Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2010 14:12:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rubber Rider <rubber_rider07@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Farming Part 4

Part 4 - Farming - going on holiday

Our first night was spent by a nice little lake and we cooked our supper on
a small BBQ washing it down with two bottles of beer. Rolled our swags out
and zipped them together and had a wonderful sleep. Before you ask we made
love under the stars. Those swags did not get unzipped for a long time,
however soon after landing the next day we had some rain and therefore
slept under the wings.

We eventually came to the first of Jim's stations and called in and landed
there, we were made most welcome and told to come over to the big house for
a scrub up and dinner that night. We said we had best refuel first, where
do we park please so we taxied the plane over to the fuel barrels. After
filling up we were asked to park about 50 yards away in the shelter of a
large building where there were tied down rings cemented into the ground.
Soon after dinner the winds were getting up and so everything was tied
down. Then the rains came and it was sure heavy, the big house had TV and
we were able to see the weather forecast, it was not looking good. Our host
Keith the station manager said you might be staying here tomorrow and
better here than flying at least you are safe.

Thanks so much, it may be a blessing in disguise as we are having
management problems and from what we hear you do not get problems so we
want learn what you are doing different.

Well the rains got very heavy over night that some flooding occurred
including the landing strip that had over 6 inches on its surface.

Well we went with station manager over to the office the next morning and
got down to business. Roger started with questions about planned
maintenance and he learnt they did not have any thing in place, so Roger
explains the pros and cons of going this way. John asked about ploughing
and what happens if a machine a breaks down. We have to wait for a mechanic
to come in to do the repairs. Well the way I understand it this is a loss
of production; the manager says yes.

John asks do you not have a maintenance man, no we do not that is a pity in
my opinion. Do you have one, well yes its Roger here; you see when Dad had
the farm I looked after the farm as I loved the soil and animals whereas
Roger enjoyed welding and other farm maintenance. All I can say John you
are very lucky to have a brother like that; well it is all thanks to our
Dad rest his sole.

While we are both in the office a call comes is saying such and such an
engine appears to have water in the fuel. Keith comment was bugger now we
will not be able to get anyone in for few days.

Keith was really mad and said you know you guys are right we need a
maintenance man. OK Keith you got any coveralls and tools I don't promise
anything but I will at Iook at the problem if you are agreeable. Well put
it this way we cannot take off; oh thank you so much, I will take you out
there.

Well after two hours out on the job, the problem was resolved and the
engine was running well. The operator was an Aboriginal man and I showed
him what to do whenever he refueled and how to change the fuel
filter. After showing and making sure he understood, he suddenly got up and
hugged me saying thank you so much. So eventually we left the job site and
on the way back, Keith said you were rolling in all that mud did that not
concern you, I said no the job needed to be done. Keith is simply shaking
his head I cannot believe what I have just witnessed, however thank you so
much and will let our boss Jim knows what has taken place.

We get back and John see me, saying brother you look as if you need you're
back scrubbing -- sure do John. So what showers are in the bunkhouse none
says Keith they are outside that is fine. John gets me some clean shorts, a
scrubbing brush and soap please and I will see in the shower.

Well we both get cleaned up, Keith said let have your dirty clothes and we
can get them into the laundry include those coveralls as well.

Roger you need at least a couple beers while we talking Keith said I have
never seen an Aboriginal hug a white man like you got. All I said was show
them what to do to make there job easier after all they are no different to
you or I.

Keith said I have never looked at this way that was a real revelation thank
you so much.

Keith asks how come you Roger did not seem to be concerned with mud and
water, John started laughing by saying if you had seen my brother when he
was working in northern Canada on pipeline welding you would understand,
there it is not only muddy it is also cold with biting cold winds.

Well Keith lets see what the TV weather forecast is showing as we would
like to move on as we are supposed to be on holiday. Keith says anytime you
are this way you both very welcome to stay and I must thank you both for
all the information you have given me. So where do you guys plan on heading
for; we want to have a look at Alice Springs and according to maps there is
a landing strip about half way and is supposed to have fuel. Keith says I
rather doubt any fuel there but let me check that out right away. Keith
gets hold of Dennis the manager of the adjacent station and he say sorry no
fuel but if they come in here we can fill them up OK. Thanks Dennis I'll
let you know when they take off from here. The pilots are John & Roger, and
they work for my boss, look forward to meeting them talk to you later.

