Communities

Wednesday August 29^th

We all live and work in communities but I have never been involved in one this small.  Being very remote and with just over 200 people, Robinson River is a true community.  Like all communities it is not without its power struggles and disagreements, but with the bad comes the good and there are plenty of positives up here.  Our school day started with one of the teachers saying he had been fishing and there was a gutted barra (Barramundi) and two cherrapins (Freshwater Crayfish) in his fridge for our dinner. How thoughtful and unexpected….. we were touched.

Then after school David was invited to go fishing with one of our indigenous friends. David packed in his back-pack, a trusty Dolphin torch in case they would be out after dark, his new collapsible fishing rod, endless fishing ‘stuff,’ mozzie repellant, drinking water .. all the usual.  Our friend turns up with a spool of fishing line, bare feet and ready to go.  He asked David to bring a knife, so a full size carving knife was added to the back-pack.  The fishing was not successful but the state of David’s clothes and the look on his face when they returned told me straight away this little outing was one to be remembered.  Walking through bush land and long grasses, scanning for snakes and goannas for an hour, to an enormous water hole. Swimming across very deep, crocodile infested water (not a smart idea) to a rocky island where they could see the fish swimming far below in the deep clear water. And then diving down to retrieve their snagged lines and lures, with knife at the ready for croc attacks, won’t be forgotten. !! We poured the water out of the pack and laughed at how ridiculous he must have seemed, swimming across the waterhole wearing a back pack and not much else as clothes had been discarded on the river bank. Travelling light has a whole new meaning.

While this adventure was taking place, our neighbor came in and offered me some kangaroo, which had been cooked in the ground. I had a gift for her too, a photo I had taken and printed out, of herself with one of the three little ones she has taken on as her own.  She called in again later and in the balmy evening we sat chatting under a spectacular night sky. The Milky Way was bright and spread across the blackness. Our Southern Cross was even brighter and very distinctive away from the city lights. She shared stories of her family, her life, and her hardships and fears. She showed pictures of relatives she never sees and I felt sad for her, realizing how tough some lives can be. 

Being part of a community can be such an enriching experience.