So, once again here I am trying to catch up...
In Dec. 2008 I helped lead a team of High school students to Dajarra and Normanton, both in Outback Queensland. We were gone for 16 days and traveled over 5,000 kms. Needless to say, there were some very long days of travel, but well worth it.
Here is what we did:
Day 1- travel to Chinchilla- slept and were on the road again early in the morning
Day 2- travel to Longreach- side note: that is were Qantas began
Day 3- travel to Dajarra- yeah!!! we finally made it.
Day 4: In Dajarra- we spent time at the school- there are 24 students and starts in prep and goes through grade 7. It was fun to be back in Mr. Gilmour's class- I spent time in that class last year when I was there. That afternoon we went on a bush walk with the kids. (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere, let me remind you that it is summer here- and HOT, especially in the outback). We had a nice time, but it was so hot that the sole of my shoes- and I am talking Nike, not just some cheap Target brand- melted and now sit to the side of the shoe. It was HOT.
Day 5: In the morning we had a morning tea for all of the ladies of the community. (There are aprox. 250 people living in Dajarra). We had about 10 ladies come. It was great to be able to sing Christmas songs with them, and tell a bit of the Christmas story. We also had gifts for each one.
That afternoon, we were back at the school for the after school program with the kids. We had them paint bags that we would later fill with gifts for them to hand out to some other kids.
Day6: we shifted the school library- there were ALOT of books, and it was HOT... but the older kids helped us and we made it fun. At least the room that we set up the library had air con... I had a book dropped on my toe and saw some blood, sliced right through at the base of my toenail. Oh well, memories right? I am still alive. After school care with the kids- this day we did some colouring in and beading- thanks to the left overs of the last MIB team from Knott Ave.
Day 7: this is the day that we had 9 kids from he school in Urindangi (an even smaller community than Dajarra) come to visit. They had heaps of fun together... the Dajarra kids passed out the gifts to these kids- and took home with them gifts for the rest of the kids. We had a soccer game- they all got new uniforms thanks to a donation that we received. The Urindangi kids won!! Then came some good fun- the huge slip n slide came out. I can not even begin to tell you how refreshing it was to just be wet. That evening we had a sausage sizzle for the Dajarra community and Christmas Carol's by the bonfire. I am still trying to work out the bonfire when it is 90ish (30) degrees outside. It was fun though.
Day 8: this was the last day of school for the year and Mr. Gilmour was leaving for good. It was a sad day filled with many tears from the students. During the day the kids performed a Christmas program for their families. It was fun to see them dance and sing. Of course, because we were there, they asked us to do something. Thankfully one of our girls, Lucy, is an amazingly gifted singer so she sang Little Drummer Boy- wow, I could listen to that many times.
That night we had a request for another bonfire- so of course we had one. This time some of the elders that we had never met come and sat with us. They sang for us and with us. I got to talking with them and discovered that one of the men was the nephew of a lady that had been in Brisbane a couple of months earlier and had stayed at my house. Talk about a small world.
Day9: travel to Normanton, with a stop in Mt.Isa and another at the Flinder's river to look for crocs. However, they don't exist, so naturally we did not see any.. well salt water crocs that is. We did see one fresh water, but the salties are the big one's. I want to see a big croc- and not at the Australia Zoo.
Day 10: It was Sunday, so we had church with the folks in Normanton. I love just listening to them sing. One of their favourites is ... and He tastes like honey on the rock... but they change it to ... and He taste like turtle on the coals... maybe some day I will get to taste turtle, and then I'll let you know if they are right. :P
That evening we had a sausage sizzle for the Normanton Community (there are aprox. 1500 people living there) and a Christmas Carol's service. We had about 100 kids and 30 adults for that.
Day 11: we spent the morning at the Nursing Home. We had morning tea with some of the folks, and gathered around the Christmas tree and sang Christmas Carol's. We had gifts for each one of them, as well as the employees.
That evening, we traveled to Kurumba for dinner and to watch the sun set. It is one of only 3 places in Queensland that you can watch the sun set over the ocean. This was at the Gulf of Carpentaria. What beauty. On the way home, we stopped and all went to lay on the road- there was no one around and we were in the middle of no where so it was a great view of the MANY stars in the night sky, though the road was very hot to touch, even at 8:30pm
Day 12: this was a bit of a day off for us as a team, however, the kids knew that we were there so came by the Christian Centre to play. Fortunately the room with the pool table has air con, so we all hung out in there. Later in the day we went to the Bynoe River to have another look for crocs. Nope- did not see any. But it was beautiful and we saw an amazing sun set.
Day 13: Once again we were on the road again. This time traveling back to Longreach. It was during this trip that I did some of the driving- ok only 200kms, but hey, I was in a 12 seater bus with teenagers, and towing a trailer. That was the first time that I had driven towing a trailer. Some of the kids that I had not known before this trip were a bit nervous because they weren't too sure I knew what side of the road to drive on... well, I have been here for 5 years. I hope I know by now. It was during this leg of the journey that we stopped in McKinlay- home of the Walk About Creek Hotel- made famous by Crocodile Dundee.
Day14: travel to Agnes Water/1770- that is two towns near each other, yes, there is a town that is called 1770- study your Australian history and you'll know why. However, we spent two nights at Agnes Water- enjoying the BEACH! Yes, we made it to the coast again, and had some real R&R and a time a debrief.
Day 15: fun at the beach- it was so relaxing. The water was perfect. I did not want to get out...but we had a nice dinner that last night and enjoyed our time...
Day 16: traveled home- to Redcliffe- it was only about 5 hours, pretty short drive after the 10/11 hour travel days.
I know that this is long, but at least now you'll get a sense of what we did...this was my second trip and Lord willing I will go again. I love the people of these communities- and what a blessing to minister with indigenous people.
