Tuesday 31^st July

As I made my (now) 5 minute walk home from school today I was thinking about why it is I like this tiny town in vast Australia so much. The scenery is beautiful, the people warm and children delightful but I fear I am painting it as a remote paradise, in reality it is not. There is a ‘rough/dark’ side of Robinson River… I saw some of it today at school, I see it all around the community and I am hearing of the insurmountable issues they are facing. The truth is I still love being here and all the wonderful aspects shine through.

Hardship

30^th July 2012

Yesterday I spoke for some time to the community nurse of RR.  A woman on her own and in her 60’s, I’m guessing. She told of her time working in Papua New Guinea , then the Kimberley’s and other remote Top End communities. She told me of times she had been called out in the night to help the dying or at times dead. But so close to home and saddest for me was her sharing the news of the infant that died the night before I arrived.  She spoke of the young mother running down the main street of RR crying for help and of how, as a nurse she had sat all night with the little one, waiting for the police to arrive and of the pain and suffering the family were enduring.

We take it for granted that our medical and emotional needs will be taken care of immediately, that any support we need is at our finger tips, and that a phone call for help does not mean waiting for a car to travel for three hours.

I have the greatest admiration for these outback workers that travel vast distances, often alone and in dangerous situations, and I am again reminded of the comfortable life I lead in safe Melbourne.  

Bull Dust

Sunday 29^th July

Awoke to another perfect day…the sky is an azure blue, the temperature a mild high 20’s … we wander across to where we could hear the children singing at their Sunday school meeting. We joined in and in no time I had a little girl climb onto my knee and three dogs settle at my feet.

I had been thinking of having a quiet afternoon reading, washing my hair etc when suddenly we were asked if we would like to join the muster. 

Another RR moment not to be missed and in no time David and I were hurtling through thick bush in a little open 4WD ‘Gator’, driven by one of the cattle workers.  It was exhilarating as we hit trees, went down embankments, along river beds and around large ant hills, looking for stray cattle to round up. The skill of the aboriginal stockmen as they rode their motorbikes along the dusty track, leaped off them to bring down a big steer by hand, or to crack a whip, made me feel like I was in a movie!

After a couple of hours we brought the cattle to the stockyards (reluctantly for the cattle) and manned the gates. Then we began the drafting. This involved opening different gates to divide the cattle into like groups; cows, bulls, steers, wieners, calves etc. The cattle in their terror threw themselves at railings; got horns caught in fences, and chased the stockmen who could instantly jump up to the top fence rail.

The red dust was in our eyes, ears, hair and noses….we were filthy.  But as the sun set and we rounded in the last of the cattle, all I could think of was what a great Sunday we’d had!!  From Sunday school to a cattle muster…why not!

Moving House

Saturday July 28^th

David was up early watching the Opening of the Olympics…. By 9.30 we had word to pack as it was time to move from our temporary accommodation.

What a pity… we were enjoying the TV and the space that the visiting nurses’ home offered.

We packed and loaded our belongings onto the back of the ute then drove down the road to the ‘newly renovated’ house we would be calling home for the next nine weeks. So newly renovated that the builder  (and all his tools) was still there, working away.  The red dust was everywhere…inside and outside the house, wardrobe, cupboards……. As the builder left he promised to return to get the air conditioners working, replace the fans, connect the TV, put handles on the cupboards, install a stove/oven and maybe a pantry. We will live in hope. We tacked up sheets to cover the windows, filled containers with warm soapy water and started cleaning. Outside David (with help from the local children) started clearing the rubbish from the little verandah. The broken barbed wire, glass and tiles don’t seem to worry the barefoot children…..as much as us….with our shoes on!

By evening it was our little home, as clean as we could make it. Complete with a cute little gecko running around the ceiling trying to catch insects.

I guess we won’t be seeing the Olympics this time around…never mind.

Friday 27^th July

I spend my day working in various classrooms and David does the same. He has been recruited as a teacher’s aide and is thoroughly enjoying himself. He spent the afternoon with a class of students tending the local vegetable gardens.

