Air Race 2006 at Daly River NT

Air Race 2006 came to the outback last night here in Daly River District! Gary & Rhonda asked us if we would like to attend a fund raising event for the Royal Flying Doctor Service to be held downstream at Perry’s, $50.00 a head, Sunday night. This was “dress up stuff” and some of the blokes decided not to go. BUT truth was long or stubbies shorts and thongs were accepted, but us blokes from Mango Farm did look a cut above some!!!!! Going on 7pm “all dolled up” (blokes in long trousers) ladies looking beaut, we climbed in the back of a “Troppie”, with a towel on the longways bench seats to protect our finery from the likely ingrained dust. Gary at the wheel we headed off in the dusk with enough pace on to hopefully bounce the medium size things off, from a variety of wildlife crossing the track from every direction and my sincere hope that the buffalo we have have been finding fresh sign of, didn’t suddenly emerge. There has also been fresh wild pig sign but no hope of seeing them if they crossed the winding, undulating track we were boring along on. Would be just “wack” and hope for the best. Jeanette & I were wisely back near the rear doors, watching the huge plume of dust we raised and occasionally being raised ourselves over humps! The “do” was well under way when we came to Perry’s clearing in the scrub. The tables were adorned with burgundy table clothes, clam shell folded white napkins, shining cutlery, wine glasses etc, all located under a rusty open sided old shed, with a uniformed military band set up outside the open end of the shed. RAAF Catering Corps were up from Tindal Base at Katherine, and one of the bar attendants had navy insignia, so a range of ADF personnel were represented. There had been much effort to create an “atmosphere”. Considering access and distance from a populated area, absolutely unreal!. The abundant food was well presented and delicious. The beer and bottles of wine fair priced. The three female vocalists all dressed in black outfits, were excellent including the lady that appeared about nine months pregnant and jigged around a lot while singing, which was of mild concern! The ADF personnel were all friendly people, circulating and chatting. The calibre of people in the Australian Defence Forces is to be admired. The pilots from Air Race 2006 also made their way around the tables to talk about the fund raising event, and to ensure sociability. They were mostly from WA, Perth area, but there were some from Tasmania and New Zealand as well. Two nights previously at Borroloola they discovered the pub had changed hands and their bookings had not been honoured, all accommodation was full!! Some slept at the police station and others were put up wherever there was a bed, so their adventure was having some unplanned for aspects. Both their “fines master” and Richard Perry acting as auctioneer ensured some money into the cause, with both local police and an MP. being out of pocket. Gary is also now the “proud” owner”!!!! of an expensive Air Race 2006 floppy hat, and monogrammed shirt. Took part in some fairly energetic dancing and gave our all to what seemed a somewhat long rendition of “Eagle Rock”, on the bumpy ground outside the shed before climbing into the “Troppie” to return to our camps at the Mango Farm. ANOTHER WONDERFUL EVENT TO BE REMEMBERED!