G`day,
Kuta Tjuta is the indigenous name for The Olgas.
Cheers,
Jontee

I think there has been a history of abusing these sacred sites. People at the top urinating, a growing trend of stripping off, rubbish etc in other words disrespect. Some of our community might not place "sacred sites" high up in their importance but the indigenous do. I took a helicopter flight over uluru and likely took better pictures than had I climbed the rock.! I visited many tourist places in the Alice Springs area. There are many indigenous people working there eg the desert park. They are taxpayers also. So "we the taxpayers" likely include those that prefer the climb to stop...

Aussie,

I was also concerned when I heard the report on the news this morning until they said that only 16% of visitors actually took the time to climb it Still disappointing for those who do want to go to the top for the view but in my opinion it's probably not going to impact that much on the overall number of tourists who go out there..

Climb it and but not great deal when I did will not be going again as it was not worth the effort.

In the museum at the rock, they have signs telling you about the local history

The locals seem passionate enough, to have a book you can sign, saying that you will not climb

The times I was in that area it was too windy to climb

At my age (70), and reasonably fit, it would have been 50/50, if I would have been able to reach the top

None of you actually have a 'clue what the rock means to the Aboriginal people!

 

aussietraveller wrote:

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It is being reported that the local Aboriginal people are going to stop people from climbing the rock which they claim is a sacred Aboriginal site.

  

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 Good on 'em they have every right to do it after many years of politely asking tourists they would prefer them not to climb it.

 

Regardless of beliefs, would you go out of your way to view The Rock?

I took my family there in the early 90s and the kids and myself climbed and yes it was very speckie. but I don't think I would bother driving just to walk around the base. 

Eaglemax wrote:

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Solid views all entitled to them. Like soldiers returning to "their" Australia...oh lets not forget the aborigines that lied to join the ADF in WW2 because they weren't of European extraction. Then when the ADF were running out of soldiers...yep we can recruit them now! And they fought alongside the white man...lest we forget.(I'm ex ADF by the way) Oh werent we talking about climbing Uluru? No? Oh lets talk about Katherine and unacceptable behaviour....exactly the same behaviour as at Flinders Street Melbourne...oh they are white, lets turn a blind eye. Err climbing the rock?...err lets talk about catabalism...oh white guys didnt do such a thing? Stick to Tassy history where white guys ate each other escaping Sarah island...lets excuse them eh. And many other examples in white history. Climbing the rock remember.? The council responsible has decided to stop the rock climb. Oh its so shattering. We cant take our pics anymore. God forbid. What will my dinner guests think? What about my tax dollars? White man can splash such dollars to 30yo retiring politicians and allow churches tax free havens but we have a right to climb a rock because its our rock damn it- you say.! Me, me, me. Its mine! Oh, green cans and cream bickies.. lets not mention the drunken white boss forcing himself onto the "drovers boy"...nah, lets not mention the drinking problem as being a white mans problem...lets not mention alcohol wasnt a problem 250 years ago....lets not stick to climbing the rock..our rock...oops "my rock...your rock....but never their rock...." Anyone just want to talk about the climbing ban? ..

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 Hear! Hear! well said!  Although you do have to forgive some people for getting 'off' track, after all they are getting old and forgetful.  Not sure how the Queensland pygmies became involved. lol

Helen

We have a lot of people on this forum who whenever they can will bad mouth of first people how sad .

It is high time the local people shut off the rock. For Petes sake everyone, have a bit of respect and humility. Its a starting point, an assertion of identity and culture. There is a strong sense in which we Anglo Saxons are trespassers and interlopers. Many of the climbers and pissers are tourists from far away. Back off.

We all feel a sense of ownership for Australia, and entitlement as Australians born or resident or naturalised. The Anglo Saxon claim rests on just over two hundred years of occupation. The Aboriginal claim is forty thousand years and heading far beyond that as science traces early civilisations.

