Day 40 - Goorrandalng Campground, Day 5

Thursday, 8 July 2021

The recently erected sign at the border got me thinking about refugee camps again. 

It was funny in a way, ironic in another -- yes we were refugees, unable to get home. But really, can we compare ourselves to Syria and the Rohingya? We come from situations where we are affluent, comfortable, free into situations where we are still affluent, comfortable, just not as free as we’d like – and only temporarily. A real refugee comes out of situations of horror and devastation, leaving behind everything that’s precious to them and into a situation that is cramped, unhygienic, and often lacking in clean food and water – with no prospect of things changing. We are temporarily inconvenienced; they are permanently displaced. Do we really have something to whinge about?

It’s wash day, a cool thing to do on a hot day, which eventually peaks at 34C. We sit in the bush near the one water tap in the park, using our two large containers to wash and rinse and rinse again. I agitate, Johan wrings. Our arms and legs are nicely wet by the time we finish.

We spend an hour at the border, internetting and frustrated that there is still no news about borders, at least the one we’re sitting on. Premier McGowan has held another press conference, talks readily about the situation in New South Wales and the prosect that he’ll mandate a permanent hard border with them unless they get their act together, briefly mentions lifting border restrictions with Victoria and the ACT. But nothing about the poor wayfarers in the Northern Territory, as though the few heathen up there don’t warrant thinking about (the man has a lot on his mind, for sure).

The steam is rising in the small community lodged at the border. It feels like a cesspool of complaining, breeding negativity like flies on horse poop. Round and round they go with their peevish complaints. Four or five of them start up with us as they pass by our car, telling their stories about how wrongly done by they are. We’re new blood, so why not drag us into the freedom fight?

To us it feels toxic, and we vow not to hang out there anymore. Come sundown we take another walk through the Goorrandalng loop trail, clockwise this time so we can see the brilliant light on the western rock faces. It’s a warm evening, not a hint of a breeze, soothing. Another couple sits on rocks watching the last rays of the day, worshippers of beauty. We don’t speak but the vibe is strong. Nature as healer.