Carlton Hill Station, WA

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Trip start
June 13, 2021
Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Carlton Hill Homestead
June 13, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 32 °C
The Cambridge Gulf was our next destination
Working on a 1.5 million acre cattle station.
Chris required to feed 30+ staff as station cook
Myself as Nanny, housekeeper and some books.

A bonus is cottage accommodation with two bedrooms
As towns fill with nomads and Covid lockdown looms.
The remoteness of Carlton Hill certainly appeals
It’s billabong oasis creates such welcoming feels.

Flowering wattle scents the air, grass damp with dew
A cup of tea enjoyed with a ‘House Roof Hill’ view.
Famous for where the movie ‘Australia’ was made
Stunning with changing hues as the sun does fade.

The abundant Ord River’s water allow sprinklers to splutter
In tree tops flocks of corellas & galahs screech and flutter.
On the lush lawns poddy calves learn to graze
Behind, the drafted cattle kick up a dust haze.

Mass movement of Brahman cattle causes quite a stink
Dust settling over Bougainvillea bracts of white and pink.
Frangipani and Jasmine perfume struggles to compete
With the residual smell from thousands of cloven feet.

Tin cladded mechanical sheds shade plenty of toys
Mack truck, feeder and front loader, not just for boys.
Long road trains, grader and large excavator
Motorbikes, goosenecks and a green tractor.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Station Crew
June 27, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
This community consists of a staff of 32
Here is the run down of exactly who’s who.
Lisa & Glen are the managers, assisted by D.J.
The mechanical shed wizard’s moniker is A.J.

Bex and Jas are the experienced heads of stock
Excellent horsemanship, they’re steady as a rock.
Connor and Cody are the young leading hands
Jillaroos and Jackaroos make up camp bands.

Collectively the crew are known as Ringers
On foot, horseback, motorbikes or gunslingers.
Georgia, Nat, Spry, Scotty, Jono and Annie,
Frenchie, Jack, Sam, Tom, Indi and Georgie.

Hugh, Callum and Wayde are the contractors
Charlie and Cameron the pilots of helicopters.
Mitch is the bore runner also an electrician
Kate organises all from front office position.

Poddy’s are calves that have sadly become orphans
Kristy nurtures them to live or performs post mortems.
Warren’s the gardener, pool man and landscaper
Dennis is a true bushy and the full time road grader.

Bella is 6 year old Freya’s teacher and governess,
Common on a station of this size and remoteness
For one on one education via ‘School of the Air’.
Ronny’s a two year old lad of whom I take care.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Daily Chores
July 18, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 32 °C
At 4.30a.m. cattle dogs stir and begin to bark
Chris off to prep breakfast whilst it’s still dark.
The crew mosey down under stars that still shine
Too early for bird song just the lowing of bovines.

Brekky & hot coffee, then choppers take to the skies
Horses bridled & saddled all before the sun does rise.
Their tasks include a tour of the penned herd to check
For drafting of the weaners or if sick, vaccines to inject.

Bulls held in crushers for sperm to be counted,
If it’s not up to standard they will be deported
Along with the others that have made ideal weight.
Mickeys and heifers are sorted via different gates.

Food lots to be filled and replacements of lick
Steers to be de horned but watch out for kicks.
Ears to be tagged, hides marked with a brand
Roaming herds mustered over arid, dusty land.

‘Smoko’ is at 9.30 a.m. equivalent to an early brunch
Packable saddle snacks are grabbed for a late lunch.
Litres of water plus hydralytes you’ll quickly learn
Are essential as dehydration is a very real concern.

Working in the yards there’s no place dirt will miss
Getting touched by what I call the ‘Kimberley kiss’.
It finds every crevice from ears to between the toes
Plus the pungent cattle odour wafts up your nose.

Living out on camp is usually a simple affair
Cooking fire, rolled out swags in the open air.
Fencing or mustering in searing heat and dust
Grateful if the shower isn’t tainted with rust.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Living In The Cambridge Gulf
August 14, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C
Earth’s surface is rock hard, grasses brown and tinder dry
Keep moving on buggy or bike otherwise you’re gonna fry.
When opening gates the metal scorches your hand
Despite its beauty, the Gulf is an unforgiving land.

Back at the station the Utes get unloaded first
To the bar for a few coldies satisfying the thirst.
Refreshing shower and change before dinner at seven
A few more bevies then sleep definitely does beckon.

Returning to rooms an interesting trip it makes
Torchlight required and keep an eye out for snakes.
Careful footsteps avoiding fat cane toads that jump
Myriad of roos & wallabies scarper off and thump.

WHS officers, educators and vets arrive as guests
For safety training or to do cattle pregnancy tests.
Health & welfare of the herd are carefully monitored
Before road train decks get loaded and transferred.

Every ten days a beast is selected to be killed,
Skinned & butchered for the freezer to be filled.
A plethora of beef recipes appear daily on the menu
From ribs, roasts, steaks, mince, sausages and stew.

