Working on a remote site has it's ups and downs. As it's namesakes suggests, remote sites are nearly always small, around 60 man, and far removed from any kind of support or infrastructure. It's safe to say, you're on your own. Sure, there was the weekly food delivery or a despatch truck would come by from time to time. But that was it, you were cut off from the rest of civilisation for the time you were rostered on, and stuck with the same group of people until they or you were rostered off. On the bright side, this work imposed isolation acted as a glue for camp mates and most of the time we didn't mind being within close quarters of each other.
Most of the time anyway.
One crisp winter morning as I emerged from my room to start my day I bumped into DO. He was one of the aboriginal heavy machinery operators the earthworks contractor had on staff. He was usually loud spoken, jolly and hot headed. On many mornings I would wake up to one of DO 's many tributes to the 60's. This morning, he was different. In a panicked voice he asked if I had heard any knocking from next door. I told him my sleep had not been interrupted at all. This news seemed to trouble him more. He then asked if I could check up on him if i heard anything and gave me permission to enter his room and wake him up if I heard knocking. I felt uneasy at the thought of invading someone's personal space.
Given the relatively short time I've been at this camp, I thought nothing of it and passed it off as a prank the old boys have decided to play on me. But the next day DO said the same thing, except he seemed more serious this time. I kidded and asked if I should interrupt if I thought he was getting lucky with one of the girls in camp. He didn't care, and even invited me to join if it came to it. I politely declined. Later in the locker, DT, one of DO's mates came up to me after he saw how worried I was after that conversation with DO.
He said that there are still people who still hold beliefs in the traditional ways. DO was one of them. Even though the machinery he operates isn't exactly destructive (he operates a water cart), his ancestors are displeased with what he is doing. In his ancestors eyes, he is desecrating their birthright - their land. This camp had even more significance as its aboriginal name translates to 'place of death' - where people came to die. He was also told this place had very dark magic, a witch or the spirit of a witch resided there. DT believed DO was visited by an ancestor in his dream and haunted or harassed.
I suddenly got goosebumps at the thought of dark figures visiting me as well as I was definitely contributing to the desecration of said land. Just a few days ago I was traipsing through the place hunting for caves and aboriginal art on the cave walls. I found some and did the touristy thing and took photos with mine imposed on top of theirs. I shuddered again.
That night was fairly sleepless for fear of a black shadow lurking in the corner of my room. That could be my guilty conscience. Should probably be a bit more culturally sensitive and aware from now.
He said that there are still people who still hold beliefs in the traditional ways. DO was one of them. Even though the machinery he operates isn't exactly destructive (he operates a water cart), his ancestors are displeased with what he is doing. In his ancestors eyes, he is desecrating their birthright - their land. This camp had even more significance as its aboriginal name translates to 'place of death' - where people came to die. He was also told this place had very dark magic, a witch or the spirit of a witch resided there. DT believed DO was visited by an ancestor in his dream and haunted or harassed.
I suddenly got goosebumps at the thought of dark figures visiting me as well as I was definitely contributing to the desecration of said land. Just a few days ago I was traipsing through the place hunting for caves and aboriginal art on the cave walls. I found some and did the touristy thing and took photos with mine imposed on top of theirs. I shuddered again.
That night was fairly sleepless for fear of a black shadow lurking in the corner of my room. That could be my guilty conscience. Should probably be a bit more culturally sensitive and aware from now.
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