1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,400 Speaker 1: Now we know that the decision has been made to 2 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: move the KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship out of Alice 3 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: Springs due to safety concerns and all stakeholders had agreed 4 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: as I understand that it was the right decision, although 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,800 Speaker 1: it must have been an incredibly difficult one given the 6 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: fact that it hasn't happened in Alice Springs since nineteen 7 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,520 Speaker 1: eighty seven. Now joining me on the line is Motorcycling 8 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:32,240 Speaker 1: Australia Northern Territory Branch CEO Silla Thomas. Good morning to you, Silla. 9 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:34,640 Speaker 1: Are you there, Silla, Have I got you on the line? 10 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 2: You definitely do. Good morning Kate Helen are you. 11 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:38,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, really good? 12 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for joining us on the show 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: this morning. 14 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 3: Silla. Firstly, can you just explain. 15 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: The event to us all to start off, so we 16 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: know exactly you know what the Junior Motocross Championship is. 17 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: So it's actually the National Junior Motocross Championship. So that's 18 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 2: the biggest event for the junior competitors in Australia. We 19 00:00:58,440 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 2: normally get over the five hundred competitors and to the event. 20 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: It's their lead way into the world titles and a 21 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,080 Speaker 2: lot of other things so than sponsorship wise and team 22 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: management wise. 23 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 1: Sillah, it must have been an incredibly difficult decision to 24 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 1: have to relinquish the event and not hold it in 25 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: Alice Springs due to safety concerns, particularly given the fact 26 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: that you know, the event hasn't happened in Alice since 27 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:28,279 Speaker 1: nineteen eighty seven. 28 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: It was a very very difficult decision made by many parties, 29 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: including the committee themselves at Alice's very disheartening, especially the 30 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,040 Speaker 2: fact that there would be so many Northern Territory junior 31 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 2: competitors that would be attending that normally cannot travel to 32 00:01:44,720 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: other states to attend. 33 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 3: It'd be expensive. 34 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,040 Speaker 1: You know, monocross is not a cheap sport, I'd imagine 35 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: given the fact that you'd have to take your bike 36 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: into state as well, So it would have been such 37 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: a great opportunity for our junior territorians. 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: Definitely expensive traveling with your bike, your crew, your family, 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 2: your accommodation. It is an expensive sport. But it would 40 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 2: have been a lovely, lovely event to have up here 41 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 2: and to be on the national stage and for Alice 42 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 2: to actually showcase themselves. 43 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 44 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: Stilla tell me a bit more about those discussions that 45 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: you guys sort of had to have as a local committee. Then, 46 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: you know, to then make what I would imagine is 47 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: such a tough, tough choice. 48 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 2: It was a very, very tough choice. Obviously, the conversation 49 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: started once Alice was obviously highlighted nationally within the media. 50 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 2: Obviously I was contacted by sponsors and national body of course, 51 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: and then the committee actually had to have a discussion 52 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 2: regarding the safety of the event. Even though the complex 53 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 2: itself would be safe, it was the fact that we 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 2: would have so many people in town that would not 55 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 2: be safe. We were obviously receiving already emails from competitors 56 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: that were considering withdrawing. 57 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:06,239 Speaker 3: SILLA. 58 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: What's been the reaction, you know, as you've had to 59 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: let people know that you've had to relinquish the event 60 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 1: and it's no longer happening in Alice, what's been the 61 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: reaction from the kids and you know, from from the 62 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: club members and those that do motocross in Alice. 63 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: Disappointment is probably the biggest, biggest one. Very disappointed. As 64 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 2: I said, there's so many children that will probably never 65 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 2: get the chance to write a national event and this 66 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: has been taken away for them. The club themselves are 67 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: feeling quite disappointed as well, because they've put so much 68 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,640 Speaker 2: work and effort into holding the titles. Now this has 69 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: been something that's been going on for three years. 70 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's you know, it's so much work to 71 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 1: put on an event like this. I would imagine and 72 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: and I'm assuming too that you know, in so many instances, 73 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: particularly with a junior national event, a lot of the 74 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: people working on it do so out of their own time, 75 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:11,280 Speaker 1: you know, do it as volunteers for the you know, 76 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: for the sport and for the kids that take part. 77 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 2: That is correct. Everyone is a volunteer within our sports, 78 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 2: all the way from the person in the canteen to 79 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: the person that's out there flagging to the safety of 80 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: the writers. Everyone volunteers. And the time that they've put 81 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,919 Speaker 2: into preparing the facility. To have this relinquish because of 82 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 2: the upset that's happening in Alice's is pretty disheartening and heartbreaking. Yeah. 83 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: The sillah, what about the economic blow? Are there any estimates, 84 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: you know, assuming that people would have traveled and flown 85 00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: in and then indeed needed accommodation. 