Trips out on country

My class headed out to the desert just behind my house to walk along the dry creek.  We do Culture each Monday afternoon and this term we are looking at Strong Spirit.  The children love to walk around the desert where they feel at home in their bare feet.  Here they are showing the sap they collected from some of the dry shrubs.  It is like a mine field though, with the spinifex which is reeeeallllyyyy spikey!. In language they call the sap Murdiwah.  They take it home and add water and sugar.  It can also be added to eucalyptus leaves and hot water as a vapour to help with a head cold.

The kids found part of an old motor bike and had a bit of fun. 

Having a 'selfie' outside the church.  The children are sitting on the old alter, that was used before the church was constructed.  We had a mass for the Assentation of Mary

I went out with 3 of the local ladies to help with their craft work.  They like to make seed necklaces and bracelets.  Here Cathy is putting the colourful seed in a depression in a piece of wood.  A sharpened piece of wire is heated to red hot and then used to put a hole through the seed.

Of course cooking kangaroo tails is a given when we head out to country. Don't worry, there are not kangaroos hopping around with no tails.....these tails are sold in the shop.

In this picture Paula is showing me how its done....and it is harder than it looks.  The seed is very small and often round and shiny, so the wire slips when you put it on. I really enjoyed the day and am looking forward to our next outing.

I brought scones, jam and cream out with me and the ladies were very happy.  It was a new experience for them.

Here is one of the necklaces that the ladies make.  I bought this one and love it.

The seeds are so colourful. They have asked me to look around Bendigo to see if I can find some different ones.

We are in the Cultural centre which holds all the history of Balgo.  Cathy is reading the Luurnpa story to the children, which is their Balgo story.  Our school is called Luurnpa, which is a Kingfisher.

Cathy is showing the old seed necklaces.  These necklaces are strung with human hair that was made into a string.

Out for a walk this week....red dirt and blue sky is my new normal!!!

This week we have hosted a sports carnival.  Many of the small communities have a sports carnival at some time in the year.  It goes for 4-5 days and they play football and basketball.  This is the Balgo Eagles team.  We have a second team called the Luurnpa Bombers.

They are hard fought games where a cloud of dust follows the play.  Most players wore football boots, but there were some in bare feet and others in just socks.  The skills were amazing....great to watch.

The girls were eating a blue lolly and enjoyed being Blue Tongues!!!  

The mail comes in every Wednesday and its like Christmas each week.  We are all so excited at the possibility of a 'care' pack in our pigeon hole!  Last week, Jeff sent me some essentials!!!  I needed pine nuts, so Jeff added a few yummy surprises.  Buying chocolate or lollies is only for millionaires here in Balgo!!  Dieting is not so hard up here!!

Last week we made scones.  The kids have never had a scone and cream.

A very sad funeral on our school basketball court.  This young girl was only 15 when she took her life.  Our community is hurting after 3 suicides.  Everyone knows everyone else so the sadness goes deep.

The children line up after Mungarri (lunch break) and before school.

I snuck in another sunset!!