?? 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

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