DIARY OF AN AUSSIE WOMBAT

LEINSTER CAMP - A MINING VILLAGE OWNED AND RUN BY BHP BILLITON

We arrived at Leinster after a stop over at Coolgardie and spent two nights here. We did some shopping and a lot of walking... Dad told mum that the laundry was free!.. so naturally, mum went through ALL the clothes and the linen and washed and dried everything about three times... or so mum reckons... LOL.

We went through the main shopping centre and everyone wore the fluro shirts and work pants with the hi visibility trousers complete with steel cap boots. BHP really does own and run this town. Dad read somewhere that the mine was going to be shut down in October 2013, but the mine was still running although there was a small miner's accommodation next to the caravan park that was empty... perhaps those miners were the ones that lost their jobs here. On reflection, to lose ones' job here may have been the safest thing for those miners, considering a constant reminder here that many miners lost their lives in tragic accidents. Mum cried... 'they were all so young... ' (mum always cries at these memorials).

We saw the ANZAC memorial too, and spent a bit of time looking at it and remembering those who have given their own lives so we can live in a great country and in peace. We also made time to remember Fred... a very special person that we love and miss a lot.

Not many photos as there really wasn't all that much to see, but there was a great mural on the entrance to the caravan park with the word TAMARRALI which is Australia's First Nation peoples' language (in this region) for "ready for work". Indigenous and white Aussies working together has to be a good thing indeed.

Until next time, Safe travels.

Tahune xxx

The earth is a deep red colour out here

Mum next to the Tamalarri sign

Pretty parrot that sat in the tree near the shops

ANZAC Memorial. "Lest We Forget"

One of many memorials here... a reminder that mining is a

very dangerous occupation when working underground

Tahune xx

MOUNT MAGNET FOR LUNCH TIME... time to take a break

AND MEEKATHARRA... Keep on driving/

Hello Mount Magnet! this is a real Western Australian country town... one street going two ways.. with a huge median strip with gorgeous Australian native trees in full flower and the First Nation people smiled and always said hello.... mum saw an indigenous art gallery, but as we were all pretty hungry we walked down to the pub and had a couple of burgers and dad bought a case of tooheys old... I think that's the stuff and mum drinks and makes her giggle. The police were always to be seen just driving up and down stopping to chat with the locals, they smiled and waved as they drove past. We filled up with fuel and found out the Gibb River Road was open, so that made dad smile (we tried to take a photo of this but we just weren't quick enough!) Then we went into the art gallery and mum wished she had enough money to buy one of the paintings there. It was amazing and very powerful and mum got very emotional again! We wandered through the gallery and there were tee shirts and caps for sale. Dad said we couldn't buy anything but he got a business card where you can order things online. By the looks of the 'mail out' room, the original paintings were being sent to a lot of overseas collectors and buyers. Not surprising really, although the price tag of between $2000, and $4000 made mum inhale quite sharply followed by a 'good for them! About time these people got the recognition they deserved... besides, the art work is simply breath taking'. No pictures, as the art work is considered spiritual... so we respected that. Then we drove onto Meekatharra.. but we decided it would be better if we didn't stop, so kept on driving!

Overnight stop 1.

We continued on our way after feeding our tummies, and stopped at a 24 hour truck and caravan stop... there wasn't a cloud in the sky.. but dad said "raining".. mum told him to shut up and not jinx us. We had dinner and went to bed early as we had travelled a long way. Then, in the early hours of the morning I woke up to mum telling dad "I'm gonna kill you!" I jumped up but then I heard it, dad laughing... coz guess what? It WAS RAINING! Mum said dad's a jinx, and now I am inclined to agree. Mum and I slept ok that night but dad was pretty tired and didn't get much sleep as there was a trucker who pulled in very late to have his break, but was listening to a tape. Mum said it must have been an inspirational or teaching tape because dad said it went over the same thing over and over again... Dad was amazed mum had slept through it all. Mum said she had her ear plugs in and didn't hear any of that. When we left in the morning, mum drove to give dad a rest.

Overnight stop 2.

Three Rivers Junction Gasgoyne River. We arrived at another rest stop that was off the highway we turned left, drove down a little dirt road and crossed a river crossing that was concreted and set up on a nice high flat piece of ground. It was beautiful... We walked around and were very pleased that the Gasgoyne river was running, albeit a bit low as it had been dry for nine years but when the rains came in 2010 it came alive again. There were little fish, lots of animals and mum's favourite the eagles soared and called out to each other... mum took some aweome photos and I took a couple too. They came out okay so I was pleased.

We had a big campfire that night and mum brought out a very special treat.. marshmallows and we toasted them over the open fire. They were yummy! Mum laughed and asked dad if he remembered when they took the kids camping out at Lake Eucumbene and mum told them each to get a stick and put marshmallows on to be toasted. I listened, coz I wasn't around then.... remember I am only two and a half years old. Dad said he did and remembers the photo he took Heather, Tamara and Zane all had a long stick with one marshmallow ready to be toasted. Alexis? She got herself a branch with heaps of spiked and had about 8 marshmallows on it... I laughed. I must have a look for that photo when we finally get home. It was lovely there and we all went to bed very late as the stars were amazing! Mum got out her tripod and got a fantastic one of Venus. All bright and blue and very far away.

We packed up again (we are all getting pretty savvy with packing and unpacking the van and car) in less than half an hour in the morning and set off for out next 24 hour stop before staying at the working cattle property Indee Station.