Australian Outback
Discussion
Following on from another thread-
I used to work in deepest London, now I work deep in the Australian Outback, people have asked me to post some photos.
I work for the NT Government as places I work include Maningida, Groote Eylandt, Elcho Island, Lajamanu, Nhulunbuy which are many days drive from the nearest town; Most are on the coast and many are unexplored. The area is generally known as Arnhem land and is invite only. There are no roads to most of the places.
I have a number of photo's I cannot upload at this moment but will add to it as I sort the problems. Most of these are ones I saved to facebook as they were things that interested me and not many in the community but are of the outback area.
I was on the beach one day just about to watch the sunset when suddenly I was surrounded by baby turtles- special moment to me
A few photo's from Groote Eylandt. This is a particularly remote place and classes as extreme remote!
this is the main town on Groote Eylandt which basically consists of a mine and a bar. Groote Eylandt is a dry community so they locals are not allowed to use the bar- you have to get a special licence to drink alcohol. Booze and porn are banned. Possible prison if you get found bringing those items in!
A few photo's of watering holes in the outback- all elevated and fast flowing- crocs dont like that so tend to be safe
The NT is famous for its sunsets
My old apartment normally and in a monsoonal cyclone (hurricane to most people) about two days before it hit! That one flooded my place out completely
Some animals I have seen just milling around
this one was near a group of kids and none of the locals would touch it - The indigenous are scared of snakes- good ole pommy
moved it
these things are about 6 feet all - Jabiru's they are called
this fella came and checked out our boat- probably about 7 metres - our boat was not even four metres.
I have loads more pics but trying to recover them from a busted laptop- will add as and when I can
I used to work in deepest London, now I work deep in the Australian Outback, people have asked me to post some photos.
I work for the NT Government as places I work include Maningida, Groote Eylandt, Elcho Island, Lajamanu, Nhulunbuy which are many days drive from the nearest town; Most are on the coast and many are unexplored. The area is generally known as Arnhem land and is invite only. There are no roads to most of the places.
I have a number of photo's I cannot upload at this moment but will add to it as I sort the problems. Most of these are ones I saved to facebook as they were things that interested me and not many in the community but are of the outback area.
I was on the beach one day just about to watch the sunset when suddenly I was surrounded by baby turtles- special moment to me
A few photo's from Groote Eylandt. This is a particularly remote place and classes as extreme remote!
this is the main town on Groote Eylandt which basically consists of a mine and a bar. Groote Eylandt is a dry community so they locals are not allowed to use the bar- you have to get a special licence to drink alcohol. Booze and porn are banned. Possible prison if you get found bringing those items in!
A few photo's of watering holes in the outback- all elevated and fast flowing- crocs dont like that so tend to be safe
The NT is famous for its sunsets
My old apartment normally and in a monsoonal cyclone (hurricane to most people) about two days before it hit! That one flooded my place out completely
Some animals I have seen just milling around
this one was near a group of kids and none of the locals would touch it - The indigenous are scared of snakes- good ole pommy
moved it
these things are about 6 feet all - Jabiru's they are called
this fella came and checked out our boat- probably about 7 metres - our boat was not even four metres.
I have loads more pics but trying to recover them from a busted laptop- will add as and when I can
Edited by james280779 on Monday 1st July 02:39
Edited by james280779 on Monday 1st July 02:40
Edited by james280779 on Monday 1st July 02:40
Edited by james280779 on Monday 1st July 02:55
JCW said:
Interesting. What do you do?
I work for the Government - basically trying to reduce the social and economic gap between white and indigenous Australians. Its a senior position but means I need to travel to alot of communities to meet elders and discuss whats best for both their communities and the federal/ state governments, then trying to put things into place to improve everyones lives. I am currently waiting to find out if I have the position as Director of regulation and compliance for the government, will mean more travel but I love it. Also get paid more when you travel as well as expenses paid.
James_N said:
How awesome! Looks amazing and my sort of place (pretty remote and away from people!!)
