The second Barkly Women’s Day for 2014 was held on the weekend at The Barkly Homestead Roadhouse. 55 women from stations near and far mustered at the homestead overnight. Well, some just for the day but most of us stayed the night. A fun day was had by all which made the long drive there worthwhile. The day is all about getting off the station, catching up with old friends and meeting new friends. We had 3 wonderful guest speakers – Suzie Shearer, the Rangelands Officer from Camfield Station (AACo), Mel Dayman from Newcastle Waters Station (Consolidated Pastoral Co) and Steph Coombes, from Katherine and one of the faces behind Central Station. All three ladies did an amazing job sharing their stories with us. We love hearing from local ladies doing wonderful things and proving that women can do anything.
Now, lets put things into perspective. The Barkly Homestead is a huge roadhouse in the middle of nowhere. It is located on the Barkly Highway in the Northern Territory, halfway between Camooweal (Qld/NT border) and Tennant Creek in the NT. There is nothing in between. Camooweal is about 270km to the east and Tennant Creek is about 200km to the west. Our trip was a quick 2 1/2 hour drive on mainly dirt roads through paddocks, with only 50km of bitumen. We are about 200km from the Barkly Homestead. Many women drive 3, 4 or 5 hours to attend the day. With a couple travelling even further 8, 10 or 12 hours. Nothing holds us back out here, if it is a chance to socialise with other women we will drive for as long as it takes.
Barkly Women’s Day is so important to all the isolated women of the Barkly Tableland. We all live a long way from each other and often this is the only chance we get to catch up with each other. Most of us left our children at home and enjoyed some freedom, we left our worries behind and kicked up our heels. The Barkly Homestead staff work tirelessly to provide a delicious luncheon and a huge thank you needs to go out to Tom, Pam, Georgie and all the hard working staff down there. Everyone had such a brilliant day.
Now for some photos of our day and also the Barkly Homestead Roadhouse.
The Barkly Homestead Roadhouse is like nothing you have ever seen before, much more than a service station. It is a restaurant, a bar,
a motel, a truck stop and a caravan park
My bestie: Mrs Sav Blanc
Mrs Sav Blanc & Miss Chardy wearing our Gumnut Designz Jilly Classic tops
The team down at the Barkly Homestead work tirelessly to
provide a scrumptious lunch for us
Our legendary cook – Aileen – selling her stunning necklaces and sipping on a Sav B
Below: Mel, Suzie, Lucy (winner of the lucky door prize) Steph & Miss Chardy
A huge thank you to Jane and Steph from Central Station for donating the Lucky Door Prize
Below: Steph Coombes, travelled all the way down from Katherine. Steph & Jane Sale are the faces behind Central Station
Below: Mel from Newcastle Waters
Below: Suzie Shearer from Camfield Station. Suzie travelled for 8 hours to be our guest speaker on the day
The lady below is Sue – she is the reason I am up here in the NT. Back in 2001 I came up, as a Governess, for just one year to teach her youngest daughter, still here all these years later and still great friends with Sue. We catch up about twice a year now at Barkly Women’s Day.
Upon our arrival back home we discovered that Mr Chardy was still at the neighbour’s house with the children. So we were still child free. It only occurred to me then that I had never been child free on the station before. So there was only one thing to do, pop on our swimmers and mix a Japanese Slipper. A lovely afternoon was spent poolside with the girls. What a wonderful way to finish such a fabulous weekend. It was so great to see all of my friends and the wonderful women of the Barkly Tableland. Thank you to everyone for making such a huge effort to attend the day. I know you are all busy but it is so important to take time out and look after ourselves over a cheeky glass of wine! Thanks a million.
If you are interested in attending the Barkly Women’s Day and live in the area, please head on over and like our Facebook Page for updates on this wonderful event.
You can always count on women to create opportunities to connect with one another to teach and learn, laugh and live. The setting looks incredible – literally an oasis in the desert. And some of those distances that the women travelled! Talked about going the extra mile. Glad you had a wonderful day Miss Chardy!
Thanks Jo, we had the best weekend, so much fun. It is an oasis in the desert, we could have very easily stayed and settled in for the day on Sunday.
That looks like a very tasty cocktail Miss Chardy! Looks like a fabulous day! x
You need to make yourself one Amanda, we have never had a dissatisfied customer!!! A very fun weekend.
It was a lovely day. Thankyou. Sooo tempting to stay yesterday…At least you still had cocktails poolside!
I definitely could have kicked back by that pool at the Bark Hut yesterday, but it was nice having Japanese Slippers poolside here at home. Thanks for coming down, glad you had fun.
I want to come to one! Looks like a very decent time xx
Book it Mrs Woog, 2015! You and Bevvy. We need to lock in an outback adventure for you guys.
Oh I hope I can get to the next one…count me in Chardy! xx
Right Bev, that is it – you and Mrs Woog had best start planning your Outback Adventure!!! I can supply Japanese Slippers!
I love reading about your outback life. Sound like you ladies had a much deserved weekend of fun. We stayed at the barkley homestead when my husband moved from Katherine to Brisbane. It was such a great road trip. Its such a contrast to life in the city and its always so fascinating for me to see how you guys make fun and work so hard on the land. Great work.
Thanks so much for saying hello Jane and thanks for reading.
Don’t care how far I travel, wont miss it if at all possible, love to see my friends and have the best weekend for the year. For those who aren’t aware, our lovely Miss Chardy is the present organiser of this ‘fun for all’ weekend 🙂 Thanks Chards xxx
Hello Mrs Rumbo, love your name. I think you have only missed about 2 days over the years. So happy that you make the long long trek each time to attend. Looking forward to May already. xxx
Very impressive! Looks amazing. I can understand why so many would travel such a long way to get there. And ps loved your pink polka dot skirt! Where do I get one?! Mrs T
Hi Mrs T. It was a very fun day. Head over to http://www.hitchleyandharrow.com.au to find the gorgeous polka dot skirts and some gorgeous shirts!!!
Thanks for a lovely time once again at Barkly Women’s Day Miss Chardy. You did a wonderful job and you should just stop worrying as it all comes together in the end. Had a great weekend just a shame the trip back was so tiring. See you all again soon.
Oh, that’s no good that your trip home was tiring. Thanks so much for making the effort to come across, it was such fun. Glad you had a great time. xx