It’s show time again in the Territory, and it’s a weekend that’s always attracted all types. Here is a grand old man of Central Australia, Saidah Saidel, the last of the Afghan cameleers, at the Alice Springs show in 1966. He arrived in Australia from Afghanistan around 1901 aged 22, using camels to cart wool and other goods around Broken Hill, Wilcannia and later Central Australia where he saw out his later years. He was known for his kindness, cheeky sense of humour, delicious dampers, regular attendance at Sunday football and luscious veggie garden, which he was forever chasing the local kids out of. And he clearly didn’t mind the show either! He died at the Old Timers nursing home just a year after this photo was taken.

Image: William Prince Collection, Department of the Environment

Published: 7 July 2019