Keith shows John and Roger where to go and marks it on the charts and it is
about another 45 minutes further on. We make it OK, meet up with Dennis,
and spent the night there and then take off early heading for Alice Springs
arriving there about mid afternoon. We rented a Ute and did some sight
seeing and amazed how green everything is in town. While there, we took
some day tours out of town and had a great time.

We are getting ready to depart and get our plane loaded and this night we
slept in our sways under the wings. Just before settling down for the night
our phone goes, on answering Hi guys Jim here how is it going and where are
you now, under the wings of the plane in our swags at Alice Springs.

Hope you are not having problems no but we are going to start heading home
and want to get moving as soon as it gets daylight. Well would you be
willing in calling in at the other station and see Joe there who is the
station manager -- we said no problem Jim. Well he wants to meet you, as
it appears you are making quite a name for yourselves having a working
holiday.

Where is the station Jim? It is simple just follow the main road south out
of Alice Springs about a two hours flight. Then continue south and you will
see a development road, just follow this hopefully you will see a large Ute
with a flag tied down over roof just follow that Ute it will be Joe or
someone he has sent out to meet you give the Ute a call using Tara Ute.

Let you go have a good night will talk to you to-morrow evening -- Bye
Guys.

We woke up just before daylight the following morning and got a brew of tea
going with enough to fill our flasks we also had some fruit bars and such
like. Roger did an aircraft check and doubled checked the fuel tanks were
full despite filling up last night. While this was going on I got the swags
stowed in the plane and we were ready to fire up.

We took off and could see the contrasts in the landscape and it is very
interesting to see the landscape from above. We got to the main road
junction and then spotted the Ute and gave the a call on the radio and made
contact with comment welcome to Tara Station just follow this well used
road and we will meet you there.

We landed at Tara Station landing strip, we were called and to told to
follow another truck up to a large building and were told to back up to the
building. Once that was done shut her down and allow to cool off after
which we will tow the plane back into hanger.

So who Is Roger and John welcome come on in and have a beer I'm Joe the
station manager. Where have you been and I understand you originate from
Canada and our country must be a complete contrast for weather and
everything that goes with it. Well Joe you sure got that right Canada was
good to us and when we were kids Dad looked after us. We worked on the farm
even when we were at school but never lost a days schooling Dad may sure of
that.

Another beer guys, thanks that would be nice after more general talk Joe
said Supper will be in about one hour and invite you both but first I must
show you your room.

Sorry I have only one room but it does have a big bed so you should not
disturb each other during the night and should you need to piss during the
night just outside is the outhouse right close to the veranda. Flashlights
are on both sides of the bed. Get your bags and I will see you both shortly
on the verandah for dinner. We have no shortage of water so the shower is
next room to your room.

Showering and we both got a good scrub of our backs and that felt so good,
dressing for dinner we both decided to wear our jock straps as our shorts
are fairly short in the leg and decent shirt we walked out on to the
veranda bare footed.

Joe was there and asked us what we would like to drink before dinner. Joe
said he was having a G&T and so we said that sounds good, would you like a
slice of either lemon or lime; lime would be nice thanks.

Our talk over dinner was just general chit chat, however finally Joe says I
would like to sit down with you guys and discuss a number of things as I
hear you have some very good idea's that hopefully we can use here. We said
no problem, great was the answer. There is one question I would like to ask
is how did you meet Jim Fielder our Boss. I was the assistant manager of
his Canadian farm and after about 4½ years I get a call from Jim asking if
it was OK to come over and meet up with me, I not problems good I'll be
there about one hours time, so I'm outside on the office veranda awaiting
his arrival. As he pulls up he calls out jump in the truck please and we
took off to an isolated place once there we got out and sat on the tail
gate and he was quizzing me again about my background and in the course of
discussion I said my brother who is working up north as a welder working on
oil and gas pipelines.

The big problem is we don't see each other; our contact is by email almost
daily. Jim said I want to meet your brother and see for myself the work he
is doing. In the mean time Jim had made me an offer to come out to
Australia for a month to look things over; I said I couldn't leave this
country to work in Australia because my brother and I have a deep affection
for each other.

Well we did go up North we meet with Roger at the camp site and on his job
site which was really very shitty with mud and water. After dinner that
night, Roger said to the rest of the welding crew in the cookhouse -- hey
guys a moment please, I want to introduce John my brother and his friend
and I expect you will see them around for a few days, they are both OK
guys, thanks everyone.

