How far would anyone go to achieve fitness?. What would you sacrifice to get what you love and enjoy?NOT MY SAFETY, IS MY ANSWER!!
Like everyone, I like to exercise when my body permits. I love using my cross trainer and go for walks most of the time. I live near the beach and I love walking along the forshore where you see 'dripstone cliffs',bushland and paddock on the other side and footbridge that takes you to nightcliff beach with a beautiful jetty. I was going to say to die for..but no.nothing is worth dying for.
So I went for my usual friday afternoon walk, its 10 kms and usually takes me 2 hours to get to the jetty and back. Approaching the paddock and bushland area, I noticed a large number of itinerants or longgrassers we call them here in Darwin.Couples pushing and shoving and abusing each other,all of them drunk. itinerants are big problem here with a huge drinking culture and welfare mentality making it worse.Fellow walkers, joggers and runners were closeby and a police patrol car circling the paddock area so i felt safe
See, here in darwin, thats normal especially during pension week then few days after that they all run out of money, start widrawing from alcohol, starts beating each other up and be in emergency by the week end. I know the pattern as I work in the same hospital.Some of the longgrassers are whites but mostly indigenous who moved to darwin area as alcohol's not allowed in their communities, dry land they call it.Now this is not about targeting particular people here as I would be the last person to be accused of being racist having experienced racial abuse myself.
Walking back from the jetty, I can hear them getting louder. Approaching the footbridge,5 of them walked towards me with one got really close could almost felt his skin and yelled infront of my face..whats the f$#&^ng time c..%^&t (you know the word) repating it twice his spit touched my face. I have never been so scared I replied in a low tone, 'its about 5.30 pm and do not yell at me' preparing to raise my arms to push him away. I figured if i yell back it could escalate the situation. Bikers and walkers nearby stopped, and the itinerant stepped away from me after hearing my response.
I then sprinted towards the paddock warning other users (who somehow got annoyed because they had to stop listening to their Iphone oblivious to there sorroundings) and called the police. The operator asked if i wanted the police to see me I said no, send the patrol back immediately as both cars were nowhere to be seen when it happened. I was terrified but not hurt and they need to do something before these people hurt thmeselves or others.
The incident though was not isolated. 10 assaults recorded in the last 2 years in the same area.4 most recent, with 2 women indicently assualted and one lucky to got punched in the face but was lucky to get away but she was walking at 4 am.Everyone in my street received a card from the sex crime unit asking for any leads. I get up and exercise at 5.30 every morning but inside my house and I didnt hear anything that morning. 2 of the offenders of recent attcks were described as indigenous and the 2 who grabbed and dragged a woman were described as middle easterns. The point is regardless of colur and racen nobody should be allowed to roam around public area drunk, assualting and terrorizing people.
At work, we deal with verbal abuse all the time, I got spot on, got my hair pulled and we dont tolerate it and there are consequences. But to be abused and terrorized while I am doing what I love in my own time not bothering anyone,is just horrendous.My partner does not want me to walk anymore and just stick to my cross trainer.He then said that if i really want to keep doing it i should just drive to nightcliff straight where there's no bushland and walkways that anyone can grab and assualt you and where theres much more people in the pubs,residential units and parks across the foreshore.
I was very angry and disappointed having to drive about 8 minutes and missing about 1 hour of scenery. But later on I realised that my partner is right. I was being silly as no scenery is worth all that worry and that my safety is far more important.I just hope they catch these people so everyone can enjoy the area and be safe.Lizaxxx
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dimple75
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miss,my partner and I tend to agree to diasgree at times but this time Im listening and I totally agree with him 100%.:).
How disappointing for you. I love walking in my area around the shore but it's very low crime here I have to say. I would be gutted if I had to stop because of my safety in this way. Hope this lousy scene changes or they move elsewehere and you can walk in relative safety on your doorstep once more. Tilda x
The issue needs to be addressed Tilda, no point these scambags moving somewhere and terrorizing other patrs of Darwin. Im not into politics but I just hope politicians will grow some balls here and do something about it coz thats the big problem here nobody wants to rock the boat..too scared of the ramifications..beiing called as racists or targeting the minority and disadvantaged. These people cost the government here phenomenal amount of money. Its not only the drinking, welfare dependence but the strain in health department as well as unfortunately a large number of them are very unwell and a burden to the society. They are diasadvantaged by choice as they refuse to do anything and they dont take responsibilities for their actions and they expect tax payers to deal with it like we owe them the world.Thats my whinge for tuesday lol :).
What a horrible experience Liza, glad you were unharmed. I have two dogs who I walk every day and although there are some lovely country walks nearby I stay to the main roads where it feels safer. We also have a lovely local park but I don't walk there on my own for the same reason, the last time I tried about 5yrs ago I was very shaken when I realised a man was stalking me! It's such a shame that a few people are having such a big impact on the lives of many but unfortunately I don't see it getting any better. Take care and enjoy your new safer walks.
