Hopkins & Patterson trip “on country”- Parnngurr Community & More..............

Following adventures in Karajini we travelled to Newman to catch up with Jack & Flynn’s’ mate Arieh. We stayed with the Patterson’s (Mathew (patto), Erica, Arieh & Stella) and during our stay got the opportunity to visit an Aboriginal Community about 400 k’s from Newman. The Patterson’s lived on the community as a family for two years. 

 Patto works for a non for profit organisation called Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ) which is based at Newman. KJ work primarily with the Martu people of the Western Desert Region who’s first contact with “white fellas”was only 40 years ago! 

 KJ is funded by Common wealth, state and local Government as well as the corporate sector. KJ’s two primary objectives are for Martu culture to be preserved and to build sustainable Martu communities. Please view their website for more detail on the great work KJ undertake- http://kj.org.au/

As Patto was working we adventured out to Parnngurr (pronounced “Bung or”) with Erica & family. Now, the trip to Parnngurr is all dirt and long, long way in 40 plus degrees!  At the halfway mark we stopped for a unique “Australiana” experience with a swim in an above ground water tank for a well-earned rest. We finally arrived at the community where we were introduced to the resident head male and female KJ Rangers; Mark and Mukalook (thank you very much guys).

Over the next two days we were lucky enough to hang out with Mukalook and the Martu and got to witness the Ranger program in action. This included checking Mukalook’s remote sensor cameras in an attempt to catch an indigenous Bilby which has not been seen in the area for a long while. We then got to go on a half day trip to a local water source at Cotton Creek. Watching our kids interact with the Martu kids (who are instinctive hunters by nature) and sitting down with some of the Elders in the Community for damper and “billy tea” was a very special experience. The following images say more than words ever will. I would like to say a big thank you to Patto & Erica for being such great people and giving us an insight into the Martu people. We had a ball!

Finding Red Dog, car troubles and the Indian Ocean at last………….

Port Headland

After our long hot drive to and from Parnngurr we developed a leak in Nellie’s radiator and had to drive back to Port Headland to pick up another for some roadside repairs………another story there! Port headland is (without being rude) not the most attractive town and is the largest bulk handling port in the world and is set to expand still further. Besides being the hub for the Pilbara’s mining exports, Rio Tinto operate quite a large salt export operation from Headland. From a modern industry perspective it is impressive….to my male mind anyway!

Roebourne Gaol…..Now Museum

Roebourne museum is now located in the old gaol which in itself was a well thought out piece of prison architecture for the time. The stone hexagonal building replaced the original small and very inadequate timber gaol which was ruined from termites and cyclone damage. The museum’s fascinating and very chilling when you read of the slavery and shocking treatment of the Aboriginal in gaol. Remembering this treatment carried on until the 1940’s.

Cossack & Point Sampson

We then travelled onto Cossack & Point Sampson. Cossack is a heritage listed little town with some beautiful old buildings which was busier 100 years ago. Cossack was the original home of the pearl industry before being fished out and moving onto Broom. It was also the main port for the region until it was later moved to Point Sampson which was naturally deeper and not prone to silting up.

Cleaverville Bush Camp

We based ourselves 50 k’s outside Karratha & Dampier at a national park called Cleaverville. A beautiful spot, although it was getting a touch hot as the build-up approaches in the Pilbara. The water was pristine with rocks covered in fresh oysters which we did enjoy.

Karratha & Dampier

From Cleaverville it was off to Karratha and Dampier to catch up with Red Dog and Isaac & Lea (congratulations on your new arrival and thanks for your hospitality). If you haven’t seen the film based on the “Pilbara wonderer” (Red Dog-the movie) its well worth a look.  There is a statue on the edge of Dampier in remembrance of Red Dog.

Karratha & Dampier both service the mining and North West shelf oil and gas industries. The Woodside gas processing plant at Dampier which is joined to an oil rig network of platforms and rigs via a 156km pipeline is impressive. Liquefied natural & petroleum gas are processed for export and supply to Perth. The Dampier Archipelago to the west of Dampier would also be amazing if one had a boat. A network of protected islands that would offer great fishing and diving.

From here it was off to Exmouth. The call of the surf is getting far too much for me to bare. After 6 months without surf it’s all about “me”. We are now in Exmouth and I have had my first surf and it wasn’t amazing but probably one of the best I’ve ever had………it felt GOOOOOOD. We are here for a few days to stock up and wash etc. and then it’s off to the national park for some adventures in and on the Ningaloo Reef. Cheers for now, Hoppo- Hopkins go walkabout 2014.