It was 1961 and I had been working as a Lab Assistant for two years but I was still applying and hoping to be accepted into teachers' college. I had holidays in winter and I wanted to show my family the Snowy Mountains where I had been on ski trips with my school. They agreed and off we went with my best girlfriend, Kerrie and her mother. My Dad drove us from Sydney to the Thredbo, a ski resort in the Snowies. I had loads of fun trying to teach the oldies how to ski. We laughed ourselves silly on the slopes. My mum and Kerrie's mum got along like a house on fire as you can see in the photo. Both of them have gone now but Kerrie and I have kept in contact occasionally over the last 52 years.
I recently rang Kerrie for her birthday. It was an interesting conversation. Her life is so different to mine now. She and her husband are caretakers of Landor Station in the middle of Western Australia. The station is 1 million acres and the homestead is 250 miles from the nearest town, Meekathara. The road is rough and it takes them over 3 hours to get there. There is no one else on the cattle station with them. There is no mobile/cell phone service but they have a satellite phone and an airstrip.
I asked, " What happens if you need medical attention?"
"If it is an emergency we call the Flying Doctor Service otherwise we drive 3 hrs to town to the hospital."
"What do you do out there?"
"Feed the chickens, the geese and the rabbits and water the cattle."
"Where do you get the water from?"
"Under the ground, bore water."
"Do you have to check the fences?"
"Yes, but we haven't got around the whole station yet. We can drive for 200 miles in the Toyota farm truck before we come to a fence."
"Are you doing anything special for your birthday?'
"We were going into town (3hrs drive) but there isn't any restaurants just a grotty Take Away (Oz for To Go). So we decided to stay here."
"How do you get your groceries?"
"Once a month I ring through an order and it gets delivered."
"Do you like it out there?'
"I love it!"
 |
| Kerrie, me, mum and Kerrie's mum sitting on a snow gum in the Snowy Mountains in southern NSW. |
I asked, " What happens if you need medical attention?"
"If it is an emergency we call the Flying Doctor Service otherwise we drive 3 hrs to town to the hospital."
"What do you do out there?"
"Feed the chickens, the geese and the rabbits and water the cattle."
"Where do you get the water from?"
"Under the ground, bore water."
"Do you have to check the fences?"
"Yes, but we haven't got around the whole station yet. We can drive for 200 miles in the Toyota farm truck before we come to a fence."
"Are you doing anything special for your birthday?'
"We were going into town (3hrs drive) but there isn't any restaurants just a grotty Take Away (Oz for To Go). So we decided to stay here."
"How do you get your groceries?"
"Once a month I ring through an order and it gets delivered."
"Do you like it out there?'
"I love it!"
Might be bearable if you have satellite internet.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, your blog looks very different.
ReplyDeleteI guess if Kerrie is not used to having internet, then it is not something she would miss. yes, such a way different life.
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you keep in contact with old friends Diane, now I like peace and quiet, but I don't think I could take that much of it. 1 million acres, one could get lost out there, I do hope they constantly keep in touch with others.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I love the photo. Great memory of your your mom,friends and a fun time! Wow, your friend really lives a simple life, without all the pleasures we are use too. It sounds like she really loves it there, that is wonderful. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteKerrie's life sounds fabulous - for a holiday!! Amazing how your lives have taken very different turns - you're both WAY far from the snow now!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your new blog look - if I was less technologically challenged, I'd try it myself!
It's impossible to imagine anyone surviving such an isolated life, but wonderful that you still keep in touch.
ReplyDelete[The light in your new header photo is fantastic, BTW]
That is a complete different life indeed. Some people like the quiet countrylife and don't need others. But for me it would be to quiet I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteWow your friend Kerri is amazing I love that she loves it I think I could do it with the internet. Very cool B
ReplyDeleteWhoah - that *is* a challenging way to live!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the ski outfits of the time - jumpers and trousers!
I love the outdoors but don't think I would like to be that isolated. The ideal place to live would be something like my old home place where it feels like you are a hundred miles from civilization but are actually only 5 to 10 miles. :)
ReplyDeletesounds wonderful to me, i would have so many dogs and other animals. i wonder if they have pets or animals or if they are allowed to. not so good about 3 hours to a doctor, but great there is a flying doctor
ReplyDeleteWow how totally cool! She needs to be writing a diary of her experiences out there! I've always wondered what that would be like and indeed you better REALLY enjoy time with your spouse! LOL
ReplyDeleteloved your two moms laughing. :)
ReplyDeletewow, what a life! i'm not sure i'd want to be quite that remote. but wow!
What a life! It is so interesting to get a glimpse of the different lives we all live. So nice you had a good visit.
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy your memory posts; can tell everyone had a great time on that trip!
ReplyDeleteI like a certain amount of alone and quiet but your friend's life would be a little too much of it for me. She and her husband live a life like something out of the long-ago past!
I think I could stay there for maybe a month (with internet of course) then I would get crazy ! What a rough but probably very healthy life !
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I would be as happy on the isolated station as your friend is. I did enjoy your snowy picture.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how people can take such different paths in life, isn't it???? I'm not sure I'd want to ever be THAT isolated... Maybe, if I were younger?????? BUT--I admire someone who can live like that and be happy.. Interesting post, Diane.... Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Betsy
We are all so different. I am sure she would absolutely hate my life living in such a densely populated city. But then I would go mad living such an isolated life with only TOH for company!
ReplyDeleteI could live where your friend does for about 1 year, then back to 'people'. It's the simple life out there, and a good one at that. Had a cousin and his wife who went from Station to Station for 10 years working so I was aware of their life style and how far to go for food etc.
ReplyDeleteDiane, do you still ski? You would love it here in Colorado -- we had more snow yesterday!
ReplyDeleteYour friend's life/job sounds very rustic. I' not sure I could do that type of job.
Great post Di - a wonderful window into a totally different life.
ReplyDeleteYour new header pic is fantastic. I'd love to take one like that. Did you take it on your recent trip?
oh, whta a life!
ReplyDeletei am glad you've had a good visit.
big hugs!
I think I'd go loco out there Diane, not because I go out ll that much, but because I know I could if I wanted to. I take my hat off to your friend, amazing lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteSounds like parts of Africa. I think maybe we have too many new fangled thing like computers and phones to distract us from the joys of normal living! Take care Diane
ReplyDelete