Suddenly everyone is coming over and introducing themselves to the both of
us, we eventually left and finished up in Jim's room, normal talk and we
all went to bed. Roger said he had to get up a 5:30 am and we said we were
going to follow him out to the job site, we watched what he was doing for
about an hour and then went to other sites before returning to camp we
stopped again and briefly Jim said I want to talk to you this evening so if
you can get finished earlier all the better. Back at camp we both got
cleaned up and had gone for a mug of tea when we heard Rogers voice -- hi
Peter can you get me a mug of tea please, sure thing. I get up grab the tea
from Peter we talk briefly and says I need my back scrubbed please no
problems brother I said to Jim I will see you later.

Roger heads straight for the showers and laundry and says have you washed
your coveralls yet no they are in a bag get them and throw them in with
mine.

I scrub Roger back and he says in the locker over there is my razor and
clippers I need a haircut please that was all done and got the best hug I
have had for a long time and Roger is saying you don't know how I miss you
mate I said like wise. We went back to Rogers's room, and he said what the
heck is going on, my answer was all will come out this evening after
dinner.

The rest of went on is now obvious so here we are Australian Citizens with
a pommy accent.

Joe said you have been talked about especially by Keith and the re-action
by the Aboriginal equipment operator, we both laughed. So Joe do you have
maintenance man who can do welding and such like. No we do not how ever I
have done a little welding but not very well either but we do get bye.

So in the morning I will take you on a tour of the station but before that
we need a night cap I can offer you anything providing it is scotch and we
do have ice. That sounds good. We had two drinks and then headed for bed,
once we are stripped off we make love then take a pee and Roger is fucking
me and I fall asleep with him still inside me as he was still there when I
woke up needing a early morning pee on my return Roger has moved onto his
back and I remove his condom and then proceed giving my brother a good blow
job, he finally shot loads and I swallowed all of it. By this time Roger
was awake and I am the receiver of similar treatment, by now we heard and
assume it was Joe moving about, the time being 5:45 am. So we got up and
into our older shorts and singlet and headed for the kitchen and found the
tea was made, we got our mugs filled and sat outside a few moment later Joe
showed up, he said after breakfast we will go to the office and check the
emails and then take off on the tour of the property and we are 1500 sq
miles and the largest of the three properties, hence some of our tour will
be bye helicopter.

We have a really great breakfast of bacon, eggs, tomatoes and hash
browns. We also get three large flasks of tea. We head for our room get our
socks and boots on and grab out hats and then follow Joe over to the
office, after which we do a tour of all the farm buildings, in the workshop
area Roger spots the welding truck and he's checking it over he sees it is
fitted up with both gas and arc welding but can see no power take off for
using a grinder so asks about that. Joe's answer is the arc welder is on
its last legs and it is going have to be replaced.

The bunkhouses are pointed out, and the family homes and we have at present
15 kids living with there parents on site, they all get there schooling via
the School of the Air and some years ago we converted a smaller home into a
school house. So that is where the kids all go each morning for there
schooling and one parent is always there to ensure there is no messing
around. Internet is now used by the school of the air and we set up a
wide-angle camera so that the teacher can also see the kids. I said it is
just the kids were in the classroom with teacher.

Anyway, we carried on in the local area and the Joe says Ok we will go and
met some of my crew out in the bush and for that, we will fly out them. He
heads to the building used as a hanger and wheels the helicopter out into
the open and after the routine check Joe starts the machine up and invites
us both to board telling us to use he helmets as not only do they have ear
muffs built in there is also communication between all of us.

We headed west where they are branding cattle, we land a fair distance away
so as not to disturb the cattle and walk over to the branding site, most of
crew were Aborigine's and from what we see they were doing a good job. I
talked with some of the Aborigine's and introduced myself, there was much
shaking hands and then one of them ask was I the guy who help one of my
mates after he got water in the fuel; I said no but was my brother over
there.

Roger can you come over hear mate. I told him his fame was following him
that caused a lot of laughter. Roger get a big handshake and a hug and the
rest of the crew is patting on his back, thanks mate make sure Joe is
looking after you well.

Joe I think we should move on, seeing believed, and said I have never seen
that before says Joe. Joe gets the chopper running and we both board and
once airborne give the crew a good wave. The next stop was where they were
ploughing and sowing grass for hay so hopefully, they will get some rain
again to soak the ground.

