Severe Storms on the Station !

We have had a lot of storms the last month or so but that elusive rain still has not really happened !

The photo below shows the dark cloud built up around us but the rain is not falling anywhere near the station. Everything looks near in photos but the viewing distances in the vast outback are immense. Though amazing to view it is heartbreaking for station people to watch this on a weekly basis.

The country is so dry that when the severe winds pick up so does all the surrounding soil or 'red dirt'. This can create severe dust storms, which we have driven quickly away from in the past at Hillston in south west NSW, but we have not experienced here yet. We have experienced numerous smaller ones regularly which often will move sand across the schoolroom steps and pathways only to move them off again days later.

During one storm a branch came down from a tree onto the cook's house over the bedrooms. She fortunately wasn't in it otherwise she would have been given a fright. Only minor damage to the guttering. The young ringers had a great time with the chain saw the next morning

Posted by Lynne

Graduation, School Musical and Rain !

We've had an interesting few days. Had to go to Longreach overnight on Tuesday, about 700kms north, for LSODE Graduation night and Musical. Their was local flooding as we travelled both days, but more of that later.

It was our Year 6 boy's turn to graduate this year and so it was a special day for the family. The day was made more special as we saw all three boys up on stage to receive one of the school's grade awards.

The school musical, " Another Day in Paradise " followed the Graduation and Awards after a dinner break. The show was well presented offering all children a chance to sing and dance together with their grade peers on stage. It was presented as a story and so some children were able to hone their skills in drama and singing and play major and minor roles in the play. LSODE had arranged special costumes for all the children to wear. The night was completed with a disco for the children and a time to socialise for the parents.

Flooding !

 Up Eromanga way, about 300kms north, we had to cross some creeks after it had rained up there. Our boss the day before had had to turn back, when water was coming up over the bonnet, and go the long way round. Then coming home with ute tray packed with next years school work, christmas presents that were part of the Adopt a Family program, craft supplies etc it rained again up Jundah way, 400kms north, soaking some of our things. We returned with some of our new school books for next year and our cardboard, crepe paper, and material for Christmas fun in the classroom ruined. Lol, but no rain down here at the station at all ! It was George's first time driving the dirt roads in the wet.

We couldn't stop and get out to check the gear, and didn't have tarps anyway. Have been waiting weeks to go into town and get paper stationary for Christmas activities. Had bought some materials and satin ribbon for a quilt and table runner and they have water stains. Another experience ! !

We really enjoyed the Graduation and Musical, and seeing the families receive the 'Adopt a Family' gifts that were reported on radio and tv. Many were overwhelmed with people's generosity.

Posted by Lynne

An Outback Child's Christmas Wish !

Last Thursday we had the opportunity as Home Tutors/Govies to listen in to the Longreach School of Distance Education's Christmas Concert which is held on air.

We have three boys in Years 6, 4 and Prep and each one joined their class over the air to present an item they had practised over the air earlier in the week. The Preps sang We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Yr 6 did the 12 Days of Christmas ... but each child wrote a new verse. 

A Christmas party on-air !

Yr 4 were asked to comment on what Christmas Day was like on their station and make a Christmas wish. Most of the children in some way wished for rain for their stations and friends.

As my Dear eldest Daughter in Sydney said, " most city children would be asking for iPods and bikes etc." The situation is that serious that even the children realise the importance of the need for rain.

There's a large area of country Australia in trouble, some farmers are either losing their properties to the banks or barely holding on. They are de-stocking and cutting back on their workers thus making their workload more difficult as they struggle to feed and water stock.

There are some amazing Aussies out there supporting them with Buy a Hay Bale drops and we have just heard that the Qld racing fraternity has organised Adopt a Family, for LSODE 

families who are in need, to be supported this Christmas. LSODE families will pick up gifts of food, Christmas presents, fuel vouchers etc when they go into Longreach for Graduation and School Musical this week. Bought and packed by individual families across Australia who wanted to show they care. Also the local cinema is putting on a free movie for families on Wednesday morning before families head home. 

Beautiful to hear!

The storm clouds continue to linger above with lightning, thunder, wind and dust storms common BUT the rain is alluding us !

Posted by Lynne

Afternoon Swims in the Cooper

We are fortunate that the station is on the Cooper Creek and has a section of river that is permanent, creating a waterhole. The bulk of the Cooper is dry apart from these deep water holes.

