Our social enterprise, Tjanpi Desert Weavers, celebrate the story of the Kaltukatjara Bush Bus by weaving the bus that connected the community to Alice Springs and faraway family.
With many important services based 7 hours away in Alice Springs, families from Kaltukatjara (Docker River) would often miss appointments or find themselves stranded in town, unable to return home… until a local tjilpi (old man) came up with an idea…
In 1998, Alan Passmore, who was working in Kaltukatjara, suggested he buy a bus to help solve the remote community’s transport challenges.
We said “palya”! So he flew to Perth to buy a big new bus, and drove it all the way back. He passed through Warakurna, and saw my son. He said, “This is a new bus for you mob!” Then he drove on to Kaltukatjara and pulled up at my place. Everyone was excited, the kids were all climbing in the bus! The same size as a Greyhound! He took us all for a ride. We were really happy about that one. – Rosalind Yibardi, Tjanpi artist.
The bush bus, that’s our bus. Docker River started that bus, first travelling from Alice Springs to Docker River and back. Now that bus travels all over to help people from more communities get to town. – Winsome Newberry, Tjanpi artist.
Today, the Bush Bus service travels 11 routes across 35 communities, connecting people to services and family. In honour of this important lifeline for families, Tjanpi artists created a woven Bush Bus for the touring exhibition True Story.
Tjanpi helps Anangu women share their stories and culture with the world through fibre artwork to the world and supports income opportunities for women living in a region of economic disadvantage.
