Never a dull moment in paradise

HOLY COMMUNION

The year 5's did their Holy Communion in our beautiful church

               

ATHLETICS SPORTS DAY

My grade sitting on the Luurnpa School sign out the front of the school.

The kids were waiting for the foot races.  We did all of the field events first and then went to the oval to run the races.

I was able to resurrect the high jump from the shed which was lots of fun for the kids.  We borrowed shot puts and discus' from an aboriginal sporting group.  We even borrowed javelins as we couldn't find any good spears!!!

I organised all of the sports days and am very happy when they are over and everyone has had a good time.  The hurdles were fun with lengths of wood sitting on chairs.  The kids could go under or over them.

The secondary's running their 100 or so metre race.  A mixture of footwear was being worn, from bare feet to socks!!

Bead Necklace

This very old seed necklace is threaded with human hair.  The locals still make these but

they now use elastic.  I have had the experience of burning the holes in the seeds which was a lot

of fun.  You get a sharp piece of wire and heat it in the fire and then push it through the seed, which sounds a lot easier than it is as the wire cools very quickly and it takes 3 or 4 goes before you get through the seed.

SIMPLY JUST CUTE KIDS!!

Kamus just looking handsome.  I just love their smiles!

Kim Kim is looking happy with his new school shirt.  The kids look great in their new school  shirts.

School is also a very good place to sleep

Many children come to school very tired.  There is always a lot going on at night in community and also each house has a lot of occupants so the result is tired children  almost every day.  On this day little Andy wouldn't settle in the classroom so I sent him to have a sleep in our 'Stronger and Smarter room'

AROUND COMMUNITY

Jeff and I were visiting a family and he found a cows lower leg with hoof still attached.  This is not uncommon around community as many locals hunt and kill  'killers'. 

This dog was camera shy but he was tucking into this very unappetising leg when we arrived!!

Every now and again this forklift takes car wrecks to the tip where locals quickly torch them.  It is such a shame as they could be used for parts.  So many houses have dead cars in their yards or on the street.  Not many have windows or undented panels!!

Jeff is sitting outside the shop.  It is always a fun place to visit as we are getting to know a lot of the locals and its a great meeting place.  Lots of medical appointments, planning bush trips and parent teaching interviews are conducted on these seats!!

The dreaded Covid Test.  Jeff woke one morning with a bit of a cold.  Of course we have not been out of WA so there was not much chance of him having it.  However, as Jeff works in the clinic he had to be tested.

 Amy (my classroom volunteer) and I are in the waiting room at the clinic with Patricia.  We had to take Patricia to the doctor to get her sores seen to.  I patch up a lot of them in the classroom but sometimes it needs more than a wash, a band aid and a kiss better!!!

25 KILOMETRES OUT INTO THE POUND

One Sunday afternoon Jeff and I went out to the pound with some of the clinic staff.  Rob, the clinic maintenance man has a special place he always goes to.

We found just the rock for afternoon tea as the sun was going down

Every picture is a post card.

OUT ON COUNTRY WITH SOME OF OUR LOVELY LADIES

Sadie, Imelda, Eva and Helen enjoy getting out in their country.  Many locals don't have cars so love to be taken out to cook up their kangaroo tails (in the foil) and hunt snake, frogs, lizards and to dig up bush potatoes.

The damper is cooking on the coals which are sitting over the 4 kangaroo tails.

SCHOOL TRIP TO SOME IMPORTANT SITES.

We are collecting berries which were very nice.  Unfortunately this plant sat on the cliff top and it was impossible to get to most of the berries.

Carlos found a grasshopper.

A KUNUNURRA GET AWAY

We went to the outdoor cinema.  You can sit in your car or on the grass, almost like the old drive in's but without the speaker in the window.

One of the many dry creeks we passed between Balgo and Kununurra which is 7 hours.  We are hoping for some rain this wet season (but not too much!).

This little guy was in a dry gorge just out of Halls Creek.  We were so surprised to see him.

A SCHOOL BUSH TRIP

The kids love to climb all over the cars so I thought it would make a good picture. We are out at the lookout.

We visited the 'Jesus Cave' .  This picture shows the alter in the cave.  I have had pictures of the Jesus Cave in other blogs.

My class minus a couple.

They are from left Juan, Andy, Nuala, Geneva, Patricia, Carlos and Kamus

A VISIT TO THE SANDHILLS (WALAJINKI) WITH THE SECONDARY KIDS.

Why should the kids have all the fun!

The kids love coming here and it is only about 20 minutes away from school on a very very bumpy corrugated dirt road.

The sandhills are very steep.  Its 2 steps forward and one backwards.  On my way up I got a nice surprise when Alexandrea ran down and help drag me up to the top.

Boys being boys!

GOODBYE NICK.... Nick was the art centre manager for 3 years.

The locals did a smoking ceremony to farewell Nick.  They also do a blessing where they touch your heart and head.

About 10 of the painters did a joint effort to give Nick a special surprise.  Each of the painters

have a unique style, many quite famous in the Indigenous artworld such as Helicopter (the one with the

big white beard)!

One of our artists called Tossy often paints pictures that include the iconic troopys that we all drive around in.   This particular piece was painted after our trip to Lake Gregory to be muddied (June 28th blog.)  At the top of the picture we are all black with mud.  In the bottom of the picture above the cars there are l0 pink people sitting with 5 black ones. This is shown by U's. One of the troopy's is our car, we took 7 in all.

wwwbalgoart.org.au   ..... visit this website to see some beautiful artwork.

Craft with Ms Michelle!

Another craft activity where you just wind wool around a shape.  I made this as an example for the children but obviously went way too hard!!!  The kids did a good job considering how long it took.  My lizard only lasted a couple of days before one of the children pulled it apart in anger 😠

We painted leaves in class and of course I had to do one as well.  It is very relaxing and the art material is very cheap........ millions of leaves in the school ground and at home.

THE BEAUTIFUL WILDFLOWERS OF BALGO