In his position as paymaster in the Alice Springs Works Department , Jim’s duties were not onerous. His boss was the resident engineer , D. D. ( David Douglas ) Smith , the initials also said to stand for Doctor of Divinity and Dashing and Daring . Also known as the King of Alice Springs because he headed the most important government department , Smith was married to a former Miss Tasmania beauty queen. He had played a major part in surveying the route for the railway line from Oodnadatta to Alice Springs and was involved in building the wartime road from Alice to Darwin , a feat which Americans were often erroniously given the sole credit.
Like so many Centralians, Smith, at times described as a tough James Cagney - type, had strong views and a vision for the development of the Northern Territory. A member of the NT Development League , Smith in 1944 wrote a lengthy document outlining how he thought the Northern Territory could and should be developed. At the outset , he said it had taken a war to alert the nation to the importance of the Northern Territory , Australia’s front door. His blue print for the advancement of the Territory included an extensive network of railway lines, arterial roads, re-afforestation , mining, fishing and pearling. On the subject of tourism, he foresaw a bright future and pointed out that in Canada it was a huge moneymaker. For the NT to develop the way he outlined , he said it would require a man with the courage of Cecil Rhodes, the entrepreneur who was said to have done more than any other man of his time to expand the British Empire. A man whose initials were taken to mean Dashing and Daring could well have been the Cecil Rhodes of the NT if given his way . Smith had the grand vision, the practical Territory experience and the eagerness to do great things. Apart from those qualifications, he wore the head attire of great adventurers and pioneers, a pith helmet. Smith became a member of the Legislative Council and strongly put his views for Territory development.
The person occupying The Residency , regarded locally as Government House, was veterinary scientist , Colonel Alfred Lionel Rose . He headed the Animal Industry Department and represented the Administrator in the Centre. Bowditch had only been in town a short time when he nearly collided with Rose in the street one evening . At the time, the colonel was wearing a turned up hat like that worn by the Light Horse Brigade ; a khaki shirt on which there were some “ gongs” (medals) , Bombay bloomers ; long sox on which there were boy scout like tabs , something to do with a Scottish regiment with which he was associated. And from the top of his nose there was a big hair , about six inches long , which curved back towards his forehead.
Like so many Centralians, Smith, at times described as a tough James Cagney - type, had strong views and a vision for the development of the Northern Territory. A member of the NT Development League , Smith in 1944 wrote a lengthy document outlining how he thought the Northern Territory could and should be developed. At the outset , he said it had taken a war to alert the nation to the importance of the Northern Territory , Australia’s front door. His blue print for the advancement of the Territory included an extensive network of railway lines, arterial roads, re-afforestation , mining, fishing and pearling. On the subject of tourism, he foresaw a bright future and pointed out that in Canada it was a huge moneymaker. For the NT to develop the way he outlined , he said it would require a man with the courage of Cecil Rhodes, the entrepreneur who was said to have done more than any other man of his time to expand the British Empire. A man whose initials were taken to mean Dashing and Daring could well have been the Cecil Rhodes of the NT if given his way . Smith had the grand vision, the practical Territory experience and the eagerness to do great things. Apart from those qualifications, he wore the head attire of great adventurers and pioneers, a pith helmet. Smith became a member of the Legislative Council and strongly put his views for Territory development.
The person occupying The Residency , regarded locally as Government House, was veterinary scientist , Colonel Alfred Lionel Rose . He headed the Animal Industry Department and represented the Administrator in the Centre. Bowditch had only been in town a short time when he nearly collided with Rose in the street one evening . At the time, the colonel was wearing a turned up hat like that worn by the Light Horse Brigade ; a khaki shirt on which there were some “ gongs” (medals) , Bombay bloomers ; long sox on which there were boy scout like tabs , something to do with a Scottish regiment with which he was associated. And from the top of his nose there was a big hair , about six inches long , which curved back towards his forehead.
Rose shouted something at Jim and just reeled away . Bowditch thought it had to be one of the town’s characters. When he described this individual to workmates and asked them who he was , they immediately said it was Colonel Rose.
Over the years Jim got to know Rose well describing him as a legendary figure-eccentric, haughty, irrepressible , studious , tough, at times cold and a veterinary scientist of great renown. Entirely his own person , a devoted father and a man who could not tolerate , and quickly detected “ bullshit , ” he was admired and loved by many people in the town.
The son of a minister of religion, he had served in World War 1 , was a veterinary officer at Cootamundra in NSW from 1928-40 ; served in Light Horse regiments and Militia 1930-40; during World War 11 he served in armour and as a staff officer for Combined Operations in the Middle East, New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies . His wife, Helen , died early during his time in Alice ; he had a son and two daughters.
Bowditch recalled a major social event , a fancy dress ball in the Commonwealth Bank staff quarters , where Rose caused an uproar. Like so many isolated centres , women were fashion conscious and dressed up for special social events. In the case of the fancy dress ball the women had gone to much trouble and expense making elaborate gowns and paying a lot of attention to their hairstyles and make up. It was attended by leading citizens -public servants, businessmen , cattlemen and their wives . Rose turned up during the evening dressed as a sheik draped in a sheet and wearing a turban. There was a loud cheer as he joined the happy throng. Much to their surprise and horror , he pulled out a fire extinguisher from under his sheet and sprayed the revellers. Women shrieked as the foam ruined both gown and coiffure . Some men grabbed him and took him back to The Residency. Once again clad in a bedsheet, Rose appeared at another party and , in missionary mode , cried out , “ Oil, oil for the lamps of China !”
Driving under the influence of liquor cost him 20 pounds ($40) in a case in which Rose represented himself in court . Charged with negligent driving after an accident with his car, he said a fly had flown into his face and distracted him . His fine was paid by “ admirers ”.
