DIARY OF AN AUSSIE WOMBAT

TIME FOR ANOTHER CATTLE STATION STAY

HELLO BANKA BANKA STATION

(Part of the Indigenous Pastoral Leases and Properties)

Mum's wish came true! There was a lovely horse at Banka Banka station, she was an old mustering horse that was put in the paddock to retire and live out her days in peace and with lots of love and pampering. Her name was Ginger and she was attracted to mum... Mum talked to her as she walked across the paddock "I am not walking all the way across the paddock to you, how about you meet me half way"? Ginger's ears pricked up and she trotted over to mum! Horses are almost as intelligent as wombats! Although mum would say they are more intelligent that wombats... perhaps that is true... but not as cuddly.

Mum talked to the manager of the station "Rob" or "Wardy" as he was more commonly referred too and said "Ginger is a beautiful old lady and about 14 years old". Mum mentioned what wonderful condition she was in, Rob agreed. Lots of love, good feed but she needs a mate as Freckles (the stallion) was moved back to Home Valley Station. Rob went on telling mum that they were in the process to get Ginger a friend. As BeyBey (the cow) would push Ginger out of the way to get to the treats that the staff and jackaroos bring to Ginger. I liked the little calf there, her name was Betty, she was an escape artist. Mum watched her one afternoon and Betty was small enough to put her head through the fence (unfortunately it was barbed wire) but she then put one foot through carefully, and then the other, turned and watched as she brought her two rear legs through without getting scratched. Ginger and BeyBey watched in disgust and disapproval about leaving their wonderful big paddock. Wardy told mum that Ginger belonged to the station and she was welcome to go through the fence whenever she wanted too because he saw Ginger 'connect' with mum. You didn't have to tell mum twice, she was off like a shot with two slices of carrot in one pocket and two small pieces of licorice in the other. Wardy stood there and laughed with Michael his son adding... where's mine?
Dad took photos of mum walking, talking, and cuddling Ginger, and even Ginger was so chuffed about getting a carrot she knew that mum was kidding when she said "I don't have any more to give you"... Ginger followed mum and when mum turned around, Ginger came up to mum and nibbled on mum's shirt pocket where she kept the other piece of carrot. I laughed, so did mum.
Dad took some lovely photos of Ginger just following mum around, mum and Ginger sharing some 'secret girl's business', and a kiss they shared. Dad also got a photo but I wished it was a video... mum scratched Ginger's forelock as the flies were bothering her there. When mum stopped scratching... Ginger rubbed the front of her face up and down mum's front! It was like they had been friends forever! ..I would have been jealous but I realised Ginger couldn't fit in the car or the van and I lived with mum, while Ginger lived here in the paddock..
That evening we went and sat around the campfire and talked to many of the other campers there. We shared stories about our travels and had a drink. Michael kept the fire well stoked so the stories, anecdotes and laughs were many. I fell asleep and woke up in my bed the next morning. Mum said time for breakfast, shower and then a walk up the hill to where both the Aboriginal and Australian flag flew proudly in the "Barkley Breeze" (wind that blows every year starting off in June and goes through til August.. each of the gust stages last about 8-9 days, then no wind for about another week, and then up it comes again). Such are the weather patterns in Australia.
We climbed to the top of the hill and a signpost was between both flags. The one that pointed in the direction of Canberra made me laugh! beside it was how many kilometers it was away from Banka Banka station and on the other side of the word Canberra it said "PLAY SCHOOL"! Dad and mum both laughed saying "they got that right!"

We walked back down the hill, past Ginger's paddock who stamped her hoof when mum said "nothing for you today"... We followed the track for about two kilometers and found a beautiful waterhole. The wattle flowers, the gum leaves and other seeds had fallen onto the surface of the water and it looked just like an Aussie landscape painting. While Australia is known as the lucky country, I believe this when I saw that beauty of the winter colours. We forgot to ask if we were allowed to swim in the waterhole, so we just took our shoes and socks off and dangled our feet in the water. The water was cold but nice. We went back to the van and dad wasn't feeling well so he went to bed. Mum and I had dinner and went up to the campfire where Michael had the fire blazing. There were two little boys toasting their marshmallows and a couple approached us asking "are you the owner of the Penguin" mum said she was, "we have a Penguin too!" We have now met three people on our travels who have the same kind of van as we do!

Banka Banka has a really big spider at the Entrance of the Station, and lots of people were scared of it.. not me! I don't like snakes or scorpions and other nasty bities... but while mum spent time with Ginger.. I tamed the wild gas bottle spider! Go me and my bad self! Dad even took a picture... he doesn't like spiders either!

We are all packed, locked up and hitched up and off we go, to a special place that we all want to see and explore. The Devils Marbles! See you there...

Until next time
enjoy the photos
Tahune xx