John King Part One

09/20/24 • 45 min

John King dreamed of being an Astronomer - but ended up being a surveyor! A career that has led him to play a major role in documenting and charting our vast Northern Territory landscape.

In Part One, John takes us along on his journey of growing up in the 1950s, 60s and 70s in the hot tropics of a post-war outpost that is fast developing into a city in the top end of Australia. Sultry nights and family barbecues filled with days at school, swimming, cycling, football and fishing with his mates and his time at University pursuing his career.

John’s vivid memories take us back in time, telling many of the untold stories that are part of the fabric that shapes our unique culture, in this ancient part of Australia today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John King dreamed of being an Astronomer - but ended up being a surveyor! A career that has led him to play a major role in documenting and charting our vast Northern Territory landscape.

John’s vivid memories take us back in time, telling many of the untold stories that are part of the fabric that shapes our unique culture, in this ancient part of Australia today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Rob 'Wes' Wesley-Smith

Rob's life journey began in Adelaide growing up in an academic and musical family. He studied Agricultural Science and ended up in the Northern Territory in the mid 1960’s working for the NT Government Department of Primary Industries at a research farm at Tortilla Flats, an hour or two South of Darwin.

Whilst growing rice and working with buffaloes, Rob soon became involved in activism, in particular the Free East Timor movement. A cause that has seen him organising rallies and conferences in Darwin, supporting and saving refugees and organising boat loads of food and aid to East Timor.

Now heading into his eighties, Rob has spent a lifetime of activism and a love of agricultural science. He is not afraid to call a spade a spade and does not suffer fools gladly.

This is an epic story that only Rob Wesley Smith can tell.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

John King Part Two

In Part Two, John shares his rollercoaster of adventures around the top end that include surviving two major disasters - Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day in Darwin 1974 and the Katherine Floods on Australia Day 1998.

Never one to shy from a challenge, he has not only worked for many years as a Surveyor, but has also worked in childcare, aged care, and the Department of Public Housing, finally ending up in his dream job with NT Parks and Wildlife.

John was awarded Life Membership to the NT Political party, the Labor Party, where he played a pivotal role in getting the then ruling Labor Party to put a moratorium on fracking in the NT. He continues to lobby for the Right to Assisted Dying Legislation to be established.

It is certainly a life of variety, hardship, and resilience, but also a story of love and joy for people and country. Now in his 70s, John is retired and enjoying putting together his musings and stories, for posterity and to help record the history of the Northern Territory.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.