Lake Houdraman ... Return visit for Easter !

Lake Houdramin, which can be found about 2 kms north of Quilpie and about 350 kms north of the station, has been our favourite free camp while we've been at the station. I think the drawcard is the peacefulness, the water and the bird life. If you sit still in your camp chair long enough a variety of birds will come into the trees around you. We love to take a quiet walk along the shore or a swim in the lake on a hot day.

The photos below are only a snippet of the beauty there.

These first two were taken early in the morning from under our awning. I am particularly proud of them as they were taken by me on my little Nikon digital travel camera while George was asleep. Not on his fancy camera.

Our camper set up on the lake's edge. Not as 'pretty' as our bus to look at ... and as you can guess, after 9 years travelling with her, we are still missing her.

We love sitting and watching the bird life here which ranges from the common emu, kookaburra, pelicans, herons, blue kingfishers, butcher birds, a variety of honey eaters, wrens, spoonbills etc.

Below are your typical emus. They would wade up to their lower feathers in the water but as George approached they took to the shore on the opposite side.

 A spoonbill. I fell in love with watching this bird last time we camped at the lake, and followed him along the shore as he moved from one end to the other. He constantly moves his beak back and forth in the water as he walks looking for food. At times it looks as though he's dancing as he spins himself around !

 A reflection of the moon on the still water on a cloudy night.

We were at Lake Houdramin for the total lunar eclipse. The perfect place !  
George took way too many photos for me to possibly share here !

Each morning there was a perfect reflection of the trees in the water. Here is a photo George took while he was playing with his camera effects, this one is HD painting.

If you are ever out in south west Qld and are doing the Outback Science Loop road make sure to stay out at Lake Houdraman. We were surprised to find we had it almost all to ourselves this time. Though you do need to be fully self contained. 

By Lynne

The 100 km Driveway !

On our way out at Easter for a weeks break the boss recommended we take the River Rd which is much longer but brings us out about 30 kms out of Eromanga. It is about 100kms to the boundary and then we pass through the properties of Mt Howitt Station and Plevna Downs Station adding about another 60kms of dirt till you reach the Development road. The road on the Durham Downs side is predominately through river flat, fine red dust that tends to make the car float/slide. Then changes to hard packed dirt and undulating country. At one point we cross through the Dingo Fence.

There are two property roads that head towards Eromanga. We usually take the one which passes the outstation, Woomonooka. It is about 85kms to the bitumen development road on rocky gibber, and then 120kms on the bitumen to Eromanga. We find it much quicker and the rocky ground less daunting than the sandy river flats. Lately this dirt road has been in a very bad condition and the last time we drove in and out to Longreach is was bone shaking. So we followed the bosses recommendation especially as we were towing the camper and are yet to purchase a stone guard.

A photo of a road train approaching from behind. We had just radioed him to let him know we would move further to the side to let him overtake as we prefer them in front. We then had to pull over and give him time to get ahead as he really wasn't travelling much faster than us. You can see our camper tracking behind us in the towing mirror as well.

At times it was difficult to see the wheel tracks on the road.

The Dog Fence runs through this section of the property road, and must be kept closed at all times. The fence was originally built across three states with the intention of preventing dingoes crossing to the other side of the fence. As we approached there was an eastern grey kangaroo sitting on our side of the gate.

A wedge tail eagle who really didnt want to leave his feed on the road.

The first time we have seen this many brolgas together on a station road !

By Lynne

Mustering ... George the Newby

Old Karmona Stock Camp

I had the chance to go out to camp.  I remember as a young boy scout sleeping under the stars.  This was much different.  The wind picked up and we were sandblasted all night.  I cheated ... I slept in the back of the Ute out of the wind.  Early starts are EARLY.  Coffee at 4am.  

Before you can brand you need to collect fire wood.  The boys were looking forward to the mornings work out.  Peter and Joel had the job of getting the fire started.

Everyone has a job and the job is not the same.  You could be castrating, then branding, ear marking or just hanging onto the little beggar so none of you get hurt.  

 

Sometimes the calf just doesn't want to cooperate.  

The main part of the muster was completed around 9 am and we ended up at the camp for a breakfast of bacon and steak in gravy.  I ended up with Dylan on the drop crush where we branded, marked and dehorned the calfs we missed on the first run.  

I branded my first calf today.  By the time I did number 20 I got the hang of it.  Cobby tried to gross out Dylan by offering him fresh Prairie Oysters cooked on the gas branding box.  The look on his face when he tried to eat them was priceless.  

I would have liked to walk the cattle to the next water hole with the guys but I had important work to do.

Norm (Camp Cook) showed me how to make a real damper in the camp oven.  I made one at the same time. His was brilliant, my effort was OK for the first time.  

By George

The Easter Bunny Arrives on the Mail Plane !

Our mail plane arrives once a week with mail and supplies of all different kinds from Leigh Creek in South Australia. It is always an exciting day for everyone at the station especially the boys.

The Wednesday before Easter was a particularly special day as the mail plane held a surprise visitor !

The EASTER BUNNY !!

