How you all goin… this is my last
blog for the year and ever!!!
On our last agriculture camp to Gibb
River Station we completed lots of fun, tough and exciting jobs. On the way out
to the station, Michael’s car conked and we had to leave it at Ellenbrae
overnight. Myself and Riley along with Cam and Michael went to retrieve and fix
the vehicle the next day and found out that there was water in the fuel tank.
We finished off the fence around the gravel pit that we started on our last
camp, as well as making several gates around the pit for easy access. We also
put the horses in the yard each day so we could do ground work, get them used
to people again so the community mob could ride and take care of them properly.
The KEFL crew also helped Warwick build a timber and wire fence around the new
grocery shop; this was to help keep the community dogs out of the area as well
as make the shop visually pleasing. This was a pretty tough job, and we needed
all help on deck to get it done, before the funeral that was to take place on
the middle weekend of our stay. Last time we were at Gibb there was a bad
accident that resulted in the death of one of Ngallagunda’s elders. The crew helped
cook and prepare loads of food for around 500 people who had travelled from all
over to farewell Mukka. I attended the funeral with a few other year 12 KEFL
students, Audas and Michael.
Because of the influx of people
at Gibb Station we moved out to a camping spot called Flat Rock. This allowed
us to swim and relax and visit some scared spots, it was nice to have running
water for a couple of nights. During the second week we fed and watered the
cattle that were in the yards, and made sure they were getting looked after. We
ended letting a whole lot of young cattle out of the yards as no one was at the
station to care for the cattle, and it would have been cruel to keep them in
the yard. The mechanical crew went out to one of the bores in black soil paddock
as it wasn’t working, this took a long time to fix and we ended having to get
the entire crew out there to pull the bore hose up, fix the power cord and fill
the tanks. I personally have had a large number of rewarding experiences out at
Ngallagunda over the last two years. Particular highlights of my agriculture
training include – working with cattle, cleaning up and fixing up the
mechanical workshop and visiting amazing water holes and gorges around the
area. A big thank you to Clyde and Linette Russ and the Ngallagunda crew for
allowing us to come to your home and help out, it has been an amazing couple of
years. Also to Michael Jeffery I have one final joke for you – I was at the
local atm when old man Michael Jeffery came up to me and asked me to check his
balance … so I pushed him over. Thanks for being a great Ag lecturer and
putting up with all of us.
During second semester we have
been doing an abseiling course for Outdoor Education. Our instructor for this
is Maka from Go Wild Adventure tours. We completed a variety of abseils from
different cliff heights this included:
·
Kelly’s Knob – 10m practice run
·
Sleeping Buddha – 15m
·
Sleeping Buddha foot – 45m
·
Black Rock – 75m
Our two night’s expedition saw
the crew going up the river to Carlton Gorge. We stayed at Coolamon Creek camp.
On the way up we stopped up the spillway and completed our first assessment a
bush walk around a cliff. We had to work as a team to navigate around a large
raised area and make it back to the boat. We found a pretty awesome water
system that during the wet would provide an awesome swimming location. We then
went to camp set up our gear and had lunch. After lunch we went on another
bushwalk behind Coolamon Creek camp, this was an amazing experience as Maka does
not usually take anyone to this special spots. We found natural springs with
flowing waterfalls and we enjoyed swimming in both locations. It was pretty
tricky navigating our way back to the boat, but overall it was definitely and
challenging and rewarding experience.
The next day we went up to
Carlton Gorge to set up our Flying Fox and Abseiling challenge. The flying fox
required a lot of team work to create a tensile line; we set up a pulley system
to make sure the line was tight enough and put a stopper knot so we wouldn’t
hit the rocks. Josh Adkin was the first to jump from the 35m cliff for the
flying fox, due to his light weight he hit the stopper knot full pelt which
resulted in him getting slung back and spinning through the air – this was a
pretty funny and memorable moment. I eventually had a go – and once was enough
for me. I also abseiled down the cliff face and unhooked in the water, this was
pretty cool and due to it being so hot it allowed us to swim and cool off. On
the last day we completed another 50m cliff abseil and jumped off Jump Rock. It
has been so great getting to know Maka over the last two years, and completing
all of these activities that you wouldn’t get to do if you weren’t in the KEFL
program.
My highlights for the last two years
in KEFL include:
- Working at Vanderfield’s Kununurra Toyota and getting paid. I really enjoyed working there and learning practical based mechanical skills that are going to help me with my future career. Thanks to all the crew at Toyota for supporting me and I hope to see you all around the place. I also need to thank Natasha Cross from KGT for finding me this placement and supporting me over the two years
- Graduating from school with my WACE Certificate – I am the first person in my family to graduate!
- All the Agriculture and Outdoor Ed camps have been a hoot.
So What Now…. I have applied for
an apprenticeship at Argyle Diamond Mine as a heavy diesel mechanic. I am
looking forward to starting my apprenticeship and earning money, going to
Melbourne with Clontarf for my end of year trip and my graduation ceremony on
the 26th November.
I still have two more people to
thank one is Cam Jackson from the Clontarf foundation for putting up with me
since year 8. For having my back even when I was in the wrong which was all the
time - I guess that’s why you have got no hair now - but yeah thanks for the
crazy five years and I look forward to catching up with you.
And finally… thanks to Tarryn
Audas AKA “Just Jimmy” for cooking me biggest mob feeds, pestering me to
complete all my school work and making me stay after hours. Also for generally
caring about me and my schooling and identifying my strengths and how I learn
so I could graduate from school. But also for being an all-around Jimmy – top
bloke.
Well I’m out – see you around the
cattle trail! Peter Davies J
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