Attack Creek

ATTACK CREEK

Attack Creek
Historical Reserve
A memorial to the explorer
John McDouall Stuart.
The creek
is the point
from which Stuart
turned back
from his 1860 expedition
to cross the continent,
after an encounter with
hostile Warumungu Aboriginal people.

A memorial to
the last time Stuart
turned back,
and the last time
Stuart failed
to reach his goal
as he had
failed so many
times before
in the way
of winning.

At attack Creek
Came hiatus, a pause
Like over-weary sleep
After the trials that
happened there