More Natural delights, Visitors, Outings & Work

Dear All,

It is a bit hard fitting a blog into this week which has been quite full. It was a teaching week and I had those 10 students from 3 Communities. There were supposed to be 17 students but 1 group of 4 didn't eventuate, a group of 7 reduced to 5, one of 2 reduced to 2 and so there were 10. ( I was told, this was 'normal'). As a result we had one class - not two - and my colleague in this area of theology and I agreed to do some team teaching (which meant taking different days). She was to take Wednesday, whcih was just as well because I came down with one of those tummy wogs that day and was confined to quarters - not crash hot at all. Thursday I staggered out and tried work again - my colleague took pity on me and did that day, and I came good and was OK then and taught again on Friday. So I did 3 days and she did 2. I'll put in a couple of pictures of 2 groups of them outside preparing role plays, and also a picture of our univited but very welcome 'guest' on the property - a dear little rabbit which crouched under some bushes near the entrance and was obviously a pet. Some people gave him/her suitable tit-bits of apple/carrot etc. He vanished later in the week - hopefully to 'home', but who knows! By the way - I think I saw one of the baby birds last week with two adults - the one which I assumed was the baby was a bit smaller and less skilful at getting around in the tree. Perhaps the 2nd youngster was around too - it was hard to see amongst the leaves.

You can see from the photos how comfortable many Aboriginal women are with sitting on the ground - I would never be able to move at all after sitting for half an hour like that! Even if I could get into that position and be comfortable at all! They are very flexible and graceful.

The other group mostly chose chairs, although one still chose the ground. They all covered their course well.

We had more visitors last week - one a Sister from another Congregation from on her way south via the Ghan after attending an Aboriginal Cultural Festival up in Arnhem Land (which she said was marvellous - she joined a party going there to learn about Aboriginal culture) and then, on Friday morning (very early!) my friend Carmel from Melbourne, came up for the weekend. [There some departures too with a Leaders' Meeting in Sydney this weekend and a Sister from Wadeye waiting 'in town' for their gentle dog, Socks, to recover from a pellet he received from an irate resident who was past his tolerance level for the mayhem created by every dog inthe town setting out in hot pursuit of any big pig which prowled about at night, waking everyone nearby from sleep! Socks was an unfortunate victim and ended up having to have surgery and recuperation in Darwin! He was a gentle soul and seemed to have recovered well, so I hope he lives for a long time yet.]

Carmel & I header off to Parap Market today (no photos allowed - notice at entrance!) and it was very interesting with lots of jewelery and clothing and leather and wood and 'New Age' accoutrements! The food stalls were varied and excellent and well patronised. The fresh-cooked crepes seemed to be very popular and I asked one recipient if they were good and she was VERY enthusiastic! But we settled for freshly-squeezed containers of juice. One chap was selling magic tricks and some of them were amazing - quite a crowd (including us) were standing there agape, but at $50 a pop, you would have to be keen.

From there we headed to Litchfield Park which was a good move - very enjoyable. We went through Batchelor and I was very interested because Batchelor College is a Tertiary College for Aboriginal Students. I never realised before just how far outside Darwin it was - must have been 100 k (I haven't checked) and it is quite a big complex. I just took a couple of photos and was interested to see the visual similarities to Nunglinya complex - identical fencing and some buildings a bit similar. Here are just a couple of photos - one really incidental, but interesting.

The first big sign was beside the turn off to Batchelor, along the Stuart Highway. Enlarge it and you can see a bit of info about Litchfield. It looked a bit like one of those travelling trucks which advertise things and had the same pictures and messages on 3 (I think) sides.

The second picture shows a building inside the fence of Batchelor Colege which had art works on the walls. Outside the fence was the explanatory sign about it, which you should be able to enlarge and read.

I drove to the Entrance to Batchelor Institute and took a photo of that (see No. 1 below) and then we headed out onto the road to Litchfield. We didn't get far before stopping to inspect a most surprising sight! - A miniature Castle in a Park. Carmel took photos for her 6-year-old neice and I took photos too. As well as Carmel 'appearing' out of the bush to 'show me' the castle (centre below) you will see the account of how the structure and park came about in Batchelor Town. .

Then we headed off the Litchfield Park proper - had a sandwich and coffee at a Carvan Park and looked at maps there. Decided to go onto the turnoff to Florence Falls about 27 km further along. On the way we stopped at the Termite mounds:

1. These were strange and flat (like large tombstones!)

2. I hope you can read some of this - it might be too blurry, but you'll get some headings at least.

Finally, a couple of pictures of a [3. Buley Rock Pool on the side road to Florence Falls, and [1.Florence Falls themselves. [2. Carmel had her togs with her and had a wonderful swim. I sat on a rock below - with many other people waiting for swimmers - and put my feet into the delicious water and chatted to others. Very pleasant - lovely temperature and atmosphere.

On the way down the 135 steps (notices warning people about the number) there were two cute little Rock Wallabies just beside the steps and I was able to get a nice photo. The one furtherest from the camera was possibly a youngster, and kept 'wagging' its tail! Couldn't show that, but showed the tail anyway.

I'll be in touch again. We will go to Nightcliff Markets after 9.30 am Mass this morning, as Sr Jo says they are worth visiting.

Love from Rita