On The Road Again

I woke up still under the open sky to busy bodies around me and smoke in my eyes. Me and David were the only two ones asleep (bloody IBMers!). I showered with the pump down by the billabong, one eye on the hill to spot anyone who was making their way down so I could warn them of the feral naked hippy, one eye out for the crocs. We all packed up camp demonstrating our great team work that was displayed in set up circling like mosquitoes around out beloved ring leader (word Koci!). On the road again after one stop at the homestead and big hug from Casey.

Goodbye on fork to folk heading to Mosman and cairns, quack quack from mother duck Vit, all hugs, no shaking hands. Drive through red earth, to sand, to grey past ant hill sculptures and green of all shades. Black, black bark sitting stark and red puddles smoothly oozing like lava lamps. Crossed Laura River and Horseshoe lagoon, drove through Olive Grove station and up Peninsula development Road. Stopped at Musgrave Telegraph station for lunch dropped Kate and Sharon in Coen, more quacks, hugs and farewells then crossed at Archer river and as night falls we make our way through a narrow road and straddle washouts to arrive at Fox’s hole. Wade through water with our swags and by torchlight find out way onto a sand island to find a small fire dwindling. Vit wakes her up with breath and bark and we bring down the wood and bacon from the car. Me and Meagan play chef and throw bacon on smoking logs shouting white rabbit, our eyes stinging with soot. Snuggle in swag, stars again, sounds of rushing water going through my head.

The Journey Begins

4Am, the ringing sliced through my sleep. I pulled myself out of bed and grabbed the receiver, “this is you’re…” I hung up before I let the automated wake up call could finish its duties. Slumped back in bed I finally dragged into the shower at 4.20am and made it out the front only five minutes late, tea in hand. I got time to drink it too thanks to Miraj who had still not emerged at 4.45am. Stuart did the duties of snapping him from his slumber and by 5.15am we were on the road. First stop at cape tribulation for breakfast and just like in the story I read so long ago the rainforest did meet the sea and matched the illustrations to a tea. Walk through tumbling vines and deep green leaves that then opened up onto white sand and a gentle sea. Our five beaded string of 4WD rolled through red dust, wash outs and rivers that each time sprayed up in surprise, in protest banging on our windows carnage sticking to the sides. We stopped at Bloomsfield falls to watch the raging white foam power down then through Wijal Wijal making it just in time to Cooktown for the FIM (Family Income Management) opening of their new office. Noel Pearson and Ann Sherry spoke strong words for the cause reminding the audience of the passive welfare mentality, the grog epidemic, the lack of self esteem and initiative in communities and the importance of self empowerment and positive partnerships to create a future to hold proud. Ann also mentioned IBM her full support with IBM coming on board with the program and secretly I felt very proud. There were performances, food, networking and a friendly chilled out mood. Back in cars we past the black mountains, two massive mountains of black stones piled high made by two male goanna’s who were trying to impressive the same lady and in competition they built higher and higher only for a cyclone to come along and end this potentially ongoing courtship…or so the story goes.

We camped at Battle Camp station, not the usual stop for secondees but the road was closed into the Lakefield national park. Vit discovered this place a few years back when a group of secondees got bogged in Archer River and walked 22 k’s to the station for help. Neil, Ashley and their two beautiful daughters Casey 5 and Elise 2 live on the 33 000 acres which is apparently a small amount of land for these parts. We camped on a billabong off the archer on their land and they joined us for prawns, fish and snags. I jumped around like a mad woman with the kids, spotted the red eyes of a croc in the billabong below then went peacefully to sleep in my swag, under the stars. The experience is already incredible and we’ve only had one night so far.

Light friendly rain drops on cheek, Vit shakes to wake “the rains coming, better move under tarp”.

Going bush & special guest

Heading bush tomorrow. First stop Cooktown for the opening of the new Family Income Management office. Next stop cape tribulation and then will take the soggy dirt roads to set up camp just past the Daintree River. After that the groups split up and my adventures with Vit begin.

Our first stay will be with the indigenous community in Arakun. We had an all day induction today in preparation for the experience to come. Our special guest at dinner last night and tonight was Ann Sherry, a beautiful, smart, brave woman. (pictured above). She is an inspiration for me and it was quite honour to be sitting next to and chatting with an idol of mine. 4 am start tomorrow and I have to pack so apologies for the rushed entry. I bid you goodnight.

Off Road Driving Training - 11th April

‘Concentrate and listen to me carefully or it may just cost you your life”. Not surprisingly we all pricked up our ears. Pete, our off road driving trainer described the roads through Cape York as “bad and horrible, nothing good about ‘em” and our 4WD’s as “cumbersome, bad handling cars…once you’ve lost control, it’s all over”. We spent the day practicing high speed threshhold breaking and in the processes learnt how to deal with skids. We first practiced on bitchiman and I found the experience of hurtling towards the game Pete, watching, watching his hand till it dropped so we could apply the breaks, really quite alarming. This exercise was repeated later on dirt roads. We were re-programmed to stall the car, hit the animals if they get in your way – DO NOT serve to try and save their fluffy little existence, do not try a re-correct your skid happily bounce off the road into the scrub, it’s better than rolling. If you are about to get in a head on collision, do not slam on the breaks, get off the road, if your not blessed with small scrub, hit a tree (preferable a small one) or an ant hill. Never, under any circumstance slam on the breaks or you’ll skid and roll, a firm tap followed by continuing, increased pressure. Break straight. Colour changes in the road means a condition change. Always walk through bogs and rivers before attempting to cross to test the conditions, even if your rightfully scared of crocs, do it or wait till you see someone else do it, because if you get stuck, you’ll end up crossing the river more than just the once increasing you crocodile attack probability.