Roger said the area is enormous and it looks like four machines doing the
work, yes that is correct. Joe hovered while we watched and we took some
photos after this we headed back to base.

Once on the ground we helped Joe get the chopper back into the hanger
including getting it refueled ready for use in an emergency.

Joe said come on guys I think we all need something to drink other than
tea, oh we need to collect our flasks so put them in the kitchen, just
rinse them out please and leave them full of water please. I will see you
out on the rear veranda I assume scotch OK for everyone -- thanks sure
is.

Roger and John get their boots and socks off, Joe now does the same thing
and says oh that feels better and he already got three glasses with stiff
scotch on ice poured. The three of them slowly sips at the scotch and
finally Joe says I thought I was getting a bunch of BS from my mate up
north, however seeing it actually take place under my own yes make the
proof so I will have to except the fact. We made no comment other than to
say our tour was very interesting and thank you so much for your time. That
was no problem, it was a privilege as far as I am concerned; you both have
given me a lot to think about, and I thank you for spending some of your
vacation visiting me sort of a busman holiday!

It was John that said, thanks for your time, a question how long is the
flying time back to our base, about six hours subject to winds, OK we will
make sure our fuel tanks totally full and then we will depart to-morrow
morning about 6:00 am unless you have any other questions. Joe says why no
stay another day please gets everything into the plane to-morrow do your
refuel and checks everything out.

To-morrow you can see the kids at work in the schoolhouse, as they are the
ones that need to be given the correct direction. John said do they have
school uniform, no was Joes answer. Joe I suggest you get a bunch of
suitable of Hi-Vis shirts for the kids explaining that these shirts show up
well and could save a life. I suggest you get the flame orange in fact; we
will both wear our Hi-Vis shirts to-morrow as it no good promoting
something unless you set the example. Joe made a surprising comment he had
a shirt because Jim was asking that all our crew wore the same; have to
admit I have never worn mine but will dig it out.

John said it is a matter of leading by example Joe. Roger also added he had
fireproof Hi-Vis coveralls that he wears when doing maintenance so he is
ready for any welding. John said when I started Kens crew were all using
Hi-Vis gear and this site has been to only one going that way and included
all the kids living on site.

The next morning we dressed wearing our Hi-Vis gear and with Joe went to
the schoolhouse.

The teacher just happened to see us coming into the schoolroom via the
video link and said guys we should all watch this and put our camera on
line so it was seen by all kids wear ever they were. The teacher said
please go ahead, John took the lead and introduced my brother and Joe the
station manager. Good morning, Teacher and thanks for your time, the
purpose of our visit is to have safety on the various stations. Everyone
need to be seen and the type of shirt is just the start, being flame orange
you will be seen more easily in the dust that sometimes occurs and we want
to start with getting you boys and girls thinking this way and not getting
hit either. Now we are at the Tara Station and Joe will be getting shirts
for all of our kids here, incidentally the shirt cost about $10 including
all taxes so not expensive however, the first one will be provided for you
at no cost. Roger added his piece by saying at work he wears fireproof
Hi-Vis coveralls so if welding is required then I am dressed in a safe
manner as welding you can easily be burnt depending on the job you are
doing.

Thanks Teacher for your time sorry we gave you no warning of our visit,
thank you so much, now boys & girls wearing this type of shirt is no
different to wearing a school uniform which would be required if you were
livening in town. Lets all give a round of applause to our guests this
morning. Thank you so much Joe, John & Roger. We hear the kids asking
questions to the teacher, we stand and listen, then the teacher asks are
your guest still there Tara Station. Yes we are listening to the kids and
there questions. Boys and girls try to encourage your Dad to wear Hi-Vis
clothing and if it is very dusty use safety glasses as they will stop bulk
of the dust getting into your eyes. Well we have to be on our way now
hopefully we talk to you later -- Bye for now.

We head for Joe's office and we all sort of start talking at the same time,
but we were on the same line. Roger said I found it very interesting that
little camera was able to seen by many other kids and schoolhouses. I must
check and see if our schoolhouse can do the same when we get home. John
says Joe sorry I spending your station funds, that is no problem I hope Jim
saw what went on because that will make him very happy. John if not I am
sure the School of the air records everything incase of problems and we
should be able to get copy from them, which one do you use? The original
one, that operates out of Alice Springs.

We have some lunch with a great bowl of soup and in fact had a second one
it was really good