Winning while still coming last

My warm welcome back to the Territory continued on Friday, with news that the town I'm living in has taken a Top 5 finish in the list of Australia's most disadvantaged communities.
I have to admit that I was a little surprised at first - like most remote Aboriginal communities, there's very obvious poverty and other social problems, but it doesn't seem that bad - although when I think about it, being called a 'f--king c--t' and told to 'f--k off' by a three year old probably points to some much deeper signs of disadvantage.
It's the same when I take a closer look at some of the images I've taken over the last month. In one picture, our friend above sits atop a broken stroller in the middle of a street surrounded by stray dogs and rusted car bodies, both hands clenched into fists, and a gaze that appears full of anger. I wonder if it's just a play for the camera, or whether someone so young can have seen, felt or heard so much hate?
For most kids here, swearing, spitting and hitting (family, friends, dogs, anything) are common, normal behaviours, and when I ask them to stop, they look at me in confusion, laugh or ask why.
Sigh. Maybe that Top 5 finish really was well-deserved, and at the very least, we'll have something new to replace the 'Winner, Tidy Town 1984' sign as you drive in.