Eulogy to Lucky Balarka

Many Darwin and Maningrida residents have fond memories of Lucky Balarka who passed away in September, 2005. Lucky was a charismatic personality and a champion footballer who played for Wanderers Football Club. He arrived in Darwin from Maningrida towards the end of the football season and won three 'best on grounds' votes in the Wanderers B Grade, and shared the best player award for his grade with another Darwin identity, Rob Wesley-Smith.

Lucky belonged to the Burrara language group from the Blyth River region of Arnhem Land. He received a Western and traditional education at Maningrida, where he was a member of the local Sea Scouts troop. In Darwin, Lucky was one of the original 'Tiwi Warriors' whose name was immortalised by Terence Wilson and the 'Letterstick' band on their 'Anbarra Clan' album. The lyrics of Terence's song reflect the resistance of homeless Aboriginal people who live in hidden camps around the Darwin suburb of Tiwi. By 2005, the authorities had locked and barred the public facilities at the Tiwi Shops to deter Lucky's 'Tiwi Warriors.'

In the late 1990s, Lucky supported the struggle of the Lee Point and Fish Camp people against the Darwin City Council harassment of homeless Aboriginal people. In March, 1997, he joined a protest at Parliament House in Darwin to present a petition from 'long grass' campers demanding legalised town camps. The banners also demanded the protection of communities like One Mile Dam and Knuckeys Lagoon which are threatened by the rapidly spreading suburbs of Darwin and Palmerston. When the doors of Parliament House were locked against the chanting protestors, Lucky sang a traditional song through the intercom, accompanied by clap sticks and didgeridoo.

In camps between Dripstone and Buffalo Creek, Lucky used his bush skills to make fishing spears from scrap steel, copper wire and shafts of the native hibiscus, straightened over the fire. He speared stingrays in the shallow water and caught fish in his cast net, which he cooked beside the beach to share with his 'long grass' comrades.

In more recent times, Lucky was diagnosed with throat cancer and was flown to Adelaide for treatment. He was pictured in the NT News on July 10th, 2005, giving a warning of the health hazards of cigarettes. Lucky died two months later. On September 17th, 2005, about fifty of Lucky's friends, relatives and supporters attended a smoking ceremony at Tiwi Shopping Centre. Traditional songs were sung while smoke was wafted amongst the participants at the entrance to the shop. Lucky Balarka is survived by his brothers Kurt and Tim and sister Molly, who is a well-respected health worker at Maningrida.