Darwin To Katherine

Well I decided to make a blog of all the different places I go to while I'm in my new job. Although I started last October it is only now that I have been organised to do anything. Also my camera was broken so I couldn't take any pictures

This week I flew up to Darwin then drove to Katherine. I still do not understand why we have to fly so late and get into Darwin so early in the morning. Anyway I did and because it was dark it took me ages to find my car. I finally fell into bed at 2am only to rise at 7am to start my trip to Katherine.

The weather was very humid, 92 degrees humidity, and every time I got out of the car my glasses would fog up. The last time we came to the top end it was with our good friends Ron and Charmaine. Everywhere was dry but now the grass is a lovely green cloour and there is water everywhere. In fact on my way home from Katherine I struck a mini cyclone and was drenched.
On my way, I stop off at Adelaide River and went to look at the war graves. The Adelaide River War Cemetery is a sobering reminder of the impact World War II had on this part of Australia. There are 434 military burials in total and the adjoining Civil Cemetery honours 63 civilians including the post office workers who were killed in the 19 February 1942 bombing of Darwin. Also there is the Memorial to the Missing, where 292 service personnel are remembered, who lost their lives in Timor and other northern regions. The memorial is well looked after and is a tribute to Adelaide Council who look after it.

I stopped off at Pine Creek for lunch then went onto Katherine. It took me around 3 -4 hours to reach Katherine and I was a little pooped.

When I arrived at Katherine it was mid afternoon and very hot. I had a little rest then took advantage of the swimming poool and spent a couple of hours floating in it.

The following day I went to Clyde Fenton Primary school. Lovely staff. Unfortunately I forgot to get a photo as I was preoccupied with getting back to Darwin.

As I wrote earlier I was caught in a mini cyclone while approaching Darwin, I was also out of petrol and needed to stop at a petrol station. I was there for a while trying to figure out how to open the petrol tank. I rang Ang who had to ring Ron to work out how to open it. In the meantime I was getting wetter and wetter. A fellow came past to help out but he couldn't work it out either. Eventually help came in the form of a woman- Hettz assitant and I was on my way. When I got to my hotel to my surprise they upgraded me to a hotel room - as oppose to a smelly outside cabin. So I was very delighted.

The following day I went to Stuart Park Primary. Another lovely school and even though we endured a black out early in the day, the training went well.

When I finished I went for a little drive around Darwin then set off for the airport around 4pm. I was thinking I'll wait for the 12.30am plane in the Qantas club. Unbenown to me I discovered that everthing is closed at the airport including the club and cafes until 10.30pm Why do they do this. So I waited in the foyer for 8 hours reading my book and chatting to a few locals. The book "Voices from the Fortress" about Australian & New Zealand POWs who were put into a concentration camp and endured horrific treatment, was a good read.

I staggered home 8am in the morning to be greeted by Ang who was very happy that I was home.