My Outback Experience BACK IN JANUARY 2019, MY HUSBAND SHAY AND I MADE THE LIFE CHANGING DECISION TO MOVE TO AN OUTBACK INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY AS MY HUSBAND HAD SECURED WORK RUNNING THE GENERAL STORE IN A LITTLE PLACE CALLED PUNMU IN THE VERY HEART OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA, 1310KM NORTHEAST OF PERTH, IN THE RUDALL RIVER NATIONAL PARK. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES IN AUSTRALIA.
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he township is located on the most eastern edge of Lake Dora, a giant dry salt lake which reflects some of the most spectacular desert sunsets. The closest community is Kunawarritji. Punmu is the home of the infamous Barrel train that takes the kids to school, which they love. Earlier in the year, when word of this position came up, we were both pretty excited, we felt it would be an adventure. We had previously felt a calling to go to the outback & I had felt a connection with the indigenous people especially when I travelled to Darwin with Psychic expo where I worked for ten days, then again when I gave up my little Health shop
in Queensland. I knew I had to be on the land and couldn’t explain it; it got to the point I almost had a breakdown. I now know that was my calling, so to speak to work with the indigenous people. As I have always believed that we have so much we can learn from the indigenous people, especially their connection to the land. Since my experience, I also see how we all have tools and practices we can teach each other, and I believe we both knew this. The Indigenous people inspire me as they are so resilient, and it amazes me what little they need. The people live off the land and we could all learn a thing or two from their culture and lifestyle. Their knowledge of bush medicine & living off the land is a real sense of
simplicity that I love. They require very little such as materialistic items, technology isn’t really on the top of their list, which has been nice for us to take a step back in time. Being here has enabled us to watch & learn how each person adapts to the isolation and different way of living. It has taught me different ways of coping with not always having fresh foods. My spices & capsule maker has been a godsend in helping me
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