Outback Exodus

by Dawn Millen

  Krystal and I head down through the trees to the creek for a wash prior to dinner and on the way chat about our day. We watch the pretty parrots flitting about the trees as we walk and smile tiredly at their antics. “Jenn, we are in big trouble,” Krystal states. “There are still no voices on the radio’s, Sandra has been listening for most of the day and heard nothing except static.” Krystal continues.

  “I know.” I say quietly, “It is the loneliest time for us all, no one appears to be out there and we have to do this for ourselves.” I sigh and continue. “We will be okay though as we are a tough bunch of country people, we will make it.” I am positive when I make this statement, I have to believe it and make others believe it too. We have to believe that we will come through this and find others out there somewhere.

  We wash in the gentle creek amid the sounds of chirping cicada’s and the sleepy sounds of parrots roosting for the night while the fruit bats head towards the fruit trees in town for their nightly feast. “We really need to get out and harvest as much of the fruit as possible and find some way to preserve it for the journey.” I say to Krystal as we both watch the large flock descend on the township. Krystal agrees and says that it might be a good project for the younger teenagers to take on.

  “Parts of the library still stand and they may hold books that will tell us how to preserve the fruit for travel.” Krystal states. I resolve to bring it up at tonight’s meeting and we walk quietly back to the campsite for dinner.

  Tonight’s meeting is going to be a difficult one due to the loss of so many of our group and sadness will be the predominant emotion. We have to find some positives to put before the meeting to lift the mood. Krystal and I start to think of positives to put to the meeting. Walking and talking as we wander back to the others. It’s hard to be a “Pollyanna” when the world is falling apart around you, but we will find something to lift the mood.

  Dinner is a fairly subdued meal even with the smaller children playing around and with little Caren gurgling away as she sits propped up against a pile of pillows. Her smile is wide and sweet as she watches us eating. Caren stretches out her hands towards the food and I pass her a biscuit to suck on much to her delight.

  Soon dinner is finished and everything cleaned away. The dogs are fed and tethered to the truck once again after a short run in the sunset cool of the day. Sandy fetches water for them and the other young ones tidy up the camp and gather more wood for the fire. It is almost time to make our way to the sports oval for tonight’s meeting. I am hoping that there are good ideas and some positive things to have come from today.

  Chapter 15

  Rhys, Raymond and Paul walk ahead of Sandra, Krystal and I towards the sports oval. The children rush about from the men to the women and everywhere in-between as we take that short walk. There are large groups greeting each other along the way, saying G’day and checking on the welfare of others. The community spirit in this tiny town in the outback is what has made Australia liveable. Mateship overcomes hardship so often out here. There are always helping hands and a shoulder to lean on. This land is harsh with its droughts and floods, but this is the worst that I have seen in my 35 years on this planet. Here we are though, still pulling together as a community, caring for and sharing with each other.

  Gavin is standing on the steps of the grandstand. He is now out of police uniform, but still has the appearance of command. At six feet three inches and broad shouldered he towers over most of the men in town and has earned the respect of the townsfolk for his hard work and fairness during his ten years in the town. His bright blue eyes scan the crowd below us and he clears his throat. The meeting is about to begin.

  There is a stirring at the back of the crowd and the people part as through the throng stagger three men.

  “Oh bloody hell.” Gavin’s says quietly. “I forgot with all that was going on at the hospital to put a guard on the bottle shop, those three have been hitting the grog.” He continues. “John Evans, Andrew Brown and Kelvin Slim are all trouble when they get drunk.”

  The men on the committee gather around Gavin as they hear the worried tones. Drunks making trouble could derail the meeting and quickly. There are always malcontents in the community and now we have three of them drunk. No one is sure what is going to happen next.

  John weaves and stumbles towards the stage and Andrew and Kelvin flop down on the ground at the front of the crowd. It is time to begin the meeting. Gavin again straightens up and clears his throat.

  “Okay folks time to get this show on the road.” He roars over the noise of the crowd. People rustle as they settle down slowly. Children quiet and sit wide eyed watching the front. We are ready to begin.

  “I have sad news for everyone and it is difficult to say this, so please bear with me.” Gavin begins, his voice breaking with emotion. “Twenty five of our community died last night and this morning due to the collapse of the hospital and there are several more who may not make it through the next few days. I do want to thank the rescue teams and the first aid post team though for all your help through the night and today.” Gavin continues, his voice gaining strength and purpose. “I think we have all learned a valuable lesson from today. We cannot use buildings no matter how strong they look until the risk of earthquake and aftershock is over. We just cannot afford to lose others from something that is preventable. From now on we need to shelter in tents and under tarpaulins until such time as it is safe to use buildings again.” Gavin concludes his opening address.

  There are murmurs of agreement from the crowd and most people nod their heads in affirmation, a few look disgruntled and annoyed, but the majority can see the sense in this statement.