The boys recieved a large Easter bunny chocloate and all the adults who met the plane an easter egg. ( which melted in our hands before they left.)

Will, our nearly 6 year old was very excited.

George being teased by the Easter bunny when receiving an egg.

The boys and our station cooks.

There were other surprises on board as supplies for Will's 6th birthday party also arrived in two big boxes from Spotlight ... Mexican hats, piñata, streamers, decorations etc.

By Lynne

A Modern Day Stock Camp !

As everyone at the station has been busy mustering, branding, marking, tailing, separating the fats(those going to market) from the heifers, sorting weaners and bulls(some sent to market), and breaking in young horses they've been staying out at camp. George decided one Saturday morning to drive me out for a visit to the stock camp at Isley's Dam. But as we went we passed Norm our camp cook heading back in for fuel and supplies so when we arrived no one was there. The boss and ringers were walking the cattle across country and the chopper pilot was in the air as we could hear their conversation over our UHF.

We wandered around while we waited so I could have a look and take some photos. Below on the left side, is a photo showing the camp kitchen truck with a fuel tank on the front. The truck behond has the yellow water supply tank, and the blue object is the generator.in the foreground you can see the campfire area with cornbeef cooking in the front pot.

A view from the other direction with a twin deck cattle truck behind the campfire. A swag can be seen in front of the truck.

Inside view of the camp kitchen truck.

The grader was used to haul the camp kitchen trucks out to camp. The second truck with the water and generators, also houses the stores.

A photo taken on our approach to the stock camp.

By Lynne

Longreach SODE ! Part 2

When staying in Longreach for School of Distance Education events we stay at The Quarters which are within the grounds of the school. If you visit Longreach you can do a tour of the school, its on-air studios, see on-air lessons in progress, and view the grounds.

The Quarters are set up with bunkrooms, a commercial kitchen-dining area, outdoor deck, tv room for the children, bathroom and laundry facilities. We all love the showers as they are supplied with town water, a distinct change from the creek water we all use on the stations. This time as we were there a week I also took the oppprtunity to wash our clothes in the clear water. The children also enjoy the playgrounds and grassed areas to play on with their friends. We also spend time each afternoon in the library choosing books, audio books, leveled readers, dvd's, manipulative material and games to take back to the station.

While in town we all had our haircut, restocked at the chemist, grocery store and newsagent, had a meal out and socialised with other home tutors and parents.

Below, a view of The Quarters with its wide deck on two sides with tables and chairs, overlooking one of the grassed playing areas. To the left you can see the covered playground and exercise equipment. There is also a washing line for use.

Kangaroos are rife in the Longreach area, and can even be found within the school grounds. The exercise equipment is in the background. This photo was taken from the nearby verandah.

A large outdoor covered area used for outdoor play, assemblies, disco nights etc 

The school has quite a few art and sculpture pieces in and around the site. 

On our way back to the station George and I decided to stop and take some photos at a lookout on a range about 2 hours south of Longreach. The boys had actually never stopped there before and enjoyed the views as much as we did. We did not stay long as the days remained in the mid 40 temperature range. We had at that point had 3 weeks of this heat.

By Lynne

A Week at Longreach School of Distance Education ! Part One

Week six of term saw us heading into Longreach for a week which included mini-school clusters and sports days for the boys, and 3 days of workshops for Home Tutors.

 It is over 700kms from the station to Longreach, on mostly dirt roads, so we stopped a few times for the boys and drivers to have a break. 

Our first stop was just after leaving the property road and joining the Bulloo Development Rd on our way to Eromanga. The boys took the opportunity to climb ' big red.' 

 Our lunch stop was half way to Longreach and just past a property called 'The Retreat ' on the Jundah road. The boys took the opportunity this time to wade in the river.

At LSODE the boys met their friends and classmates, and had a few days of school with their teachers. The year 4-6 children also participated in rugby and netball workshops and a round robin. We remained in town on Saturday and the boys joined friends in a tennis lesson in the morning and our Yr 4 boy attended a swimming squad class in the afternoon. Of course we spent this afternoon and a few others during the week at the pool enjoying the clear clean water. A welcome retrieve from the mid 40 degree temperatures.

At LSODE the children attending the sport workshops on Thursday were relieved from the heat when the sprinklers were turned on while they played skill games in the afternoon.

On the Friday the children participated in a rugby round robin at the local showground. The white flecks in the photo are grasshoppers disturbed from their feeding as the children play.

George and I attended workshops for early literacy, numeracy, and an excellent full day program advertised as Impact. The presentation was very well paced and targeted the "why" part of learning. Impact promoted both explicit instruction as well as inquiry learning. It promoted current information on learning and neuro-science. A very interesting area which I have been delving into for the last 12 years while working as a Special Education teacher and as a parent raising a child with learning differences.

The week was also an opportunity for parents and home tutors/govies to catch up and enjoy some adult conversation. For those like us who stay at The Quarters on the LSODE site it is a  very social week. 

Part 2 

Will include photos of the Longreach School of Distance Education Quarters and surrounds in Part 2. 

By Lynne