Fitzroy Crossing

Barnsey
Your one lucky Son of a Gun eh , Your going to get a lot of info and you will have to sort out the B.S and Rumors from the truth , and I'm not saying BS will come from this Forum

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Barnesy

I spent a week there once fixing some broken springs on the caravan.

The Pub had a Whitefellas Bar and a Blackfellas Bar. There was a reason for that.

Payday and the locals were into it until way past midnight. The hotel proprietor eventually walked outside, fired both barrels of a shotgun and told everyone to go home(using different words ofcourse). The following morning I was walking down to the river past a great heap of cans when the cans stirred and a female crawled out from beneath them and staggered off along the dusty track.

I asked the publican if I should pick up all the cans and put them in an enclosure to tidy the place up but she said that the wet season took care of that and washed all the cans downstream cleaning the place up.

Years later they built a 'resort' there but I didn't go have a look see.

Things might have changed since then...dunno.....although most of the small towns in the Kimberley have their anti social problems and there seems to be no solution.

Yes, there are lots of places to go out to from Fitzroy and you could spend half a life time camping in idyllic places.

If you have lived in outback Australia in and amongst aboriginal communities and know the culture, then by all means take the job. If not, well then you are in for a real big shock

Then again, you could go out there and enjoy a great lifestyle.

Cheers

Barnesy

Not the most asthetically pleasing place you will ever see.

I have never lived there and have only ever used the place as a fuel stop and one night stop over when ever travelling through as pretty much the same with Hells Crack. There are those that I know who have actually lived in these places and have enjoyed their time there. As with a lot of outback/northwest towns actually living and working in them is not as bad as first visual impressions. Living with the social problems of these type of towns is something you will either get used to or not.

Remote, you will certainly be, but in a pretty special part of the country if you like getting out and about in the scrub. Most of these places are very sociable places to live and the climate lends itself to a social beer or three.

If that's the type of lifestyle you can hack will be pretty much up to you matched to what rewards you gain out of it.

Cheers
Wal

Barnesy

Some of my in-laws were living there and we visited them. An interesting place. There is a large Aboriginal populations and as in most of remote Australia there are social problems such as substance abuse, povety and poor health.

That is some of the negatives but if you are interested in learning about Aboriginal culture it will give you an excellent opportunity.

Geike Gorge is well worth a look. It is not far to King Leopold Road. Tunnel Creek and Windjana Gorge are on that road.

I have moved about a lot through my employment and choice. I have found that every place has its positives and negatives. Don't dwell on the negatives and enjoy the positives. The positives are always many and the negatives few and sometimes just a matter of perception. If you do that you will thoroughly enjoy yourself there.

Tjilpi

We stayed there in the camping ground overnight, about 4 years ago. One day we went to the Pub (by the river) about 11am and wondered why the tourists could get a drink but the indigenous locals had to wait to 12noon. Business then picked up dramatically! Staying there for an extended period would be a big committment imho. Sparky

As mentioned by others look at the positives.

It's better than Halls Creek.

As said above, there's a heap of positives and little negative, depending on youir attitude.

"Barnesy", you've never struck me as "anal retentive", you seem to take things as they come, stay calm and like a good laugh - if that's the case, you'll slot straight in to places like Fitzroy Crossing etc. However, if one is easily shocked then one shouldn't stay in outback bush towns.

I reckon things may have changed since Willem was there, but there is still plenty of "local colour" to be had - pardon the pun,,,,,

Tips on dealing with our "original inhabitants":

If asked for money - don't say anything, just keep moving.

If not moving, just ignore the request.

If not ignored at this point, just shout as loud as you can - and I mean this "- F**K OFF!". It sounds rough but it works. Almost invariably, you are then speaking thier language. It works. Don't ever give 'em money. They'll always be back for more. Please note everybody, this is not meant to be mean spirited or racist, it's just the way it is out there. The ones that don't drink etc, rarely if ever ask for money and never on the street. The good ones will only ask you for money if you are good mates with 'em. I get it all the time 'cos I know a lot of 'em in the Goldfeilds. The drinkers, the ones that ask on the street, will just spend the money on grog etc. Men or women, they are all hard drinkers.

Don't get involved in any way in any arguments, shouting matches or fights on the street. Don't ever try and break up a fight, even if someones getting "maramalised" and there's blood and snot every where. You'll get dragged down into it and you'll get "marmalised"as well. The police will get there & sort it out soon enough. Just keep walking.

Don't stand and stare at 'em like some tourist do. After all, you wouldn't stand at stare at white folks on the street would ya? So do do it to them. Just look at 'em as simply "other people going about thier lives". This applies more so if there's a dispute going on. You'll get dragged in as well.

Don't lend 'em anything such as tools etc, unless you really don't want it. You'll never see it again. You may,often get a payback for your generosity later down the track. This is the way thier society works. Thier reasoning is - You wouldn't give it to 'em if you didn't need it, so if you don't need it then why take it back. Don't worry, they'll remember you when the chips are down and you're the one that needs help.

There are a lot of good aborogines out there. I've learnt a lot from 'em over the years. But be careful that you've picked the right ones to be friends with. Just like us "whiteys", there are some great people, some hopelessly lost people and a minority of dead set villains. I've been badly ripped off by some in that third category.

Stand back and enjoy the "Wild West Show" - you'll love it.

Bilbo - "The Honorary Tribal Yamatji Hobbit"

PS - The Yamatji bit is true by the way.

Fitzroy Crossing....I spent a week there one afternoon.

Yaay, Troopy - go the North West eh!! A great place and one the few remaining frontiers in "Oz". Very few rules but lotsa decency and respect,,,,,,,,That's all ya need!

Otherwise, "Club Med looks nice",,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Bilbo - "The travel agent hobbit"