A day in the life of a Govie on an isolated cattle station is far from what you would expect it to be. Your day starts off in the schoolroom, but can end up helping load trucks, feeding stock and other animals, or cooking dinner for the crew. And when you go home, you’re completely exhausted, both mentally and physically. You’re feet hurt and you’re brain has turned to mush.
But I wouldn’t change my job for anything. I love getting up every morning, and making my way down to the homestead to see what awaits me.
The day usually starts at 7.30am, with a cup of coffee and the usual 20 minute period of logging each of the 3 kids into their lessons for the day. This isn’t always smooth sailing, as we are constantly faced with phone and internet issues. And at 8am it all begins. The schoolroom goes from being a quiet place, to being filled with music, laughter and the constant chattering. We progress through the day, sometimes easily, other times with many dramas, tantrums and even tears. But mostly we have fun. And I can appreciate each my 3 kiddos for their individuality and talents. One of my biggest fears coming into this job was that I wouldn’t be able to cope with the kids. But I was proven wrong. I am now such an important part of their lives that the thought of me going home for Christmas makes them all sad. So much so that they don’t want me to leave. And for that I am truly blessed and very grateful.
Doing school via Distance Education is not without it’s challenges. There are always, without fail, technology issues, as well as the problem of the physical distance from the teachers. School is both challenging and rewarding. I get to help these 3 kiddos become the intelligent and independent people they were born to be. But sometimes this is not such an easy task. But we make it work.
And I wouldn’t be where I am today without the network of support I have established, both within the Julia Creek area, and as far away as back home. When the going gets tough, I can always rely on them to help me in whatever way possible. Miss L, Miss T and Miss N are always on call for my every need. Blessed.
Once we complete our days work, our official school day concludes with either a craft activity (or 3), a board game, sports game or just free time to relax and do whatever we want. Which we all appreciate after a long day.
And then I continue in the schoolroom, timetabling, so we can get everything done in the required time if we have to have days of school for camp drafting events, appointments, or even mustering. I’m always making sure I am familiar with the kid’s subject material for the following days, by going through it all, even doing some of the lessons myself to understand what is required. As much as they are learning, I am always learning new things myself. New strategies and concepts that help with maths, or science, geography and history. And the other days, when I don’t need to spend extra time in the schoolroom, I help out around the house, cleaning, or doing laundry, making smokos or dinner, or being in the garden. And most weekends I get to myself. But on the odd occasion, I get to help the boys muster. Which, at first was super exciting, and still is, but it is an extremely hot, long, and exhausting day. You start at 5am and get out to your waters, and slowly walk your cattle into the yards. Some paddocks require more than one walk in of cattle. And not all the cattle behave. Which makes for an interesting day. People falling off bikes, getting stuck in holes, cattle breaking away, and DUST. So much darn dust! In your eyes, mouth, ears and hair. But for me, who doesn’t get to do it very often, I enjoy the day. I am exhausted, but more often that not, I have a blast.
The enthusiasm and excitement, described above, come in waves. One day you love everything your doing, the next you want to throw it all in and just go home. But in times like these I try to remember to take each day as it comes.And for me each day holds something new, and I am 100% grateful for the life that I am living.