Hope you get chance to post the rest
yep, dont come here if you dont like your own company. Sometimes I spend days without anyone to talk to. Sometimes not even seeing another person for four days. I broke down once, took nearly a week to come and rescue me, managed eventually to get to a local freight airfield and hitched a ride back with the parcels! Missed my best friends daughters christening however -I was doing the catering which messed things up. Hope you get chance to post the rest
james280779 said:
yep, dont come here if you dont like your own company. Sometimes I spend days without anyone to talk to. Sometimes not even seeing another person for four days.
Don't need anyone else out there do you? 
james280779 said:
I broke down once, took nearly a week to come and rescue me, managed eventually to get to a local freight airfield and hitched a ride back with the parcels!
Did wonder about breakdowns I recently spent a very lazy Sunday watching something called "Outback Truckers" on Sky TV! Looked pretty adventurous and good fun but can imagine the novelty of getting stuck in mud bogs in the outback wares off pretty quickly!!
James_N said:
Did wonder about breakdowns
I recently spent a very lazy Sunday watching something called "Outback Truckers" on Sky TV! Looked pretty adventurous and good fun but can imagine the novelty of getting stuck in mud bogs in the outback wares off pretty quickly!!
try looking up I recently spent a very lazy Sunday watching something called "Outback Truckers" on Sky TV! Looked pretty adventurous and good fun but can imagine the novelty of getting stuck in mud bogs in the outback wares off pretty quickly!!
'keeping up with the Jones's'
thats a more accurate outback life thing- I know Milton and most of it was genuine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrynSumKd-s
james280779 said:
try looking up
'keeping up with the Jones's'
thats a more accurate outback life thing- I know Milton and most of it was genuine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrynSumKd-s
Will see if i can get it on youtube or download it over the next few days. Love stuff like this so thanks 'keeping up with the Jones's'
thats a more accurate outback life thing- I know Milton and most of it was genuine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrynSumKd-s
bimsb6 said:
Cracking place and pics but no beer !
funny you should say that, just had Darwins first beer festival last weekend- 85 brewers!You can drink in outback but have to get a licence first- I had one so was never an issue but to be honest I hardly ever drank- I used the time to work out and be healthy instead. Some beautiful cross country running tracks so did that most of the time instead.
Jaldi said:
Looks amazing.
I've been to Australia a couple of times but I haven't seen a tiny fraction that you have.
I'd love to see more of your photos and experiences when you get a chance.
The cities down south are lovely but you might as well be in hot london. To see the real Oz you need to head North, North WA, NT and North Qld are the 'real' Australia. Its very different. I've been to Australia a couple of times but I haven't seen a tiny fraction that you have.
I'd love to see more of your photos and experiences when you get a chance.
I chat to some southerners and they havent even met a full blood aboriginal let alone lived with them for a while. I know I am very lucky.
Last year on the Thursday I was hunting remote with spears and taking part in bush medicine rituals in 40 degree heat, by the Saturday I was sitting in a pub in the East end in the middle of winter telling my mates about it. So hard to comprehend.
exkay said:
Hi James,
Nice pics, bit diffferent to Perth city, but similar to up north of Perth,
Your jobs slightly different to plod back home eh, what a nice change.
We spoke about getting the car in do you remember ? we commute between Perth and Kent UK
I probably speak to about 3/4 a week, most dont ship when they find out the real costs or the difficulties. Some do but dont speak to me then contact me after they get hit with 1000's worth of bills - by that time its too late. Nice pics, bit diffferent to Perth city, but similar to up north of Perth,
Your jobs slightly different to plod back home eh, what a nice change.
We spoke about getting the car in do you remember ? we commute between Perth and Kent UK
I think I spoke to your missus tho if I remember rightly then you shortly after? Maybe something to do with E types?
mikal83 said:
The "clue" was the word outback!
Australian outback is the unsettled regions of Northern Australia, this can cover desert, tropical, bush and beach. The phrase has been used describe the arid areas over the last few years but this is incorrect use.'out back' refers to the lands beyond the settled towns. Remoter areas were also referred to as the 'never never' and the 'back of beyond'
It is also generally believed that the term 'out back' refers to any point North of the Black Stump in Wagga Wagga, this stump has long since gone but I am most definately North of it. The phrase stems from the 1800's.
I would personally refer to the beach area's and surrounding as 'bush' but they also are technically 'outback'
Edited by james280779 on Wednesday 3rd July 00:19
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