YARRALIN SCHOOL

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

Location & Climate

Yarralin, also known as Walangeri, is an Aboriginal community located 382 Km. South-West of Katherine. It is 16km. west of the Victoria River Downs cattle station on the banks of the Wickham River. In close proximity are the Victoria and Humbert rivers, the Gregory National Park and the spectacular Jasper Gorge. Temperatures range from overnight lows of 10c. in the Dry season to over 40c in the build up to the Wet season. The annual rainfall is approximately 600-700 mm.

Communication & Travel

Access to Yarralin is initially along the Victoria Highway. Leaving Katherine you head west following the signs for Timber Creek and Kununara. There are two alternative routes down to Yarralin off the highway.
The first is a turn off to the left some 100Km. out of Katherine. This is marked by a large stone plinth commemorating the ?? Turning left at the plinth proceed south down a single lane tarmac road for about 150 Km. until you reach a cross roads and the Top Springs Road House on your right. Turn right along the gravel track and keep going until you pass the Victoria River Downs Homestead on your left. A further 3 Km. will bring you to a left turn. Turn left here, go through the cattle gate - be sure to close it after you - and carry on for another 10 Km. Yarralin will appear on the left. Turn left here and look for the yellow Goanna (Gidowa) on the right.

The second, and probably more scenic route, is via the Jasper Gorge. This track can be pretty rocky, however and care should be taken. Leave Katherine on the Victoria Highway. Proceed west for 252Km, past the above mentioned plinth and the Victoria River Inn on the left and then follow the Victoria river itself until you reach a turnoff on the left for Kidman Springs / Victoria River Downs. Turn left onto this gravel track and wind your way carefully through Jasper Gorge passing Kidman Springs on your left. Approximately 100 Km. down this track you'll meet the right hand turn for Yarralin. Through the cattle gate and 10 Km later you'll come upon us.

A one way trip from Katherine to Yarralin will take approximately 4 ½ hours.

Apart from the Victoria Highway all roads are unsealed gravel and often rocky. There are numerous jump ups and gullies that can test your suspension if you're travelling with out care. On the Top Springs road watch out for road trains! They will not get out of your way. Cattle are plentiful and not known for their road sense. Horses, wild and domesticated are often met around the VRD homestead. Kangaroos will be met, particularly at dawn and dusk.

N.B. A four wheel drive vehicle with spare wheels, preferably two, is essential for either of these routes. If visiting the school please phone ahead to give us your ETA.

A mail plane flies in each Thursday morning delivering mail and a small amount of freight. There is a freight delivery from Katherine once a week. (See Specific Allowances).

T.V. reception is generally good and we receive the ABC, and two or three of the commercial stations. Satellite - pay T.V. is projected to be on line by the end of September 2003.
Radio reception can be a little intermittent.

Telephones are via radio stations and work pretty well most of the time. They are not suitable for internet access however, as the download time is extremely slow. Satellite is the only practical way to access the internet and Telstra can install systems at a cost.

The school has a LATIS two way satellite system available to teachers.

Accommodation & Living Conditions

Teachers are housed in modern, furnished, air conditioned dwellings within walking distance of the school.

School History

Yarralin School was built in 1999 and has a fluctuating enrolment of around 60 - 80 students. These numbers can peak during the wet season when people move into Yarralin from the various outstations. Students range from Pre-school to Year 7. The school is staffed by a Teacher Principal, three Band 1 teachers, 4 Assistant teachers, two ATAS tutors, a 0.5 cleaner and a driver / groundsman. The school is well resourced with an IT lab/classroom, a preschool room, two further class rooms, a staff room / kitchen, covered balcony, shaded paved area, and extensive grounds. We make use of the community basketball court and an AFL oval.

Yarralin were the proud winners of the Timber Creek "West is Best" Sports Carnival in 2003.

We run a breakfast program and a healthy ears program each morning

Community

Yarralin is a long established yet isolated community with close historical links to the Victoria River Downs cattle station where the people were, and still are employed. The community boasts a health clinic staffed by two nurses and bi-weekly visits from Doctor Tim. A community store stocks a fair range of groceries and hardware. Yarralin has been the focus of considerable study over the years particularly by America researcher Rose Bird who wrote the internationally acclaimed "Dingo makes us Human".
Yarralin is a dry community.

Attractions in the area

Yarralin offers splendid fishing and camping opportunities. It is famous for the legendary Barramundi found in the various rivers in the area. Gregory National Park provides some idyllic camping spots and the Jasper Gorge is spectacular.

Specific Allowances

Yarralin School is classified as a Category 3 School. The following are conditions of employment for any teaching staff living at Yarralin;

· 100% Rental Concession including power and water

· Five study leave points for each completed year of service in this locality. 20 points must be accumulated in order to receive 6 months study leave, which is subject to CEO approval.

· Fares Out of Isolated Localities (FOILS). Three FOIL fares per year to Darwin i.e. Km Allowance and two nights accommodation.

· Freight on food stuffs. Reimbursement to cover freight on food limited to a maximum of 12kg. per week for an employee without dependants, 23kg. per week to an employee with one dependant and 31kg. to an employee with more than one dependant.

· Family Travel Assistance Program

· Household contents Insurance Premiums

· Professional Isolation Allowance $1,429.00 per year.

· Four Business Days leave per year on Group School Principals approval.