The ABC of Indigenous travel

How was your Easter long weekend?

To travel or not to travel? For once that question was answered for me as I drove past the BP, Shell and Caltex Service Stations en route to work during the week leading up to the four-day public holiday. A remarkably consistent price of $1.25 per litre for unleaded petrol, ten cents more in southern states, was a far bigger hurdle to ascend for my family than the fear of joining the rat race on the nation’s highways.

Mind you I would loved to have packed up the Commodore and headed west but thought it more prudent to save money by entertaining the family at home, watching new video releases or old classics (Casablanca and Walkabout are still my favourites) after the morning gardening and kicking the footy around, than contribute to the rapidly increasing profits of oil moguls.

As a baby boomer, with a generation X wife and generation Y children, I certainly know the value of budgeting for holidays as well as culturally significant events; funerals and cultural gatherings. Even though my wife and I are both middle income earners, we limit our holiday destinations within the state of Queensland and wouldn’t let our holiday deliberations entertain interstate treks or trips abroad, such is the exorbitant cost of travel.

So what are these generation X and Y categories that I speak of and how do Indigenous Australians stack up against these mainstream identifier tags when discussing travel interests?

Borrowing “generation” lines from the free onboard Qantas magazine, March 2006 edition, I was able to come up with some interesting statistics. Under the title Generation Global; Where we go and how we get there, I read with interest a recent travel survey of the four distinct categories; the seniors, the baby boomers, generation X and generation Y, on whom marketing executives spend millions selling their products.

The seniors (grey nomads), born before 1945, are today’s retirees on a pension or living off their generous, but hard earned, superannuation. Having raised their families, seniors are now out and about touring the country in their 4WD motorhomes, enjoying the sun and intoxicating themselves with high spirit adventures into Australia’s expansive natural wonderland; outdoor cultural iconic star gazing. Many commentators have queried the self indulgent ways of today’s seniors who, it would appear, are spending their savings and not leaving much, in the form of an inheritance, for their children.

As for Indigenous seniors, those who exceed the ABS longevity age limit of 59 years for men and 65 years for women, most are still living in rented accommodation or pensioner quarters and have no superannuation to speak of. The only superannuation many of our elders are likely to see for their backbreaking work as stockmen and domestics in the rural sector, during their work history, is the paltry sum of $4,000: payment by governments (Queensland in particular) for recompense for wages stolen.

Most do not own a vehicle, let alone a $100,000-plus, lavish, self-contained and technologically equipped, 4WD motorhome, to wander from one sunset to another. Instead many Indigenous elders travel sparingly within their state on railway pension passes to spend a couple of weeks with family members who have left their home towns for a better future.

The baby boomers (born 1946-1964) are a generation that strive for personal gratification and see travel as education, indulging particular passions or fulfilling lifelong dreams. They are generally optimistic, self-sufficient travellers, being 20 per cent more likely than other age groups to rent a serviced flat, house or tropical villa. Cashed-up, they are prime drivers of cultural tourism, but at the same time are more likely than other generations to take a holiday purely for rest and relaxation. Bushwalks, wildlife and the beach all feature prominently in their travel plans.

Indigenous baby boomers did not get a head start in life by inheriting their parent’s wealth; there was none, and instead continue to struggle today to make ends meet with liabilities exceeding income. Many Indigenous baby boomers are too preoccupied raising their grandchildren, while their children are away having a good time, to even think of indulging themselves in a vacation away from home.

The best many of them would have expected over Easter was a short trip to the outskirts of town to throw a line in at their favourite fishing hole or a walk to their “local” to enjoy a couple of beers and a flutter on the TAB and pokies. Others less financial may have been happy to throw a lamb chop in the frying pan for a quick snack before settling down in the lounge to watch their favourite footy team compete. Sadly, there are others who sit on their front porch and stare into the far horizon waiting - and waiting - unsuccessfully for family members to visit.

Generation X (born 1965-1977) has the money and wants to spend it. Many in this age bracket earn more that $50,000 a year and like to see themselves as big spenders. Not surprising, gen X shows a greater propensity for five-star luxury and shopping holidays. Gen Xers think that a change of scenery is an essential ingredient in their recipe for travel. The motto “work to live, not live to work” is a neat summary of the attitudes of this generation.

The only change in the scenery for many Indigenous generation Xers is whether they choose to drive around their community, as part of their two days per week CDEP work, to pick up rubbish and mow lawns or drive out into the surrounding bush to go hunting.

Most Indigenous generations Xers can only dream of earning $50,000 a year. ABS reveals an annual income of $18,928, and even then it probably wouldn’t be enough to pay all their outstanding bills. Many typically live in a three bedroom house with their partner and children - maybe with a surviving parent and perhaps a recently homeless sibling and family, in addition to any transient relative that is looking for a free meal and a roof over their head. Most don’t know the meaning of “overstaying their welcome”.

Indigenous generation Xers do dream of 5 star luxuries but the only five stars they are likely to visit in their lifetime is a 5 Star supermarket for brand name grocery items.

For the generation Y (born after 1977) the digital era; web browsing, on-line chat, blogging, iPods and SMS, is an essential part of their life. Sometimes called generation Why for their tendency to question everything, people in this age group are used to the immediacy of technology, looking for immediate gratification. This active generation likes the thrills of bungy jumping, white-water rafting, skiing, snowboarding and an exciting nightlife.

The majority of Indigenous generation Ys are devoid of personal computers or lap tops at home. Certainly these essential items in today’s society are common place in the workforce but few Indigenous households enjoy them. I am aware of many Indigenous generation Ys using iPods and the SMS facilities on mobile phones regularly.

As for bungy jumping and white-water rafting - well the local swimming hole might create some white water if enough youngsters simultaneously jump off the highest tree overhanging a meandering river or off the edge of a jetty on the coastal fringe. Skiing and snowboarding are viewed as a “white thing” by many Indigenous generation Ys. Nightclubbing, on the other hand, is probably one passion that is universal in appeal and affordable for both groups.

And by the way, after all that rambling, I forgot to ask - how was your long weekend?