Community and trees

Never before have I lived in a community where I know so many people and where every day there is at least one social event organised. Differences are recognized yet accepted; people are friendly without being intrusive. With a population of about 700 people, I think Mitchell is the ideal size.

Today, my attention is drawn to the tall silky oak living in our garden. Silky oaks thrive in the semi-arid region of Mitchell and likewise in our garden. Today, the seeds -- nestled within elegant dark brown pods -- are releasing their winged seeds. Perhaps frost is the trigger. My mind fast tracks to spring when these same trees burst into golden blooms rich with nectar: a gift for the honeyeaters and flying foxes that flock to the area.

Frogs and lizards

After a spell of cool weather, the temperature suddenly jumped to 26°C. Stego (my 39-year-old pet stumpy-tailed lizard) decided to come out of hibernation. So I gave him a soak in the laundry trough in shallow luke-warm water (he said he felt sticky, thirsty and dry) and then hand-fed him a meal of ripe banana. After that he basked for a few hours in sunshine that beamed into his Mitchell lizard house, located by our front door. No doubt the wild lizards and snakes will be also be up and about. I'll have to keep my eyes open while walking Major along the river.

Yesterday, while rinsing my hands in the bathroom sink, a desert tree frog poked his little face up through the plug hole. How delightful!

Survivors and Mitchell's artesian spa

Although Phillip Island and outback Queensland are vastly different in climate, succulents and geraniums are the best survivors in each place. This is surprising to me. Salt-laden winds lash the vegetation on Phillip Island, and in Mitchell, repeated frosts and extreme dryness test plants to the limit of their endurance. Consequently, our garden in each place consists of indigenous plants, succulents and geraniums -- and nothing fancy at all.

Mitchell's artesian spa works magic for travellers and residents alike. With faces flushed and a lightness of step, travellers leave the spa and make their way down the riverbank, across the foot bridge spanning the Maranoa River and then up the other side to the Caravan Park. With joints soothed, faces smile more easily now.

The difference between 2006 and 2010

In August 2006 -- the first year of our Double Life -- the ground was bone dry and almost completely devoid of vegetation. The drought had cut deep into the land and its people, but within months we were privileged to witness the coming of rain, the flowing of the Maranoa River, and the breaking of the seven-year drought.

Now -- in August 2010 -- there have been a series of good years and the country looks healthy and prosperous. Today, the Maranoa River flows in its lazy loop around the township of Mitchell. Knee-high buffel grass (bleached by repeated frosts), brilliant green marshmallow and medic, and a variety of other plants (both good and bad) clothe the soil. The cattle in outback Queensland are sleek and fat, and the wildlife busy reproducing. The only concern is bushfire, especially when the season of thunder and lightning occurs in the spring and summer months.

Before sitting down at my computer each morning to write, I sketch some part of a plant. This is a lovely way to begin every new day. I use pencil, pen and watercolour. My aim is to learn to draw (this is not a natural talent!) and also to learn about the vegetation of this semi-arid region -- which is new to me. Today's sketch is of a Eucalyptus rhodantha seed case. This exotic dish-shaped fruit was collected from the gardens surrounding the Parkes Radio Telescope. Was this plantation grown because the fruits resemble The Dish? Does anyone know? Six young rhodantha trees await planting in our garden, all grown by Doug from seed he collected at Parkes. The thick greyish-silver leaves suggest they will tolerate the severe frosts and dryness of Mitchell's climate.
Today's task has been to do a printout of my book Double Life. Interestingly, hard copy is my editor's preference for her first read through. Double-spaced, it took a huge number of pages -- being approximately 120,000 words in length. Tomorrow it will be posted from Queensland to Tasmania.

Although teaching is an occupation I'm very familiar with, teaching music is something new. My challenge -- every Monday -- is to encourage a love of music in the minds of my five and seven-year-old Mitchell students along with an understanding of basic piano, keyboard and marimba music. What a joy and privilege. I love the way young minds are so "plastic", so easily and enriched and moved in positive ways. Yet again, Mitchell is giving me the opportunity to explore new horizons.

Today I made an important decision. After much research I chose an editor -- Karen Ward from Tasmania -- to work on my book Double Life. I predict an interesting journey.

Watercolour Workshop

Held at the Mitchell State School, Bill Morton's watercolour workshop was attended by 12 eager students aged from mid 20s to mid-80s. Bill taught us the finer points of watercolour painting: basic composition, with attention on the centre of interest, tonal colour and a scratching technique to create highlights (I used this method to add sparkle to water). In addition, we learned a sight and measure method of drawing a structure such as the Mitchell water tower.

Let loose to create our own images, we became immersed in our own work, mine being a view from our Phillip Island home, out across the water to the Mornington Peninsula, West Head and the sunset. How strange, I thought, to have my mind swing back to Phillip Island when I feel so fully engaged with the Mitchell community and outback Queensland. Perhaps this is what a double life is all about?