Well hello to all, Hope you have had a great May Day week end. I thought I’d drop you a line from Brisbane, QLD to keep you up to date in on what has been happening with the Katherine crew over the last week. Since ANZAC Day there have been some minor refurbishments going on at Katherine centre, which Steve and I helped out with; nothing drastic just a few cupboards and shelving getting relocated and stores getting moved about.

Thursday night was one of those meeting nights with general business, nothing on the training agenda. It was quiet night which gave us the opportunity to tie up loose ends before heading off to Brisbane for the week on holidays. As it was a long weekend we had the Daly Waters Rodeo which Mitch, Rhys and Geoff covered for Katherine from the Thursday night to Sunday afternoon. Reports have it they treated a small number of casualties, with nothing being too serious. Friday saw another Junior Rugby night, which was covered for Katherine by Amy. The ref must not have been as diligent this night as there were a few injuries sustained. Thank you to you all for helping cover these duties for Katherine. Stay tuned for more news on these duties...

Sunday night again Steve and I were on duty with Angie and Benny Butler at the Mindil markets along with Narelle who is the Superintendent of Darwin Cadet Band, Sarah, Cadet Corporal of the Darwin Cadet Band and Lisa, a Palmerston Cadet.

Whilst Katherine duties were being covered by our crew, Steve and I went to Darwin to do administrative paperwork with Rosie from the Volunteer Office on the Friday before we were to fly out on the Monday. A big thank you goes to Rosie for her time and patience for helping Steve out with much needed paperwork to be sorted out. Amongst our plans of being in Darwin was to help cover the Mindil Markets on Sunday with Palmerston Division. However we were also asked to help in assisting a Darwin duty at the Nightcliff Seabreeze Festival Saturday night. As we had packed our      uniforms for the Sunday duty we didn’t mind helping out.

Saturday night Seabreeze Festival was the first duty that Steve and I had the good fortune and experience of working with Angie Butler (Territory Deputy Superintendent). The last time that Steve and I had the pleasure of working with Angie was in 2006 when she was our Divisional Superintendent back in Brisbane. It has been a long time between duties Angie, but one thing I will say, nothing much has changed and it is still “cool bananas” :).

It was a great duty working with new people and making friends and doing something different for us Katherinites. It’s not every day that we would get the opportunity to have such an experience. Picture in your mind - in the foreground you have the hustle and bustle of the crowd at a regular market and in your imagination the noise that comes with it. Then think of something totally opposite, a peaceful and tranquil sunset with the waves of the ocean lapping at the shoreline in the background, as stated in the movie “The Castle”…..”Pure Serenity”. That is the Mindil Markets for you, and how lucky you are to have duties in such settings.

As Benny B and Angie covered the BMX on Friday night and with Benny B out again with us on the Sunday night he was feeling rather worn out and decided to try out the latest piece of ambulance equipment…… see photo attached hahaha.

Sorry Benny! I know you didn’t dare me to add this treasure to the newsletter (nor me for putting it online – Daniel) but I knew that if I didn’t you would have wondered why! I love this photo, it shows that you can have a little fun on duties, but be serious as well.

Tanea signing out from Brisbane for now and will catch you all again in Katherine, until then be good and have a great week whatever you do. Live well, Laugh lots and Love much.

Article by Tanea Rudder Katherine Division