Mybalgohome

The year is going so quick.  We are already finished half the year.  Still so much to do in my classroom. To celebrate NAIDOC week, the church Elders had a smoking ceremony Everyone at church had to walk through the smoke and wave it into their faces. Jeff and I heading out of community for 2 weeks in Darwin. When you drive down the Tanami you couldn't miss this turn off.!! When leaving community, I always look forward to some hot chips in Halls Creek. We spent a couple of nights in Kununurra before flying to Darwin.  It was a 7 hour drive to Kununurra from Balgo. NAIDOC week celebrations were kicked off with a march through the town.  We joined the march and listened to a lovely talk by a local Elder. After we flew to Darwin we headed to Kakadu.  We took a boat ride down the Adelaide River to see the Jumping Crocs.  They certainly put on a show for us. We headed to Cooinda in Kakadu and did the Yellow Waters tour.

In preparation for our trip to the pound, Jeff bought 2 kangaroo tails.  These sit in the fridge section in the supermarket!!! Before you can eat kangaroo (Marlu) tail you have to singe it in the fire.  As you can see by the photo, Jeff is scraping off the singed bit and taking the fur with it.  This process took about 20 minutes with Andrea his 'coach' sitting to his right. After the kangaroo tails are de-furred they are wrapped in foil and put in a hole.  The tails are covered in hot coals and left for about an hour to cook.  In the old days the locals didn't use foil..... Cutting up the tail into 20 cm pieces to share around our very large group.  No....I didn't taste it, much to everyone's pleading.  Contrary to popular opinion vegetarians don't eat kangaroo tails!!!. While the kangaroo tails were being cooked, Magda made the damper.  She enlisted my help to make some of them as well as cut them ready for butter and honey......so yummy!

Gary, a local artist has designed a car bonnet for each AFL team.  They were intended to be ready for 'Dreamtime at the G' but they were not finished in time.  The artists have done such a great job.....sooooo many dots!!!! Here are all 18 of the car bonnets.  The Bombers supporters were keen for a photo At church each week some of my kids come and sit with me.  Bessy and Classio were there this week. The mail plane comes in every Wednesday.  There is always great excitement after school Wednesday when we check what has arrived.  This plane also brings passengers.  My friend from Geelong, Sue came in on this plane, so mail day was certainly exciting for me. These are the signs at the airport as you enter Balgo. Excursions Balgo style!!!!  This is a Black Headed Python which is Palya (Good) Mungarri (food) for the locals.  This snake was very lucky as it was too skinny.  They let it live another day. Our excursion was to 'Old Balgo"