Week 7 - Manning Gorge – Two night stay – Big drama!

Manning Gorge Boat crossing - kids having an amazing time with new friends

Gavin and Sarah in Manning Gorge

Mt Barnett Roadhouse

Local School Bus

Manning Gorge

Manning Gorge

Today we made the short drive to Manning Gorge. We pulled in for fuel at the Mt Barnett Roadhouse which is owned and run by the aboriginal community. This place was so friendly – they had great facilities and the school bus was a novelty for the kids! I can see that many commonwealth funds are being used successfully to create a better future for this community.

Manning Gorge camp was very busy and hot, hot, hot! We decided not to walk the gorge and just stay in the water hole with a boat ferry. The kids had a wonderful time!

That was until lunchtime when word came around that one lady in her 60’s had taken ill with heat stroke. Gavin and another guy began to set off to lend assistance. This took time to prepare – water and supplies crucial. Meanwhile I tried to use satellite phone to get help from the roadhouse. Unsuccessful as there was no service! Others set out by car to raise the alarm to get help. Finally I made phone contact and they said it would be 1hr. Gavin and pal were about to cross river on boat when a man appeared with the lady on his back. He had carried her all the way. She was in bad shape – lucid, with rapid breathing and crying. The bush ambulance arrived within 5mins and they stretchered her out. They had a trainee doctor, who had arrived the day before, and two very strong aboriginal men who were medics. She was taken into the community for treatment. Good news is she returned later that night to the camp ground. Very tired but she was on the mend. They gave her a saline drip, electrolytes, and medication to stop the vomiting. She was very lucky!

We decided to stay the night after all the drama, had intended to go to Charnley Station where there was a cattle muster on. Oh well!