In the middle of the driest country most of us have ever seen, the extraordinary Aroona Dam that used to service the Leigh Creek coal mine.
Our last day on tour started with a bracing walk up to a lookout point near Rawnsley Bluff, to be rewarded with glorious views back into Ikara (Wilpena Pound).
Our tour guide and driver Rick whose geological knowledge was outstanding
Friendly ponies at the Copley bakery
Then a long drive back to Adelaide. It will take a few days for all of the experiences to sink in.
Over 7 days we engage with diverse issues including the court system and Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement at Port Augusta, the atomic tests in Woomera, the growth of a ramshackle opal mining town to a perfectly planned modern mining town and uranium mine. We learned about conservation and biodiversity strategies at Arid Recovery, and then stood on an ancient aboriginal campsite in sand dunes in the middle of gibber plains. Lake Eyre, the ghost town at Farina that is being rebuilt by volunteers (excellent bakery too); old Ghan railway town Maree; the old copper mine at Blinman, and finally walking on country with aboriginal elders of the Adnyamathanha people at Iga Warta.
Unexpectedly we were invited to talk to Peter Goers on ABC Adelaide Radio on Tuesday night – Marg, John, Jack and Sinead all discussed the trip and some of the important understandings we gained about aboriginal issues encountered in regional Australia. You can find the podcast here: http://www.abc.net.au/radio/adelaide/programs/evenings/evenings/9937102 at time: 1.04minutes in.
Marg Jack John and Sinead at ABC studios Adelaide
Altogether a transformative experience that will not be forgotten quickly. Now, just final assessment to go!
