Minyerri

Wow, what a ride in and what a place! We loved our first NT community visit and workshop. Thanks to the Minyerri people for making us feel so welcome and for being so enthusiastic about our workshops.
Driving in was terrific. We bought last supplies at Katherine, drove south to Maturanka and headed east. Minyerri is 470 km south East of Darwin. The journey to Minyerri by road passes through some of the most popular tourist icons - parks and pools. Travelling 270K from Darwin along the Stuart Highway to Katherine and then 100 K to Maturanka, the journey turns east for 110 Km along the Roper Highway to the Minyerri turnoff. Then down a red dirt road for a last 35 km to a small community of 400 people, 35 houses, community buildings, a school a shop, a council office and some Govt buildings.


After arriving in the community, we printed some posters, put them on the side of the van and then drive around the community. I felt like we had a Mr Whippy van. People came up to see what we were doing. It was a great way to encourage people to attend our workshops. Managed to geta great sunset in too. Wet season build up creates great skies.

Minyerri Alawa Corporation Headquarter and training room

The workshops were a hoot. We had up to 30 people in the room at a time and lots of families doing jobs together. It was a great learning environment. It's hard to capture the excitement in words or pictures. After such a great start to the NT projects, we can't wait for the new year and the next set of workshops including the next few visits to Minyerri.



We drove back after 4 days through a huge storm to arrive at Marg and John's for another curry night. Love their hospitality.

Hope everyone has a great Christmas and we will have much to share next year.

On the way to Minyerri

Home for the next week - we got another one from Darwin - have to buy one of these things.

Saturday night and all is well. Actually I find it hard to believe we are at Katherine George camping on the edge of the river and with the Next G modem, we have full Internet access. I am still astounded. Well, we have had a lovely time the last couple of days travelling south out of Darwin.

It is incredibly hot, though it was only 35 degrees in the shade when it was still morning. It was/is very humid where swimming and showering don't cool you down. Even so, you still do it, hoping to feel better. I have not experienced this level of NT heat and do respect it is only the second week of Summer. Paul thinks it is wonderful and Normal, though his head is hurting - long story, some of you know....

I discovered NT flies today - need to wear sunglasses to keep them out of your eyes. I found immersing in water from the neck down helps.


These are my new teevers - and for Sue's benefit, they are pretty rugged sandles that survive extreme wet and dust. I love em, especially cause they let my old ankles have some flexibility when walking up creek beds and rocks but keep them secure enough so my ankles don't give way. It's too hot to wear joggers or sandshoes, so teevers it has to be for the next few months and I don't care that Brooke thinks they are ugly.


Our first walk was at Robin Falls which was only a K walk, but in this heat, that is an achievement. It was wonderful and I reckon it is wetting our appetite for a long stay at the end of this project.



At Pine Creek there is some remnants of Gold mining ( and some active mines). As this is my first visit to the more remote areas of NT, I am beginning to love the contrast between red dirt, wonderful rocky escarpments and water. Paul is just revelling in returning to this country while I discover.



This is an amazing swimming hole just north of Katherine. We just jumped in. The water was tepid but nice just the same. Paul had a critter bit him on the leg, which kept him wary. It was a nice place to occupy one's self while getting ready for the Minyerri leg.



We have arrived at Katherine George and our goal after a hot day was to have a swim, and have a wine and cheese. However, a young male Kangaroo wanted some bikkies and cheese too. He came right into our camp and made himself at home.

Well, we have settled into the night and hope to keep this blog alive in the next few days. There is only satellite access in Minyerri and we will only have workshop hours ( if the rain does not happen).

All is well with us, Hope all is good with all of you.

Darwin Fact finding mission

Well, here we go again. We have won another BIA contract, this time in NT- new territory for us, but backed with the Qld experience, we have a wealth of stories, samples, and ideas to really do a good job.

We have made it to Darwin, working hard to build our training plan, so we can hit the road south to Minyerri, our first community. We have been meeting with regional agents, Indigenous Coordination centres, Government Business managers, and anyone who will listen. Once the network in Darwin kicks in, you get to meet tons of related people keen to help. This led to Paul getting a trip over to the Tiwi Islands to meet local people and check out the training centres and programs and Michelle talking to the ICCs about chances to get a hold of computers for communities we visit.

We are staying at Marg and John's, enjoying spoiling Ethel the dog, dipping in the pool, drinking wine with ice in and enjoying great dinners. Been also fun catching up with Steve and talking about possibilities to work together on IT Literacy projects for the community housing rollouts. There is synergy a-happening.

We are shopping for the trip south and dodging the storms and showers. Already Paul is talking about Pelican cases.

We have not been in photo mode yet. Tomorrow. I am really looking forward to driving south, never been there.

It is 40 degrees each day, so we have learned how to sweat. More later as we tell you about lands on the way to Minyerri.