Welcome to Country
I live in Peramangk country, the traditional land of the Peramangk people, just one of over 250 language groups of the first people of Australia. I have been privileged to have been part of a smoking ceremony conducted by an aboriginal elder in my town, which involved being immersed in the wafting smoke from smoldering eucalyptus leaves as he silently walked among us. If you ever get the chance to be involved in one of these ceremonies as part of a welcome to country I would urge you to do it, it’s quite a moving and special experience and one that is significant in cleansing the past for a better future.
With above average rainfall in some parts of inland and southern Australia this winter it will at least have one major benefit for travellers and that is the wildflower season should be spectacular.
The homeward stretch began as we left Darwin behind with its coldest day on record, struggling to get above 21 degrees all day. Too cold here, time to head south (Ha Ha, that’s one for our Darwin friends).
We left Western Australia with some sadness, thinking about all the good times and great experiences we had in that state. That now makes it every mainland state and territory in Australia that I’ve been to. Pretty happy with that! We headed into the Northern Territory, a place we’ve been to quite a few times over the years but haven’t visited for over a decade.