School camp

Once a term the School of the Air has a camp where all the students come in from the distant stations to socialize and the parent and teachers get to meet, do professional development and team building.


This term the camp was in Broome at Cable Beach. A wealthy benefactor had donated the land for the camp before the real estate became so valuable. It’s right on the beach and right next to the poshest resort in Broome.

Bush kids tend to be sweet, unaffected and self reliant. They really are a lovely bunch of kids. They are also super excited to have so many people to play with, so the atmosphere is very jolly. This camp included a visit to the Crocodile Park, a visit from an Astrologer to look at the night sky and the passage of Venus and an early morning camel ride down the beach. The parents and home tutors also enjoy the company and share endless cups of tea, teaching tips and gossip.

I finally got to meet the other home tutors (or governesses which is old fashioned term that is mostly used around here). They seemed to fall into two categories. The very young girl from the city who was on an adventure into the wilds of the Outback. Or the local girls who were barely out of school and were teaching younger siblings or a family friend.

A group of seven of us governesses went out for a drink at the posh resort next door. Half of us decided that two cocktails were enough and headed home. The others went on a spree and ended up getting thrown out of a nightclub in town at 1am. I have to ask myself, what does a person have to do to get thrown out of a nightclub in a mining town?