Road Trains and Rodeos

Saturday 18^th August

Road trains are a very important part of the transport system throughout Australia, but I have never had much to do with them or even considered the massive loads they are capable of moving about. Yesterday one arrived at Robinson River carrying hay.  It was gradually unloaded by a team of men, dogs, (sticking by their owners) and front-end loaders.  Ironically, the bales of hay were placed in a fenced paddock, so that the free roaming horses and other animals wouldn’t be able to get to them.  The next day I watched another enormous road train pick up cattle, and as it snaked along on its 78 wheels carrying what seemed to be a full herd of cattle, I was struck by how we keep such a vast country functioning when towns can be up to a thousand kilometres apart.

The staff of Robinson River School was up early on Saturday and we headed off to the next town, Borroloola, for the annual Rodeo. We were well into the two and half hour trip along the red gravel roads when we came upon a car with a VERY flat tyre. Naturally we stopped to help only to find that it belonged to a family from our community. Having no functioning jack and a very shredded tyre, they were certainly pleased to see us. The tyre was quickly changed and Ben, the father of the family said he would leave it (the tyre) in the bush at the side of the road. To me the bush all looks the same; I could drive for hours and never pick out a landmark.  I asked Ben, “ how will you ever be able to find the wheel again?” He looked me straight in the eyes and said seriously, “I’m a bushman!” Silly question, good answer.

The rodeo was excellent, just how I thought it should be. A carnival atmosphere with the food and goods stalls, and all the action taking place in the centre ring. All day over the loud speakers were announcements of the events, the rider’s names and their skills, interspersed with… ( in ‘strine’ ) “anyone travelling back to Katherine got room for an extra? Jacko wants to bum a lift.”

There was a mix of wealthy station owners (you can just tell), young male station hands, jillaroos, and amazing aboriginal horsemen. The skills these horsemen and women displayed were exhilarating. The sight of young boys and girls racing their horses between flags and around barrels with speed and ease is very impressive. Every event was exciting and the crowd loved it. I found no joy in the bucking horses or bull riding and could only see the fear in the poor beasts’ eyes. I was barracking for the animals not the riders.

    

We drove back to Robinson River in the dark, crossing rivers, seeing dingoes, ‘roos’, bats and owls. The bush alongside several kilometres of the road had been set on fire, a common occurrence in the north, and the glow of the burning grass silhouetting the trees, produced an eerie beauty.  Another Northern Territory day to remember.