Gorgeous Galiwin_ku

What a fabulous day! With a 5.30am start, Kate and I jumped on a plane to Gove (Nhulunbuy) arriving there about 8.00am. We had a charter plane booked to Elkho Island but not until midday ... so what to do in Gove for 4 hours? We enquired at the rental car place but got told it would cost us a hundred dollars and not much to do except drive around some beaches.

I spotted an airport shuttle out the window and wondered where it was going. Kate ran out to ask and the driver said he could drop us in town ... there was a Woolies and a cafe! He gave us a little guided around the town and then dropped us off at the library. Bad News! The library didn't open till 10am!

But there was some people in there ... we snuck around the back and asked the librarian if we could come in. One librarian was very snooty and didn't want to let us in, but the other one said "well we are here so you may as well come in!"

So we sat in the library for a few hours, I did a phone interview with one of my clients, who was apparently celebrating "Be nice to donuts day". Apparently if you don't eat the donuts they get depressed and lose all their self-worth. I like it!!

Around midday we went back out the airport and drove into torrential rains. I will try to put the video up, but worst case there are photos. The pilots said that we couldn't fly until it stopped. Pretty happy about that as I didn't really want to fly if the pilots couldn't see!!

The rain cleared and we were off. A tiny six seater with seatbelts from the 60's ... and very funny pilot who accidently said "I hope its an eventful flight, um I mean UNeventful!"

The trip took about 45 minutes and the scenery was amazing. Words can't describe it, so here are the photos (courtesy of Kate).

Once we got to Elkho Island we met with the representative from East Arnhem Shire, and the Money business workers. It was absolutely fabulous, the were so switched on, loved their job and were really enthusiastic about us being there.

They told some lovely stories about community organisations, individuals and families, who after visiting with the MB staff started savings plans and achieved some great goals. A junior football team wanted to save money for jerseys so they discussed options around a bbq and agreed to deduct a small amount from each players savings account each week. Within a few months they had saved enough to buy the entire team's shirts. One family, who is now a role model and inspiration to the community, decided to save for a car. The ended up with a huge range rover, then decided to save for a boat. The bought a fishing boat, then decided to save to buy some land to plant a vege patch. They are now completely self-sustainable and are saving more and more money just because they can. They feel they have everything they need!

So it was a wonderful day, and we are now at the Nhulunbuy (Gove) Airport waiting for our flight. We are sitting outside, watching the sun set, and typing ferociously on our computers! Aaaah ... this is the life!!!