A weekend out on station...

So, a weekend camping at an outstation...

Our key stakeholder is the CEO (and part of the traditional land owners for the Aurukun area.  He is a man with lots and lots of demands on his time, we've been trying to catch up with him for around a week.  Bruce is a young local guy, who's Mum lives here, and Dad is a European guy now living in Canberra.  He's really leading some changes for the local people, economy, culture, environment - the lot really.

So, getting time with him is a bit "get in line".  He finally got back to country late on Friday and has Turtle Camp happening with his Ranger team, so went straight out there.  Hence we had the option to have our meeting out bush, so we jumped at the chance. 

Saturday we were ready early, and waited on rangers to pick us up for the boat ride out to our meeting point.  From there, a pick up and some serious outback 4WD to Emu Foot - one of the outstations.   We had a total of about 15 people out there, sleeping in tents, in swags in the open and all needing food.  The rangers found a wild boar, which was then slaughtered and bits thrown onto the barbie (rest given to a local family in town).  It was a pretty tough old piggie...

You may ask about amenities, at the outstation there was an old water tank and a tap with running water - luxury.  No toilet, no shower.  Nice.

Sunday we packed up camp and headed off to the Love River. There was lots of fishing going on, some serious catfish were caught using crabs from shells on shore, and there are natural oysters everywhere.  I didn't partake of those, but Daniel had a go at the slimy grey slugs!!! Ughhhh.

Quiet arvo yesterday waiting for the rangers to set a few fires (clearing land for wet season) however they were not able to make it through fires to get to our camp, so we just settled in for the evening and all met back in Aurukun today.  There was some slight concern around salt water crocs - yep - so I was sure all night I could here them creeping up on my tent.  They were there!!!!!! :-)

We managed to get some really good time with Bruce (APN project) today and we have heaps of work to get done.

All the stuff from last week is coming through to, so it's action stations.  And more people to meet yet.

Enjoying being part of a totally different culture.  It's like being in a different country, everyone speaking a different language, eating different foods, in a different way.   It's pretty cool.

Will add some photos.

Appow