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Coober
Pedy Times Newsletter
November 2004
To
talk to any of the folks from The Coober Pedy Times, email to Coober Pedy
Times cptimes@ozemail.com.au
We update this page every fortnight.
This month: November
Corporate to the
country
November last year Kylie and I resigned from our corporate jobs in Melbourne,
packed our belongings into storage and hit the road in Kylie's Ford Festiva.
Our plan was to find work on boats up in Port Douglas in Northern Queensland.
We planned to take the long way getting there, via the Red Centre, Darwin,
Mt Isa then Cairns.
We reached Coober Pedy a day before my 28th birthday and celebrated in
style at Traces Restaurant, capping it off with a live performance by
Abby Tucker at the Opal Inn. As a birthday present, we had booked ourselves
on the Outback Mail run tour on my birthday. I had always wanted to enjoy
a beer in an outback pub and check out a cattle station, the mail run
offered both.
During the tour I feel in love the land straight away. I had seen a few
documentaries on television about life in the outback, but seeing it first
hand exceed all my expectations. Through curiosity, I asked our tour guide
Derek Rowe how one could find work out here on a station. Derek said that
Douglas Lillecrapp of Todmorden Station had just approached him the week
before looking for a couple to work as a Housekeeper/Cook and Stationhand.
We jumped at the opportunity. We finished up staying with Derek for a
couple of days in his dug out, which was fantastic and very generous of
Derek. We arranged to meet Douglas for an interview at the Ampol Service
Station in Coober Pedy. Considering the both of us hadn't any experience
or trades, we weren't to sure how we'd go, but after theinterview Douglas
said he was willing to give us a go. We then realised we had to buy jeans,
shirts, boots and hats, as we had only packed a few t-shirts and thongs.
It was at this point our lives would change forever.
It has been nearly 12 months since we started at Todmorden Station on
the Oodnadatta Track. Kylie as Housekeeper/Cook maintains the homestead
and prepares three meals a day for the workers. Being on a cattle station
you're pretty much guaranteed beef at least one meal everyday, sometimes
even three times a day. My job has evolved a little since arriving. At
the start I used to muster and brand cattle, do bore maintenance, fencing,
and gardening. Recently however, I have been kept around the homestead
assisting with building renovations and maintaining the beautiful gardens.
We have learned so much out here and we are both so grateful for the opportunity
to being able to live and work at Todmorde Station. It's like nothing
else we ever done in our lives. It certainly is a dramatic change from
our offices jobs in Melbourne. It's like living in a small remote community.
Everyone has to work and get along with each. In fact we have to drive
nearly 80km's just leave the property, that's how isolated we are. Yet
it's such a healthy life, I've never felt this fit since a teenager.
One of the pinnacles of our time in the outback, was going on the "Hooves
n Horns" Cattle Drive. Earlier this year, Kylie and I had volunteered
our services by developing a website for the William Creek Gymkhana Committee.
www.williamcreekevents.com. As a gesture of his appreciation, Randall
Crozier, the Manager of Anna Creek Station, offered us both a seat on
a horse for the last three days of the cattle drive. He asked if I could
be the official photographer and I accepted.
On the first day we were all sorted out based on our riding experience
and presented with a horse accordingly. We then mounted our horse in the
yards and rode around for a while, building up our confidence and bonding
with the horse. It was then time to head off over the hill to meet up
with the mob of cattle which waited for us on the plain.
It was like a being on movie set when we first saw the mob of 300 odd
cattle. Once we started moving the mob, there was dust, cracks of whips
and the odd "Come-On" from the drovers. It was like stepping
back in time. There we thirty other tourist on this stage of the drove
which kept the organisers on their toes. But we all had plenty to do and
eat! Some of the tourists liked to get behind the mob and push them along,
tasting the dust in our mouths. Others preferred to ride along the ridges
looking down on the mob. Over the three days we travelled some thirty
kilometres. However, the cattle drive began three weeks ago in Oodnadatta
which was at least 250 km away. Some of the riders and volunteers had
been on the drive for the full three weeks which was a fantastic effort.
