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'A contentious side of the Australian experience in Port Hedland' posted by Doug Kirkpatrick


'Bloke doing his job.  Behind him, people probably wishing he wasn't.' posted by Doug Kirkpatrick


'Menacing. The price of border security' posted by Doug Kirkpatrick


The Port Hedland detention centre

an experience of everyday life

A recent visit to the iron ore hub of Port Hedland involved a passing visit to the detention centre where individuals lacking legal status to be in Australia are quarantined until their status is resolved. I have to say, its a somewhat confronting scene. Although I accepted the argument that detention is about security and safety of citizens of the Australan community, the sight itself of the hopeful people behind the fence was quite shocking at first -- razor wire, menacing fences, security cameras and blokes wearing sunnies and guns. That's a side of Australian experience people elsewhere hear about but rarely see. I saw it. It felt confronting.

 
Thanks to
Doug Kirkpatrick
from Melbourne
on 25/11/2008 send a message to Doug Kirkpatrick

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Other Experiences of Doug Kirkpatrick

Those ticking street posts, Frequent flyers??, Max the dog, Flag on a dumpster, My backyard clotheslines, Clever street art, Australia Day in Port Hedland, Passing road trains, Lawn in the Pilbara, Big Australian Sky, Flying art, Lunchtime for 'Wombat', Hand of Friendship, Dodging busted Telecom pits, Tuned in to the nation, Hanging out to dry, Swimming Pool for One, broken flags, Genuine Aussie gladiators..., Shark Wrestling in South Australia, The Sydney-to-Hobart, Fantales - things of beauty, Street Junk, Dining IN, tradie's bit for the nation, Clean-up Day, ANZAC biscuits help keep peace in Kashmir, Cops on the beat, Spiders lurking, Eating Violet Crumbles, Coastal sandstone, Living among the gum trees, Feeling of wool, Outdoor shower, Regarding the 'Coathanger', Pausing to honour the 'Diggers', The rural gatepost where yarns are had, Celebrating Australia Day in Port Hedland, P-Plate, Kirribilli commute, Oz Day in the city, Dancing with the Stars - in Milson's Point, Sydney, Weekday oasis of calm, Bondi Beach - historic more than bohemian, Riding into history on a vintage train in Tasmania, Plunging escarpments ain't always pretty, Feeding wild lorikeets on the verandah at home, Walking the streets of Sydney, When you're driving in Australia..., Melbourne Cup in Martin Place, Taking a punt on the Melbourne Cup - Part 1 of 2, Taking a punt on the Melbourne Cup - Part 2 of 2, Cyclone Tracy revisited, Hot date with a Maytag washer in Darwin, Not ice, nor 'Ice', nor snow. Just Pilbara salt, Railmotor from Werris Creek, Camping with wild pigs, Telephone sockets in Australia, Werris Creek Station, Leaving their mark in stone, Being Australian on Christmas Day (Bondi Beach pt1), Christmas Day at Bondi Beach (pt2), Christmas Day at Bondi Beach (pt3), Camping holiday - best way to see Australia

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