Western Desert Patrol

Meekatharra, Western Australia

Barry Condon is responsible for the Western Desert Patrol and lives at Meekatharra, a township on the Northern Highway , WA about 765 kilometres NNE of Perth.

This is a large patrol stretching east to the Northern Territory border and north to the Jiggalong community. The patrol incorporates the remote desert communities of Wiluna, Laverton and Warburton, not to mention Meekatharra.

There is much turmoil in many of the communities, serious health problems, isolation from major health services and premature deaths.

The ministry in this patrol commenced in 1995 and was developed in association with the Western Australian region of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress. Barry seeks to visit the small Aboriginal communities in the Western Desert and takes time to listen to people and stand by them during their time of trouble. Practical care and support is offered along with information about Government services that might be helpful to individuals or the community.

Barry is half time in the patrol and half time studying to become a community minister. He is studying through Yalga Binbi in Townsville and Rev John Boundy mentors him.