Katherine NT June 30, July 1

Today is Northern Territory Day, to commemorate the granting of self-government on July 1, 1978.

Oh look, a firework.
 Northern Territory Day fireworks, Katherine NT

What this means to the people here is a) a holiday and b) lots and lots of fireworks. Yes folks, even here in the Nanny Country, you can still buy and detonate fireworks, but only here in the NT. In fact, in Katherine, every shop is selling them, not just the pop-ups, but the main-line shops as well: the butcher, Coffee Club, Cafes, etc.

Northern Territory Day fireworks, Katherine NT

As soon as dusk settled, fireworks were going off all around us, reminding me of the good old days when you gathered your little family around you and had a bit of fun in the backyard with sparklers, Mt Vesuviuses, Silver Rains, Katherine wheels, fireballs, and my all time favourite, the sky rocket. Not to mention crackers, from tom thumbs to jumping jacks, penny bungers and depending on how brave you were, tuppenny bungers that could blow your fingers off. Ah those were the days.

Northern Territory Day fireworks, Katherine NT

To mark this no doubt wondrous occasion of self-governmenthood (I don't think it's actually a State, as such), there is a free concert and sideshow being put on in the showground. Now given that the showground is right over the road from us, and that they have been setting up the amplifiers all day, we have heard every word, every notes, every nuance of testing and retesting as they strive for audio-perfection.

Northern Territory Day fireworks, Katherine NT

The 'gig' is scheduled for 5:30pm and right on cue they started up proper: they must have 10,000 watts as its mighty loud! Various local artists performed a variety of stuff, none of it too awful, and then they brought on some girl-band called the Veronicas. From where we sat it was quite entertaining and lasted for about 45 minutes (no we couldn't see if they were wearing purple glitter body paint), when they were replaced by the official firework display. It was OK, bit of fun but not too ridiculous. Right on 8:30pm the whole show finished and they all went home... and started letting of more fireworks! Good on them.

Northern Territory Day fireworks, Katherine NT