  “Much as I hate to open with negatives, folks, we do need to get this point across to everyone and do it now. It is just not safe for us to be inside at this time. I do know those of you who are still living in your homes won’t want to move out before we leave, but I strongly advise you to do just that. There is plenty of room on the hill where the camp site has been set up and at least if the tents collapse you will not be seriously injured.” Gavin continues to try to persuade the reluctant members of the community to move to safer accommodation. “For those of you who will be moving up I can offer assistance from teams to transport your essentials up the hill. Tents and tarpaulins will be erected for those of you unable to do so yourselves. Come and see either Rhys or myself after the meeting and we will organise the help for you.” Gavin finishes, looks around the crowd and smiles gently in an attempt to soften the bad news.

  “I am going to hand over to Rhys now so that he can work his way through the supplies we will require for the journey.” Gavin says as he turns to Rhys.

  Rhys hands Caren to me and steps forward to face the crowd. “As you know folks I have not had a lot of time to work on the lists today, but was able to do a lot of thinking in the hours before the earthquake. We are not going to be able to take much along that is going to be perishable unless we can find a way to preserve it safely.” Rhys opens as he looks around the gathering. “If anyone knows of a way of preserving fresh food for the journey then please come and talk to me later. We are going to need to find all the long life products and dried products we can carry on the trucks. Water is going to be a priority too.” Rhys continues with a long list of essential food items to be gathered up and packed aboard the trucks we are taking with us. “We will also require a lot of other equipment so that we are able to build new homes and new lives and that is the list I am working on currently. Ideas for this will be gladly accepted, but remember that where ever we end up there may be no electricity, so power tools will not work, meaning that we will have to use and carry more hand tools. The generators will be only able to be used for essential purposes as fuel for them will be limited.” Rhys tells the gathered crowd and holds them with rapt attention as he lists the items we will need to start our new lives and sets the ground rules for the use of certain things.

  We progress through the meeting slowl
y with many pauses for questions between each committee members run down on their area of responsibility. Soon it is my turn to get up and tell the group what I have been planning over the last twenty four hours.

  “As you know folks I’ve been busy today with the hospital collapse, but that has not stopped me thinking this situation through and planning some of our transport requirements.” I start, my gaze going around the group. “What I am going to need is a list of everyone and their ages, family members. If they are able to drive and what type of vehicle?”

  “This will mean that I am able to work out how many drivers we have, how many vehicles we will need and who will be driving those vehicles.” I state. “I would like to ask Dennis and Carmel to help out with the lists as this is where we work out who will travel on what type of transport. If you can all put your names down on the lists then we will know who will be doing what.” I state. “My primary concern is for those children who have lost their families and for the elderly who may not feel able to drive long distances. I believe that we will be able to fit you all into the school buses. I know it is going to mean travelling with the children, but these kids are going to need you to help them through this trip.” I pause for breath and check for reactions among the group. “No one will be left behind, but we also need to look at what vehicles will be best for the trip too. We will have to ensure we have spare parts for them and that they are up to the hard journey that we may face.” There are nods of approval from the crowd at the statements I have just made and I smile with relief.

  “The people with the worst injuries will have to be transported by ambulance. I know we only have two, so we are going to have to convert something else to enable the others to be transported in comfort.” I say. “We have ten serious patients, so a large vehicle for the six less injured and the ambulances for the four worst will be the best way to go, I believe.” More nods from the group below me encourage me to continue.

  “Raymond, I think the tow truck is going to be a necessity for this trip mate.” I state. “We are going to have to work around some pretty rough road conditions out there if the trip that Rhys and I made from John Creek is anything to go by.”

  “It’s a dual cab Jenn, so I should be able to work out a mobile workshop as long as we have another vehicle with plenty of spare parts and tyres. The spares may have to go on a trailer behind another vehicle though so that I can tow.” Raymond agrees and adds a further suggestion. “Probably the large 4 x 4 in the Emergency Service Compound would be best. There is a good trailer there that is segmented and will be perfect for parts.” He states. “It also has a good winch on it too and that will come in very handy if we get any vehicle bushed.”

  Heads are nodding in agreement and small smiles are on the faces as the group realizes that even though we have had a stressful day the committee have been working towards getting them out of town and to somewhere safer. The hospital collapse has shaken many to their cores. The need to leave is now paramount in most people’s minds.

  “Thanks Raymond, I’ll leave that in your very capable hands.” I say, turning to the crowd once more. “I am also going to have a job for eight of our older teenagers too, I need people who can ride a trail bike, keep a good watch on where they are going and pick a route for the convoy.” I smile as I see the looks on the older kid’s faces. Finding teenagers who can ride a trail bike here in the bush is never a problem. Most of them are riding trail bikes from a very early age. They are responsible as a rule and safe riders. “Thomas, can you sort out who you want to help you?” I ask Thomas and see his face light up with joy as he is given a big job to do to help. Thomas has earned the right to the job as his help and organisational skills have been a huge help today. It is nice to be able to give these children something good from the tragedies around them.

