2nd August
Juliette drawing by the light of the campfire
After here we went to a thermal pool. This whole area is part of the Halls Creek fault line and the rocks are twisted and show the signs of a very active underground. This is what makes the water warm. I was trepidatious heading knee deep in places across the mud and grass. You just did not pause to think what could be lurking beneath. The pool was warm but very muddy. Again this was a little disconcerting. After we had left Leanne explained that a very large python lurks in this location.
Juliette co-celebrating mass with Father Martin
This week the girls’ from MSJ were working in the school, with each class being assigned a student (except the High School boys!!!). They had a great time and ran some after school activities also. One night they invited some of our girls to have a sleep over with them at Mirrilingki. They were hoping to sleep under the stars but soon chickened out when they realized that snakes were a real danger. The local girls taught them the fine art of damper making, whilst the MSJ girls toasted marshmallows.
On the Monday night we went to mass and Patrick, the elder of the community stated that his wife was home sick. This older couple provides food and support to such a large number of people that I worried who was looking after Betty when she was sick. We took them a big pot of stew, enough for a few nights. Going into their home was a revelation. This couple would be one of the most reliable couples in the community. Alcohol is not a part of their family way. Yet, I realized why the Swine flu was taking such a toll on the community. The poverty and absence of any food meant that they were at great risk of complications due to illness. They were certainly grateful that someone took the time to think of their needs, as they spend all their days thinking of others.
Mass tonight was funny as Juliette set all the altar up for Father Marting and then perched on the chair right next to him. She was banging the clapping sticks with such gusto during the singing I was worried that the chalice was going to be knocked over, the communion hosts fall all over the floor and then the camp dogs race in and eat them! Luckily we made it through OK. Once again the Elders perched on the edge of their chairs as Juliette took the microphone to say her prayer of the faithful. They all make motherly clucking sounds as she finished, they just love her.
As we farewelled the MSJ girls and staff at the assembly, each class presented them with a gift and the teachers’ spoke warmly of the contribution each made. The girls’ cooked a BBQ at Mirrilingki to say thank you to all who had made their stay so wonderful and it was great to see the enthusiasm and enjoyment they had here. Many could not wait to return again and were planning to come back to do some after school programmes at the end of their HSC.
On Saturday morning we headed into Kununurra for the rodeo. We were staying at the farm with Damian and Lyn and were going to the rodeo together. Lyn was even more worried about Juliette at the farm as the taipan who had fallen out of the log at our feet a few weeks ago was hanging around the back door, crawling up the sliding door one night. They knew it was the same one as it had the blister marks from where it had been toasted in the fire. The rodeo was great fun and we caught up with lots of friends there, particularly Lena and Jackie, our friends from the desert school. I was intrigued by an event called “wild cow milking” where a group of cowboys chase and tackle to the ground a vealer. It seems this is what they do at branding time. This rodeo had bulls and horses that were much larger and had significantly more bad attitude than the last. I just cannot understand why people would choose to do such a dangerous thing as ride those wild bulls or horses.
