Sunday 10 March 2013 - driving to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill National Park)

Sunday 10 March 2013 - driving to Boodjamulla (Lawn Hill National Park)

We didn’t do much in the way of sightseeing or exploring in Mt Isa, as we spent most of the time either bludging in the caravan park or shopping and preparing for the next six or so weeks, after deciding to avoid the highways for much of our journey towards Darwin. We met some interesting people in the caravan park too. Last night even brought a few fireworks, as a family domestic took place in full view of everyone camping in the grounds. It was the couple who’d attached themselves to the family of Yasmin’s little friend Grace – the bloke had been drinking with Grace’s father all day (beer before lunch and then vodka by 2:30pm!) and he and his wife started arguing before the sun went down. The blues were punctuated by several attempts at departing (he’d scream off in their campervan and then come back a while later, sometimes with the wife). Eventually he took off for good, nearly ploughing into a tree on his way out, but didn’t take his wife and teenage daughter. Grace’s family (of four) have had to take care of them, but I’m not sure how they’ll fit six in a five-seater. They tried to leave last night as well, I think because they were embarrassed by the whole debacle, but they couldn’t get fuel so they came back and then headed off early this morning. Poor Yasmin was a bit confused by it all, she just wanted to play with her friend, but we didn’t want her getting caught up in all the dramas. Pretty scary to think of that guy on the road though, full of booze and temper, tearing down the highway (watch out Winton!). It’s situations like that when people are killed in car accidents, not just random collisions out of the blue.

On a lighter note, I made some really lovely new friends last night. I’d taken Yasmin and Sienna to the pool in the afternoon to distract them from the domestic disputes and while we were cooling off, I got talking to some other mums. They live and work on properties just over the border in NT and were in town with their kids for a distance ed get-together (much like the Longreach one). I found it fascinating to learn about how life is out there, especially for other mums. Supplies like groceries are flown or freighted in on trucks and they are responsible for managing day-to-day life for all the staff (both stations are company-owned). They both have governesses (also employed by the company) who work with the kids in their schoolwork, as apparently it can get pretty intense trying to teach and mother your children. Di, who’s at Lake Nash (4 million acres), even manages to look after a half-acre of gardens, which she hand-waters! Mittiebah, the property that Danielle’s on is much smaller but she says it’s nice because they only have about 15 staff. 

They said we’re welcome to come and visit but also that being a teacher and a sparky, we’d have no trouble getting work on the stations too. Very exciting! We definitely plan to get there sometime, not sure when but in the meantime, I was quite pleased to enjoy some friendly, intelligent, female company again. I’ve been missing my girlfriends quite a bit lately (Bec, Yvette, all the mum’s group gals – big hugs and kisses!) but I’ve got to make the most of these opportunities when I can.