Kerry and Peter's Blog

Augathella #3

November, December 2025.

The vegetable patch is going well, we have put bird netting over it to try & keep out the bower birds but we have had to lift sides of netting a bit to provide the bees with access to the vege flowers.

There has been an emu family, Dad & 9 chicks wandering around & so far no loss of chicks. Also the calves have been multiplying in numbers & there is some real cuties. At night we have long nosed potoroo’s digging holes looking for fungi, roots, tubers, insects etc, they are rather cute.

The vege patch is definitely providing us with some great fresh veg, we have managed to keep the bower birds at bay & haven’t had much damage done by grubs. The front pumpkin & rockmelon area is expanding big time & now producing melons, pumpkins aren’t too far away. We fenced off the grape vine after the bulls pruned the vine but have still managed to produce quite a bit of fruit. Mowing was completed just before we received a downpour.

We are now on the countdown to leaving Augathella, approximately 13/14th January 2026.

Just covered the veg patch with bird netting.

emu Dad & chicks

Long nose Potoroo

Harvesting some nice snacks.

Just mowed.

Pumpkin & rockmelons going crazy.

Japs.

mmmm they do make a tasty treat

loner cabbage in front garden

vege patch producing well

missed this fellow…….

we feast on lotz of silver beet

a nice pot of parsley

Here comes the rain.

Augathella #2

September/October 2025

Augathella also known as ‘meat ant country’. Like many other country towns the water tower has some beautiful murals, in the main street there are quite a few sculptures made out of wire which are really good. There is quite a lot of memorabilia about the amazing story/film – ‘Smiley’, a young boy who grew up in Augathella.

There has been a few storms with a little rain during the last month, one particular storm that consisted of lotz of thunder & lightning ignited a fire, approximately 200 acres were burnt out, Peter & quite a few of the neighbours managed to get the fire under control after a light shower of rain & many man hours. After 1 week green shoots were appearing & within 2 weeks a good coverage of green was appearing. Buffel grass is the main grass source which is a great feed for the cattle but when dry ignites easily from lightning.

Santa Gertrudis & Angus are the main breeds of cattle at Plevna, at present the calving season has just about finished – there are so many cuties, the bulls are getting a little frisky & soon will be mustered then put in with the cows. One particular Angus cow walks on her knees, she was born missing the lower portion of one leg & over time the other leg seems to have collapsed – so thats why I call her ‘kneecaps’.

Akaray is the other property where I spend 3 nights a week caring for an older guy who has dementia, an interesting position but does have limitations.

Amazing murals on the water tower in town.

Meat Ant country.

meat ant

2 guys sitting down having a drink

Saddled up horse

? magpie geese (not sure)

The Icon story about ‘Smiley’

Beautiful rainbow during a storm.

Bufflel grass, green shoots appear after a sprinkle of rain.

burnt out 200 acres of buffel grass

2 graders were used to help control fire

after 1 week

after 2 weeks

these bulls are getting a little frisky

these 2 amazing Santa Gertrudis trimmed up the grape vine

‘Tilda’, Peter’s offsider/navigator on the water/bore run

cleaning out troughs on a regular basis

‘Kneecaps’

Cactuses are flowering – orange & yellow

This fellow did not make a good choice when crossing the road.

Augathella #1 – Plevna Downs

August 2025 ….

Arrived in Augathella after 50mls of rain the night before, we were advised to camp up for the night as the driveway to Pleva Downs (our new home) was a tad wet. We received a phone call the next day & were on our way at lunch time, bitumen for 33klms then 7klms of driveway (a mix of blacksoil & gravel)- not too bad. Our new home is a 3 bedroom cottage – quite comfy & has everything you need, we have undercover parking for the ute & the trailer which is good, have a few mice around at the moment so we are feeding them ratsack. The sunsets & sunrises are quite lovely & are all different depending on where you are situated.

Peter’s work vehicle is a honda buggy & he has an offsider called ‘Tilda’ who jumps in the moment she hears the buggy start up. Peter currently has 22 troughs to maintain but that number is on the increase, checking & repairing fences is also on his duty list. Have had lotz of calves been born during the last month & there’s still more to come – they are so cute….

Bottles trees are very common in Western Queensland & there is definitely a lot around Augathella & the surrounding properties. They are quite a magnificent tree similar to the amazing Boab from the Kimberleys & the NT.

our new home

sunrise

Peter’s new wheels(toy)….hahaha

Peter’s offsider – Tilda

The cows back scratcher – they are at all water points

one of Peter’s jobs – cleaning troughs

happy campers

Look out – we are going to have a “chat”

Maybe not – just a head banging disagreement……

so many new babies – so cute

so cute & boy do they grow quick

sunset

following a grader, re-doing the fire trails & road tracks

Yea – pelicans on one the dams.

These flowers are blooming everywhere, haven’t got a name yet, working on it.

Bottle trees are very common in this area & are quite lovely.

