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The chairman of the Central Land Council Lindsay Bookie says it’s time for the town’s leaders and leading community organisations to actively promote harmony in Alice Springs.
Mr Bookie, who is related to the Ryder family, said he’s shocked that vandals would burn a cross erected in memory of Kwementyaye Ryder at the site of his murder.
He said it’s disturbing people in the town could show such disrespect to the grieving Ryder family who have promoted calm since the death.
“People should have respect for the family. It breaks their heart seeing that done,” said Mr Bookie. “Whoever did it should put the thing back, it’s not right what they did. They should go back and put a new one there with flowers.”
Mr Bookie said the Ryder family, especially Therese Ryder the mother of the murdered man, has shown great leadership by calming racial tensions despite their great loss.
“Therese’s been very strong and she’s a sick woman. It’s not good for her. She’s shown leadership by not trying to cause trouble or violence, by calming her family and the community.”
Mr Bookie said not enough leaders around the town have shown the same example.
“Too many people have stayed quiet at this time,” he said. “Aldermen, politicians, community organisations, they all need to come out strong and say this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“We’ve all got to get along, show respect to one another and sometimes our leaders have to say that. We hear them when there is drinking or humbugging in the street, we should hear them when the cross erected to remember a murdered family member is burned.”
