Tiwi Island
Picture it, Sicily 1916. We got on this coffin of a looking plane. Nothing like a vintage number to settle your nerves with 10 seats. I got to sit next to the pilot, well you do when you’re the one holding the gun to his head. 12 minute flight, we spent longer taxing around the airport than what we did flying. Over the water to Bathurst Island and landed. There were about 7 planes there when we landed.
Got out and had no idea of where to go, but a bus pulled up so we jumped on it. Was not to sure if it was the bus for the bigger plane that landed just after us. They looked like they had more money and definitely more of a clue than us. Apparently as I was with most of the people from work and me being the event coordinator I was meant to have a clue. People it’s the weekend and I am clueless on the weekend. We filled the bus and they had to wait for it to return.
First stop - some shack of a looking gypsy bus humpy donga. It was some art thing, had no idea what the driver said to us, but we stayed on the bus and continued. Went past the ground – of which we thought was our next stop – we were wrong as the bus hurtled up the street dodging camp dogs on the road. Turned the corner and we were at the Tiwi Art Sale. Pilled off and checked out the art work. Quick browse then off on foot for the ground. Not to far, nice walk and caught up with a mate. Got to the ground to find out it was a dry community. Welcome to - Betty Forde Clinic. Tried to find the 2nd flight occupants with no luck. Had a feed, sat around, had a yarn, saw some other people I knew from uni and kicked back to watch the girls play.
Got informed that the gypsy shack bus humpty donga was the disabled art place and they were cheaper than Tiwi Art so we tried to work out how to get there. When up pulls this mammoth of a looking paddy wagon. When in Rome. Fingers crossed for no accidents on this trip. Hurtled down the road to the shack. Just before leaving we picked up one of our mob from the first trip. Bumped along the road with lots of breasts enjoying the trip. Pulled up and fell out of the truck. Art work was good, but didn’t purchase. Hung around there for a bit and saw more people I knew.
Another mammoth paddy wagon pulls up and we return to the oval but I stay on with a work mate and go back to Tiwi Art for some real art purchasing. Scored 3 very lovely prints. On foot back to ground for the final. At 2pm the island became wet and the drinkers were out in force but contained to an enclosurer, similar to a zoo. Watched the game and barracked for the team closet to us – of which lost but a close game.
Game ended and first flight out was scheduled for 4.30pm. Airport shuttle was running – 1 bus only for over 1000 darwinites. You should have seen the people waiting. We “under the treed it” till we thought it was our turn to return to the airport for our departure at 5.15. Well needless to say the amount of people trying to get to the airport was huge. The whole airport shuttle departure point started walking - with the sign - to the airport. Island time things were happening to slow for the white fella. Everyone bailed and we were still under our tree showing off our artwork. When up pulls another mammoth paddy wagon. STAMPEED. We secured the rights to be on the caged ride and were second to arrive at the airport.
Well the airport. There was pretty much every plane from Darwin parked there. It was like a car park for planes. I lost count at 45 planes waiting to take off. Our 4.30 plane took off at 5.30 and plane after plane cued for take off rights. Until the planes started to return for their second trips. We finally arrived after our fair amount of jet fuel sniffing and jet engine hair blow waves at 7.30pm. Got to sit next to the pilot again.
2 matters of concern – one was when a return plane decided to cut across our line – we banked to miss and two upon landing the pilots sun visor fell down and blocked his vision – can I say at that point we were very close to having wheels on ground – Dundee had fingernails in arm rests.
Every one off, kissed the ground, thanked god I was alive and looked quickly for a beer. No beer, well what better than to go to a mates house and show off my purchases.
How good was it really – we have filled 2 planes for next year.
This is Kim Dundee reporting from the Territory.
Got out and had no idea of where to go, but a bus pulled up so we jumped on it. Was not to sure if it was the bus for the bigger plane that landed just after us. They looked like they had more money and definitely more of a clue than us. Apparently as I was with most of the people from work and me being the event coordinator I was meant to have a clue. People it’s the weekend and I am clueless on the weekend. We filled the bus and they had to wait for it to return.
First stop - some shack of a looking gypsy bus humpy donga. It was some art thing, had no idea what the driver said to us, but we stayed on the bus and continued. Went past the ground – of which we thought was our next stop – we were wrong as the bus hurtled up the street dodging camp dogs on the road. Turned the corner and we were at the Tiwi Art Sale. Pilled off and checked out the art work. Quick browse then off on foot for the ground. Not to far, nice walk and caught up with a mate. Got to the ground to find out it was a dry community. Welcome to - Betty Forde Clinic. Tried to find the 2nd flight occupants with no luck. Had a feed, sat around, had a yarn, saw some other people I knew from uni and kicked back to watch the girls play.
Got informed that the gypsy shack bus humpty donga was the disabled art place and they were cheaper than Tiwi Art so we tried to work out how to get there. When up pulls this mammoth of a looking paddy wagon. When in Rome. Fingers crossed for no accidents on this trip. Hurtled down the road to the shack. Just before leaving we picked up one of our mob from the first trip. Bumped along the road with lots of breasts enjoying the trip. Pulled up and fell out of the truck. Art work was good, but didn’t purchase. Hung around there for a bit and saw more people I knew.
Another mammoth paddy wagon pulls up and we return to the oval but I stay on with a work mate and go back to Tiwi Art for some real art purchasing. Scored 3 very lovely prints. On foot back to ground for the final. At 2pm the island became wet and the drinkers were out in force but contained to an enclosurer, similar to a zoo. Watched the game and barracked for the team closet to us – of which lost but a close game.
Game ended and first flight out was scheduled for 4.30pm. Airport shuttle was running – 1 bus only for over 1000 darwinites. You should have seen the people waiting. We “under the treed it” till we thought it was our turn to return to the airport for our departure at 5.15. Well needless to say the amount of people trying to get to the airport was huge. The whole airport shuttle departure point started walking - with the sign - to the airport. Island time things were happening to slow for the white fella. Everyone bailed and we were still under our tree showing off our artwork. When up pulls another mammoth paddy wagon. STAMPEED. We secured the rights to be on the caged ride and were second to arrive at the airport.
Well the airport. There was pretty much every plane from Darwin parked there. It was like a car park for planes. I lost count at 45 planes waiting to take off. Our 4.30 plane took off at 5.30 and plane after plane cued for take off rights. Until the planes started to return for their second trips. We finally arrived after our fair amount of jet fuel sniffing and jet engine hair blow waves at 7.30pm. Got to sit next to the pilot again.
2 matters of concern – one was when a return plane decided to cut across our line – we banked to miss and two upon landing the pilots sun visor fell down and blocked his vision – can I say at that point we were very close to having wheels on ground – Dundee had fingernails in arm rests.
Every one off, kissed the ground, thanked god I was alive and looked quickly for a beer. No beer, well what better than to go to a mates house and show off my purchases.
How good was it really – we have filled 2 planes for next year.
This is Kim Dundee reporting from the Territory.
posted by Kim dundee at 4:14 PM
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