Day 76 - Fitzroy Crossing
Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 08:50AM You know if I had to describe myself I’d have to say that I am a dreamer, I don’t have weird dreams or anything, in fact I rarely dream. But when I visit a place I often think about what it was like in the past. For years I have been reading 4WD magazines & reading about places like the Pilbara, the Goldfields & the Kimberly. As recently as 30 years ago many of these places were only accessible by plane or by 4WD across unmade tracks.
Now I have been lucky enough to visit many of these places my dreams have found some reality. We made it here easily, the Land Rover & van are very comfortable, we have air conditioning & Ness’s fruit & nuts if we get hungry! Very funny!!
Imagine what it was like for people 100 year ago travelling to these parts of the country.
A bit of history for you…. I better acknowledge the pre European history or my school principal sister will go crook at me…. Originally this land was the home of the Bunuba people.
A bloke called Andrew Forrest (Hmmm I wonder if he is related to FMG’s Andrew Forrest?) came up this way in the late 1800’s & decided it would be good for sheep, which baffles me as it gets to 45 plus up here in summer, imagine being a sheep in that heat! And then cattle stations were established, many of which still survive today. You can actually go out and stay on a station & see how they work.
Today the actual town is basic & home to 1500 people, with approximately a further 2000 people living in surrounding aboriginal communities.
Some of you may remember that in 2008 when the government was doing their “Intervention” living conditions for aboriginal people in the Fitzroy Crossing area were described as a “National Disaster”
Anyway we got here around 2pm & we leave tomorrow at 8am so we have not had much of a chance to look around, but will definitely put it on the list to come back to & spend a bit more time in & around.
You know another thing? And our neighbors Bill & Sue will back me up on this, we think that Australia is pretty much the same all over……No Way!!! It is soooooo different, this trip we have noticed just how different the Pilbara is to the Kimberly, the dirt, the flowers, the trees, the wildlife, everything is different…. It’s awesome, it is like travelling to different countries but all in the same country!
Reader’s replies
Sandy replied to Annie, thanks for the advice Sandy…. Annie is driving us nuts without any encouragement…..Have a great trip & tell DG to take it easy!
And Georgia added to my frustration by telling me more about how a persons Aboriginality is decided! Its just not fair!!!
Hey Tereasa…. You ok? It’s unusual not to hear from you
What about you Rob? Too busy watching TV? Whats your current favourite?
Kirstin….are you watching the Olympics? You have been quiet too
Heather…. Have you got all huffy & sooky?
Meredith? Whats happening on the volcano front?
Egg & Bonnie…. How’s England?
Pete & Mary….. Are you lost somewhere following a Michelin map book?
And anyone else that has not sent a message for a while…… C’mon make us feel like we are not stuck in a box together with just ourselves for company for nearly 3 months!!!!
Annie’s Blog
I’m with Dad on this….. None of my friends have messaged me for a while. Have you all forgotten me? Edward, Jack, Grace & Jack, Ashwin, Elise, all my friends???? Talk to me.
Ok, hope you are all well…. We are heading home now so Mum says I will get lost in our house it is so big….. I can’t wait.
Big hugs to all of you
AnnieInAVan…..XXXX
Reader Comments (9)
Please Ness, please eat the nuts before you get home. A lifetime of marriage to James and he will NEVER let you forget the nuts....
Hey guys sounds like a adventure that we will have to do in the furture ,and i know better than to follow a map or book just always remember were north is and always have enough fuel to get there ,as i said to someone yesterday i am 200mtr closer to the finish line .they responded great but were is the finish line ,i reponded with no comment .Might not see you guys when you get back as leaving for another weight loss camp in Thailand on the 26th of this month ,so great prep for 100km Around the Bay . Will def catch up when we are all in the same country ....
Not busy with TV, bit of work, bit of cold and flu that seems to linger for ever, and still quite flat with post holiday blues...
But we are here and reading and replying when possible...
As for the fruit and nut, consumption not necessary, comforting knowing they are there if needed!
Hurry back!
Re Volcano Latest news at this moment is: "Tests have revealed that magma is bubbling high inside Mount Tongariro, which could suggest a larger eruption is imminent".
White Island off Tauranga has also had a little spit..............let's just hope the 48 or so volcanoes in and around Auckland don't decide to join in.....
Just caught up on past two days blogs and am now wondering if I can claim Aboriginal status with the Government - I did spend 12 months living remote on the Coburg Peninsula so could qualify. If I had that inclination I'd be on the dole in NZ claiming my Maori heritage rights lol. Seems to all be a bit backward to be honest - Indigenous peoples have so much to offer and yet can't find ways to do so.
Must agree with you James about getting out and living a dream - I've started reducing my debts so this can become a reality in a few years time and got my Learners License so I can bugger off anytime I like lol.
Off to Castella again for the weekend. Will catch up on the blog when I get back. Have a great weekend team
;) xxxxxxxxxx
Excuse me ! I dont get huffy and sooky, just because we share the same genes does not mean we share the same traits
I have merely been working my ass off so MY dream of a beautiful spring garden comes to fruition, plus my husband has roped me in to getting signatures to stop the biomass plant
I know you are wondering how he managed to do that, so here is the conversation:
Brad - "darl can you help with getting signatures?"
me - "nope"
Brad- " but darl we need someone goodlooking and they will flock to you"
How could I resist?
I wont put in the part about what he reckons a part of my anatomy will do for signatures, suffice to say those gussets must be working
have a great weekend
Mate, just one comment to make............Do you know why we use insullation in the roofs of our house ?
No?...well I'll tell you. when you use wool batts in the ceiling they dont stop the heat or the cold, what they do is maintain a constant temperature at around 24 degrees. In summer 24 is cool but off course in winter 24 is warm. The principle is the same for a sheep, in summer the wool actually protects them from extreme heat, and in winter it has the same effect against the cold.
As a boy I made my pocket money working around sheep stations and catching rabbits. I offten wonder what I would have done for a quid if the poms had not introduced both of these animals :-)
Hi Guys, I was MIA sorry! I am catching up now! Maybe I should have said after James being mean the other day, my car had a flat battery and four flat tyres and the kitchen caught on fire so I"VE BEEN BUSY!!! Na all good just busy with work, house, kids and mum stuff!
But Jacks asleep so I'm catching up on things!!
xx T
Ps I only get jealous when I read your adventures anyway!!
Yea Annie's on her way home!!!! Come over as soon as you get home and see Pippa the pig!! OK doesn't have to be straight away but soon. Can't wait to see you again xx Jack