Much commentary here suggests that the indigenous culture thing is a scam, or a commercial posture. No, it is central to a sense of identity, it engenders pride, confidence and strength. The fact we dont and maybe cant understand it does not make it less significant or less powerful.

All the old soldier, fought in the war stuff is European cultural bull****. These were Euro wars, or American wars. Only the Japanese have ever threatened our country, and we love em these days. Drive Toyotas and watch Sony TVs. Soldiering is not an ownership or entitlement issue. It is a very western, very old fashioned ideal of doing your duty etc. The nation state and the utterly failed systems of Euro politics. So what about your duty to your fellow man? Was the freedom so highly valued and bravely defended not intended for indigenous peoples?

It is very difficult for a city bred south eastern Australian white human to get to grips with Aboriginal culture and the overwhelming problems we face in helping Aboriginal people get the leg up they clearly need. I feel very uncomfortable and threatened by the behaviours, choices and aggression of the urban Aboriginals I have had to deal with over the years. I hate the fact that they can be drunken, violent, benefit dependent and all the rest.

I am sure however that most of us would like to see the Aboriginal community lifted up, to remedy the health, life expectancy, educational and employment deficits suffered by indigenous Australians, to get a better chance at life.

I have no idea what the answers are, it is clearly bloody hard work. One thing though, what about protecting the values and belief systems that sustained these people in the past? Might this not give Aboriginal people a sense of validation and pride and identity? If we could give them this might it not be a decent start. After all, most indigenous cultures put a far higher value on the spiritual or legend type aspects of life than we commercialised westerners do.

Shut Uluru and all Aboriginal sacred sites. Restrict access. Do good.

That in itself is rubbish Tolgoh. Walk a mile in aborigines shoes. Before white settlement we had the industrial age, we had technology whereas here they had no need for it so they just went on as their fathers did. Then bamm within a short time they had to conform to a new world where booze stunted their dignity and you expect them to run with life as we do? Gee, a good percentage of white people cant balance this new age themselves, psych wards are full of them. Racism is alive and well unfortunately. Long live the young generation with tolerance and understanding.

There seems to many ignorant people pushing their weird ideas about Aboriginal culture maybe a bit of study with an open mind and acceptance of others is needed. I work in Yulara and am an accredited tour guide for the Uluru Kata Tjuda National Park. Maybe check your facts with me. Yes I agree with the Anangu people, who own the rock. , that the climb should be closed, that doesn't mean Uluru can't be enjoyed. It is their home and it is their law that says they don't climb and for all the years they have politely asked us not to climb and after 35 years of educating their visitors they say 2019 it is to end. They deserve our respect and admiration.

C'mon guys - we are all Australians, some have just been here a bit longer. The white man came and took the dignity of black man, some didn't even think they were human - until they get their self respect back (which is why they are doing things like closing the rock to climbers), they will not feel part of "our" Australia.

I HAVE climbed the rock - many years ago now -with a couple in their 70's, who said it was their life long ambition - but they left the camera in the car, so we took photos and sent them, when we got home and had them developed. I didn't know if I was going to climb - but when we got there, did a bit of a meditation, and felt that I was welcome to climb, maybe because I had respect for the people enough to ask.

I have also ridden my bike the 11.2 circuit around the Rock - which I enjoyed, because it was a different aspect of the place. Enjoyed it.

I would like to see more of the indigenous working in the shop, front gate etc., but it is their choice to work or not - as it is the white man - have a look at the number of unemployed whites, who will not work. We have two "adopted" grandchildren who are mixed race - they are in their early teens now, and doing well at school, sports, out of school activities, we reckon the boy will play for QLD one day - started playing RL at 6 - now going on 13, and has never played a game where he has not kicked a goal, or got a try (or whatever it is they do in that silly game). So proud of both of them, they are clever, intelligent and very loving. As are all of the blacks I have met in this country - treat them right, they will treat you right.

As to climbing the rock - learn what the rock is about - then decide what you think.

Please don't mudsling - it is cruel and demeaning.