David’s Decades in Darwin
David Hancock arrived in Darwin in 1986. Armed with a background in journalism, photography, and freefall skydiving, he was engaged by Katherine Parachute Club to promote its annual skydiving meet. He’s lived here ever since.
By Tierney White
OVER THE DECADES, through his work, Hancock’s captured some of the Territory’s most significant moments and challenges – including Indigenous and environmental issues, the euthanasia debate, art, politics, and more.
This month, he launches Decades in Darwin Volume 1 (1986-2001), the first of three volumes that immortalise both his work and times of the Territory during those years.
“This is my eighth book, I’ve done several books, the first few were kind of tourist type books … but I’ve kind of moved away from those types of books, even though they sell better, and to books about areas I want to work on,” he says.
“I’ve always wanted to publish a book on the work I did when I first came here, back in the 80s and 90s, which is editorial and media. I thought, ‘jeez, if I don’t get these out of the way, I won’t get them done’.
“And there was another reason. I wanted to scan all of the images because most of them are on film, and I want the images to go to NT Archives when I pass away … but if I don’t get the scanning done soon, I’ll get carried away with other projects … I thought I’d better do them before I moved onto something else.”
Having worked for The Australian, TIME Magazine, Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Australian Geographic Magazine, to name a few, his wealth of knowledge on the Territory and the issues faced over the years place him well for such a series.
The introduction in his book corroborates this, penned by Philip Nitschke of Exit International, an international non-profit organisation advocating legalisation of voluntary euthanasia and assisted suicide.
“Dave’s extensive knowledge of Territory history and culture from the 1980s until the present-day is unparalleled. The Decades in Darwin series, starting with this book, should provide invaluable understanding – through images and text – of a remarkable part of the world and its people.”
Designed by local artist Therese Ritchie, and featuring many faces Territorians would recognise, it showcases some of the best parts about what it means to be a Territorian – the scenery, the lifestyle, the humour, the characters. But overall, it’s a healthy, balanced snapshot of what happened.
“If you’re looking at it in terms of history, history is not just made up of big events, as people usually think it is. There’s usually a huge amount of detail in there … that people never read about. And really, for me, those few years from ’86 ‘til [2001] there were a lot of big issue events, but the most striking stories were about people,” he says.
“There are some amazing people, interesting people, and funny, and that also is what the Territory’s about – the Territory’s a very funny place. There’s a great deal of humour, and I think Indigenous humour is one of the massive things.
“That story about Aboriginal policemen throwing drunks out of the Batchelor Recreational Club is one of the funniest stories I ever did … It’s a great story, it went all the way around the world.”
Head along to celebrate the launch of Hancock’s book, a publication that beautifully and accurately manages to capture the beauty, history and humour of this special place we call home.
Decades in Darwin Book Launch
WHEN SUN 17 NOV | 6PM
AT GALLERY TWO SIX, 2/6 CATTERTHUN ST, WINNELLIEI
INFO davidhancockphoto.com.au
Header, thumbnail & top inset: Traditional owners’ protest plans to renew Jabiluka lease, 1998
Bottom inset: Fairfax Media, The Bulletin, People, overseas agencies, 1989