  “Rhys, how many semi-trailers are we going to need?” I ask “Then we need experienced drivers for them, do you know who has experience?” I add a further question

  “We are going to need at least three semi’s and six drivers for the amount of equipment and supplies we need to transport, I know of five drivers in the group and I can drive a semi too, so we have enough drivers too.” Rhys has already been checking things out through the day and has organised to find semi-trailers, drivers and a fuel tanker for the journey.

  “Job well done!” I tell him with a smile.

  “That’s all I have for you folks, but just to restate one very important thing. No one is being left behind. This journey is for all of us.” I finish my part and hand over to Gavin.

  “Thanks everyone for the hard work you have done so far.” Gavin concludes the meeting. “If everyone can make sure that they see Dennis and Carmel tonight so that we are all listed I would be grateful.” He smiles. “Time we got the billy lids off to bed, I can see some very sleepy faces out there. I think a lot of us adults will be glad of a rest too.” He continues.

  “Time to conclude this meeting for the night folks. We meet back here after dinner tomorrow night. Until then keep working on your tasks, look after each other and as Jenn has just said, No one will be left behind!” His voice rises on the last part of the statement, but there are smiles and hands clapping in approval.

  The group breaks up into smaller groups, all wearily walking back down the hill towards the campsite. The committee stand quietly by and watch as they go. Dennis and Carmel have joined us to pick up the paperwork I had ready to list our exodus group.

  Gavin sighs as he watches our friends walk down the hill. “We are leaving so much of our pasts behind here; I do know how hard it is going to be for most of these folk. Some of them have never been more than a few miles from Smithtown during their whole lives.” He speaks quietly so that we all have to lean in to hear his gentle words.

  “I think we had better call it a night.” Gavin says. Hugs and smiles were exchanged amongst the group and we all then headed back down the hill to the camp site.

  Chapter 16

  We settle Caren and the other children when we get back to the tents. I then sit by the fire with the other adults. Conversation is limited during this quiet time as we all need to think and plan. Sandra makes tea for everyone in a billy can over the fire. Nothing like a cup of billy tea in the quiet of the night, the only sounds that we can hear above the crackling of the gum logs as they burn are the quiet chirps of crickets and the occasional sonar beep of the fruit bats as they head into town on their nightly raid.

  Sandra looks up at the fruit bats as they fly overhead and sighs. “We really have to do something about getting what fresh fruit and vegetables we can ready for the journey. The non-fiction part of the library has stood up so far, so I am going to go in and get any books I can on preserving, drying and keeping things for longer periods.”

  “What a great idea, Sandra. I hope you will be careful though. I am not sure how strong the rest of that building is and we don’t want a repeat of today.” Paul tells his wife.

  I will go in alone; I know where to look for these books so will be in and out as fast as I can. I do want to get some other books to help with the teaching of the children too. We can’t forget that they will still need an education when we are settled. I do need some books to be able to teach them with.” Sandra is very emphatic about the need for books and there is no dissuading her from her self-appointed task.

  We arrange for Paul to stand outside the library as receiver and watcher over his wife while she is in there. Paul will be able to get the books from Sandra, pile them up and also keep watch over the building. It is the best we can do under the circumstances.

  “Paul, do not go in alone if anything goes wrong. Get help as fast as you can, but don’t try to do it alone mate.” Rhys says and Paul nods his head in agreement. We have learned a lesson from last night and today that none of us will ever forget.

  Krystal and I are to take over at the tent hospital at 2am so we decide to rest as much as we can and head off to our tents to sleep for a couple of hours. The others
sit around the fire talking quietly. No more sleeping under the stars for us for the time being. Tents and tarpaulins had been found and erected during the day. A little comfort for us at last and some shelter from the sun and the rain too.

  I must have slept, though I felt as if I had just closed my eyes, when Carrie one of the other nurses came to wake me for my shift. My eyes are gritty from the dust and my muscles scream at me as I roll from my sleeping bag and head off across the hill to the hospital tent. Krystal doesn’t look much better and we smile grimly at one another as we walk.

  “I feel like a walking hay stack.” Krystal says as she walks. “My hair is a mess, my skin is dry and I ache like mad all over.”

  “I don’t feel much better.” I tell her as I pull the ripped sides of my flannelette shirt around me against the cold. “I think we are going to have to look at clothing for everyone soon too. The weather is changing and summer will soon head into autumn and with winter coming on we have to make sure that we have enough warm clothes for everyone.” I continue, making a mental note to bring it up later tonight at the meeting.

  Krystal and I stagger across the hill, weary legs not wanting to move too fast. It was going to be a long night after a very full day. Neither of us had slept for more than three hours, so we were going to have to keep each other awake.

  Dr Helen meets us at the door, tired eyes gaze out of a very pale face. Helen looked just like I was feeling and her voice showed the strain of long hours and little rest as she briefed us on our patients. During the few hours we had been away three patients had been discharged into the care of relatives as they were well enough not to need nursing care. Two had become a lot sicker with infection and were now on the critical list. Two more had died of injuries sustained during the hospital collapse. The sad news was greeted by Krystal and me with solemn nods. We told Helen to go and lay down on an empty mattress for a while so that she could rest and our shift began.