Random Photos from 2014

As we begin to head back to Durham Downs Station I thought I'd post some random photo's from our time there last year. 

These are from the drive there. When we returned home in December we drove nearly 1600 kms in 50 hours to get home, we were very keen to see our daughters and grandchildren in the lead up to Christmas.

On leaving the last town, Thargomindah, these are the road signs seen as you leave town. We travel the Bulloo Development Road, and head out to the Bellera Gas Centre ... 233kms. This is where the bitumen ends and we are on Durham land, we have about another 50 minutes on dirt to reach the homestead area.

This is a photo of the main street of Thargomindah, a small quiet town which is the closest 

town to the east of the Station.

A view of Gas Centre from the dirt road at Durham.

A photo of our ever dependable 1984 coaster bus at Innamincka for the Innamincka Picnic Races and Gymkana. It was an interesting drive for our coaster as the roads were very rough at the time. Ot

seems we were on the wrong end of the road grading cycle.

A view of the station from the air as we flew over the area in the station plane. Our house is the one on the right closest to the top. You can see the Cooper Creek in the foreground. 

Posted by Lynne

?? Question: what made you come out here ? And Grateful !

As we travel around the area and attend community events we are often asked,

" What made you come out here ? " 

For some a simple answer ... A Sea Change ! Is enough. But for many locals who are maybe wiser or just more curious, this is not enough and they enquire further. For some we answer truthfully.

Some of our posts have been read by many people, and by people in many countries and there has been some curiosity shown by readers as to why we would make this change as well.
So for those who are interested I will answer this question, if you are not feel free to skip this post and read the next as it is quite a personal answer.

Out here the common question has been, 

" why give up well paid teaching positions in Sydney to come out to such a remote area, hundreds of kms from anywhere, and for a third of the wages." 

There are several reasons, but one overriding one.

We have always wanted to travel Australia and love the Australian outback most. We have both had experiences through family of farming properties and had fond memories of these times. These combined have given us a certain empathy for our farmers in the outback and as teachers a concern for children's education in these areas. We have a dream of travelling and working in outback schools as support consultants for children with learning difficulties, families, and educators.

Last year after a friend posted an ad on FB from a family looking for a Govie/Home Tutor and we, out of curiosity, did some background research things snowballed. We had email offers coming in, and we were surprised at how desperate the need was for teachers in the bush on remote stations.

But the main factor was my health. After an injury 10 years earlier I had been left with a degenerative condition that effected my everyday life and functioning, costing me my job and disabling me. Our fast paced life in Sydney was hastening the process and I was too proud to give in to it. I was advised that a change would be helpful in slowing the decline in my condition. We also realised that it was now or maybe never as I may not be able to manage this in the future.

So in our true fashion and as our blog heading says,

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but is about dancing in the rain, 

we began reorganizing our lives and packing and culling all we owned to try something new !

P.S. It is an ironic quote really as we were professional dancers up until my accident.

I am grateful !
I am very fortunate to have had a family doctor who fought for me over the years until I had the right diagnosis and treatment for a rare and unusual condition, and a husband and daughters who have supported me throughout the years of treatment alongside work, and adjustments to life. Not an easy thing for someone known for her over active mind, her constant movement and need to be busy 18 hours a day. Without them all I have no doubt I would be wheelchair bound by now.
I am also grateful to have had a wonderful Learning Support team at work who enabled me to work as long as I did for 8 years.

I am grateful that I have so much in life, and am offered new opportunities in life daily, that my God watches over me and presents me with new pathways that he has readied for me.

Posted  by Lynne