avatarAmy Marley

Summary

The author shares a personal experience of witnessing the dramatic wet season in Kununurra, North Australia, which includes a powerful lightning storm and the subsequent rains that extinguish a fire in a sugar cane field.

Abstract

The narrative "Kimberley Calls" is a vivid account of the author's encounter with the North Australian wet season, known locally as Waltjarnmirri. The author arrives in Kununurra just before the floodwaters make roads impassable and sets up camp, only to be greeted by an unexpected lightning storm while at Kelly's Knob lookout. This storm, with its vibrant colors and thunderous sounds, sets a sugar cane field ablaze, a common occurrence for locals but a novel experience for the author. The rains that follow douse the flames, and the author, awestruck, retreats to the shelter of their Land Cruiser. The piece reflects on the power of nature and the author's deep connection to the region, despite the challenging conditions and the absence of the ocean, which the author considers essential for their sanity. The narrative concludes with the author expressing gratitude to various individuals who inspired them to share their travel experiences through poetry and prose on Medium.

Opinions

  • The author is deeply moved by the raw power of nature during the wet season, describing it as both enthralling and humbling.
  • There is a sense of respect and appreciation for the local knowledge and the resilience of the people who live in the region and are accustomed to such intense weather events.
  • The author acknowledges the importance of community and mentorship in their writing journey, particularly highlighting the influence of fellow writers on Medium.
  • The experience of the wet season has left a lasting impression on the author, who feels a strong pull to return to the North despite its challenges.
  • The author values the preservation of indigenous languages and acknowledges the efforts being made to document them, recognizing the loss of these languages as a significant cultural concern.

Kimberley Calls

Ode to the Wet Season

Kelly’s Knob — lookout Kununurra — photo my own

Kimberley calls Pindan sprawls Colours vibrant Clouds silent

Thunderclaps Lighting zaps Fire starts Farmers hearts Sugarcane field Ablaze yield

Nature shouts No doubts Rain distinguished Fire extinguished

Welcome, Waltjarnmirri*

*Waltjarnmirri is the traditional word for the Wet Season in the North of Australia from January to early March. I apologise if I got this name wrong.

My memory and fresh research may not align with the local word in Kununurra.

Depending on who you speak to, there are between 250–350 different indigenous languages within Australia. Languages that are unfortunately being lost. Efforts are being made by AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies) to document them for future generations.

source — http://www.indigenousinstyle.com.au/australian-aboriginal-map/

We arrived just before the floodwaters closed the roads in mid-January.

Water crossings getting to and around Kununurra — photos my own

After setting up our van, we headed up to a lookout called Kelly’s Knob.

Left — original setup in Kununurra at Lake Kona. Our old canvas van couldn’t handle the rains once they started. Mould and leaks sprouted within the first week. Right — lucky to get a spot at Ivanhoe with a shelter. The ole girl would never have survived without the extra protection — photos my own
View from Kelly’s Knob before the lightning started — photos my own

We expected to watch the sunset and catch a bird’s eye view of the land. We were caught completely off guard with a lightning storm. The sky lit up like nothing I had ever seen before and since. Some forks of the lightning appeared to be horizontal- if that is even possible.

The sound of thunder felt throughout our bodies as one strike set fire to a sugar cane field. A normal occurrence for the locals, but not for us.

Enthralled in the power of nature, I completely forgot about the camera around my neck. We just stood wide-eyed. Stunned. Completely frozen.

The rains broke shortly after, thankfully putting the blaze out.

We sought shelter from the heavy rains in our old Land Cruiser and headed back to camp. Silent. Awestruck.

The sky on the way back to camp — photo’s my own

My heart often feels the call to go back to the North. Even though there was no ocean to swim in nearby (a major requirement for my sanity) it was the hardest place to leave on our working adventure around Australia.

I know I will answer the call and return one day.

Special thanks to

Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D.for the nudge this week to write a Clerihew. It birthed the action I needed to start writing about my travels.

Terri DelCampo-Nelson for planting a seed to write memoir in poetry form. I had been toying with this idea. Keeping my daughters in mind as future readers, I hadn’t planned to share it outside of the family walls.

BUT then… the following dots of connection added more momentum to share with a wider audience.

Rasheed Hooda and T. Mark Mangum have been inspiring with their travel pieces, both of the physical and imaginary realms for some time. Their words take me on a journey to another world — a holiday adventure at when travel is restricted.

Comments from Lanu Pitan, Karen Madej💛and Zachary Burres was the final kicker I needed to add my stories here on Medium.

Thank you to you all and everyone else here on Medium for your support. Your presence, words and support mean more to me than words can express. Being who you are, helps me heal and be confident to just be me.

I had almost finished editing this piece and was grabbing a link from Kathryn’s page when I saw this…thanks again Kathryn, thanks universe…another dot of connection. Love it!

Terri’s poetry singing memories from her life from a boat and a picture

Rasheed’s awesome walking adventure

T. Mark’s original start to Mr Mason’s intergalactic travels

Lanu takes us on a journey through the seasons — seriously what are the chances one of her recent pieces was on seasons…a fact I didn’t know until writing the dots of connection here.

Karen Madej💛 — “savours” the moments of life with “eyeballs rolling back in your head and moans of euphoria”

Zachary’s uplifting poem started my day

Thanks for reading.

Thanks for being you

Poetry
Memoir
Travel
Indigenous
Seasons
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