Arriving at the opal capital of the world: Lightning Ridge

Woke this morning to find the caravan covered with jacaranda petals . Last night, Major and Katie slept in the caravan with us, while Del and Stego stayed in the ute. Although Major is 50 kg and only 16 months old, he has a remarkable capacity to stay still and actively seeks out confined spaces with a hard floor. Consequently, life in a small caravan suits him well, whereas Del prefers more personal space and a softer bed. Katie is on Clomicalm medication as travel stresses her a little, especially at night. And us? Well, we need to remember where we put things and get used to limited space (both in the caravan and the ute) without resorting to irritation, which we manage -- most of the time! As the days slip by though, travelling south is changing from tolerable to more pleasurable. With a menagerie on board our days are punctuated by dog walks, the best being at Dirranbandi along the banks of the Balonne River which runs full and upside down. Coffee at Hebel rated 10 out of 10, then into New South Wales where we lost an hour. Onto Lightning Ridge -- the opal capital of the world where torrential rain has left the country oozing mud and water -- and croaking with countless frogs and trilling crickets.

St George, Mitchell Road suggests a land of drought and flooding rains

The contrast between now and the last year of the drought (a few years ago) is incredible, especially on the Mitchell to St George Road. The drought saw the landscape almost completely devoid of grasses and herbage, with trees on their "last legs". Splattered with the bodies of 'roos, the road attracted feral pigs and wedge-tailed eagles to feast on the carcasses that littered the bitumen. It was not a pretty sight.

Now -- at the end of November 2010 -- knee-high, emerald-green grasses clothe the soil, and trees hang heavy with new foliage. The narrow black bitumen road snakes its way south, with roadside markers suggestive of floods, and the earth, in places, such a vivid orange-red colour, you 'd think someone had painted it. This is truly outback Australia; this is a landscape I'm reluctant to leave..

I feel sad to be leaving Mitchell and the Maranoa

Ever since arriving in Mitchell in the first week of May I've felt no desire to cross the bridge into the outside world. Mitchell has held everything I needed; everything I desired. Now, at the end of November we are leaving our outback home; migrating south for the summer. Like migratory birds there is a pull to 'fly' south to our island -- Phillip Island -- but there is also a sadness to be leaving our friends, the warmth of the land and the rhythms of the mighty river, the Maranoa.

On another subject, the mystery of the hairy black caterpillars is solved. They are white cedar caterpillars that spin a cocoon and emerge as a fairly nondescript pale fawn moth. They have evolved to eat (almost exclusively) the leaves of white cedar trees and are considered a pest because firstly, people like white cedars, and secondly, these caterpillars tend to congregate in large numbers and strip away all the leaves, leaving behind a skeletal trunk and branches.

Dancers, gymnasts and mice dance in Mitchell's Shire Hall

Three nights this past week have seen us seated at the Mitchell Shire Hall; the first two nights were school break-ups and last night, a dance concert. The 'Magic Toy Shop' was a fun concert with lively, colourful dances and gymnastic displays involving children aged five years to mature age, and all body shapes. The dancers and gymnasts were encouraged by an enthusiastic crowd with lots of clapping and cheering -- and good-natured laughter whenever there was an obvious slip-up.
This small outback community is rich in artistic and musical talent and, at present, has a mouse plague as well. One precocious mouse scampered right across the hall, running beneath chairs and between the feet of people seated in the audience. It actually ran between my sandals !

The Crocker's hilltop oasis at Muckadilla

A gnarled pepperina tree in Jennifer Crocker's hilltop garden at Muckadilla (east of Mitchell) invites children to peep inside crusty hollows and crevices. Miniature fairies, elves, mermaids and toadstools nestle in cavities, ready to take the viewer (young or old) into their own imaginary wonderland.
A bank of bottle trees (planted in 1927) form an impressive edge to the large garden surrounding the Crocker homestead. With expansive views across downs country in all directions, and a garden fluttering with butterflies, this is the sort of place I can imagine myself happily living in. Here is a place that feels truly centred. Thank you Jennifer and Malcolm for welcoming us to your lovely home.

Mitchell State School's Celebration Night

An enthusiastic crowd of parents, grandparents and guests gathered together at the Mitchell Shire Hall to support the teachers and children of Mitchell State School for their end-of-year Celebration Evening. Children from Prep to Year 10 (colourfully dressed in uniforms of navy, gold, white and maroon) entertained the gathering with poetry, singing, plays, marimbas, the band and Kaitlyn Brindley's moving euphonium solo performance.
The Year 10 students looked stunning in evening dress. Hannah Beitz in particular played a leading role throughout the evening and was awarded the highest certificates for academic excellence, commitment and effort. These fine young people are leaving their home town of Mitchell for boarding schools in Toowoomba, and secondary colleges in Roma. They leave the strong community of Mitchell, knowing they have a huge bank of support should they ever need it. As they venture over the bridge and into the big wide world beyond the Maranoa, we wish them all the very best for the future.

St Patrick's School in Mitchell: Year 7 Graduation

Last night, St Patrick's School in Mitchell held their Year 7 Graduation Night with the theme "I am the Vine -- You are the Branches". Four Year 7 students (Charlie Brumpton, Sarah Cicero, Ryleigh Currie and Emily Henry" stood up the front of Mitchell's large Shire Hall to receive their certificates.

These fine young people -- on the eve of their transition from this small local school to large boarding schools in Toowoomba, and St John's in Roma -- received an enthusiastic applause from the crowd of teachers, parents, grandparents and other interested people who'd gathered together to celebrate the completion of the school year and to wish these 4 special students success, good health and happiness in the years ahead.