The Truck And The Turtle: Leitchfield cont.

Adrian showed us around the property in the old station Toyota what a work horse. We had to work for our supper so a lot troughs needed cleaning out. Had a bush lunch by a creek and billy tea on the camp fire. Also the sights you see just travelling around, dingo’s, wild pigs, buffalo’s, wallaby’s, crocodiles fresh and salty. Also emu’s, goannas even cats. Saw a few wild brumbies very beautiful. The wild cattle are a problem. Plenty of snakes and the bird life is unbelievable. Now the barra was great, just a little cold this year so not so many. Also saw the aboriginals turtling don’t know how they eat them. There are six bores run by Kubota diesel engines, spread out all over the station and about 30 troughs . We also helped with fencing, the buffalo and wild cattle are the problem they just run straight through them. They run about twenty thousand Braham very good looking beasts and quite smart. Some have got so clever when they are being mustered by helicopter they hide in the kamba grass which is a real pest and they won’t budge, the ringers on horse back or bike have to go in and give them a kick (they pretend you can’t see them) to get them moving. Sometimes the big ones are a bit much to handle.

Experience of a Lifetime

On the third day Adrian took us to see Moon Billabong, the wildlife is unbelievable, ducks by the ten's of thousands, magpie geese, pelicans, brolga, jaberoo, saltwater crocodiles and many more I can't name. On the way back near the yards Mary said "do you want to go for a chopper ride" Alan the pilot took me up and over the wetlands where he had to herd the cattle over two creeks, the cattle were reluctant to go so the ride in the chopper took a lot longer than it should have. These pilots take their lives into their own hands with some of the flying they have to do, down between trees and flying only feet off the ground. The photos below do not do it justice.