School of the Air. Distance Education. An Australian icon. As Aussie as koalas, kangaroos and meat pies, along with so many other things. Absolutely ESSENTIAL for remote, some regional and other students who cannot attend their local schools, because of the huge distances involved – or simply for personal reasons. And not just for the education but also for the people of the outback to socialize, to get to know each other – mingle with others. The sorts of things that most folk in the cities can do everyday, anywhere – all taken for granted.
And completely ignoring the above, as is widely known, just before Christmas 2017, the WA government threatened to close all SotA bases statewide. However, due to huge public backlash from all the country folk who would have been badly affected by this as well as many party faithful in the city, the government did backflip on this and changed its mind. Lucky for them – but I still don’t trust them for a second. There are still quite a lot of areas that they need to rethink – but won’t. As I say, I don’t trust them. To me, it does seem that the current state government does not have a lot of time (like none), nor interest and apparently not the required funding (which is being ploughed into other projects which, to me, are unnecessary), to spend on their own regional areas. But the government has a fight on its hands – its own country people will not give up – and nor should they, with such essential decisions in question.
Nothing and no-one will ever take the place of SotA, irrespective of what the ministers think. SotA is very much an Australian icon. It is part of our nation – known and respected world wide. It is a sad day when its own constituents have to fight their own government so intensely for something that should not even be considered in this way.
Close up on School of the Air lesson in progress. A station in Queensland.
My own primary education was provided by the SotA, based in Port Augusta, South Australia. I am going back to the early 1960s when it did not have the social side that it does now. We did have our end of year get together, which was the year’s highlight for me. This was a time when many of the SotA families traveled to Port Augusta to meet some of their fellow students, face to face. Doing things that students attending city and town primary schools do every day – take for granted. These SotA students also got to meet their teachers, all the time having a wonderful get together. From memory it only lasted for a few days but it really was a heck of a lot of fun. There were also games and sports and a nativity play. I had the role of Mary one year – so I was one of the leads. Problem was that I had been given the wrong words for the carols and hymns – so had to mime. No way could I remember them! Reckon I must have been pretty convincing though – I was congratulated afterwards! Think that was the first and one of the last times I have been congratulated – and it felt good! Maybe I did miss my calling in life. I was also in a running race – and, believe me, I cannot run. I seem to recall being at the starting line when the others all reached the other end. I was given sixpence to stop me from crying!
These days, there are more social opportunities provided by the SotA for the people of the outback as well as other community groups that parents, in particular, can join and help give back to the community. Also giving them a chance to socialize. Some of these other groups have been initiated by these parents and they are prepared to drive very long distances to attend meetings and other functions. They have to be prepared to drive such distances if they want to leave their properties for any reason at all. Thinking back, one of the groups that my mother presided over for more years than I can remember was the good old Country Women’s Association (CWA). Hers was the Nackara branch and from memory, they built a hall specially for the CWA and its events. I used to go along with mum to all her meetings and at one stage I even tried to start the CGA (Country Girls’ Association). Great failure – one other girl attended and that was only because she also accompanied her mother to the CWA meetings. So much for the CGA. I cannot remember returning to Nackara at all after leaving all those years ago. I often wonder if the little hall is still there – just no longer in use and hasn’t been for a few decades, as far as I know. Even the little church on top of the hill behind the hall has gone – sad. Involvement with the CWA seems to run in my family – my great-grandmother (I think) and my mother were both presidents of the Nackara branch and I have heard that my aunt was involved too – but a different branch. I am now involved with my local branch in Perth along with the ICPA (Isolated Children’s and Parents’ Association).
I clearly recall two of the annual fundraising events that the Nackara CWA held – one was their Red Robin Ball, held in the hall. I do not recall the details of this ball apart from having the chance to dress up. The second was the annual Nackara Races, which I loved. There were the horse races themselves and a few stalls, which were a lot of fun. There could have been other fundraisers but I can only remember these two.
From what I understand, Nackara was originally planned to be quite a large country town – but it never eventuated. It was a railway siding with a few houses and the hall and church scattered around. It was the first place that I can remember being the collection place for our weekly groceries, newspapers and mail.
Wool, glorious wool.
Our station is on the edge of the outback. It is just north of the fictional ‘Goyder’s Line’ which separates farming from station land. South of this line, a decent annual rain can usually be relied upon and therefore it is suitable for farming. North of this line – no. The rain can definitely not be depended on.
And drought is just one of many – MANY – problems these people struggle against. When conducting my research for my book, I met and chatted to many of the owners/managers of the participating stations – while they could not have been more welcoming, warm and friendly, they also wanted to chat. Tell me about their never-ending problems – with nature and human – and the government, if you call them human. But it is also a life style that they would not change – unless forced to and so many are now having to reconsider.
Sad.
An empty lake in Qld. Dry as dry can be. And this is the same story for the regional people nationwide.
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