Day One on Bathurst Island - Much to Challenge, Admire and Inspire

Emily and Alex with some young Tiwi on Bathurst Island

Nothing ever goes to plan up here - which is just as well.  The unplanned for things often turn out to be the highlights!  Turns out one of our party is an extraordinary photographer.  Darcy, take a bow!   It is incredible how a lens can focus and capture something which might otherwise be overlooked.  So all of the good photos in this blog are most probably Darcy's.  It was so hard to select just a few for today.

Despite the excitement of a broken down mini van and a totally booked out ferry we arrived in one piece on Bathurst Island this morning.  Bernard and Lynette met us.  We then were on the fringes of one of the largest funerals the Tiwi Islands has ever seen.  Local elder Walter Kerinauia passed away recently.  His life was celebrated today.  And when I say today I mean today.  The funeral started about 10.30 am and family and community were still dancing his dances and remembering his life at 4 pm before the grave side stage of the ceremony.   A great leader of his people and hunter was celebrated today.  A man with a good sense of humour and a vision that Tiwi should control their own destiny into the future.

Bella and Tiara getting to know each other

Mark then got the keys to our trusty (here's hoping) Troopie.  It will be our home for the next six days.  Lynette's grandchildren Tahlia and Tiara guided us to a local swimming hole where we all cooled down.  Despite the best efforts of young males and females of the species (human that is) there were no sightings of crocodiles. 

A shabby little water hole

 Following this we headed to the beach.  Nobody entered this water (Salties and Box Jellyfish are not on our to do list this week).  Darcy did however capture some of the beauty of the place.

Beach near Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island

We then returned to Sister Anne's where we are staying for three nights.  Sr Anne has been here for over half a century and is for me a walking definition of the word solidarity.  She also passionately supports the Sydney Swans and is a member of the Rabbitohs.  It was hard dragging Darcy inside.  He seems to be obsessed with this light show happening in the sky during the build up to the wet season.

Lightning off Bathurst Island

We also did a little house-keeping today, buying from the local supermarket.  Tomorrow we head bush with Bernard and Lynette to see how well we would go living off the land.

Until then....