On one occasion some important people were entertained at The Residency and Rose climbed onto the roof and dropped bottles down the chimney. After a day at the races it was reported that the good colonel had again clambered onto the roof of The Residency and fired random shots from a . 303 rifle. Swinging from a chandelier was also claimed. A pair of panties was seen fluttering from the flagpole at The Residency during a vice-regal visit by Lord and Lady Slim .
The Slims loved the Centre and when they came to town for a debutantes’ ball Lady Slim had a sore back. At the function a heater was placed nearby to ease the pain. The piece de resistance at the major social event was a swan made from ice on a bed of red roses , representing the Red Centre, with an electric light underneath which Lady Slim was required to switch on. When Lady Slim turned the light on the hall blacked out because a fuse blew. There were no spares in the building and people sat in the dark waiting for the lights to come back on . In the gloom, a Mrs East offered Lord Slim some sartees which were nearby. He replied that he used to be given sartees for breakfast in India. While the embarrasing situation continued , Reg Harris , an electrician, who contributed much to community life in the town, rushed around and got the lights back on again. In readiness for a visit by the Governor -General , the Duke of Gloucester , the hot water service at The Residency was improved. However, when the Duke turned on the hot water the whole town blacked out. For some strange reason several residents threw stones on the roof of The Residency during that visit.
While some VIPs were settling in for the evening at The Residency , Rose knocked on the door and presented them with a jerry saying they would probably need it during the night. He also livened up proceedings when he was a member of the NT Legislative Council. On one occasion , he was half sitting in the chamber with a glass of rum in hand when he said, “All I can say is that the Director of Lands is a plain bastard.” The Director rose and said, “ I object to being called plain.” Rose headed a political group akin to the County Party , the North Australia Party , nicknamed the Nappy Party.
During a Royal visit , Rose received international notoriety when he silenced the hubbub of the assembled loyal throng by heartily telling them to , “Shut up!”NEXT: Growing involvement in politics and the media .
Over the years Jim got to know Rose well describing him as a legendary figure-eccentric, haughty, irrepressible , studious , tough, at times cold and a veterinary scientist of great renown. Entirely his own person , a devoted father and a man who could not tolerate , and quickly detected “ bullshit , ” he was admired and loved by many people in the town.
The son of a minister of religion, he had served in World War 1 , was a veterinary officer at Cootamundra in NSW from 1928-40 ; served in Light Horse regiments and Militia 1930-40; during World War 11 he served in armour and as a staff officer for Combined Operations in the Middle East, New Guinea and the Netherlands East Indies . His wife, Helen , died early during his time in Alice ; he had a son and two daughters.
Bowditch recalled a major social event , a fancy dress ball in the Commonwealth Bank staff quarters , where Rose caused an uproar. Like so many isolated centres , women were fashion conscious and dressed up for special social events. In the case of the fancy dress ball the women had gone to much trouble and expense making elaborate gowns and paying a lot of attention to their hairstyles and make up. It was attended by leading citizens -public servants, businessmen , cattlemen and their wives . Rose turned up during the evening dressed as a sheik draped in a sheet and wearing a turban. There was a loud cheer as he joined the happy throng. Much to their surprise and horror , he pulled out a fire extinguisher from under his sheet and sprayed the revellers. Women shrieked as the foam ruined both gown and coiffure . Some men grabbed him and took him back to The Residency. Once again clad in a bedsheet, Rose appeared at another party and , in missionary mode , cried out , “ Oil, oil for the lamps of China !”
Driving under the influence of liquor cost him 20 pounds ($40) in a case in which Rose represented himself in court . Charged with negligent driving after an accident with his car, he said a fly had flown into his face and distracted him . His fine was paid by “ admirers ”.
On one occasion some important people were entertained at The Residency and Rose climbed onto the roof and dropped bottles down the chimney. After a day at the races it was reported that the good colonel had again clambered onto the roof of The Residency and fired random shots from a . 303 rifle. Swinging from a chandelier was also claimed. A pair of panties was seen fluttering from the flagpole at The Residency during a vice-regal visit by Lord and Lady Slim .
The Slims loved the Centre and when they came to town for a debutantes’ ball Lady Slim had a sore back. At the function a heater was placed nearby to ease the pain. The piece de resistance at the major social event was a swan made from ice on a bed of red roses , representing the Red Centre, with an electric light underneath which Lady Slim was required to switch on. When Lady Slim turned the light on the hall blacked out because a fuse blew. There were no spares in the building and people sat in the dark waiting for the lights to come back on . In the gloom, a Mrs East offered Lord Slim some sartees which were nearby. He replied that he used to be given sartees for breakfast in India. While the embarrasing situation continued , Reg Harris , an electrician, who contributed much to community life in the town, rushed around and got the lights back on again. In readiness for a visit by the Governor -General , the Duke of Gloucester , the hot water service at The Residency was improved. However, when the Duke turned on the hot water the whole town blacked out. For some strange reason several residents threw stones on the roof of The Residency during that visit.
While some VIPs were settling in for the evening at The Residency , Rose knocked on the door and presented them with a jerry saying they would probably need it during the night. He also livened up proceedings when he was a member of the NT Legislative Council. On one occasion , he was half sitting in the chamber with a glass of rum in hand when he said, “All I can say is that the Director of Lands is a plain bastard.” The Director rose and said, “ I object to being called plain.” Rose headed a political group akin to the County Party , the North Australia Party , nicknamed the Nappy Party.
During a Royal visit , Rose received international notoriety when he silenced the hubbub of the assembled loyal throng by heartily telling them to , “Shut up!”NEXT: Growing involvement in politics and the media .