WOW! everlastings everywhere

Yaraka, Idalia National Park, Tambo, Augethella. QLD.

August 2025

Drove to Yaraka located in the Longreach Region approximately 100klm south of Isiford is a quaint little town which now has a population of approximately 6 people, but you can fuel up here.

Next stop – Idalia National Park, approximately 102klms south-west of Blackhall, 893klms west of Brisbane, it has approximately 144000 hectares of mulga lands & is home to many distinctly Australian species of flora & fauna. We camped up at the Monk’s Tank campground which has scattered firepits & a drop toilet, we took a drive up to Emmet Pocket Lookout – WOW!

Next night we camped up on the Barcoo River, a roadside rest stop then drove into Tambo, had a coffee & found Potoooooooo – a wooden carved replica of an amazing race horse. Camped up the following night on a stock route camp & a farmer was feeding his cattle there the next morning (after we had 12mls of rain)….hahah.

Because of the rain, the driveway to Plevna Downs (our new home) was rather wet – lotz of black soil, so we were advised to spend a night in Augathella, we camped up on the Warrego River.

our camp

old stock yards

A good part of the track into Monks campground.

lotz of ‘skippies’

an old steam driven engine….

Camped up o/n on Barcoo River

lotz of roadtrains but slept good

Potoooooooo – an amazing race horse.

camped up on a stock route camp

a farmer was feeding his cattle on the buffel grass along the stock route

we had to share the road to Augathella..

but they were cute

Augathella camping on the Warrego River – heaps of available camps, some with water & toilet & cold showers available – $10 a night.

Lochern National Park, Jundah, Coopers Creek. QLD.

August 2025.

Lochern National Park – WOW!. It is located in the Longreach region approximately 1050klm west of Brisbane (QLD), it is sprawled over 24, 300 hectares & has numerous channels of the Thompson River running through it. We camped up in the Broadwataer camping area on the Thompson River, actually caught a couple redclaw but released them. Drove through the town of Jundah – they were immersed in flood waters earlier this year – another WOW! -to see where the flood waters have been, very scary.

Camped up at Coopers Creek which is located in QLD & SA. It is a major river system that flows into the Lake Eyre basin in Central Australia, the creek is known for its connection to the Burke & Wills expedition & for being a significant waterway in the Channel Country region. The Thompson & Barcoo Rivers are the 2 main tributaries & merge into the Cooper Creek up stream of Windorah, QLD. Its an awesome camp spot with camping available on both side of the creek & there are lotz of pelicans.

our camp on a billabong on the Thompson River

Pelicans – I love pelicans.

This critter flew to his nest.

Smokey start to fire but…..

Yea ha.

Reflections – amazing.

Nightfall happening.

mix of all these amazing daisies on the roadside

Coopers Creek – awesome camping spots on both sides of the creek.

our camp – so good

nice little fire

so many pelicans

Clem Walton Park – Corella Dam. QLD

July/August 2025L

Leaving Aroota Muster Camp, we camped up at Tobermoray homestead (NT)for the night then drove into Queensland. Spent a few nights in Mt Isa, managed to have lunch with brother Rob from Kununurra who was driving back home from the east coast, did some shopping then moved onto Clem Walton Park. Its definately a ‘WOW’ spot & very popular.

Mary & Gary, Carole & Costa (2 of Peter’s sisters) arrived the following day so our camp expanded, we did a great walk through the scrub & found an amazing view over Corella Dam – thankx guys it was awesome to be able spend time with you all. We followed them to Longreach & camped up, Peter & I stayed an extra night & checked out o few of the local sites. Quite a few of the streets are named after birds & the signs are quite unique.

Leaving the NT for QLD.

Corella Dam

our camp

dam wall

A type of kangaroo paw

More ‘happy campers’ have arrived. (Lamonds)

Off for a walk

Costa, Peter, Gary, Mary & Carole.

Rest time

Overlooking Corella Dam

Love is in the air…. 🙂

Nice little camp fire

The roadsides sharing the beauty of these.

Located on the corner of Duck & Galah Streets – quirky….

“Aroota Muster Camp” #3

July 2025

Peter & I went for a drive around only a small part of the property & saw some amazing country that just seems to go on forever, the cattle are in great condition & we came across some interesting characters.

Saw some unique rock formations, gorgeous flowers, the old homestead, skippies, a wild pig & the last muster walked past our camp.

There was quite a lot of Indian tobacco growing in the rocky areas, this plant is sort after especially by the desert female indigenous mob, they either dry the leaves then ground them or ground them up green, then mix with ash from a fire pit, roll into a small ball & chew on it, the local males do use it too but mainly the females.

bouquets of flowers in lotz of places

An interesting rock sticking out of the ground.

there were some big reds around

Bit of artwork in a small cave, owners aren’t sure about authenticity but the birds love building their nests near it.

