I am not your typical outback chick. I often think about all of my fabulous friends up here and have no idea how they do it all. They can ride horses like it is nobodies business, they are so damned competent and could probably turn their hands to almost anything. I swear nothing scares them. Me on the other hand… well lets just say I am more of an indoor cat (well that’s what Mr Chardy calls me and it has kind of stuck). The thought of getting out, riding horses and all that jazz seems like a great idea when I am watching McLeod’s Daughters re runs and I really do think “yeah… I could do that – they make it look so easy” but then reality sets in and lets be honest – I have no desire to ride a horse. So it is probably best that I leave it to my wonderful friends, I will just stick to organising their social lives, cooking, sewing and tapping away on this little computer of mine. Sounds like a thrill a minute doesn’t it.
So why do I love it so much out here? I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. It is such a unique way of life… so here goes..
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Community
Yep, you heard right – community. We may live at bum truck nowhere and our neighbours may be a 2 hour drive away through the paddock. The closest town, Camooweal in QLD, may be a 3 hour drive away but by golly there is a great community up here and I just love being a part of it. A lot of us live a long way from our families, we are basically Outback Expats. This means that our friends are our family. Mr & Mrs Savvy B from next door are our family, Mrs SB is just like my sister actually so it works out well. Everyone becomes really close. Look, here she is, isn’t she lovely – look at that smile…
Oh and did I mention how bloody easy going everyone is out here. Nothing phases anyone. No one offends easily. We would all bend over backwards to help each other out, doesn’t matter who you are, what you do or where you come from, everyone just gets in and gets on with it. -
Social Life
Whenever there is a party, gathering or social function it isn’t like your average town gig where you get ready, find a babysitter, trot off for a great night and then find your way home again. Oh no – a social gathering up here usually involves getting ready, packing bags for the whole family, fuelling up the car, sorting out snacks to eat in the car and then driving anywhere from 1, 2, 3 or 4 hours just to get to said social gathering… sometimes 7 hours, yep we are dedicated when it comes to mixing it up.
So then of course we have to stay the night at said event, party or function. Kids tag along and get to play with their friends. Then we all pack up the next morning and head home… the long drive home, hoping and praying that we don’t get a flat tyre. Nobody really feels like changing a tyre after a night out. It is always so good to catch up with everyone, nothing beats sipping wine with my friends. Like a giant sleep over really.I think that is another reason why everyone becomes so close, we don’t just meet up, say hi and then say goodbye, we usually stay the night. Just like you would with family… or maybe you wouldn’t??
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Station Life
Such a unique way of life and what a great way to bring up children. There are no bullies (apart from the Jackaroo’s, ha ha ha), no school uniforms, no polished shoes, no school lunch boxes to pack, no school drop off, no racing around to after school sports activities and their backyard is 1.7 million acres.
My boys do School of the Air, so they have their own school room and their own Governess who teaches them. In fact, the new Govie is arriving today. They have one on one help with their school work.
I used to think that everyone would want to live up here in the middle of nowhere. It has taken me over 10 years to realise that NO – not everyone wants to live up here and that perhaps it does take a special kind of person to be able to live 5 hours from the shops. It just becomes the norm when you live up here, it is no big deal to travel for 3 hours just to visit someone or to check a road. Nothing is a big deal, it is all just part and parcel of living where we do.
Life here on the station keeps you very busy. It is definitely not lonely and during the season we can have any number of people here from 15 – 25, give or take a few. Visitors start rolling in during the colder months. There are always people coming and going – truck drivers, contractors, friends, family… you get to meet people from all walks of life up here, it really opens your eyes and makes you a lot more accepting of people. It has made me realise that people are just people, no matter where they come from, how much money they have or who they are, they are generally all just lovely human beings.
So there you have it… the reasons why I love it up here so much. Sometimes I really do wonder why a girl like me loves it so much, but I just do.
Now – are you all set for school to return?
What are you up to for Australia Day?
We are hoping to get over to Mr & Mrs Savvy B’s for the day.
I admire you and everyone else that lives in the ‘outback’. You do a fab job keeping your family together! I have dear friends coming from Coonabarabran for Australia Day bbq. I am going to mix it up a bit and support the lamb, beef and pork industries with salad too. My daughter is making a pav so we are set with some sangria to wash it all down. Have a great day Miss Chardy.
Sounds perfect Michelle, enjoy!!
