Nitmiluk Gorge

Saturday, March 22, 08
Waking at 6:45, Pat picks me up and transports me for the Nitmiluk Gorge Tour. I am fortunate that this is Easter weekend. Pat has off through Tuesday-chauffeuring me around. Pat stays at the visitor center while I am one of 60 lucky people on a boat which leaves 9:00, traveling through 2 of the 13 gorges comprising Nitmiluk Gorge. Each gorge is separated from the other by a rock barrier-rapids. These gorges are believed to be 1.6 million years old of sandstone layers. The second gorge is a specifically sacred area for the Jawoyn people, Aborigines, who "own" the gorge. This area, their ancestral land, is theirs but leased back to the park system. The Jawoyn people use the sub-gorges, areas which allow access to the river through cleavages in the sandstone cliffs, for initiation rites, for washing, to drink of the water and then leave. They do not allow anything to be taken out or disturbed - that also applies to us. Not a stone, leaf, or any such thing. To break this will bring the wrath of the god and the monsoonal rains will ravage the area. Birds are everywhere. The Birrirt, fruit bat or flying fox, are thickly hanging in their favorite trees. Sulfur crested cockatoo land in trees next to where I am sitting. There are 5 distinct seasons for the Aboriginal people. These are distinguished by rain fall, flowering plants, etc. Nitmiluk means "The Place of Cicadas".
Returning to Katherine, we see a water level indicator at a bridge. The rains are in contrast to the neighboring state of Queensland which has been under drought conditions for the past several years and water is rationed.
Lunch is a sandwich and tea.
At 3:00, I start my shift at the St John Ambulance station. Unbelievably, there is no call till around 9:00. Andrew Langston, Matt Parce, and I head toward Mataranka where we will meet another ambulance half way. 48 km out we pull over for the transfer of a man experiencing a heart attack. Along the way we squish several cane toads on the road. These toads were brought into Queensland to eradicate the beetle infestation. They did not like the beetles but have spread out creating havoc everywhere. They are presently here in Darwin. Poisonous to all, even crocodiles die if they eat them. There is no known predator. However, presently, crows have learned to flip them on their backs and make a meal of these pests. As we turn for the hospital, we receive another call from Mataranka asking us to return, after this transport, to pick up a baby burned on 25% of its body. I decide to be dropped off at my cabin and not take the 3 hour round trip. It is 10:30. Matt and Andrew both believe the baby will most likely not make the trip alive. Tragic! I don't want to either listen to the pains of a baby or watch him die. Everything here in the Outback is casual. No uniforms, except the EMTs. The nurse transporting the first patient arrived in a Toyota land cruiser and is wearing a spaghetti top with a short jean skirt. At the hospital, the doctor has on a polo shirt and blue jeans. The three nurses are in regular street clothes. In the hall is a room, no door, where all types of supplies are kept. Life is casual, laid back and personal.