Regularly the ‘BOOM’ of a stun gun is heard
By fruiting mango trees, pesky birds to deter.
The billabong is home to hundreds of whistling ducks
Which form clouds in the sky with the arrival of trucks.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Kimberley Fauna and Flora
September 5, 2021 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 30 °C
September sees an increase in temperature and breeze
Landscape brightened by yellow flowering Kapok trees.
Whose pods along with the cotton crops turn to fluff
Boab trees budding out on the red escarpment bluff.

Damsel flies skim the pond where resides a croc
Water’s edge attracting magpie geese by the flock.
Swarms of noisy white corellas take off in a flap
Cautious wattlebirds drink from the sprinkler tap.

Bowerbirds on searches to decorate their nest
Finches & crows sit in mahogany trees to rest.
Blue winged kookaburras cackle call and coo
Green frogs scurry up under the rim of the loo.

As the roo population explodes they need to be slain
Along with wild dogs, so baits are dropped by plane.
Birds are also sometimes reduced by using a gun
Those sombre chores balanced out with a bit of fun.

Wether it’s music and a barbie out by the pool
Submerged, stubby in hand trying to stay cool.
‘King’s Cup’ dares and crazy game nights
Fancy dress ups or gory Halloween frights.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Carlton Hill’s Challenges
September 19, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 36 °C
Revelry abounds during the C.P.C. competition
With challenges up against another cattle station.
Shoeing and riding skills put through their paces
Day ending with the infamous ‘Iron man’ races.

Participants receive a coveted competition shirt
No chance of it escaping being covered in dirt.
There’s cook offs, photo comps even a talent show
Whoever you are you’re encouraged to have a go.

In a community this close there’s fights but usually laughs
Especially weaving your way home up Whinger’s Rd path.
However the day ends or when folk have to part
The sun will always rise and a new day will start.

The station’s heartbeat is a thrumming generator
To power the essential temperature regulator.
Plus pumping drinkable bore water ensures all survives
Along with the fortnightly town run for supplies.

The 50 minute drive is considered close to town
Along a track of sand where corrugations abound.
If an approaching dust trail is sighted expect to wait
Especially by cattle grids or to open & close the gate.

Driving listening to music playing favourite classics
Interrupted by two way radio messages and static.
On arrival it’s collection of post, parts & bread from the baker
Then pallets of food & alcohol are loaded onto the trailer.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Time out
October 3, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 40 °C
The Rec Bar’s a daily place to drink and wind down
Great excitement ensues when rodeo comes to town.
Girls in frilly blouses, bling and Akubras made from felt
Spurs, boots and jeans with a fancy buckle on their belt.

Ringers of all levels allowed to enter the camp draft
Horsemanship skills & control, showcase their craft.
The bravest or craziest attempt to ride a bucking horse or bull
Anticipated entertainment ensures the spectator areas are full.

Tightening the flank strap makes for one a hell of a trip
To stay seated for 6 seconds requires a determined grip.
Rousing cheers from the audience on opening the gate
A swift trip to the ground is quite often the riders fate.

Days off are precious but there’s lots to do
Privileged experiences available to just a few.
A loan of a Land-cruiser to cope with the track
Wheel-jack required plus 2 spare tyres on the back.

Essential to check fuel, air, water & oil before you depart
To discover secluded outcrops with indigenous rock art.
Evidence of ancient communities, yet today hardly a trace
Except for Ningbing countrymen’s hovels that are a disgrace.

Belongings and rubbish are strewn all around
Overturned rusty cars are burnt to the ground.
Walls defaced and all electrical wires trashed
Every single window and door utterly smashed.Read more
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Carlton Hill Station, WA BoomerangTravellers
Final Days
October 17, 2021 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 38 °C
Past fires reveal anthills surrounded by blackened soil
The hay bale cemeteries represent such wasted toil.
Eyes stay peeled for access roads blocked by cattle
Or smoke plumes from bush fires, a constant battle.

Wedge tailed eagles feast on a carcass of kangaroo
Kites hover and swoop hoping for a morsel or two.
Families of bustards roam and brolga couples dance,
Of black cockatoos and jabirus you may get a glance.

At a shrinking muddy dam we cast a net for live bait
Transversing via horse paddocks turn left at Crazy Gate.
Venturing down to ’Mattress’ - an accessible river bend
To throw in a few fishing lines, soaking up the days end.

Tentatively wallabies hop down the bank to drink
Wary of becoming a crocs meal, quick as a wink.
As the lowering sun causes the river to shimmer
Anticipation of landing a big Barramundi for dinner.

Cooked over a fire with a billy for tea
Vehicle headlights on awhile just to see.
Darkness shrouds, above shooting stars & the Milky Way
Distant flashes from a storm, but no rain will fall today.

Witnessing wildlife and cattle in numbers so prolific
Has certainly made our station experience terrific.
A prize helicopter ride flying over the area high
Makes for a great finale before we say goodbye.Read more
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Trip end
October 13, 2021