Ochre Recruitment

A short story by Andrew Hull, Bourke writer and artist

Clouds were forming to the West of Bourke, low and black and what would have been called menacing anywhere else, but were a very welcome sight for this country town. A low wind was stirring the leaves in the yard, and as Dr Roberts began his daily 5 minute walk to work he smelt for the first time the unique sharp musk of the gidgee trees signalling the coming rain.

‘Cat’ Kendall was in his usual position at the gate of his sprawling ‘spare parts and animal menagerie’ front yard. (Actually it was the backyard, but as the house had been built facing the narrow laneway that was a feature of all town blocks in Bourke, so the accumulated detritus that other people stored behind their fences was Cat’s frontage to the street). This included goat and horse yards, the ubiquitous dog kennels, an array of collected scrap iron and an assortment of partially dismantled vehicles. As usual, Cat was up for a yarn.

“Gday doc, what’s the weather going to do?” he asked with a broad grin ...read more

This photo was taken by Dr Willem van Lill (AKA Kenoes) of Bourke, NSW

This is a photo I took on the A87 between Port Augusta and Alice Springs at a little place called Glendambo.

This photo was also taken by Dr Willem van Lill (AKA Kenoes)

Again this is on the A87 between Port Augusta and Alice Springs at Cadney Homestead further north.

Photo taken by one of our locums Biddy when she was working in Ghana

Biddy has been known to request "crazy jobs only".