Out of the 'burbs and into the bush...: Britney in the bush?

Matt was asked by the Ranger Cadets to go bush with them today. But as we are both new, our Indigenous Leader said that we should both go out together. One of the traditional land owners met us out at Fossil Head. As the tide was going out, it was the perfect time to go and collect mud crabs. It was a 30-40 minute drive out, and as always with students- they got to select the music. Now, I was thinking they'd be into old school rock, maybe some ACDC, Jimmy Barnes, Slim Dusty even. I have to say that I was shocked and surprised. Here were four tall, strong lads, bobbing away in the troopie to Britney Spears "Oops I did it again". (They liked it so much they played it twice in a row!) I wonder if she knows that she has fans all the way down here?

Here are a few photos from the day.

Boabs at Fossil Head

Looking to the south, towards the border with Western Australia

Looking out into the Timor Sea

One of our Aboriginal Assistant Teachers (ATs) about to throw the cast net

Old cattle run to the station. To the right is the Fossil Headland, but I didn't take any photos as we hadn't seen the traditional owner at this point.

These are the dreaming stones for Fossil Head and the people of this area. It is important not to pick them up or move them as they are connected to their dreaming.

The fishing wasn't any good, so we decided to go catch crabs. To get to this place, you have to cross the flood plain. But even though we haven't had any rain since April/May, the ground is still too wet to drive on in some parts. We were headed to the mangroves you can see in the distance.

Heading out to the mangroves. This boy is the grandson of our guide. A good day off from school I reckon!

Boab Island

It was a long walk from the troopie to the mangroves. We estimated that we walked at least 10km round trip. The kids were stuffed by the end of the day!

You can just make out the troopie in the distance. In the background are hills that display rock art for the people of this area.

Collecting shellfish. I can't remember the traditional name, they are a slug that live inside a cone shaped shell that are cooked on the fire. The kids love them, so we were busy collecting them as we walked. Almost filled a Woolies green bag full!

The boys trying to get a crab out of it's hiding hole in the water.

Giving the "Wadeye West Side" sign. We didn't get that crab either....but after crawling, climbing, stumbling and bumbling our whitefella selves through the mangroves, hustling to keep us with the guide lest we get lost, we managed to bag three crabs. For our teaching colleague, Matt and I, it was amazing to watch the kids in the mangroves. We were surrounded by green leaves and massive roots. You couldn't see a thing three metres away from you, but you could hear the kids and our guides near us. We had NO idea where we were, or how to get out. We would have been three whitefellas wandering around. Not these guys, our guide says- this way, and lo and behold we're on the beach! (Needless to say, as I was so busy climbing over mangroves I didn't get any photos! But we have plenty of cuts and scratches to prove we were there!)