Hi Paula, thank you for response. Yeah I need a dog, used to have one for nearly 13 yrs and I gave him the flick and guess what that dog is still stalking me...lol.can't wait for property settlement to finish. Kidding aside, yes I am sticking to main roads now, have my fone with me and dont wear earphones and listwn to thw music as I enjoy listening to tha waves and birds chirping plus I want to be alert and vigilant of what and who's around me really.Take care.
Hi John, thanks for your message. I do have my fone with me all the time and change is good Im enjoying my new route. One thing about northern part of australia, its a beautiful place. People are hesitant coming here due to high cost of living, the heat and the crocodiles. None of that worries me, its the idiots who roam around darwin, not only drunks on thier feet but drivers who are reclessly on the road at all times..worse than asian drivers lol...can get away with that joke as it is true some of us are menace on the road.
I agree with your partner, not worth the risk. Cant the police move them on and/or take them into custody for being drunk and disorderly or are the laws such that they have to be allowed to "lurk" around?
As Minka says, always take your mobile and see if there is somewhere else you can go.
This is such a shame that a few nasty people can ruin other people's enjoyment.
I thought it was just here in some parts of the UK that we had these "yob" types getting drunk and nasty!
Could your community get together to petition the police to do something more effective about it?
I would hate to have to give in to them, but safety does come first and with the RA I certainly couldnt run away from anyone!
Hi Lynn, thanks for your message. Don't have enough resources here and nowhere to put them. I wish its that easy. They suffocate the ED department here all the time hence the 'new' government is thinking of having a safe house for them where they can sober up and some get rehabilitated...all these good plannings by politicians that does not eventuate really. Honestly we dont even have enough beds in the hospital and dont have enough nursing home for the elderly.We had a 'drink ban register',quite controversy here,poeple need to provide ID to buy alcohol in th hope of changing a huge drinking culture here. Didn't work as some would just ask someone else to buy the grog for them,not popular with retailers as it took much time and they get abused and get less money..so it got scrapped. I have never heard anyone got fined being drunk in the public and they can't even reinforce no smoking bans to no smoking places...no offense to smokers but its unfair at times that we ban smoking on certain areas but dont have anywhere for the smokers to go and expect them to go cold turkey. i dont smoke but I find that unfair..Im whinging too much now lol.
please dont walk alone there again it sounds v scarey x
Hi Liza, I found this such an interesting blog and your picture is beautiful . I would hate hate that, it's too gorgeous not to be able to go out without all this worry.
In England we have neighbourhood watch schemes , in some areas they not so good, in other areas they work well. You need everyone on board though! You get together with the local police and if you see anything suspicious or drunks or anything you phone the local community officer who comes out and deals with it. The best thing is they have to meet back up with the community and if for example they just let the drunk people hang around you can report all the problems, worries and assaults....you find they start to really start tackling antisocial behaviour . The shop keepers should also be targeted by the police not to sell to those already drunk or underage.
Maybe this would work in your area, I agree with lyn bel, go round and get a petition and get those who sign to come to the meeting of neighbourhood watch.
But keep safe, get support and walk in another area till it gets sorted.
Thank you allanah.Yes that jetty is a beautiful spot.I just love going there enjoying looking at other people having picnics,barbeques and enjoying the coffee and ice cream vans in the area.You are right, the more noice and people you involve the better outcome. We used to have a good scheme before,vans with trained officers used to drive around and pick these people up to keep them safe but budget cuts and change of goverment again, it got scrapped. Also have neighboorhood watch, safety houses (residentail houses where you can take refuge if you are in trouble) and report a crime scheme but i havent heard much about them lately. I though several times writing to a local newspaper editor but very hesitant as confidentiality here is none. Though I got away with collecting nealry 500 signatures against our pay system here. A fellow nurse got in trouble once for saying something...so even If im very edgy in the shops and feel like giving it back to someone for being rude..I always check im not wearing my uniform just in case I end up in the front page lol..'Hostile RN on the loose" lol and being media, they like to sensationalise everything.
As Allanah says, neighbourhood watch schemes can be very good but are patchy - some not so good.
Sounds like England - cutbacks everywhere. We have laws but no-one to enforce them. Makes me laugh when they say let's implement this law or that law! Why? People will flout them and there is no-0ne to enforce them so what's the point?
We've had some news recently about so called "whistle blowers" in NHS and because they were ignored, there have been some horrendous things going on so now there is a lot of talk about protecting healthcare professionals who want to complain or report on something wrong that's going on. After all, supposed to be a democracy - free speech etc.!!!
World has gone mad i think sometimes.
But, there are also loads of good 'uns out there as well.
I do hope you find an alternative route to enjoy beautiful setting; but safety is definitely paramount.
Well maybe then look up the neighbourhood watch and get them to swing into action!! You can use the paper but tell them not to use your ame but you don't mind quotes as a local resident, they should respect your confidentiality. Have a great day though from one mad nurse to another!! Xx
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