Great water hole for the cattle

the old homestead

there was still some old china plates & cups in cupboards

great old wood stove

saw an interesting critter with the cattle at a water trough

not a nice plant – deadly thorns on it ??name

poached egg daisies

Nicotiana longiflora Cav. (long-flower tobacco) – Indian tobacco -very popular with the indigenous

end of muster #4 at Aroota

one of the 2 choppers working today

not sure but they look like white galahs

This is what a lot country generally looks like but the cattle are in great condition.

‘Aroota’ Muster camp #2

July 2025

The ‘donkey’ – an outside hot water shower – its awesome. We live on bore water for everything other than drinking water which is tank water, there are a lot of minerals etc in the bore water but its still nice to have a hot shower & be able to wash the clothes, the idea being once you have had a shower you put more wood on for the next person, works well.

One of the ringers has a pup, a cutie, there are a few other kelpie/cattle dog belonging to the manager, they usual go out to muster but puppy stays with us tied up til happy hour.

There were 4 musters to the yards at Aroota where they were drafted, all weaners taken up toward to the homestead, cows with young calves released to where they come from, fat old cows not breeding anymore were culled & replaced with young heifers, all steers to homestead then onto to QLD & replaced a few of the bulls – its a big process & well handled.

the donkey warming up the water for a shower

after dark, she glowing as there are more people to shower

the fire nearly goes 24 hrs a day but only moderate coals at lunch time

first ones in for happy hour

we have a long happy hour

the pup knows the warmest spots

dinner finished, bedtime for me.

one of the trucks used to move the cattle

early morning starts

one of the 3 choppers used

so many of these critters around

they love hanging out on the overflow from the bore

The finches also love hanging around in the acacia bushes at the overflow of the bore.

early morning, all the ringers gone mustering already

she does like sitting in the boxes in the early morning

another muster just about fininshed – muster #3

quad bikes quite handy

they use about 6 motor bikes

Keeping the cattle quiet makes life much easier for everyone.

‘Aroota’ – #1 Tobermoray desert muster camp

June 25th 2025 – July 2025

Aroota is the name of the desert muster camp & the bottom section of Tobermoray station. The set-up is quite amazing considering where it is, 100klms south of the homestead. The muster area for Aroota camp is approximately 150klm long x 40klm wide & they muster 4 different areas. The kitchen set-up is great, gas cook tops & oven & an electric oven as well if needed, I have just been using the gas.

We went out to one of the musters only the last section of it – so many cattle, it was very interesting, this was the first time they have used horses as well as motorbikes, quads, helicopters & utes, I think they were quite happy with the outcome. They move the cattle slowly but there still was lotz of dust, had a few naughty moo’s but they were soon rounded up. The age of the ringers ranged from 4yrs to 50yrs – the bosses kids, one on the grey pony (6yo)& the other on a bike(5yo).

Peter & I went for a drive the other day just for a few hours, the country is pretty amazing, very grassy in some areas, no grass in other areas, rocks & miles & miles of country. Majority of the cattle are in really good condition, it was good to see & the countryside beautiful.

our camp

looking down at the camp

Tank high up on a hill, this holds bore water for ablutions & kitchen.

looking across to the closest set of yards to the camp

The sun is about to rise.

kitchen – my home away from home….

other end of the kitchen area, most people sit outside unless it’s too cold

Met a distant cousin from the Boshammer/Briggeman side of the family.

ute with fuel

helicopter #1 today

lotz of dust

ringers of all ages & sizes

ute & poddy calf collector

helicopter #2 on the job today

the horses worked well with the cattle

walking the cattle along the fence line to the yards & a couple of escapee’s

just miles & miles & miles

WOW, she was moving very quickly – shame it’s not connected

the race is on………

ducks always find the water holes

cattle enjoying the water point

what a cutie!

she no go no more

overflow from the bore – quite a pretty scene

cows & birds near the water point

Camooweal, QLD /Georgina River – Urandangie, QLD / Tobermoray Station, NT. /Tobermoray muster camp, NT.

22-23 July, 2025

After having breakfast we packed up camp & drove back across the QLD/NT border along the Barkly Hwy, took a left turn down Austral Downs Rd & once again drove on roads not travelled on by us before.

Drove past Lake Nash Station & back into QLD, then eventually found our way to Urandangie, a sad looking town but there are a few locals living there, we kept going for 5klms & camped up at the Rock Hole on the Georgina River – not a bad spot to camp up on. We put in the red claw pots to try our luck. Neck day we checked out pots – WOW! 2 monsters & 1 average, we left the pots in as we staying another night Had a nice fire to relax by. We had neighbors arrive but they were fine, we collected our pots the next morning & another great catch, 6 beauties this time. We packed up camp & were on our way.

Saw a few wedgetail eagles feasting on road kill but was only able to get a pic of one, not a bad size. Got to Tobermoray Station, homestead/camping area, we hung around for an hour then followed the crew to the muster camp which will be our new home for a while, 100klms away from the homestead.