Fundraising tour of Nganmarriyanga in the School Bus
Thursday night, May 22, Bindi and Sue were the teachers rostered to take the school bus around, with a funbdraising sale, in the dusk - freshly prepared beef stew, poppers, cheese sticks, frozen yoghurt.
Here is Bindi outside the school, pointing to the mural map of the community - which in the wet is cut in half by the billabong.
of course, the usual charmers were along for the ride.
Sue drove 'Cool Croc' the school bus, which is registered to drive within the community, but not on public roads
The customers flocked to the bus.
There is no inhibition about the camera, rather the opposite;lots of smiles
and some circus theatrics.
Bindi served
"Eyyy Banjo, BANjo, banJO!" they all say, greeting the most popular
bus passenger... and then
"Eyyy, Nanjimerrin!" - Banjo's name given by the local community
in the local language.
Nanjimerrin is a place on the road to Wadeye [pronounced wadd-aiir], good
tucker, striking white trunked gum trees.
This young man is trying to negotiate a purchase while hanging on to a large stick at the same time.
Robin Wodidj, who established Palumpa Station 27 years ago.
It has been trading in the black for a number of years and is now comfortably
profitable.
Grandson lifts bonnet, climbs around to the far corner, adjusts electricals,
Landcruiser starts.
The typical scrub country - "burnoff" of the undegrowth is part
of this "drying out" season, second of six seasons, after the wet.