Orientation for Flynn on Wednesday – two and a half hours in free dress – and then school starts Thursday! Watch out for the over-sized uniform pic! I’m ready. Having 12 adults and 15 kids over to ours for Australia Day tomorrow … just a little gathering. Hope you get to Savvy Bs. x
Good luck to Flynn!!! Your Australia Day sounds like it will be fabulous!!! Have a great day.
I don’t think I could live in the outback but I love to travel in those areas. Having said that I really love just being in my home doing the normal things and spending time crafting. Oh and I love that you’re sewing your own clothes, they look great.
Hi Sandra, I think you would probably cope better than you think. I am loving making my own clothes… has been so long since i had my machines out, so it is really good.
You’ve captured all the love so beautifully Chards. So true about rural communities, they are so unique and special. You are so lucky to live where you live. I live in a regional centre and am equal distance from the city as to being in the bush, we tend to gravitate towards the north more often!. I love reading books of pioneering women in the outback, makes us realise how lucky we have it. Imagine if they could see you now! xx
Thanks Emma! I tell you what, those pioneering women of the outback were something else weren’t they… not sure I could have done it back then… no air-conditioning, no internet… god help me, I would not have coped… I suppose you don’t know any different though. But geez it would have been HOT!!!!
That McLeods Daughters comment is spot on! Every time I watch a re-run I am ready to pack my bag and move to the sticks!! haha. That is an impressive little school house too! What lucky little boys to have an amazing space like that to learn in (not to mention all the learning that would be happening on the farm!). Thanks for sharing, I love these insights into your life 🙂
Ha ha ha ha, so funny about McLeod’s isn’t it… they make it all look so simple and easy…. and it just isn’t. It is hot and gross. ha ha ha. Thanks for reading Karrine. 🙂
Hi Miss Chardy, I do love your blog. Being a country girl myself, although I live in the city now , I can appreciate just how much you love it. I still miss the country life and all the lovely friends. There are challenges wherever one may live but especially so in the Outback.. Keep on writing! cheers Delores
Lovely to hear from you Delores… so glad you enjoy reading my blog. Which City do you live in now? Hope all is well in your part of the world.:)
I hope the new governess arrives without any drama today Chards.
I hear you about getting on a horse. We went to my brother Ant’s farm a few weeks ago and he offered to saddle up a horse for me to help muster. I politely declined and found myself a job in the yards – I’m of an age when keeping two feet on the ground is a wise move! 🙂
I am from quite a ‘horsy’ town in Vic but have never felt comfortable on one – motorbikes were always much better. I really enjoy your blog because as an Aussie expat I think we are very much same same with just a splash of different. We too are isolated, far away from family and our kid’s backyard is not your average backyard. Our friends are like family and the more isolated the location the closer the friendships. Hubby will be away for Aussie Day but I will still make something Aussie for our boys for dinner and carry on like a pork chop about how wonderful Australia is 😀🇦🇺
So so true Sarah!!!! Every time I listen to Two Fat Expats I feel like i can relate to everything they are saying, but I still live in Australia, very weird, but so much the same in so many ways. Enjoy your Australia Day!!!! Will be thinking of you all the way over there as I sip on my Chardy poolside. 🙂
WOW you really DO live in bum truck nowhere … 3 hours drive from Camooweal!
My partner thought driving just under 6,000km in a three week holiday was big … but you certainly know a thing or ten about driving long distance!!!
Ha ha ha ha- look 6,000km IS a long way to drive in 3 weeks, I am with your husband there! Although I will be taking the kids down to NSW in a few weeks and we will be gone for 3 weeks and will probably drive about 6,000km too, but it is a long way. 🙂
I love hearing your outback stories thank you so just like us city folk you have to obviously pay for school of air classes do you get subsidies for this just interested in case I want to run away to the outback ha
Hi Simmo… we do get some help – Assistance for Isolated Children. Which is great. We don’t have to pay for “School of the air” classes… well not really, we do have to fork out a bit of money and there are all the trips to town which cost quite a bit…but that is it, no “school fee’s” as such for School of the Air, just boarding school. Hope that answers your question.
Love hearing what you are up to honey. Long way from Pamela Anderson pool parties. You so eloquently describe your life and what makes it work, but it takes a special attitude to embrace it. Happy Australia Day! A quiet one here as I go back to school tomorrow. We will hopefully be in the pool with the kids in Mudgee xo
Hello there spunky stranger…. how the hell are you? Long time no see. Very excited to see your name pop up here!! Enjoy your day by the pool and good luck with back to school. 🙂