NEW FEATURE:
DOWNLOAD AND PRINT THE CURRENT MEETINGS SCHEDULE
“Sunday Arvi at the Doo”
Okay, how long since you crossed the Berrimah line??? I recently did. A very pleasant drive to see the Fogg Dam spillway overflowing, water lilies, crocs and cranes. Then down to the peace and solitude of Manton Dam returning to the HUMPTY DOO, 2pm meeting. Always such an extra welcoming meeting and always surprising who may turn up. This meeting has a wonderful history of “carrying the message” over the decades and always renown for some of its bush characters. The trouble is, it is becoming “too distant” for many Darwinites – really. So I suggest, why not pack your “tuckerbag” on a lazy Sunday afternoon and head down to a warm and friendly welcome from John, some bikky’s, a cuppa and have a look at “how bill sees it”.
- SUNDAY – 2.00PM – “As Bill Sees It”, Living Water Uniting Church, Challoner Circuit, Humpty Doo. Contact: John 0473307684
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZW8sQfV4miVvFmwg9
An update from the General Service Board
DECEMBER2025
Northern Region — Area A
We are delighted to share some very positive
news from the Northern Region Area A General
Assembly, held on Sunday, 30 November 2025.
Margaret M was nominated by her Area for the
position of Northern Region Trustee and was
elected by the Board on an interim basis on
Tuesday, 16 December. Michael G was also
elected as the Area A Delegate at the Area A
Assembly.
Both Margaret and Michael bring experience,
enthusiasm, and a strong commitment to service.
Their willingness to step forward is warmly
welcomed, and we look forward to the valuable
contributions they will make to the wider
Fellowship. This is wonderful news for the
Northern Region, and we extend our
congratulations and gratitude to them both.
BE A PART OF THE DARWIN DISTRICT OFFICE COMMITTEE
“It’s not a job, it’s a gift” Mick G – former DDO Chair.
The Darwin District Office Committee is responsible for the running of the Darwin District Office, to make sure that the still suffering alcoholic can find us.
6 months sobriety the endorsement of your home Group, and a commitment to be of service to AA are the requirements.
On September 4th, the current Committee rotates off, and a new Committee is elected.
Available jobs are: District Committee Member (Chair), Treasurer, Secretary, Registrar, Office Maintenance, Office Coordinator, Treatment and Corrections Coordinator, Webmaster, Literature Officer, Public Information Officer.
Job Descriptions are available.
“ By our Twelve Steps we have recovered, by our Twelve Traditions we have unified, and through our Third Legacy – Service – we shall carry the AA message down through all the corridors of time to come. Of this, I am happily confident.”
Bill Wilson “Language of the Heart” page 134
BILL W CAMP JULY 2025
SPIRITUALITY UNDER THE STARS.
There is a magic at the Bill W Camp which is indescribably wonderful. I felt it the first time I attended 21 years ago, and it was certainly still there this year.
We had our usual reserved campsite by the river, AA and Al-Anon members from all over Australia got together for a weekend of sharing, caring, eating and laughing. We kicked off with a Welcome ID meeting on the Friday night. With stars for a roof, and a fire in the background we listened to the language of the heart.
Saturday was action packed. BBQ breakfast at 7am. Our first meeting at 9am was the day’s reading from The Daily Reflections – The “worth” of Sobriety. A cuppa, then straight into another meeting on Steps 10 and 11 from the Big Book. Many of our visitors have a lot of experience, so it was wonderful to hear from them, as well as us locals. Good to see some newer members take part as well.
The afternoon involved a very competitive and dramatic damper cooking contest. The deserving winner was Fay P from Al-Anon , second place Bob W, third to Tok, with participation certificates to George and Charles.
This was followed by the auction which is always a crowd favourite. The generosity for some questionable donations was magnificent. The money raised offsets the cost of the camp and the balance is given back to the fellowship to support our service structure.
Next was dinner. Mark P, our camp site coordinator, excelled himself, providing a sumptuous BBQ of prawns, Thai mackerel wraps (yum!) steak, sausages and salad – all for only $10!
Feeling full and happy we joined with Al-Anon for a co-chaired open meeting. Again, the sharing under the stars was amazing, and it was moving to hear different experiences of alcoholism and recovery. I found it really inspiring – the AA programme really works for everyone. A rough head count during that meeting came up with 55 attending.
The night kicked on with “Red Faces”. God blessed us with a mix of talent and there was plenty of laughs. I have to say Dave’s guitar work is fantastic, and thanks to all those who took centre stage.
Sunday morning started a little slower with a tribute by the river to AA members who had passed in the last 12 months. This was followed by a “Spiritual Concepts” meeting. Again, such a variety of experiences but a similar outcome – happy, joyous and free.
The camp closed with a Sobriety countdown, our Al-Anon friends in the centre. The longest sober member passed on a Big Book which had been signed by everyone to the newest member. Al-Anon did the same.
We joined in a “pot-luck” lunch before we dispersed – some heading out to Kakadu, all of us to trudge the road to happy destiny. See you all next year!
Marg M
What a Difference a Lunch Makes
How can we AA in the Territory members carry the message to professional people working in the area of alcohol and drugs to let them know that not only is Alcoholics Anonymous alive and well but is available as a resource, both in NT centres and remote areas?. We’ve tried this sort of thing before with little success and professionals are busy people and don’t find much joy in coming to something where they’ll be “talked at”.
Invite them to lunch would seem to be the answer. And what a great idea that turned out to be. When our National Remote Area Working Group contacted AA Areas around Australia offering tips, tricks and information to use in our regional area to make such a lunch a success and carry the message to remote communities, a small working group led by our Public Information Officer Judelle G set about making this happen.
The result is that on Wednesday, 25 June a total of 28 people working in the field and drugs and alcohol and allied fields like domestic violence and intensive care came along to a well-known Darwin restaurant which looks out on the tranquil waters of Cullen Bay. Guests enjoyed a nice lunch, strictly timed to finish after 1½ hours so they could get back to work.
Twelve AA members attended, paying for their own lunch, joining those lunching at the tables, telling them about AA and their experience and recovery. Marg M acted as MC, thanking those for coming and outlining what the lunch hoped to achieve. She introduced the program which included a video Does AA Work? and member Matt DJ, who told some of his story. Both were very well received.
A generous gift of 20 literature packs from CSO Parramatta (NSW) included eight pamphlets, a Big Book and the Message Stick. We had to source more literature packs when Family Safety Framework NT asked if extra staff from domestic, police and emergency services could attend. Professionals who attended included Alcohol and Drugs (AOD) case workers, rehab managers, religious leaders, domestic violence police, lawyers, politicians, medical services staff and community leaders. Afterwards many stayed on to ask how their organisation could get more information about AA, inquiring about meetings, doing presentations in their workplace and asking for a link to the video Does AA Work?.
After the lunch Judelle emailed the professionals, thanking them for attending, provided a feedback form and gave a link to the video. An intensive care paramedic instructor said he would use the video in training to share information with his peers. The manager of a rehab we had been trying for years to get AA information into said she would be arranging a bus to bring clients weekly to one of our meetings. How good is that!
Judelle thanked all members involved in the lunch which, despite the numbers, came in under budget. She added: “A huge thank you to our trusted National Remote Area Coordinator – your dedication is an inspiration”.