86 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 2: You're talking a couple of million dollars that's been taken 87 00:04:53,680 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: out of the tourism for Alice Springs as well as well, yescommodation, 88 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 2: eating out, maybe going out because the event is held 89 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,359 Speaker 2: over five days, so there's time for people to go 90 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 2: and see the site of Vallas. So it's quite a big, 91 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: big loss of money to a lot of local businesses. 92 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: Are there any alternative options here, you know, to sort 93 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 1: of make sure that the event still goes ahead? 94 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 3: What happens? 95 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:26,719 Speaker 1: Is it going to happen into state or could it 96 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: happen up here in Darwin? Are there any other options? 97 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: I am currently in discussions with m A National themselves 98 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 2: and are fighting to keep it in the territory. I 99 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 2: have been contacted by some of our local clubs within 100 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 2: the Darwin area which I'm in discussions with at the moment. 101 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: I have obviously reached out to the Sports Minister, and 102 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 2: I'll try and reach out to our Minister of Major 103 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 2: Events today because I need some I need a little 104 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: bit of backing and clarification because Interstate are believing this 105 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 2: is a territory wide issue not to sell as springs. 106 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, which makes it tough, and you know, like the 107 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: problem is as well is you know, while things certainly 108 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: aren't as bad here in Darwin as what they are 109 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: in Alice Springs, you know, the crime and the alcohol 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 1: issues is something that people into state are quite concerned 111 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 1: with when they see some of that vision, you know, 112 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: on a national scale, definitely. 113 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,039 Speaker 2: I'm hoping the town meeting that happened in Alis overnight 114 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: where they've got over three thousand people, get the movement 115 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,719 Speaker 2: for them down there, and I am doing my best 116 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 2: to showcase Darwin as not having as many issues as 117 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 2: what we do within. 118 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: Our Yeah, Cellah, what does this mean as well? Do 119 00:06:43,160 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: you think for events like the Fink Desert Race, are 120 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: we likely to see this trend continuing or you know, 121 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 1: could we wind up in a situation where, you know 122 00:06:51,600 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: where where Fink is unable to happen. 123 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: I think is a totally different race. It's an adult 124 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:03,160 Speaker 2: based race, and they travel in quite large groups and 125 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,080 Speaker 2: it is off five, so it's held over the weekend. 126 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: Out of Alice. We are talking about adult men and 127 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: women who travel in groups, whereas with the juniors we 128 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: were talking about young families, young competitors. That was the 129 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:20,120 Speaker 2: big difference, and the fact that they would be in 130 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,360 Speaker 2: town and for a period of over five days. I 131 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 2: think shouldn't feel any loss because of this. They are 132 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 2: actually releasing their nominations early. But the talking town at 133 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,400 Speaker 2: the moment is Pink will go ahead and there will 134 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: be no problems with Pink. 135 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: Yeah goodness, may I hope so, you know, otherwise it's 136 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:43,760 Speaker 1: a massive blow. I mean, this is a massive blow. 137 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 1: And the thing that you know that upsets me about 138 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 1: you guys having to relinquish the Australian Junior Motocross Championship 139 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: out of Alice is that, you know, the really sad 140 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,840 Speaker 1: part about it is that it's the kids that it's impacting. 141 00:07:57,880 --> 00:08:00,800 Speaker 1: You know, it's impacting our juniors would have been so 142 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: excited to be able to have the event in Alice 143 00:08:04,120 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: Springs and in the Northern Territory. 144 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 2: Definitely, and that is the hurtful part. It wasn't a quick, 145 00:08:13,080 --> 00:08:16,160 Speaker 2: easy decision made by any of us because we had 146 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 2: to think of them. But we have to think of 147 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 2: the outmost importance of the safety of all traveling as well. 148 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 149 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: Well, Sella Thomas, the CEO of Motorcycling Australia's Northern Territory Branch, 150 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time this morning. Thank you so 151 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:33,440 Speaker 1: very much for coming on the show and explaining it 152 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: to us. Please keep us in the loop if we 153 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: do wind up in a situation where this is happening 154 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:41,440 Speaker 1: in Dah when we would love to know, and we'd 155 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: love to be able to let our listeners know as well, 156 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: So please keep us. 157 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 3: Up to date. 158 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: I definitely will there will be a release by Friday 159 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 2: where the event will be held. Yeah, I will definitely 160 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 2: give you guys a call straight away. 161 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 3: Good on Yrsilla and all the best. You know. 162 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:00,480 Speaker 1: I know it must have been so such a tough 163 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: decision for you guys, so all the best, Thanks so. 164 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,080 Speaker 3: Much for having a chat. Thank you and you have 165 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 3: a great guy you too.