so much for joining me in the
studio this morning, David Hancock.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Lovely to catch up with you and so great to
hear more about the book.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Thank you, Thanks so much for your time.
Now, a journalist and photographer who moved to the Northern
Territory in the late eighties, working as a freelance writer
and photographer for a number of Australian newspapers and magazines,
has compiled a photo book called Decades in Darwit. It
highlights the major stories making national headlines and front page
news over the years.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
In the book, David Hancock explains that he arrived in
the Top End to promote a skydiving event in Katherine
and quickly became sold on the easy going mindset and
spectacular landscapes and wildlife, interesting people and largely intact Aboriginal culture.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
And he's never left. And he joins me in the
studio right now. Good morning to you.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
David, Hi Eddie.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Lovely to have you in the studio. Thanks so much
for joining me.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Now I had a look at the I've had a
good look through the book. I've had another look at
it just now. Some of the photos that you've taken
are just incredible.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Oh well, thank you very much. I mean, you've got
to be in a place where things are happening, and
I've always felt that the Top End, or at least
Northern Australia is where it's been happening for quite a
while now.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
You must have seen and certainly covered some really interesting
stuff over the years.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Talk me through. I mean the book.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
It's like I said, the photographs are incredible, but there's
also you know, stories attached as well, or you know,
a bit of detail about what those photos are all about.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Talk us through some of what have been the highlights.
I guess well.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
I mean, the book itself is full of highlights of
at least my life. In terms of my work, we
were very lucky during that period. This book covers a
period from nineteen eighty six to two thousand and one.
I'll be putting out two other books as part of
a group of books. But everything, there was a lot
(01:50):
of things happening up here during that period. I mean,
it started more or less with I mean, I remember
one of the biggest, most moving and powerful occasions was
the Barunga State in nineteen eighty eight, and that was
when Bob Hawk and Jerry Hann came up here to
receive the bark petition from indigenous elders from Central and
(02:12):
Top End. That was an amazing feeling and time and
a moment and the story of the photoes I shot
went around the world for that. And then the other
major thing all things, One of them was the euthanasia debate.
You know, as many people may know that the Northern
Territory was the first jurisdiction in the world to pass
(02:35):
euthanasia laws. I worked closely with doctor Philip Niskei during
that and followed that all the way through. That was
and there were some really touching moments in that, particularly
the people who wanted to use that legislation, and unfortunately
that led legislation was repealed by the federal government, and
so that was an interesting issue to follow through. There
(02:57):
was the Jabaluka blockade, where indigenous people and environmentalists fought
against the expansion of ranger uranium mind to Jabluka and
they were successful. There was another issue that went global,
and then of course the other thing that stands out
was the invasion of these or not the invasion, but
(03:18):
the referendum for independence in each team or and the
subsequent violence that followed. And a lot of these team
areas people fled to Darwin sought refuge here while the
UN went in to sort it all out. So they're
probably some of the bigger things, but really a lot
of the smaller things were the things that really I
really enjoyed shooting, you know, the people, the places, the
(03:42):
ridiculous things that some people did, and some of the
really important people things.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
That's the interesting thing I readon about journalism, whether it's
you know, through photographs, even through my trade obviously on
the radio, is that people often think that those really
high profile jobs are the ones that you know the most,
that are the best to cover all the ones that
you sort of you know that you remember the most.
But a lot of the time it is the people
and those personal stories that you cover that sort of
(04:10):
touching more, don't the.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Oh yes, I agree, And you know most journalists do
search those stories out. I mean, you can't ignore the
big ones. They're all there in front of you who
just sit back and let it happen. But when you
find the good thing about the North and the territory
in particular, you know, there's a lot of interesting people
out there doing so many interesting things. And that was
(04:33):
why I was reasonably successful, is because the newspapers, you know,
like The Age, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian and
magazines like time and the bulletin. They really wanted to
hear a lot of those stories, and yeah, for me,
it was a good move.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
What have been some of the most rewarding projects that
you've worked on?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Well, one which kind of it would be a bit
surprising those very supportive of the solo car race, and
that started in eighty seven and it's been going regularly
ever since. And I saw a lot of children who
were the sons and daughters of my peers get involved
(05:14):
with it, and over the years a lot of them
have gone on to work in engineering and alternative energy.
