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.

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.

Now.

Now.

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.

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.

And he's never left. And he joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you.

And he's never left. And he joins me in the studio right now. Good morning to you.

David, Hi Eddie.

David, Hi Eddie.

Lovely to have you in the studio. Thanks so much for joining me.

Lovely to have you in the studio. Thanks so much for joining me.

Oh my pleasure.

Oh my pleasure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

You must have seen and certainly covered some really interesting stuff over the years.

You must have seen and certainly covered some really interesting stuff over the years.

Talk me through. I mean the book.

Talk me through. I mean the book.

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.

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.

Talk us through some of what have been the highlights. I guess well.

Talk us through some of what have been the highlights. I guess well.

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 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 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 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 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 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 ridiculous things that some people did, and some of the really important people things.

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 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 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 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 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 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 ridiculous things that some people did, and some of the really important people things.

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 touching more, don't the.

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 touching more, don't the.

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 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.

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 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.

What have been some of the most rewarding projects that you've worked on?

What have been some of the most rewarding projects that you've worked on?

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 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 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.

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 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 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.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

Are Are there any photos that you look back at and you go, wow, I did a good job with that one.

Are Are there any photos that you look back at and you go, wow, I did a good job with that one.

There's a lot of photographs I look back on and think I was lucky.

There's a lot of photographs I look back on and think I was lucky.

Yeah, Well, it's all about being in the right place.

Yeah, Well, it's all about being in the right place.

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 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 may well or it may not be. I don't care really, but it just summed up, just summed up a beautiful experience with.

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 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 may well or it may not be. I don't care really, but it just summed up, just summed up a beautiful experience with.

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 taken a lot of man hours realistically over those years to get some of those incredible photographs.

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 taken a lot of man hours realistically over those years to get some of those incredible photographs.

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 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.

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 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.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Absolutely. Now, why did you decide to compile the books?

Absolutely. Now, why did you decide to compile the books?

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.

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.

Yeah.

Yeah.

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.

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.

Yeah, good on you, I reckon.

Yeah, good on you, I reckon.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

Good on you. Now, where can people get their hands on the book if they're.

Good on you. Now, where can people get their hands on the book if they're.

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.

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.

Good stuff.

Good stuff.

Well, thank you so much for joining me in the studio this morning, David Hancock.

Well, thank you so much for joining me in the studio this morning, David Hancock.

Lovely to catch up with you and so great to hear more about the book.

Lovely to catch up with you and so great to hear more about the book.

Oh my pleasure.

Oh my pleasure.

Thank you, Thanks so much for your time.

Thank you, Thanks so much for your time.