On the second night, Kylie and I learned the hard way about how the Outback
weather conditions can quickly turn on you. After a full day in the saddle,
we laid out our swags on the plain and I remember grabbing a photo of
Kylie relaxing on the swag with the sun setting behind her. It was beautiful.
We then headed for the bar, leaving our clothes and belongings on top
of our opened swags. We knocked the tops off a few and reminisced about
the events of the day with the crew. As the night set in, without notice,
our camp was hit with a furious wind which sent things flying. The experienced
ones hardly blinked, but Kylie's and my gear was on it's way back to Oodnadatta!
I ran back to our swags, which were 50 metres away from where we had set
them up, tipped up side down and pushed up against a salt bush. I grabbed
what ever I could, fighting the wind at the same time. I managed to grab
most of our belongings and placed them behind the trailer which acted
as a wind block. It was so funny and a lesson well learnt.
After three days in the saddle, dust in our eyes and teeth, enjoying the
beautiful sunrises and sunsets, listening to outback poetry while enjoying
a hearty stew and meeting all the characters on the drive, we finally
arrived in William Creek. There was a sense of satisfaction and relief
as we pushed the cattle up to the yards. I can't imagine how those who
had been on the drive since the start felt. But for Kylie and me, we hadn't
been back to William Creek since my 28th birthday when we were on the
mail run tour. It was right then, as I sat on my horse pushing the mob
of cattle up to the yards, watching the tourist who lined the road clicking
away on their cameras. I thought to myself, how far we had come since
then, how much our life had changed. I felt a sense of pride, a sense
of achievement and I knew at this stage, this was the life for me.
.
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Protecting South
Australia's Fruit Industry, in the Far North
A quarantine fruit disposal bin has recently been installed adjacent
to the Marla Roadhouse. The placement of the bin is part of a large campaign
to keep South Australia free of Fruit Fly and other pests. In conjunction
with this, Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA), have
focussed on education and awareness to ensure that the quarantine bins
are used. PIRSA's community Liaison Officer Peter Morrison, recently accompanied
the manager of Early Detection and Response, David Heaven, in overseeing
the placement of the bin. The two men have strategically contacted and
met with key stakeholders to ensure that the community knows what the
bin means for them.
In placing the bin, PIRSA has also recognised that due to residents of
the far north's remoteness from shopping it is likely that people may
travel to Alice Springs to purchase fresh produce. People residing in
Mintabie, Marla, Coober Pedy, Oodnadatta and the surrounding station country
will be permitted to carry shop-purchased fruit and vegetables past the
quarantine bin to their normal residences. This is provided that they
also carry a valid itemised receipt for the produce. This produce must
not be carried on from these outlying communities towards the state's
horticultural districts.
This process recognises the fact that limited opportunities exist in the
far north of the state for the purchase of such produce. It also recognises
the fact that shop-purchased produce is certified free of pests and disease.
Historically South Australia has experienced an average of about four
Fruit Fly outbreaks each year. However over the past two years there have
only been single outbreaks. Quarantine bins and roadblocks are now strategically
placed at fourteen locations throughout the State. However, this is not
enough. David Heaven is seeking the cooperation of the state's residents
and visitors. 'We urge people to do the right thing and observe our quarantine
restrictions to protect our state resources. The approach that PIRSA has
taken involves pro-active education of the entire South Australian community
and visitors.
This year more than one million bookmarks will be posted out with Motor
Registration renewals. This initiative not only reaches most homes in
the state, it also provides a useful bookmark as on ongoing reminder of
the importance of quarantine. The ongoing community awareness campaign
includes the placement of posters on toilet doors across the Nullarbor
Plain, the wide distribution of leaflets and posters to tourist information
centres, tourism destinations and resorts both within the state and in
towns on our border approaches in other states. Additionally, bus and
train stations are included in the distribution process while detector
dog team operate at the Adelaide airport.
