The week ended with a successful expedition to the
billabong, ‘Minyerri’, from which the town derives its name. The six hundred
metre walk over flat but very hot ground is usually undertaken with mixed
feelings by the kids. General excitement comes with trips to the billabong,
however, because very few of the kids wear shoes or thongs to our activities
there is also a cost. Regardless, once we got to the billabong the journey was
quickly forgotten and most commenced the search for art materials whilst a
couple of the boys plunged straight into the tepid water to cool off. The
remainder of the afternoon was spent sketching out designs before gluing on the
leaf litter in what proved to be a fun and ultimately visually impressive
activity.
After an eventful week, the Saturday morning sleep-in was
appreciated by all before we set off with several of the Riley mob in the
direction of Arrulungu (spelling unsure). Arrulungu is a nearby country with
several small wonders: our first stop was a flood fed waterfall emerging from a
rocky façade cut out of the sandstone bluff which fed into a swimming hole
where the Riley boys put on an acrobatic display of flips. Not to be upstaged,
the 44 year old Robin cartwheeled his way to the water’s edge before back
flipping in. I tried my earnest best to match their feats, unfortunately, my awkwardly
proportioned and inexperienced 6’4” frame could not match my ambitious mind.
After the afternoon swim we walked to some nearby cave
paintings of unknown origins before being shown an array of sacred water stone
that cause unceasing rains should they ever be removed and submerged in water.
The stones themselves occupied their own large garden, approximately 15 by 50
metres. Although they covered this entire expanse, not all remained visible as
the adjacent hillside had eroded its way onto the area over time. Those that
were visible were smooth and spherical, and occasionally decorated with
patterns in red ochre.
I should mention that this entire time we had a rifle and
bullets on hand in case some of the local game should have happened across our
path. On the way into the waterfall Caitlin sighted one such animal, however,
when the car stopped and the rifle was loaded I suspect she regretted her
impulsive reaction. Luckily or unluckily, depending on your perspective,
Robin’s aim was a fraction off, as it proved to be for the duration of the day.
Several more shots and subsequent pursuit peppered the afternoon, the most
significant of which saw myself, Robin and his nephew Abraham go on a 90 minute
trek along a rocky table top all the while peering down into the river valleys
on either side.
Heading home in fading light and with a petulant thunder
storm muddying the track just enough to make bogging an ever-present concern,
the two months old Land Cruiser’s engine packed it in half an hour’s drive
short of home. After an inspection under
the car we discovered a substantial tree branch lodged through the protective
bars in the undercarriage. A second look revealed loose wiring that had been torn
out on impact. With an iPhone torch, a sharp bit of metal and some bandaging tape
I managed the rewire the starting motor for the watery trip home – to the great
relief of some hungry passengers in the back who at that point had all but
powered up the satellite phone.
Jim
The week has started promisingly. The wet season has given
us a glimpse of its potential as a torrential downpour interrupted the day’s
activities and several of the kids (as well as one big kid) took the
opportunity to get completely soaked running around the school, before some
awesomely loud thunder claps saw us
scampering for cover.
On another note, the cockles of my sporting heart were warmed
this morning as several of the kids declared that cricket was their favourite
sport, and asked if we could forego the likes of basketball and football in
favour of some stumps, bats and a ball.
Bravo
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