It provides us all with a wonderful spot to swim, canoe, knee board or ski behind the boat and generally just relax and socialise of an afternoon on the weekend. Most of our time is spent out on the pontoon in the middle of the river where I love to sit, chat and watch the fun. One of the ringers usually brings his ute down to provide the music.

Fun ... The boys and older 'boys' like to play King of the Pontoon and spend ages muscling each other around to be the only one left on the pontoon (except me that is !), pushing each other and everybody else off to win the challenge. There is also time for backflips, bombing each other, canoing and a swim occasionally !

Sometimes the boss brings his ski boat down and there is time for knee boarding and skiing.

As Kim says, " where would we be without the Cooper to swim and relax " way out here on a remote cattle station.

PS it takes a little while for some of us to become accustomed to swimming with the turtles bumping into to you, and when closer to shore the little shrimp that nibble at your legs.

Posted by Lynne

Swim School in the Outback !

We have spent the last week at Swim Camp with the boys, from Monday to Thursday. 

We travelled to Eromanga our closest small town, 200kms away and camped in swags in the community hall. The town is known for being the furthest town from the sea, the home of the largest dinosaur find in the Southern Hemisphere and population about 30.

The swim camp was hosted by the local state school which has 2 students, a principal/teacher, a teaching assistant, a relief teacher, an admin staff and a pool. Very different to our one-teacher schools back home in NSW.

The small local community was very welcoming and supported the swim camp well. 

Fifteen children attended the swim school from preschoolers through to Yr 6. Apart from the two boys from the school there were children from surrounding properties who like us did school of the air. For all the children it was a great opportunity to mix with other children and follow a school routine which included playground breaks with school equipment and play spaces.

The children were split into three age groups and had 6 swimming lessons over the 4 days, did a life saving course, and attended school activities in between lessons. These varied from the LSODE lessons we had taken with us to Christmas craft. 

George and I were kept very busy during school time teaching, supervising, and George doing some general maintenance around the school grounds. Out of school time we were kept busy as we took the opportunity for the boys to have free swim time in the pool and 

back at the hall played cards and triominoes till bedtime.

We really enjoyed our time at swim camp !

Posted by Lynne

Melbourne Cup Day Outback Style !!

Melbourne Cup Day on the station at Durham Downs had some of the normal everyday Cup day habits and a few extra ones.

Work for the day was declared ended at 1.30pm and everyone headed for the Kitchen and Social area, including the Woomanooka Outstation crew.

The typical Cup Sweeps, $2, $5 and $10, were first on the list with drinks and nibbles, then a light lunch while we watched the race in the kitchen/dining area. We weren't lucky at all but the boys were very lucky

After the race it was games outside and the first was egg throwing. Once finished the younger ones had egg fights ... And went through a lot of eggs ! 

Here is George and I having a go at egg throwing, we did quite well !!

Next the music was turned up, and some had a dance. Kim is always up for a dance !

There was even time for swimming in the Cooper Creek, hanging out on the pontoon larking around and some knee boarding and water skiing, before dinner !

                                      

        

        

Overall, it was a great way to spend a Melbourne Cup day !!

Posted by Lynne

Out on the Station: Searching for the Aboriginal Cave Art !

The Station, like many, has a wonderful history !

In previous posts we have toured the station to see the Aboriginal Standing Stones and the Aboriginal Burial Ground. 

The station is also part of the Kidman Heritage, and in previous posts we have also visited the old cattle yards and the old Karmona Homestead.

This day we went in search of some caves which had Aboriginal art !

Norman takes George, Kim and I out to see the caves.

While trying to find the caves we saw another side to the station, hill country.

We locked the 4wd hubs and headed up a hill with a communication tower to get a 360 degree view !

A creek with a pool of water ... rare find !

Finally we found the caves and were rewarded with the cave art we'd been told about.

                                      

A panoramic view of the hills on this side of the station.

Posted by Lynne

Lake Houdraman !

Lake Houdraman was a wonderful find ! 

It is 2 kms to the north of Quilpie, approximately 320kms north east of the station, and has become our favourite stopover going north to Charleville and Longreach. It is actually part of Wanco Station but is open to the public for freedom camping. The lake was great for a swim, a walk, to relax, and for bird spotting, which we did a lot of.

Once more pictures, taken by George, tell a thousand words !

Brolgas

 

Blue Kingfisher

He was a delight to watch

Kookaburras

Cattle

 

Yellow Spotted Goanna

                                 

An amazing Redgum

                                      

Landscapes at Lake Houdraman 

Posted by Lynne