March 26
An early morning wakeup call started us off on our day’s adventures.
A 2 hour and 20 minute flight to Alice Springs and our first ever 1.5 hour time change. (You figure that one out) and we are officially in the Outback.
The Outback even today continues to be a very large, remote inland desert. Used chiefly as cattle stations and for some recreation, ‘homes’ are few and far between. Being so spread out it is obvious that there are no ‘services’ provided and each location needs to be self serving. Generators are used for electricity which may only be available for 1 hour a day.
First stop, the Royal Flying Doctor’s Service. Started in 1928 it provides health care to the remote locations throughout the Outback. Always on call are a doctor, flight nurse and pilot so a patient can be reached within 2 hours. These life savers provide emergency care as well as routine preventative care to these distant locations. Patients often describe their symptoms remotely where the Drs determine the course of action from simply prescribing from the ‘stations’ on site medicines, to a visit, or to an emergency air evacuation. This particular station, one of 16, covers an area with a 400 radius. Even with today’s modern medical treatments this service is necessary to the people’s well being in this remote land. Had a quick bite to eat and we’re off again.
Next stop the Alice Springs School of the Air. This unique school is the largest classroom in the world covering an area double the size of Texas, 521,000 sq miles. Established in 1951, it provides distance education via radio and now Internet/satellite communication to students from ages 4.5 to 14 in remote area. This particular school serves 116 students with the furthest student 800 miles away. To these retired educators it sounds like a piece of cake…no bus duty…no lunch duty…no hall duty…no dances to supervise…no discipline problems..no dress codes. The downside of course is that you have multiple grade levels and ALL subjects. The students regularly finish in the top 10% on national tests.
Spent a little time walking through the ‘downtown’ area of Alice Springs. This quaint town is truly there for the tourist with it multitude of shops housing souvenirs and original Aboriginal art. Many native aborigines were evident throughout town and along the roadside, many selling their art directly and many more just “there.”
We finished the day’s regular program with a visit to the telegraph station which was the original site of the town. The overland telegraph line was constructed from 1870-72 which allowed Australia to communicate with the rest of the world. Alice Springs was the mid way point between Darwin and Adelaide so it grew in importance. This well preserved site is currently a tourist attraction and is still used by schools for a 3 day/nite experience. Students dress in period clothing, cook in the manner of the 1800’s and attend classes in a large hall.
Back to the hotel. We are spending the next few days at a Casino Hotel. Lots of perks being here, some of which include a swimming pool in this lovely 80 degree weather. Off tonight to feed the wallabies and experience some local food.
More to come.
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