Timeline
1936
Little Flower Mission established in the town of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. In 1937 it moves to Anthelke Ulpaye (Charles Creek), just north of the town
1942
The Mission and its people are moved to Arltunga by military convoy
1944
Veronica born at Arltunga Mission hospital, which was staffed by the Catholic nuns. Her parents were Bruce Hayes Kemarre (b 1927) and Kathleen Wallace Peltharre (b 1928)
c1949
Veronica and her Aunty Maggie (Philomena Wallace b 1941) taken by her grandparents (Bruce Patrick Wallace (b 1895) and Eliza Wallace Angale (b 1916) to Arltunga from Ross River (Loves Creek) and placed in the dormitory for the nuns to educate
1946-52
During holidays Veronica travelled with her ipmenhe (grandfather) Richard Hayes, his wife Lina and Uncle Douglas Wallace to Alyathenge (Todd River Station). Camels carried the kids, the swags and supplies. On one of these trips, she meets her mother, Kathleen Wallace Peltharre, for the first time
1951
The Mission is granted a lease for the present site of Ltyentye Apurte, 90 kilometres south-east of Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Father John Flynn, three lay brothers and a group of Arrernte men begin the construction of the community. Over three years buildings located at Arltunga are dismantled and transported to Santa Teresa where they are rebuilt
1953
The Little Flower Mission moves to Ltyentye Apurte. It is then known as the Santa Teresa Catholic Mission
1953
While people were being moved from Arltunga Veronica is admitted to the Alice Springs Hospital. When she was released from hospital she goes to her new home at Santa Teresa. The family never returns to Arltunga
1964
Veronica leaves the dormitory and returns to the Mission community at Santa Teresa to live with her family
1965
Veronica moves to Mparntwe/Alice Springs to live with her Aunty, Peggy Liza Wallace. She gets her first paid job working at the Cavanagh’s Soft Drink Factory, first as a bottle washer and later as a bottle filler
1953-77
Santa Teresa Mission is declared a Lands Trust under the Northern Territory Land Rights Act 1976. The Mission continues to run the church and school
1966-67
Works as a cleaner at the Alice Springs Post Office, the Commonwealth Bank, and the Alice Springs courthouse
1965-67
Works as a domestic on Undoolya Station
1967-68
Works as a cleaner in various private homes in Alice Springs
c1969
Veronica meets Alan Dobson
1969
Veronica’s first son, Shawn Dobson, is born
1971
Camille Dobson is born
1970-71
Works as a cook for Russell Thomas Construction Company at Ntaria (Hermannsburg). Alan Dobson works as a plumber
1972-73
Russell Thomas Construction Company builds the new hospital at Santa Teresa. Veronica and Alan continue working for them
1972
Anthea Dobson born at the old Santa Teresa hospital
1974-79
Works cleaning houses, child minding, and ironing
1975
Victor Dobson is born
1978-79
Veronica and Alan work for Apatula Community Corporation who owned and operated the Finke hotel. Alan manages the hotel, and Veronica works in the kitchen and does the cleaning
1980
Veronica’s sister Nora Wheeler approaches her to work at the Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD). Veronica starts work there as a cleaner
1982-86
Works for the IAD Interpreting service interpreting in courts, at the hospital and for other government and non-government organizations in Alice Springs
1982-86
Presents the weekly CAAMA news in Arrernte
1982-86
Works with Ann Graham developing a curriculum for teaching Arrernte in schools. Teaches Arrernte at Alice Springs High, ANZAC Hill High and the Catholic Primary School
1983
Studies at the School of Australian Linguistics (SAL) under the tuition of Gavan Breen
1987-1989
Ntyarlke Unit for post primary school education established at the Alice Springs Catholic High School. Veronica works with Michael Bowden, as a teacher’s assistant, with Arrernte Students from Ltyentye Apurte, Amoonguna and the town camps
1991-2003
Appointed as a committee member for the Federation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages (FATSIL)
1994
Works on the Intelyape-lyape Akaltye Program to develop and deliver the Arrernte Early Childhood Curriculum. Project sponsored by the van Leer Foundation
1994
Launch of the Eastern & Central Arrernte to English Dictionary at Ltyentye Apurte
1996
Member of IAD Landcare content development course led by Debra Maidment
Early 2000s
Works with Barry McDonald teaching Arrernte to students from Alice Springs High School and Anzac High School. Develops, with Barry, Arrernte language kits for beginners and intermediate level adult learners
Works with Ada Nano on a Central Land Council project about traditional knowledge and history of the parks in the eastern MacDonnell Ranges. They develop action plans to care for these areas.
