Jean

It did not take too long to realise that Jean and her husband were trouble makers in the office.  This began to cause quite a bit of discomfort for everyone. Being the new girl on the block, so as to speak. I happily sat back and watched the mind games play out. In later years I came to realise these Communities are desperate for good qualified workers to come and work in remote areas.  So the Jeans of the world find it very easy to find employment there. I truly believe outsiders jobs are to train Aboriginal people to become empowered to run their own lives and Communities.

The Community Will Riot

The Council decided not to renew her contract as she had caused problems in the working environment. She had me convinced that the whole Community were going to riot over the next weekend because they did not want her to leave.  I was petrified and thus decided to head back into Darwin for the next weekend. Hopefully it would all be over by the time I got back.

Jean had invited me and others to dinner in the time they were there. The stories she and her husband told of their lives left me in awe and feeling I had lived such a sheltered life.  It was only on that weekend visit to Darwin when I was having dinner with friends that I mentioned this to my friend.  He knew Jean from another era. He explained her whole set of stories were untrue.

That weekend Jean and her husband had been asked to leave to Community.  She refused.  As there was no job for them the following weekend had been set as the date they must leave the Community. The Community Manager came to me and asked me to drive the couple into the nearest airport at Jabiru that weekend 50 Km away. 

East Alligator River Crossing

To reach the Community in Arnhem Land one must cross the East Alligator River.  This River is a tidal river therefore to cross safely one must time when the sea in the area is at low tide.  To add to the adventure the river is full of crocodiles. So I checked the tide times and let Jean and her husband know what time I would collect them on that Saturday. Immediately she informed me she had so much packing to do that they would not be ready.  That was one argument I was not getting into so I handed it back to the Manager. That following week saw much arguing etc but the day arrived.

When I arrived at the house to collect them they were not ready. They insisted the Community would have to charter a plane and fly them out.  Next thing the police arrived to “help” them pack.  This left us with just a few minutes to get to the river crossing before the tide would be too high to cross.  The police gave me instructions on how to make the crossing safely, and checked that I was happy to drive.  I was really upset with Jean and her husband they had no thought of my safety.  This made me more determined they were leaving. My two passengers cussed and abused the Council all the way to the river crossing.

The Council car I had been allocated was fully rigged out for bush driving and flooded river crossing. I drove like a crazy person to reach the crossing in time.  The water level was 1.2 meters above the crossing. Absolute maximum crossing height.  Jean’s husband went into a full on panic, Jean was screaming and I can tell you my heart was in my mouth.  The water was washing up over the engine of the car (we had a snorkel). Made it to the other side of the river. The rest of the trip into Jabiru was peaceful and quiet. Both my passengers were in complete shock that I would take on the crossing.

Farewell

The Police alerted the airport to hold their plane and wait for us. I farewelled my passengers and this time made sure the plane took off.  As it happened it was the Australian Rules football grand finals down South. They were on TV in the airport, so I joined the airport staff to watch my favorite team take out the Premiership.  I then got back into the car and drove quietly back to the Community.

When I arrived home a friend had left a note on my door inviting me for dinner and a games night.  Of course I accepted.