Oops and Cringes

First Day in Wagga Wagga

The amount of smoke I saw was minuscule compared to this :)

I owned a little Toyota Corolla and it was packed to the gills. I left home (Sydney suburb) with tears streaming and headed for the Hume Highway. Five hours later, I was driving into Wagga Wagga, to a new job, and accommodation with the parents of a friend’s friend.

But it was fine. They were farmers. I’d talked to them on the phone.

I followed the directions to their property, on the other side of Wagga Wagga, at Yarragundry, about 15 km from town.

Their driveway was long, dirt, with many potholes. My poor car bounced its way down the drive with me feeling ill. There was smoke at the end of the drive, thick smoke.

I got out of the car and was met by the most friendly people, a couple older than my parents and a guy about ten years older than me (their nephew). They all had hoes or shovels and there was a grass fire near their house. They asked if I needed a drink, or if I wanted to help. Fear of having nowhere to stay, had me quickly helping.

I got a rake and off I went, bashing down the creeping flames in the long grass, thankful to my Girl Guide training which had prepared me for living in the country. Gosh, my first day and I was in a bushfire.

About an hour later we broke for afternoon tea – a drink and SAOs with home-grown tomato. We’re sitting around chatting and Mr S rubs his head. “You know, it’s weird, that fire down the back looks like it’s going out.”

I was so proud, that was where I’d been working.

Mrs S said, “Gosh, I better get it going again. That’s where the worst of the weeds were.”

I scratched my head. Frowned. Thought quite a bit. Reflected on their lack of panic, their wanting to stop for a drink when I first arrived.

This was no bushfire. They were burning off.

And this was how I started my journey from city to country. I knew nothing. I had no idea. But I was quiet. I was keen to learn. Good grief… the mistakes I’ve made! This turned out to be a rather minor one.