BAYULU - No 1
Greetings from Fitzroy Crossing in WA.
Recently we received a call from a friend of a friend in Broome who does recruiting for remote indigenous communities in the Kimberleys, WA. He was looking for a relief store manger at Bayulu Community near Fitzroy Crossing - and ASAP, as the current manger had just experienced a death in their immediate family. It was decided that Bryan would go to WA and Nancy would stay in Maleny.
Recently we received a call from a friend of a friend in Broome who does recruiting for remote indigenous communities in the Kimberleys, WA. He was looking for a relief store manger at Bayulu Community near Fitzroy Crossing - and ASAP, as the current manger had just experienced a death in their immediate family. It was decided that Bryan would go to WA and Nancy would stay in Maleny.
As there were no direct flights from Brisbane to Broome Bryan had to travel via Sydney. A combination of the kind weather and the flight path into Sydney provided a great view of the Sydney CBD and the harbour.
The flight from Sydney to Broome took us over Lake Eyre - which currently has water flowing into it as a result of the recent above average wet season in north Queensland.
A little further on the passengers seated on the left side of the aircraft got a great view of the Uluru and Katatjuta. I missed that sight.
Coming into Broome and looking north - under the wing is the Indian Ocean, the famous Cable Beach, the town of Broome with Roebuck Bay to the right.
Just before landing to the east we crossed over the southern end of Cable Beach.
I had to overnight in Broome before catching a ride with another remote store manager who was driving through Fitzroy Crossing. That evening there was a community event down on the town beach which I attended. Students and other groups from Broome put on a performance highlighting the rapid decline of migratory shore birds, particularly the Eastern Curlew. This performance was conducted after dark and featured large, lit puppets with song and music. The tide had gone out providing a fitting stage. After the performance there was some urgency in packing up all the gear before the incoming tide arrived.
Did you know that the Eastern Curlew breeds in Siberia each year before returning to Australia. They can fly many thousands of kilometres, non-stop day and night over oceans and arrive accurately at their intended destination. They can't swim so if they do get tired and fall into the sea it is 'game over'. They have to flap their wings all the way as they can't glide like albatross's. Before setting out on this journey they increase their body weight by double to fuel their journey.
Loss of habitat from Siberia through Asia to Australia combined with the threat from foxes, dogs and other feral animals have caused the population of these birds to drop by 80% in just 30 years.
The next day we drove the 400 odd kms east to Fitzroy Crossing. This part of Australia has had a very poor wet season and they are just now entering the dry season. What a stark contrast to wet old Maleny!!
Kirsty is one of the two Indigenous staff at Bayulu Store. Her husband Martin jumped into the photo. More about the store and community next blog.
Sunday afternoon I took a drive out to Geikie Gorge. The gorge is located where the Fitzroy River cuts through some limestone country. The Fitzroy river in major flood can be over 13 metres deep and 15 kms wide with an estimated flow rate of 30,000 cubic metres a second, making the largest river in Australia. At the moment there is barely a trickle.
Anyway, I must close and post this blog. Cheers for now. Bryan
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