An update…

The class numbers have increased again!! While it was one of my main goals this term and last, I am beginning to freak out a little with the numbers this term. We had record numbers of 19 students last Thursday… I did say I was coming out here for a challenge! An increasing number of them have been to school more this year than they have in their whole schooling life. So you can imagine where their literacy and numeracy skills are at!!

Some of them are unable to complete the alphabet! Behaviour is a major classroom focus (in fact it seems to be rare that I remember anything else from the day!!).

Below is T.J...

We average about 16 students a day at the moment the preparation for this is hard going. Practicals are a nightmare, but I am persisting! We have managed to produce some fine fashion bags this term. Surprisingly, it has been the boys that have wanted after school classes and have wanted to make more than one bag for their nannas (how sweet!).

Food Tech practicals are also a nightmare… The key now, I think, is to have plenty of veggies to prepare. Lots and lots of cutting to keep them occupied! They do enjoy the food lessons and must be taking heed of what I say, as they hide their meat pies as I walk past at lunch time these days!!

‘Baby steps’ I keep telling myself. I have huge fears that I am not doing these kids justice as a teacher, but have seen changes in these beautiful kids already, so I am not giving up yet!

Confirmation and Pentecost Celebrations

Today five of my students made their Confirmation. They were stoked to have so much attention focused on them!

It seems even important religious feasts run on ‘Kimberley time’ in Warmun. Last night we celebrated Pentecost, a huge celebration with ‘Killer’ (a whole bullock) roasted slowly in a ground oven all day for dinner and Corroboree around the campfire.

A real privilege to be a local at this event...

Camp Out

Yep it’s time to purchase a swag! Last week I camped out with some of the locals in a dried up river bed on the back of one of the Stations just north of Warmun. The Station manager is happy to have us out there as long as we let him know as we pass the homestead.

We camped out under the stars snuggled up in a swag with fires front and back for warmth. I woke at around 4AM just in time to watch a huge, almost full moon sink across the horizon with a magic haze around it.

I managed to get my 4WD bogged up to its axles. Worried for a little while I pulled out the trusty shovel and managed get the wheels rotating again. The next morning one of the other vehicles toed me out (any excuse to use the new snatch strap!)

Bush Trip to Camel Creek

The week before last I took my class out bush, we foraged for bush food! I was loving it… I tell you what, if you didn’t know exactly what you were looking for you would starve out here!!

We collected some sugar bag which is like honey. It is produced by a little insect which looks like a fly. The make their nests in termite mounds or some times holes in trees. We went in search around the termite mounds at Camel Creek. You search for one or two little flies hovering and then listen to see if there is a buzz coming from the mound. If there is... dig!!

The syrup inside is beautiful, just like honey, the nectar around is a little bitter, but I have some funny ideas for use in cooking!!

The kids scrambled to the top of Boab trees (OH&S? only refers to Oh Holy Spirit out here!)

They collected the nuts, which I’d tried before. They are like powdery apple with plenty of seeds big seeds. We snacked on Boab nuts as we searched for sugar bag…

Shirley (one of the elders with us) managed to find some yams. We toasted those on the fire. They are the roots of tree suckling, they tasted like potato.

We made damper, they liked my girl guide trick of swirling it around a stick, baking it, removing it and filling it with sugar bag!! Below, Francis is showing his potential in 'Axe safety101!'