And for me at the time, I just thought this
was a wonderful concept racing across the continent and solar power.
But the rewards for the territory I think have been
(05:34):
quite considerable. A lot of these young kids who are
now adults have gone on to be leaders in their field,
and that gave me a good feeling over a long
period of time.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Are Are there any photos that you look back at
and you go, wow, I did a good job with
that one.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
There's a lot of photographs I look back on and
think I was lucky.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Yeah, Well, it's all about being in the right place.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Well, that's right. Yeah, but it's the old story. The
harder you work, the luckier, that's right. But the last
photo in that book, which was the election, the election
in two thousand and one, the end of COLP domination
of twenty seven years, It was when the Labor Party
came in for the first time and I was at
the Waratars Club where the Labor Party was having its
(06:27):
big knees up and I was lucky to get a
lovely shot of three women, Claire Martin, Rosemi Tippalura and
Barbara James, and it went you know, it was picked
up Nashally and you know, people did call it one
of the best political photographs taken in Australia ever. It
(06:49):
may well or it may not be. I don't care really,
but it just summed up, just summed up a beautiful
experience with.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Yeah, it's a beautiful photo as well. You know, it's
a really lovely photo. And so many of the photographs
that you've taken are And I guess, like you said, though,
it's not only about being in the right place at
the right time. It's how hard you work and all
those hours that's why you're in the right place at
the right time, because you're at everything. It must have
(07:16):
taken a lot of man hours realistically over those years
to get some of those incredible photographs.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Yeah, I traveled a lot, and I was prepared to
travel outside. Though back in the day, you know, there
was the old saying that if it didn't happen past
the behrom of line, it didn't happen. But I made
a point of getting out bush and traveling around. And
the next book after this is basically covers my exploits
for magazines. I did a lot of writing and shooting
(07:43):
for The Strange Geographic and R. M. Williams and a
lot of other big magazines where I traveled. Even I
traveled for longer periods, and I kind of think that
maybe my family life suffered a bit, but I was
at home a fair bit, and really I'd spent a
lot of time with my kids, so it all evened
out in the end.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:03):
Absolutely. Now, why did you decide to compile the books?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
Well, I've always had it at the back of my
mind that I needed to get these done before I
moved on to anything else. This is my eighth book,
and I've got two books I really want to do,
and I'm in the process of shooting one on Rivers
and the other one on artam Land.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Right, but I know they're going to take up a
fair bit of time, and I thought I'd better get
these three out of the way before I move on today.
So you know, it's something I had to do.
Speaker 2 (08:34):
Yeah, good on you, I reckon.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
It's wonderful And they are like, it's such a fantastic
book just going through it. I suppose for me because
my mind thinks very politically, and you kind of you've
you've got all that history in the back of your
brain all the time that you look through it and
you go, oh wow, look at that photograph. You know,
look at that moment in time that's been captured through
a photograph. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
I mean back in the day, everyone thought political things
were the most important things on TV. These days, you know,
they think politics is important, but really it makes up
most of it is only about five percent of it
is relevant, And really the most important things is what
people are doing, what normal people are doing, and the
(09:15):
struggles they're going through, the successes they're having, the richness
of their culture. You know, those things are the things
that will last through time. And you know, if I
can contribute to that in some small way. I'm pleased
to do it.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Good on you. Now, where can people get their hands
on the book if they're.
Speaker 3 (09:32):
Can Well, people who live in Darwin can get them
at the bookshop in the mall. I'm going to have
a launch in November, so I'll put that out on
my Facebook and if they're out of Darwin or in
the state, they can buy off my website.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
Good stuff.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Well, thank you so much for joining me in the
studio this morning, David Hancock.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Lovely to catch up with you and so great to
hear more about the book.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Oh my pleasure.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
Thank you, Thanks so much for your time.
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