Arrival - Cairns 10th April

David Simpson, the other IBMer taking part with me in this adventure spotted me with no troubles. We made our way to gate 38 and pretty easily recognised the Westpac secondees, lap top bags and beaming faces shaking hands. I immediately hopped up and held out my hand, establishing the common link, yes we too are part of the Cape York Program. (above - 1st night w/ the crew)

I spent the flight gazing out at the patchwork ground thousands of miles below and revisiting Noel Pearson’s book, ‘Our Right to Take responsibility’ that was posted to all secondees weeks earlier. Vit Koci (Program Manager) waits at the Arrival gate at Cairns holding a sign that proved to be unnecessary. Most of us know who is and for those that don’t, emerging as one group, there is no chance for confusion. First observation, everyone is lovely, every one of us seems very different but everyone one seems lovely – after all, we all came here for the same reason. Over dinner and beers amongst the niceties and sundry getting to know you banter we share our excitement, our fear our pride of the experience to come. For me, I took a night cap ‘Johno's blues bar’, bid my goodbyes and then back to the hotel - a room with fourteen towels, a spa, a safety sign telling me to “use bathmat when floor is wet”, a plasma TV and fake flowers for “atmosphere”. This is another world but not the one I referred to in anticipation in my first entry . The first two nights are spent in Cairns, a city of touristic shops selling didgeridoos and gimpy souvenirs, a place catered for drunken backpackers, lame honeymooners and retired adventurers. But hey, I’ve been here one night I’m in a new place with great company, I’m not complaining, just being cynical…perhaps it’s time for bed.

Forward Note

First of all it is important to note that I am not on a typical secondment. I am taking part in the Cape York program to not only add a personal contribution to the programs efforts but to also get an overview of the program and the various projects so I can effectively communicate this back to fellow IBMers and knowledgably co-ordinate and promote the program. I will not be based in one spot working on one project for the whole month but rather travelling to a number of different communities. I will be visiting Arakun, Coen, Cooktown and Hopevale with Vit, then I will be spending two weeks in Mosman Gorge working on comms with Family Income Management (FIM) and I will be spending my last weeks in Cairns where I will have the opportunity to meet with a number of Project Managers from Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships (IEP).

Secondly, it is also important that all readers are aware that this blog is a representation of my experiences and observations. I am not speaking for the whole Cape York Program, nor all secondees, nor the wider IBM. To follow this blog is to follow my personal journey and learning processes. Please feel free to comment, query, challenge… and enjoy!

Before the journey begins...

I'm about to begin a journey but before I do it's important to take a couple of lines to say why I'm able to embark on this journey at all. I work for IBM, and yes, I say that proudly with the reputation still attached to my dreadlocks. For one month, IBM is funding me to live and work in remote indigenous communities as part of the Cape York Program. We have just become involved, inspired by our partner Westpac who have been successfully involved in the program for five years and IBM have entrusted me to co-ordinate our involvement in the program. Corporates aren’t setting the agenda, we are resources, skills, fuelling the bulldozer, cogs spinning in the gear box, while in the driver’s seat sit the indigenous people from Cape York. Noel Pearson, Aboriginal Activist, Head of Indigenous Enterprise Partnership that is partnered with the Cape York Program says -
"The problems that afflict Aboriginal Communities have been well documented. Cape York is no exception. We have here, all of the indicators of a dysfunctional society and, without drastic intervention, this points to a miserable future for our people. We believe that the old ways of addressing these issues haven't worked and in many cases, exacerbated the problems. Over recent years, we have embarked on a process of engaging with communities to develop strategies to crunch these issues, but strategies alone aren't enough. What we really need is willing partners who are prepared to bring their expertise to help us deliver these strategies. "

And this is where we come in. We are the willing partners. Skills for a myriad of projects, anything from putting on a simple theatre production to complex IT and marketing projects. Skills that many of us may take for granted are extremely valuable in Cape York Communities. Pearson believes issues requiring immediate attention are the alcohol epidemic, the passive welfare mentality, health & education, domestic violence and the ability to participate in real work. The Cape York Program is committed to working with Indigenous communities to develop solutions and support programs that foster self-sufficiency.

I leave tomorrow and have the feeling I'm about to enter a very different world. Please, send me comments, ask me questions pass this link on, this is a blog for all eyes. At the end of this, after listening, learning, working, I hope I can say, from me to you, yes, we can make a difference.

To learn more about the program and affiliated organisations follow the links below:

http://www.capeyorkpartnerships.com/

http://www.balkanu.com.au/index.html

http://www.cyi.org.au/