Boroloola 26 th October
Well we didn't make it to Robinson River. We were picked up at the airport by Anthony who gave us a commentry on the town as we drove to the health centre. Where I noticed the northern Territoy and the Aboriginal flags were flying at half mast outside the health centre clinic. Whic is a collection of portable building like big shipping containers.
The back door surrounded by oxygen cylinders. Inside people were busy in the cramped rooms, there were two policemen there.
When the police had gone , we were told during the night there had been
an unfortunate incident and the nurse helping had become unwell and had to be flown out.
The mangager said to Karen that their need was greatest so we wouldn't be going to Robinson River. At present a lot staff are away doing courses. Karen is right in among it here, a very needy community healthwise.
It is a hot walk from the house we are living in about 15 minutes, one bottle of water each way and you need shower by the time you get home.
This morning when walking back from going with Karen to work
I stopped on the verandah of the 'Red Dirt' shop. An old aboriginal man with a battered cowby hat shook my hand and told me his name which I didn't catch, it was full of js ngs, oo,s , ll,s and very long. "Whats your name?" He asked ,
Ian seemed to get a blank response, (I think Ken would be easier to say here.)
He then asked what was my fathers name was, 'Hector', didn't throw much light on the situation and New Zealand might as well have been Mars when we discussed where we were from.
The intention was there however, name and place and familhy, relationships connection is important.
Last night we went out for a meal with others from the Health Center.
The dining area was between two containers with ceiling fans, the building open at each end. The cooking was done in one of the containers.
The decor was a big horned buffalo skull with a didgerdoo across its horns and a bull roarer hanging on the wall. A couple a big crabs and a massive burramundi.
I decided to have buramundi it was very good.
While waiting for our meal we were entertained by a gecko on the wall eating insects and Northern Territory stories. We learnt about cane toads and the best way to kill them, dogs who lick them to get high, and some people who dry the glands and smoke them and go to halluciengenic heaven.
Freeze them seems to be the best way they are quite hard to kill with cricket bats and golf clubs.
Ants were high on the story list with a wealth of information shared. Best ways of killing them , and how to live with them.
Don't leave you car parked in one place as white ants will eat tight through the tyres even truck tyres!
It seems that ants like modern cars they go straight for the computers in them, they also have a likeing for the red wire in houses. One man reckons they attracted to the magnetic field of electricity.
There are green ants , red ants yellow ants white ant black ants all shapes and sizes....
Another interesting creature here is a stink bettle a little round flying inscet, if it land on you and you squash it a very smelling and painful acid is delivered.
Someone left a window in a bathroom open and light on they went to Teennant Creek and stink bettles invaded the room. When they returned they couldn't get the smell out of the house and had to demolish the bathroom!!
Yesterday Karen had a day in the pharmacy room , she also went out and taking medication around town and out to the camps one was a tarpolin camp, she is right in front line here among the Mara, Yanula Garawa and Gudani clans.
When we came out from where we had tea last night the temperature was 39, so we are not cold here.
Arohanui from Borrloola 30km from the Gulf of Carpenteria
Ian and Karen
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