Developed and delivered Higher Education Arrernte Degree Course at Batchelor Institute with Gail Woods in the early 2000s. Veronica’s key role in all Arrernte language courses at Batchelor Institute has continued until the present day.
Early 2000s - present
Helps establish the Ltyentye Apurte Rangers and becomes a member of TORAC (Traditional Owner Ranger Advisory Committee). Works on a water project with Jayne Brim Box, Meg Mooney and CDEP workers who are engaged to assist with the cleaning of culturally significant springs and to build fences to keep feral cattle out.
2003
Employed as a Senior Language Specialist at the Institute for Aboriginal Development (IAD)
2006 - 2012
Member of Merne Altyerr-ipenhe (Food from the Creation Time) bush foods research reference group convened by Josie Douglas. (Other members were: MK Turner, Myra Ah Chee, Lorna Wilson, Rayleen Brown, Gina Smith, Bess Price, and Maree Meredith)
2007
Launch of Arelhe-Kenhe Merrethene - Arrernte traditional healing
2007-09
Works as a guide at the Alice Springs Desert Park, sharing Arrernte knowledge about plants and animals from Central Australia
2010
Presentation to 12th International Congress International Society of Ethnobiology, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada (with Fiona Walsh). Interrelationships between people, plants, laws and all things: Arrernte values in landscapes and iconic bush food species
2010
Presentation to 12th International Congress International Society of Ethnobiology, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada (with Jessie Bartlett, Brown G, Josie Douglas, King L, Gina Smith, Fiona Walsh). Talking together: intergenerational conversation about indigenous ecological knowledge, culture and lives in Central Australia
2013
Launch of Anpernirrentye kin and skin: talking about family in Arrernte
2013
Delivers a paper on issues impacting the teaching of Indigenous languages in schools at The World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in Peru
2013
Higher Education Arrernte language course development and delivery with linguist Chia Adachi and Louise Cavanagh (ACIKE partnership)
2015
Presents at the NT Writers Festival: In the Eye of the Storm - Walking, Writing and Ways of Seeing
2016
Invited seminar presentation (with Fiona Walsh). Learning from elders where country is the classroom. Yitpi Foundation, University of Adelaide, 24 February
2017
Invited panel speaker for Indigenous Knowledge and Environmental Science, Planet Talks Series, WOMAD Adelaide. With Fiona Walsh, Lewis Yerloburka O'Brien, Zaachariaha Fielding and Miriam Corowa (facilitator)
2017
Presents at the NT Writers Festival (with Fiona Walsh and Josie Douglas): Crossing Country The writing and work of two lives crossing, Iwerre-atherre: Crossings. 20 May, Alice Springs. One-hour multi-media panel talk and projection. Documentary subsequently installed for 5-year exhibition ‘What’s work worth?’ National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame, Alice Springs
2018
Invited keynote at the Australian Entomological Society Conference (with Fiona Walsh): Caterpillars as Big as Mountains: The Ecology and Culture of Four Totemic Caterpillars of Alice Springs, 23-26 September
2018
Interview in the Australian Women’s Weekly – Women of the Outback
2018-19
Works with the Indigemoji team (Joel Perrurle Liddle, Kathleen Kemarre Wallace and Caddie Brain) to develop a set of 90 emojis representing life, culture and the languages of Central Australia
2019
Invited speaker (with Fiona Walsh). What it means to live in Alice Springs / Mparntwe, Altyerr and stories, National Museums and Art Galleries Australia Conference
2019
Works with John Henderson to revise the Eastern & Central Arrernte to English Dictionary
2019
Launch of Arrernte angkentye online ‘Arrernte language online’ in Mparntwe/Alice Springs
2020
Launch of revised edition of the Eastern & Central Arrernte to English Dictionary in Mparntwe/Alice Springs
2021
Presents at the NT Writers Festival: Hearth Camp Fire Stories
2022
Presentation at Charles Darwin University (with Fiona Walsh, Sally Mumford & M. Nelson). Desert people, art, harvester termites in grasslands
2022-24
Presents Language and Cultural Workshops for the Alice Springs Town Council
2023
Presents (with Meg Mooney) at the Olive Pink Botanic Gardens: Lyapirtneme-Arne: Walk & talk about arne (plants)
2023-24
Alice Springs Arrernte Street Signs Project (CALL and Indigemoji partnership)
2023-24
Teaches Arrernte language and literacy to Arrernte adults (CALL), Batchelor Institute
2024
Presentation about bush foods, Talk, Touch and Learn, at Parrtjima Festival, Alice Springs