Freedom from fruit fly in South Australia allows producers access to markets
valued in excess of $250 million annually. To keep SA free of fruit fly
and other plant pests, it is important that quarantine restrictions on
the movement of fruit and vegetables are strictly observed. Section 13
of the Fruit and Plant Protection Act 1992, provides that an offence is
committed by persons who introduce *uncertified fruit and vegetables into
South Australia from other states. The penalty prescribed by this Section
is a maximum fine of $2,500. (*Certified produce is accompanied by a Plant
Health Certificate)"
INFORMATION FROM:
www.pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly
Fruit Flies
Fruit flies are the world's worst fruit pest. They appear on nearly every
continent and millions of dollars are spent annually on their control
and eradication. Fruit flies are important pests because they destroy
fruit and vegetables grown commercially and in home. Freedom from fruit
fly in South Australia allows producers access to world markets worth
millions of dollars.
The situation in Australia
More than 80 species of fruit fly are found in Australia.
Two of the most economically damaging species are:
o the native Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) in the eastern states
and Northern Territory;
o the introduced Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) in Western
Australia.
Fruit fly maggots hatch from eggs deposited in the fruit.The female fly
will lay her eggs in all cultivated fruits and some vegetables such as:
citrus-orange, mandarin, lime, grapefruit, lemon, cumquat;
pome-apple, pear, quince, crab-apple;
stone-peach, plum, apricot, nectarine, cherry;
tropical and temperate-avocado, banana, feijoa, fig, guava, loquat, mango,
olive, papaw, persimmon;
fruiting vegetables-capsicum, eggplant, tamarillo, tomato (including cherry
and tree tomatoes).
Many ornamental and native fruits are also attacked.
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Message with a
Healthy Beat
Aboriginal youth from Coober Pedy had the opportunity to tune in to their
health recently when they took part in a State-wide initiative to blend
health education with music. The health promotion, music project provides
young people with the opportunity to learn about hepatitis C and combine
this knowledge with song writing skills to produce a song promoting Hepatitis
C prevention. A compilation CD will be produced at the conclusion of the
project combining nine songs promoting messages about Hepatitis C, all
written and performed by indigenous youth across the state.
This project titled 'Tune into Your Health It's in Your Blood' is a collaborative
project between Nunkuwarrin Yunti, the Hepatitis C Council of SA and the
Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council and is supported locally by Indigenous
health, youth and education organisations.
Twenty-five young people participated in the Coober Pedy workshop held
at the Umoona Tjutagku Health Service and organised locally by Anne Vanajek
of Umoona Tjutagku Health and Rose Temple.
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus that is transmitted by blood to bloodstream
contact. It is estimated that there are more than 210,000 Australians
have hepatitis C with more than 12,000 South Australians already diagnosed.
Whilst large numbers of people are affected by hepatitis C there is a
lot of misinformation within communities. Project Officer, Micah Wenitong
said:
"This project has been very successful because it utilises the strength
of music as a universal language and builds on a tradition of knowledge
sharing that effectively speaks across communities and across a wide range
of age groups within communities".
For more information contact Garry Goldsmith at Nunkuwarrin Yunti on
Ph: 8100 1037 or Mob:0439 680 581
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BoArDeRs RuLe!
Have you ever wondered what it is like being a boarder? I have, and now
I know what it is like. I am a year 8 boarder at Pembroke School in Adelaide.
My name is Ruby Plate, a local from Oodnadatta for the past 11 years,
until last year. My parents told me one day that I was off to live in
Adelaide. Finally, that day arrived in February 2003. My brother, Jack,
and both sisters, Alice and Tilly had been through and finished at Pembroke.
I just hoped that I would be okay living in a completely different environment,
at a school with 1550 students, to that of Oodna country and an aboriginal
school with 30 students.
The first weeks are definitely the hardest part of boarding life. Arriving
to a new school, home and to new people takes courage. People think, "I
could never leave my parents to go away to School". I thought the
same thing, but to be straight forward- it has its advantages. At boarding
school, you get more shops, more friends, more excursions, more everything.
Pocket money included!
Individuality is definitely one thing you gain when boarding. You learn
to buy your own things, to socialise, and most importantly, to catch a
bus!
I have to say, catching my first bus in Adelaide was a funny story. For
one thing, I didn't have any Identification. The bus driver was grumpy
and rude.
"I.D?" He asked.
"Um, Pembroke student?" I replied.
"Stupid girl, what age?"
