Barkly Women’s Day

Wow, what a great couple of days we had over the weekend.  People (real people), wine, friends, laughter and just a darn good time: Barkly Women’s Day.

On Friday afternoon The Cook, The Jillaroo, The Govie and I loaded up the car, and also managed to somehow squeeze in 2 children, and set off for this grand roadhouse.  3 hours, 9 gates and one buffalo later we arrived for Wine Time.  Friday night was spent catching up with a few people who had also arrived that night and of course our wonderful guest speakers who had travelled a long way to be with us.  Lots of fun and laughter and a few too many Chardy’s = a great night.

The Barkly Homestead is a fuel station – or what we call up here a Roadhouse – in the middle of nowhere, between Camooweal in QLD and Tennant Creek in the NT on the Barkly Tableland.  This is no ordinary fuel station.  It is a restaurant, a bar,  a motel, a caravan park, a fuel station, a community.  It is amazing.  Up here most roadhouses double as a pub as well – perfect! Check it out here  Barkly Homestead

Barkly Women’s Day – I organize this fantastic day twice a year.  It is an event aimed at bringing together isolated bush women of the Barkly Tableland in the NT.   It gives us all a chance to leave our remote stations or towns, dress up,  join together and listen to inspirational guest speakers.  It is a chance to meet new friends and catch up with old ones and of course enjoy a champagne luncheon.  We have had such a brilliant range of guest speakers who have travelled long distances to speak to us including Di Morrissey, Rachael Treasure, Dr Rosie King, Jean Kittson as well as local bush ladies who get up full of nerves and do a brilliant job at telling their story.  Who doesn’t enjoy hearing the ins and outs of someone else’s life, they are always so interesting.  I find the ladies who tell me “O gosh, no one wants to hear my story, they will be bored stiff” are often the ladies who we could sit and listen to all day long.

Up and at it on Saturday morning to make ourselves beautiful and set up for the day.  Bec Cadzow and Leonie Featherstone were both such insperational guest speakers.  Bec, along with her husband and 3 young girls, own Mt Riddock Station, a Poll Hereford Stud 200km north east of Alice Springs.  Bec is amazing, she is a Mum, a  wife, a forensic scientist (I kid you not) and a school teacher.  She can AI cattle and do all sorts of outdoorsy things on the station that blow my mind………  Wow I have just watched the video Bec couldn’t get to work on the day: Bec Cadzow Mt Riddock Station – and I am now really blown away by this wonderful women.  Not only is she a laugh a minute and loves drinking wine with me but she is seriously smart too!   Check out the You Tube link, you will love it.  Bec and her family were selected to travel to the Opera House last week and present their story at the TedX event.

Leonie Featherstone flew up from the Gold Coast, however she spent her childhood growing up in the remote tiny village of Urandangie south of Camooweal in QLD.   Leonie spoke to us about getting more out of your day, taking care of yourself and general well being.  This led her to doTERRA Essential Oils presentation.  Wow, we were all pretty gobsmacked with these oils and their capabilities.  I dare say there were a few sceptics in the room, however by the end of the talk I think we all wanted some.  I have just completed my purchase and looking forward to their arrival.  Once Leonie was finished her presentation she spent the next few hours talking privately to individuals about their specific problem areas and what the oils could do for them.  From helping children with ADHD to calming anxiety, their diverse healing qualities are terrific.  Here is a little You Tube video about these fabo oils: doTERRA Essential Oils  or go to Leonie’s doTerra website.  Leonie has also written a book: A Way with Words and has another book in the pipeline waiting to be published titled How To Get More Done In Your Day – gee I think I definitely need this book and can’t wait until it is published.

I am so privileged to have this wonderful opportunity to meet brilliant women.  I learn something new from each and every guest speaker.  Often they have no idea where they are coming to or how remote it is, but they are always so obliging and such fun too.  I just love meeting new people and prying into their personal lives!!!

Of course the RAFS girls (Remote Area Family Services all the way from Mt Isa) were there to do a Playgroup for the children so the Mum’s could enjoy a day to themselves and not have to worry about the children.  Clancy survived the 2 days on Chupa Chups and perhaps the odd chicken nugget and strawberry milk, lucky we don’t live in town, so these little treats are few and far between.  Harry bled me dry asking for “Just $4.00” for the car games (or baby sitters as I like to call them)…….  I think I have shares in these games and he also survived on ice cream and lollies too.  But, at the end of the weekend they were happy and still alive, so all is well.

I have been attending Barkly Women’s Day since 2001, back when I was a Governess.  Have only missed one or two in all those years.  I have been lucky enough to be the coordinator since 2010.

Do you attend a wonderful Ladies Day in your area?  I think they are so important not to mention FUN!