Saturday started well and then just got better! For the first time we didn't have to be out of bed before 5.30 am. That's a bonus! We had breakfast in our new surrounds (Hospitality Camp at Tiwi College) and then headed down the track to the annual Nguiu fete. Just getting there was an adventure - aboard the tinny that links Bathurst and Melville Islands.
Upon arrival we got to work. Some used their ample acting skills to scare the life out of young Tiwi children in the haunted house! Others worked the tables at the Frangipani Cafe. There was a festival atmosphere - with footy finals fever in the air and everything from Bollywood on Bathurst Island to the trusty chocolate wheel spinning. Over $14000 raised for the local Catholic Primary school in just three hours. Not bad!
The girls did such a good job the children were crying in the haunted house as soon as the door closed behind them! Following the fete we toured through the local museum which is kept by the legendary Sr Anne. Sr Anne has been on the Tiwi islands for more than 50 years and shared her wisdom and passion for the Tiwi with us all.
We then headed back to Melville Island but not before we stood in front of the Radio Shack where Fr McGrath warned of the Japanese bombing of Darwin on the 19th February 1942. Darwin didn't heed the warning and the rest is history.
On our trip back to Melville Island we encountered a family group with their pet possum! We also had the wonderful privilege of Bernard, Lynette and Tahlia join us. Tahlia has stolen the girls hearts and I fear there will be tears on Monday morning when she leaves us to return to school. In the afternoon we headed to South Beach where Tahlia led the girls in some of the local dances. Her dance is the Shark Dance which is the dance for the country on which Tiwi College stands.
The night was then upon us and football fever took over. Mrs Ryan (with some encouragement from Mark) was keen to watch the Rugby World Cup. Bernard as a proud Tiwi man needed to observe his reigious obligation (AFL) and watch the semi-final between Carlton and West Coast. And in the midst of this a young man named Jason dropped in to gift us with some huge Barramundi fillets which he had just caught. Don't like to boast - but possibly the best fish we have ever eaten!
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| Hawks Fan in 2008 |
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| Hawks Fan in 2011 |
Three years ago I cam across a Tiwi man at the annual fete. He had a Hawthorn flag draped over him. I asked if I could take his photo and that year the Hawks went onto win the flag. Three years later - I met the same man. Once again he agreed for his photo to be taken - hoping it is a sign the Hawks will fly in 2011. Until the next post...
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