Sleepy Little Onslow No More: 17th - 18th September 2013

Forty one years ago, in 1972, I was a newly graduated primary school teacher and my posting was to Onslow. So I then arrived in this dusty outback little town, flown in by the WA Education Department on 2 planes, the last plane being a tiny single engine type that made me feel awfully airsick as I gazed out over the huge outback flat land.

On arrival I was told by townspeople that I was a week late for school. The Education Department had not advised me that schools up here started a week earlier because of the hot weather. Then when I was taken to my house quarters, I was shocked, as it looked like a condemned dump, with vandalised walls and broken fixtures inside. I was told this was how the teachers had to live, too bad; nothing could be done about it.

But it was the classroom situation that was the biggest shock for 21 year old me, straight from the city of Perth. Most of the children were tribal Aboriginals who had no white culture in them, and yet we teachers were expected to provide them with the same reading and writing materials that city kiddies used. Somehow D ick and Dora, and Nip the Dog and Fluff the Cat reading books were not going to make much of a Happy Venture impression on bush Indigenous children, I thought. When I asked the Principal of this little outback school if I could use or devise more culturally appropriate teaching materials I was given a blank look…what did I mean?

Well, I lasted a week in Onslow, going home to the horrid house with dirty fixtures and fittings each day, and wondering what on earth I was doing here. And there was a horrible feeling in the town of resentful white people towards the Aborigines around here, who were "on welfare money, and abusing their newly won drinking rights." Then I did the unthinkable: I resigned. The WA Education Department was shocked, but too bad; I felt I was wasting my time here. I stayed on for an extra 2 weeks, to allow a new teacher to be sent to replace me, then I flew back home, finding work as a barmaid at the Charles Hotel in North Perth, where my Mum worked in the laundry there.

After 2 months I was surprised to find the Education Department contacting me: I was still "under bond" with them and I had a duty of contract to deal with, fair enough. I was asked if I would like to go teaching at Kambalda, near Kalgoorlie. This was a new primary school that was serving a community of the nickel mining Poseidon boom. After getting a big growling session from an Education Department official, for leaving Onslow like I did, I was sent on a train to Kalgoorlie, and from there a taxi to Kambalda. What a good show! A brand new mining house to share with 3 other teachers, and everything was maintained properly here. And the children were able to deal with appropriate learning materials.

Interestingly, I heard that the run-down Onslow teachers' house was renovated a few months after I left; what surprises me is how many people put up with sub-standard conditions as if they have no choice. I think I made a difference by taking a stand on decent housing, and I think these days teachers are given better cultural advice and learning materials for certain areas.

But because I left Onslow under such a dark cloud, I met the father of my 4 lovely sons, and a whole new life rolled out for me.

So here I was 41 years later, now 62 years old, riding on my motorcycle back to Onslow. I suddenly realised that Onslow was the first time in my young life that I took a stand as an adult, and was I still the same person now?

The little town was still there, not blown away by many cyclones that afflict this part of the North West coastline. Some new buildings are in the main street, and a new supermarket is being built, after a fire destroyed the old shops and Shire Offices with all their records. (Arson by 2 young people in January this year)

We stayed at a little caravan park right on the beach front, what a captivating location. After a good long stroll along a new board walk and back along the shore line at sunset, we cooked our camp tea at an outside barbeque near our tent, chatting to other people who were staying in their caravans. People are always interested to chat to motorcyclists who are camping.

Onslow used to be a sheep meat and wool farming district, with tourists coming for fishing holidays with their caravans and boats. Today there is a big salt mining area, and the biggest changes are to come! Chevron Australia has started working on a massive "Wheatstone Project" which is a LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) project offshore. New houses are being built, and land here is now very valuable. The locals are unsure about this progress…yes, it will change sleepy little Onslow forever. It is expected to have 2,500 workers living here soon.

And the primary school? Dave and I went for a walk and found the old school, now used as a TAFE building and the grounds have been turned into a community vegetable garden. And there is a bright new lovely primary school for the local children; so much better!

So I'm glad we spent a little time in Onslow. This place mattered to me more than I realised.

Mrs Reflective Intrepid