And so it went on. When I finally succeeded in getting my ticket, naturally,
being a country bumpkin, put it in the wrong way. The machine made a horrible
noise followed by beeps, and as I looked into the drivers mirror I saw
him smirking at me. I haven't liked those machines since.
Boarding can be hard too, though. Once a fight erupts in the 'BIG BH (boarding
house with 70 girls), it rumbles all the girls. Traditionally, girls take
it to heart. Boys, they just punch each other and its over. My advice:
beware of the senior girls.
Another downside would be homesickness. There isn't one boarder at this
school who hasn't suffered it. Homesickness usually happens at the beginning
of the year, and it usually affects girls more. Usually it's the younger
ones, so I, being a 2nd year, have to take the initiative to comfort them.
I can remember how being homesick feels- like hell. My very first week
was close to horrible, especially as I was one of the girls that were
farthest from home. All I could think about was Oodna, my parents, motorbikes,
and all our friends. Before long I realised that Oodnadatta was 1000 kilometres
away, and if I wanted to go back I would have to walk.
After a few weeks I adapted to the boarding timetable- getting up at 7,
eating at 7:30, walking to school at 8:00, school starts at 8:20 and finishes
at 3:25. There was sport after school, which in my case includes basketball,
cricket, athletics, swimming, soccer or hockey. There are so many things
to do at boarding school; you can never say, "im bored", because
there are so many options to choose from. For example, Girls-shopping.
Boys-movies.
The weekend is sport on Saturday, possible parties, and homework, going
out or going to friends. Do not ever call a boarder anti-social!
I am joined down south by some of my old classmates from Oodnadatta. Gregory
Lennon, 13, goes to Seaview in Pt Augusta, Ronald Lennon, 16, attends
Woodville High in Adelaide along with Pompey Stewart, 15. When I get back
up to Oodna for the 'hols', it's always relaxing to chat to my old friends
about school out of Oodna, how they are going, what they do on weekends
etc.
My hope is that my oldest and best friend Kiyana Jonas (or Narnie for
a nickname) can come to Adelaide for schooling, or even Pt Augusta.
Naturally, all boarders think the best part of the school term is leaving
for home. There's nothing better than stepping off that McCafferty coach
with a sore bottom, after 12 agonising hours eating, sleeping and, well,
sleeping.
My favourite part of coming home though, is seeing my family's faces light
up when I get off the bus. Its good to see them manage a smile at 5:00
am in the morning at the Coober Pedy Ampol Roadhouse! Every time we get
on the dirt track for Oodna, that track I have been on a million times,
I fall asleep, and wake to see my long-awaited home!
I recommend boarding to any teenager seeking independence and an experience
of the city life. As my own family comments regularly, I keep changing,
and I like that. Give it a go; boarding is truly something we teenagers
can succeed in. Boarding has been the most exciting, thrilling and hardest
thing I have ever done.
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Papers - back to
yesterday's news again
Those who like to read the newspaper on the day it was printed will have
been disappointed yet again. After short lived jubilation with the paper
finally arriving on the plane ; yet another setback. Again due to the
heat!
Heat affects fuel usage and thus the loaded weight of an aircraft is critical
this time of year. Unfortunately we are still waiting on a call from the
Chief Pilot at REX Airlines, so a more technical explanation was unavailable
at the time of going to press.
However the first casualty of the critical weight factor ( known as trimming
) is the freight, and unfortunately the freight that is first on the list
to be left behind is your newspaper.
Having contacted the Media Liasion Officer at REX who just happened to
have worked in the newspaper business in a previous job, and who also
is a country girl, we have been assured that investigations will take
place to see why this is happening. No promises, but at least someone
will look into it.
After much deliberation by the Advertiser the papers will be arriving
via bus again. This at least means they will be here in the morning seven
days a week.
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Coober Pedy News: A fortnightly
snapshot of the issues, news and events that shape daily life in
Coober Pedy.
The views in these
articles are not necessarily the views of Berryd Opals but are extracts
from the Coober Pedy Regional Times.
To talk to any of
the folks from The Coober Pedy Times, email to Coober Pedy Times cptimes@ozemail.com.au
We update this page once a Fortnight
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