Clontarf: West Kimberley Academy-News: Gibb River Camp

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Words: BSHS Academy
Photos: BSHS Academy
September 10th, 2009

WKFA CLASS GIBB RIVER ROAD CAMP DIARY

The WEST KIMBERLEY Football Academy class spent three nights camping in the King Leopold Ranges.

TUESDAY 26th MAY

On Tuesday the 26th May the WKFA Class packed swags, clothes and equipment into the troopies ready for their Gibb River Road adventure. They checked the tyres, oil and fuel and headed out on the road to Derby full of excitement.

After lunch in Derby we hit the Gibb River Road, driving over Lennard River Bridge and passed Queen Victorias head in the Napier Ranges. We started driving through a beautiful hilly landscape crossed by streams and saw a helicopter throwing down fire bombs to do some cool season burning.

At last we arrived at Dog Chain Creek in the King Leopold Ranges. We unpacked our swags and clothes, collected firewood and went for a refreshing swim. We checked the map ready for our walk the next day whilst Doc and Ryan cooked us a bbq feast before we settled down for the night.

WEDNESDAY 27th MAY

We woke up at 5.30. We didn’t have a bogey but just had weetbix and a cup of tea and got ready for our hike. For the hike we had to wear long pants, hat and shoes and take a water bottle. On the hike we helped Doc collect seeds from native plants and stopped at a cave for some snacks and a break. On the hike we saw lots of wildlife including kangaroos, barney, yellow-bellied black snake, kookaburras, owls, black frogs and green ants that stung us.

Towards the end of the hike we climbed down a beautiful, spectacular waterfall. The hike was hard work but quite an adventure.

We drove to Galvans Gorge and had lunch. At the Gorge we had great fun swinging off a rope and landing in the water. We had a big swimming race and Gayden just beat Mr. Sean. We left Galvans Gorge and drove further up the Gibb River Road to Mt. Elizabeth station. Doc cooked up a big stew for dinner. We were all tired after our big day and went straight to bed.

THURSDAY 28th MAY

On Thursday morning we met up with Scotty from Dodnun Community on Mt. Elizabeth station. Scotty showed us the way out to some Aboriginal paintings. Scotty said some of the paintings were 70,000 years old. He told us some of the stories connected to the paintings. Our favourite painting was one of a barney with eggs inside it.

On the way back to camp we stopped at Hann River and Scotty helped us make spears. We went swimming and fishing with lines and our spears. Tyrone caught a long neck turtle and Ethan and Ryan caught some Black Bream which they cooked for lunch.

We had lunch, packed up camp and said goodbye to Mt.Elizabeth. In the afternoon we visited the big cliffs of Adcock Gorge. We had great fun jumping off the cliff into the deep cold water and exploring the magnificent waterfalls.

Reluctantly we left Adcock Gorge and headed for Silent Grove. Mr. Sean and his crew were late because we had a blow –out. Samuel and Simon helped. Before we went to sleep we told scary stories.

FRIDAY 29th MAY

We lad a big cook up for breakfast then packed up and headed home. When we were cruising home just passed Napier Range when we saw a really fat barney. We all jumped out and chased it off into the bush. Waylon grabbed the wheel spanner gave it to Simon. We could hear the Barney in the bush. Waylon grabbed his tail and we caught him.