Visiting the West Katherine Region with the Katherine School of the Air
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Eddie's Trip to Argyle Downs By Melanie
Mel and Eddie at Argyle Downs with her dog.
Spike and I hopped on a bus in Katherine which we thought was headed for Darwin, but instead of going north as we expected it to, we found that it was heading West. After 5 hours of traveling on the Victoria Highway the bus stopped and a girl got off. Spike and I decided to have a look around so we got off and all of a sudden the bus roared off. The girl who had got off sat down on the ground. We decided we would join her. "Hello," I said "I'm Eddie and this is Spike". "Hi, my name's Melanie, call me Mel."
"Where are you headed Mel?" I asked
"Home. I live on Argyle Downs Station. I just got home from school camp. What about you?" said Mel. I told her the story of how we got on the wrong bus in Katherine and about how we were touring the Northern Territory. "So you just got back from school camp huh?" l said. "What school you go to?" l asked. "Katherine School of the Air." Mel replied. "Oh, so you do school by radio and correspondence." said Spike.
"Hey I just had a great idea," said Mel excitedly. " Why don't you two spend tonight at my place and we can go on radio with me tomorrow and go mustering with me and my dad tomorrow and because most of my station's in the NT. You could still do your tour". At that moment a car pulled up with a man inside. Mel stood up and greeted the man, threw her gear in the back and hopped in the Land Cruiser. She held the door open and said "What do you say guys?"Spike and I looked at each other and jumped in the car. The car took off down the Duncan Road which was a dirt road and headed for Argyle Downs cattle station!
When we arrived at the homestead, Melanie showed us round her station and introduced us to the station cook, Kate, who cooked dinner for us and the stockmen. After dinner Mel showed us to the guest quarters.
The next morning at 6 o'clock there was a knock at the door. I dragged my self out of bed and opened it. There was Mel, half asleep herself, "My mum and I want to know if you want to go for walk before break fast?" she asked. "Yeah sure I'll come but I think Spike might have to pass." I said pointing at the sleeping Spike. We both laughed and headed off towards the front of Melanie's house, only to see her mother striding down the walking path. "Come on we have to catch up with Mum or we'll be behind all the way." Melanie's little walking track was great - long but great. It goes along a river full of fresh water crocodiles. We saw them floating along the river The track goes for 4.5 km. When we arrived back Spike was looking for me.
"Put your riding gear on and then come over for breakfast. My dad is taking us mustering. We went over and had breakfast. When we had finished Rod, (Melanie's dad) took us out to Lake Paddock. We came to a truck in the middle of a paddock, beside which were four or five horses saddled up along side. We got out and Mel led us over to a horse. "You two can ride this horse. Her name is Ruby. She's a great mustering horse. You two been mustering before?" she asked. "Yeah," I said " but we' re not very good at it" "Not problem, Ruby here has been on more musters than you can count. She knows what to do. Just let her do the work." she said.
Everyone got on their horses and started walking towards a little holding yard and when we got there we let the cattle out. All of a sudden the cattle took off and so did our horse, after them. It was scary, but talk about exciting! Once we had caught up to the cattle the horse started pushing them towards the fence and the cattle started walking along the fence . Rod trotted up behind us "Good job guys you saved the muster. We never would have got the cattle back if you hadn't blocked them on the fence." he said. "Uh, thanks it was nothing." I said proudly back to him.
Once Rod had gone I whispered down to the horse "Nice job Rubes," and gave her a pat . The cattle were really good from that time on apart from a few that took off but were chased in by the stock men on the side off the herd. We were up the back keeping the mob going. "Good joke you guys told us, that you weren't any good at mustering. You two are pros," Mel said. "It was nothing Mel" I said, as I smiled at Spike who was sitting on the back. We came to a paddock where the truck was parked. "Put them in the lane and we'll yard'em up." Rod called out. The lane was a rectangular paddock that led straight into the yards. The cattle went straight in without a problem.
Rod came riding over to us and said, "Spike, Eddie and Melanie, you can go back with Kate . She has to go home and cook tea and Alison will drive you guys into town." We hopped in the car with Kate and on the way back I had to get all the gates. When we got back to the homestead, Melanie's mum came out and said "Just get into that other car. We have to leave now for you to catch the bus to Katherine at the turn off." "Well 'bye guys it was great to have you stay maybe you'll come and see me again sometime." Said Melanie "We'll definitely take you up on that some time." I said as I hopped in the car.
The car started to pull away. " 'Bye guys,see you!!!!" she yelled. "BYE MEL!" Spike and I waved out the window. The car reversed into the turning space and took off into the sunset.
Next stop Auvergne Station with Simone