Katherine

From Pussycat Flats at Pine Creek, we made our way to a Big 4 CP, in search of children and swimming pools. It was only about 100km, so we didn’t bother packing Baby Bertha away. Instead I drove with Lexie for company and we had THE MOST intense conversation the entire way there. “Why haven’t I learnt about Aboriginals before now, and why isn’t the whole of Australia Aboriginal land, Mummy?” This led to a discussion on:

•     ownership of land by individual vs ownership by communities
•     aboriginal land rights and governments of the past
•     white settlement and its impact on aboriginal communities on the East coast
•     educational funding and how lucky the children are with their wonderful school which offers so many opportunities
•     stereotypes and generalisations
•     poverty and its impact on families
•     addiction and its impact on families
•     government housing
•     refugees
•     ESL and its impact on education
•     political parties and social responsibility
•     big business and taxation 

At the end of which, Lexie said “That’s not fair mummy. Every child should have equal opportunities for a good education. If their parents can’t pay the extra money to their schools, then the government should” !!!! OMG!!! An 11 year old just came up with the Gonski review recommendations after a mere one hour of discussion. How hard can it be, politicians???!

We got to Katherine and I staggered out of the car, thoroughly exhausted and ready for a good lie down. Though quite impressed with Lexie and invigorated by the conversation at the same time...

Katherine was a lovely little stop over. We checked out the Gorge in Nitmiluk, and took the 2 gorge cruise, though we are so late into the dry season, it was only a 1½ gorge cruise. Still lovely all the same!

We LOVED the thermal springs and went back a few times. Perfect temperatures and a little natural waterslidey waterfall – it was sooo peaceful. Bliss. I lay there floating and the currents just swirled me into the waterfall spray and out, around in a circle and back again. Endless bliss. Even better, my ears were under the water and I couldn’t even hear the kids! Muffled endless bliss!

By far the best bit at Katherine was our Top Didg Cultural Experience. The whole family spent a morning with Manuel and he taught us all about his family, his ways and his connection with the land. We were inducted into his family and became members of the Dalabon. We got to make an artwork according to Dalabon traditions, which are (yippee) linear and must include 4 parallel white lines in their patterns. Not 3 or 5, as they are other groups. Note how selfish Mummy is too focused on her own artwork to help the children? Lucky Dunc was there...  And my poor little kangaroo is rather deformed. I am hopelessly out of practice – too much time spent blogging and not drawing!

Manuel was a wonderful teacher and guide. In addition to the artwork, we got to try firelighting using two sticks. It’s not at all like I expected. I thought you would add grass or moss to where the friction is, but in fact this way, you create a little ember which you plop onto grass and blow into a fire. Neither the children nor I could do it, nor could the other couple with us, though Lexie got close. But Super Dunc could! Yippee! We will not go cold afterall.

Then we went hunting! There was a lovely still (cardboard) kangaroo and we got to experience throwing a spear with the aid of a woomera. This time Super Dunc missed the target, but Mini Dunc got the kill! Angus hit the roo square in the testicles, so we are pretty sure it would have been down for the count! So between the two of them, we have food and fire. And Lexie can weave us a basket to keep them in. Phew.

We finished our time with some cuddles with the orphaned joeys (no killing and eating anything with a name there) and purchasing one of Manuel’s artworks. Dunc chose a barramundi since it was the only way he was likely to catch one up here!

We finished our time in Katherine with our second bout of headlice - argh!! I'm fairly sure that he picked them up from some kids in Darwin and those NT bugs are HUGE! I was sick of combing Angus' head and decided to give him the big chop. It was sooooo much easier to treat him after that.