Later in the afternoon we all watch the finished DVD.  The children loved hearing themselves sing and seeing their pictures. At 2.00pm they are told they can go home now and in no time the school is empty… not a parent in sight, not a car in sight… no car parking problems at RR.

At 2.30 David and I walk to the only shop in town. A well stocked new addition to the RR Community. We are told that the old shop was comparatively shabby. It seems half the population is shopping (pay week I’m told!) As we make our selection and laugh at the high costs of non-essential items, there are constant calls of, “hello Miss” from smiling children. The community has made us so welcome.

In the evening the whole staff meet to have a farewell BBQ for the visiting musicians, Kerrie and Pete, at one of the teacher’s houses. The beautiful warm night ….no mozzies…with its clear night sky, shows up a mass of twinkling stars….magic !

Thursday  26^th July

My first day at Robinson River School started at 7.10am with the warmth of the sun making the two minute walk to school very appealing.  The five or six wild horses that wander around the town were happily eating the roadside grass and the town dogs (of which there are many) were wandering aimlessly.

The children’s open friendly manner and infectious smiles made us welcome as they lined up for their 8am assembly, followed by teeth brushing and nose blowing.

I spent the day working with the younger classes, watching them write, sing, and record their own song, guided by a couple of dedicated musicians. Pete and Kerrie travel outback Australia, staying a week at each school and producing a DVD made up of original songs from each class.

Later in the day, (school finishes at 2.00pm) we drove around the town collecting the children who jumped into the back of the 4WD. Then we headed for the river.  Pete and Kerrie, the travelling musicians, wanted to do the filming for the DVD. No permission forms, no head count, no first aid kit …just a Troupie full of children, all laughing and calling out. Down at the river they jumped straight in, effortlessly climbing the trees and somersaulting from great heights into the water…without a care in the world. Things are much more relaxed up here and I clearly need to change my thinking. These children have already won my heart!

Their carefree attitude and happy nature is delightful.

We head off up the dirt road to climb Lubba Lubba, the rocky hill overlooking RR. The children run on past a mob of mean looking cattle and through the long grass in their bare feet totally oblivious of snakes. They climb the steep rocks with such skill and speed that I am amazed, all the time chatting in their unique manner.  We reach the top as the sun sets across the horizon, the children dance and sing on the very highest rock. Their joy is contagious and I begin to understand what draws people to live and work in the outback.

Day One …….. 24^th   July 2012

The journey (read adventure) began with an early morning flight to Darwin. It was a pleasant surprise and very appropriate that our plane was in the capable hands of Captain Andrew Poulsen both a Carey parent and husband of Donvale staff member, Jenny.

It felt good to be back in the warmth, and after a night in Darwin we flew to McArthur River, a small mining town about three hours from Robinson River. Waiting for us were two ex-Carey students (Tom and Hattie 2010) volunteering in RR for the term.

The drive with its river crossings, red, dusty, and sometimes corrugated, dirt road and starkly beautiful surrounding landscape, brought us to the town of Robinson River.

It was the middle of the day, but there were very few people around and when we arrived at the school we found that only a third of the children had attended the school day.

The excitement we were feeling quickly faded when we heard the reason why so many children were away. Two infants had died over the previous two nights, and the town had closed down in grief. It can take some time for the community to attend to their ‘sorry business’, during which time many students don’t attend school.

 

After settling in we were taken on a school and town tour by James Bryant, the principal of the school.

Still recovering from jetlag (the week before we were in Italy!) we decided on an early night, but whilst in the middle of cooking our evening meal, a man arrived at the door and asked if we wanted to go for a drive …. ‘Of course’, was all I could say!!

Up onto the back of a ute and in no time we were hand feeding 100’s of hungry cattle.  Then as the sun set we drove to the paddock containing the goat herd, where dozens of cute baby kids stayed close to their mothers under the trees or hid under half water tanks for fear of hungry predators. Day one didn’t disappoint… we were in the outback!