Two weeks on the Tiwi Islands

[willem]

Trudi and myself and our youngest son David are going for a two week stint on the Tiwi Islands, working as houseparents at Tiwi College, leaving Friday morning. Should be quite a challenging time! You can read a bit of background info on my website, if you like:

Tiwi College | ThisIsAustralia.com.au

Willem

[Top End Rangie]

Way to go mate,it's great to see they finally got that college off the ground.My wife was born and raised on the Tiwi Is.

Even better,another rover man heading to the Top End!

Welcome,and I'm sure you'llfind teachingthere an 'enlightening' experience.

[willem]

G'day guys,

Well, we've been here since Friday afternoon, and its now Monday mid morning. Its been a time of learning for this job as house parents! There is so much to learn!

Also had time to do some sightseeing. After lunch on Sunday went for a drive in a Troopy



- in the back and I've got a sore bum to prove it! - to the Maarten van Delft Reserve on Cape Lavery on Melville Island, in the area generally known as Karslake. Beautiful spot, and the navy thought so too:



This is the place the Dutch landed on the Tiwi Islands in 1705, and that is why this area is known as the Maarten van Delft reserve:



We then went for a swim at 9 mile hole. But more pics of that later. The kids have started to arrive and I have to go!

Willem

[willem]

On the way home from Karslake we stopped at 9 mile hole for a swim. Beautiful spot! There were lots of very athletic Tiwi kids having a great time:



Also there was this incredibly dilapidated Hi-Ace which a couple of guys were trying to get started. When they finally succeeded, after pouring copious quantities of petrol down the carburettor, the (extended) Tiwi family left. After an hour or so we were on our way home. We stopped at the Threeways Junction for a photo opportunity of what may be the only bus shelter opened by a Governor General!



And a detail of the plaque:




While driving thru the plantation - in the news a bit lately, because it is part of the Great Southern company - we had to slow down because of the wild horses on the road. We stopped for a while and took pictures:



These magnificent horses are the descendants of the warhorses that were left on Melville Island after WW11. Though wary they did not appear to be frightened. There was also a mare and a foal:



That was almost the end of the drive. I was glad, because Troopies have suspensions made of concrete, and the park benches in the back feel like they are made of concrete with just the slightest padding over it. My bum and my back are still complaining!

Had as look at one of the troopies, which has a V8 diesel. Pulls like a train and just keeps on going, but under the bonnet it makes a P38 look simple! Pics later when it comes back from Nguiu.

The work here at Tiwi College is challenging, to say the least. The kids are lovely once you get to know them, but they all have issues, and it shows. But it is very satisfying work, having a positive input into the lives of troubled kids.

Willem, Trudi and David.

[willem]

G'day guys,

As promised, some pics of the Toyota V8 diesel in a Troopy.

From the right:




and the front:



and the left:




It makes for a very full engine bay! The intercooler takes up as lot of space. The motor goes well and pulls like a train. The car itself feels like a freight train!

Willem

[willem]

Some of the interesting things ...

Now I'm all in favour of a multiplicity of powerpoints in a house, and there certainly are plenty in the family group homes here.

But in the dunny??!! Every dunny in the house has a double powerpoint. What were they thinking?

Willem

[lardy]

you lucky bugger must be nice doing something positive for the community up there, and if you manage to indoctrinate the kids with the gospal of land rover whilst there all the better.
we could have a generation of first australians bowling round the tiwi islands in landies what could be better.
my brother just spent some time in gove and arnheim land on the community cutting yidaki (didges to us) and going hunting with the locals having flown in from the uk i guess he looked like a snowman in the tropics haha

[JDNSW]

Some of the interesting things ...

Now I'm all in favour of a multiplicity of powerpoints in a house, and there certainly are plenty in the family group homes here.

But in the dunny??!! Every dunny in the house has a double powerpoint. What were they thinking?

Willem

They probably weren't - I assume that some bureaucrat said something like "at least one powerpoint in every room".

It is possible there was some thought given to it, for example, allowing for the possibility of a fan (I assume the houses are not airconditioned and it is a fairly warm climate), but I would not count on it.

John

[willem]

you lucky bugger must be nice doing something positive for the community up there, and if you manage to indoctrinate the kids with the gospal of land rover whilst there all the better.
we could have a generation of first australians bowling round the tiwi islands in landies what could be better.
my brother just spent some time in gove and arnheim land on the community cutting yidaki (didges to us) and going hunting with the locals having flown in from the uk i guess he looked like a snowman in the tropics haha

I think we've probably got a lot more important things to teach than Land Rovers, however good they are. These kids are starting a long way behind the eight ball.

I don't yet know if Trudi and I will be coming up here for a longer stint, but if we do we will be bringing the Rangie. There's not one automatic car on the site! So I'm limited to shank's pony, and with my dicky leg that's a pretty significant limitation. So I'd bring the Rangie for exploring the island and longer transport, and a four wheeled motorbike for around the site.

But its too early to decide yet. We still have our own kids to consider. But both of us are really appreciating the work, even tho its hard work, and pretty challenging at times.

We'll see how it goes.

Willem

[lardy]

you are doing a fantastic thing mate when you consider that the prison i work in is populated by 43% indigenous(compaerd with the population ratio in W.A.) i reckon if you dont get a go in life or shown a bit "how to" or respect for other people or at least an idea of discipline...chances are you are going to end up a bit feral and way would.
And that don't matter what nationality /race you are if you have a blank canvas and don't give it any input it's just a blank canvas ....if the only input is negative then i guess it's not going to be a beautiful portrait are you?...i think you are onto something here guys good onya.
How did you hear about the opportunity ?
And you are probably right about the rangie being a good idea if you stay long term i should imagine it will be heaps more doable for you that way regards andy