Photos: Day 5

 

At last, Tijimbat t-shirt painting.

Taking the time to do it right.

 Just because we love a GoPro shot.

 Hung out to dry.

 

Minyerri - where the sun meets the stars.

Amy: The First Week Went Fast.

Due to a change in facilities, the Teachabout program is running a bit differently this season. We are running a Teachabout Jnr. session in the morning on the community basketball court and then running a session for older kids in the afternoon on/around the oval.

On Wednesday morning we made pom pom creatures, it was challenging but a lot of fun. The afternoon was filled with games of O, 5, 10 and shared writing sessions.

On Thursday morning the kids had a great time painting self portraits and other pictures, they painted so many that we ran out of room on our drying rack and the ALs were left holding pictures while trying to control the mass of kids and paints at their feet. After a lengthly clean-up session involving the kids and the basketball court we headed to Renyan for the afternoon. The older kids went for a swim and had a great time learning how to use the new GoPro camera.

We had a relaxing friday; loom bands and soccer on the oval.

On Saturday we spent 12 hours going for our weekly shop. We headed to Katherine early to pick up the last of our team, Kevin. After stopping for a Mataranka pie we headed an hour and a half up the road to Woolworths. The shop took a couple of hours and attracted a lot of attention, apparently 3 weeks of food for 6 people is something not seen in Katherine very often. We went back via Mataranka to get Kevin a pie, then back into Minyerri for a well deserved rest.

Tara and Jesse demonstrating how long our receipt was. 

On Sunday I wanted to catch a fish. Robin offered to take us out to Minamia, which I was very excited about because it was my favourite place we visited last dry season. On the way, we realised Jesse had forgotten the prawns which we were to use for bait. Robin said not to worry because we could pick up some bait on the way. When we pulled into Minamia we saw trees full of flying foxes. Robin showed the boys how to use freshly cut branches to knock out the flying foxes. Robin eventually hit one at the top of the tree. The only way to get it down was to cut down the tree which Tom excitedly agreed to help out with. Once we had the flying fox, Robin taught us all how to tie a hook on to a line properly and we used the red meat from the flying fox for bait.

Tom and Robin chopping down the tree.

Fishing attempt 1: we all found a place along the river to put in our lines. After fishing for an hour, with a brief pause to lose my bait to a tree we went back in the troopie to go up the river a bit further. No fish. Fishing attempt 2: when we arrived at Flat Rock we put our lines in along the river and waited again. Eventually we decided to take a swimming break at my favourite swimming hole. No fish.

Tom and Jesse jumping in for a swim.

Fishing attempt 3: while the others swam I headed up further on Flat Rock and put my line in to a number of pools. No fish. Fishing attempt 4: we headed back to the site of attempt 2 and had another go. No fish.

Minamia.

Fishing attempt 4.

Fishing attempt 5: after a quick snack and a nap for some we tried once more along the river.
Needless to say, I didn't catch a fish today.. luckily we will be heading out somewhere else next weekend to try again.

Photos: Day 4

 Estherlita and her loom bands.

 We had 3 planes in Minyerri today, this photo was taken by Savannah. 

Tarlena's photo of Ishriah flipping.

Tarlena hanging around at the oval.

Photos: Day 3

 Trying out the new GoPro at Renyan.

It even takes pictures underwater!

 Tom took our photo from the water. 

And Tyrone took his photo from the rock.

Estherlita's photo of the drive home. 

Photos: Day 2

Making our Pom Pom Creatures.

 The eventual pile of Pom Pom Creatures.

Playing a game of soccer on the very green grass.

Jesse and Javin reading a story written and illustrated during the Wet Season Program.

Tom: Arrival in Minyerri

 Hello again, this time from Minyerri!

On Monday morning we drove south from Katherine on the Stuart Highway, stopped in Mataranka, and then headed east along the Roper Highway towards Minyerri. Once we arrived we had a walk down to the billabong, from which the community takes its name, and had a chat with Micheala – one of Teachabout’s oldest friends. We then headed back to our home away from home and settled in for a delicious chicken curry.

On Tuesday we woke up and headed to the community basketball court to meet some of the kids and join in with the after school program which runs twice a day during the holidays here. After an hour or so mucking about we left the kids for the heat of the day and chilled out with some lunch.

In the afternoon the Teachabout team headed up to the oval, which has a new covering of green grass, and had a kick of the footy and a soccer ball. However, before long I was left alone with only Tyrone because the real fun was being had under the tree with Phoebe, Jesse and Tara reading the stories that past Teachabout programs had written and published! A great display of how keen these kids are to show off their reading skills as well as kicking the footy!

Having just watched a beautiful sunset I am feeling more and more comfortable and more and more excited about working with the kids over the next few weeks. Minyerri is a beautiful community and I can’t wait to learn more from the wonderful people who live here.

On the Road: Sunrise to Sunset

Tom and Tara watch the sun rise in Darwin.

Beautiful sunrise.

Amy enjoying the sunset at Katherine Gorge.

Katherine Gorge.

If you look closely...bats!

Tara: Annnnd we're here!

Annnnd we’re here! The Teachabout mob arrived in one’s and two’s on Thursday afternoon and in the early hours on Friday morning.

Our time in Darwin started off a little rocky; we came across various stumbling blocks on Friday, with the team needing to pull out all stops to ensure we delivered a successful program. We finished Friday on a positive note however with Program preparation in full swing, a group walk/run and some dinner in a Asian Fusion Jazz Bar (with eclectic art choices) near our accommodation. We are really excited to be arriving in Minyerri on Monday.

The view during our run on the beach was pretty spectacular:

Saturday was spent buying all of the resources needed for the program. This involved trips to Bunnings, Spotlight, Jaycar, an art store, a music store, Big W, Kathmandu, two-dollar shops, op shops, sports stores, JB Hifi, pharmacies and Woolworths. Needless to say we are all pretty over shopping and shopping centres. Here is just a small portion of our purchases:

Then came the sorting of purchases into a logical place in numerous boxes and bags, and the never-ending recording of receipts!

Tonight we are looking forward to vegan burritos and having a look around Darwin. We leave for Katherine tomorrow, where we will stay overnight before we drive into Minyerri on Monday. Stay tuned and thanks to everyone for the support we have received from back home so far!

This is Tom eating a bowl of Mexican tofu….We told him it was chicken…..