The morning was given over to the last of my sightseeing in the Isa. Visited the Tharrapatha Way, a 2km walk with signs describing local plants and animals. Only had time to explore the first section, as had to be at School of the Air by 9.45 for the tour there. Very interesting setup. They cover from Birdsville to the Gulf and from NT to Richmond for only 160 students. Sat in on a lesson for Year 2 creative writing with 5 pupils.only 30 minute lessons, so teacher has to be a great time manager. They
have a gallery of all the pupils and their families so that they keep familiar with them. We were taken with pic here, showing a lad who has set up his classroom well away from the family caravans so as to avoid the noise of the power generator. His family are itinerant stockyard builders.
After the Japanese bombing of Darwin, the people of Mount Isa were worried that they would be the next target. So miners volunteered to dig out the hill behind the hospital to make an underground hospital hat would be safe from bombing. Never had to be used and was sealed up. But in recent times the miners have restored it and it is now a tourist attraction together with the hospital museum. Rock walls, timber plank ceilings and sit floor .. Had nursery, ward, and operating spaces.
Also preserved there is the last of the "tent houses" that were common during the housing shortage of the 1930s. These were simple wooden framed structures with canvas roof and walls, sited under a corrugated iron roof that was mounted on poles. They were cheap and could be easily dismantled and moved elsewhere . Some of the Dongas I saw provided for single men accommodation here now aren't much better!
Also preserved there is the last of the "tent houses" that were common during the housing shortage of the 1930s. These were simple wooden framed structures with canvas roof and walls, sited under a corrugated iron roof that was mounted on poles. They were cheap and could be easily dismantled and moved elsewhere . Some of the Dongas I saw provided for single men accommodation here now aren't much better!
After lunch I took to the road retracing steps back to Cloncurry, about 115 km. along the way there is a small sign pointing to Mary Kathleen. I decided to go see. It is a 4wd track now, badly pot holed. About 2km from the highway is the site of he township which has been completely disamanted. All that remains as the streets and concrete slabs the houses were built on. About a dozen caravans were parked there, using the slabs as camping spots. A further 10km of rough winding track brings you to the old open cut uranium mine site. Quiet something to see. The bottom of the pit is filled with the most foul looking liquid you could imagine.
Checked in to the motel, had a nap, and then walked around the town. That took 45 minutes. Seems no bigger than Richmond and Julia Creek, but it does have a Woolworths and FoodWorks, as well as a court house and school that goes through to year 12. Caught up with John Green who is going to show me around tomorrow. Only 4 pubs in town here, so times are tough. Great meal at the Central Hotel to which this brand new motel is attached.
Today's pictorial record can be seen here.
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