Day 10: Monday 2 April (8pm, Ayr)
First day of real work and it was fabulous - yes, I’m talking about work!! Well, it began with big, bright smiles from Lynette and a huge welcoming hug from John, so was off to a great start!
Eddie was working most of the day in his paid job as Police Liaison Officer but he dropped in and out to check whether he could help me understand the various plans I’ve been asked to review.
With everyone travelling through here on their way to the now combined men’s/women’s trip to Mile Island, we had visitors to the office throughout the day. Renarta and Bim popped in on their way to the shops and stayed for a cuppa. I got to meet another Board Member, Charmaine, as she took a break from the campsite too.
I then met one of the goanna's that have been hiding out in the garden as he sat in the sunshine in front of our entrance - he didn't stay long.
One more new person for the day - Jardine, Michaela’s Dad, had come in to check out the new decking that was finished on Friday. He’ll be painting and staining the deck and surrounds, in readiness for it to be opened up as a café in a couple of months – one of the very important and ongoing employment initiatives for this group. The business plan for the café has already been written, but it’s one of the plans I’ve been given to review and enhance with the cultural aspects I’ve been learning about over the past week.
John and the Gudjuda board have been responsible for employing more than 30 indigenous people over recent years. This is more than all the Townsville job search agencies have been able to employ in the same timeframe and this incredible success is getting noticed. It’s one of the key reasons they were selected by ABV (Australian Business Volunteers) for the program I’m participating in. It’s also spurring them on to formalise other ideas as business plans, including the visions they have for the showgrounds at Home Hill that I visited last week. However, the amount of paperwork required by each submission is enormous and a little surprising to me when there seems to be an abundance of funds made available to some indigenous organisations. But the rigour behind the submissions is all taken in its stride by the team, who just start work on the next as soon as the last has been dropped off to the post office.
After my first full day in the office, I headed for home with the plans under my arm to keep working on them over dinner. I guess it will take more than a week in the country to shock the workaholic out of me, but this is so exciting and I can’t wait to get a strong template together for my Gudjuda friends in the hope that it makes their future submissions a little bit easier to prepare.
So it’s been a day of people (and animal!) traffic and even an evening visitor! Ray has just wandered over with a book he’s written of ‘Practical Recipes’, obviously from his own busy kitchen. Only last night I heard a regular guest asking Ray for their favourite meal from his menu. He’s been such a thoughtful host, always looking out for me to be sure I'm OK. I really don't have to look far to be reminded of how very lucky I am - I'm in good hands and definitely being watched over by some special angels while here! J
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