Leopold Downs – 30 to 31 July 2010

John met with Joe Ross, a local leader for the Bunuba people in Fitzroy Crossing and he arranged for us to visit Leopold Downs Station and meet the manager Ned McCord.

When we arrived a film crew, making a docudrama about local aboriginal hero, Jandamarra, a Bunuba equivalent of Robin Hood, were at the Station discussing their plans. Jandamarra was a respected member of the Bunuba in the 1880’s, a crack shot and skilled horseman. He was employed as a police tracker, but after members of the Bunuba were rounded up and kept without food and water for a number of days, he rebelled, shot Constable Richardson, and for the next three years led an organized armed rebellion against the European settlers.

The film crew invited us out to see the filming at the old Leopold Station. They have renovated the outside of the Station House so it looked as it would have done when it was lived in. The inside is totally tumble down.

The filming was interesting but slow. They are shooting in a really remote area so all the crew are staying in small tents in the middle of a paddock. The only thing that makes it a bit easier is that meals are catered. I think making this film is a real labor of love for everyone involved. The local Bunuba people were clearly very proud to be part of retelling the story for a wider audience.

We saw the new Wesley Studio School built on Leopold Downs. Both Leopold Downs and Fairfield Station are owned by the Bunaba Tribe and the manager is helping them achieve their goals, one of which is a good school.

The school is amazing as the buildings are standard shipping containers which come fully built with walls, windows, bathrooms and kitchens. The sides open out to make the floor and roof and everything else comes stored within the container. It is a very good solution for remote housing as it is attractive and functional. The School will have a mix of local and Melbourne students and students will spend time in both Melbourne and Leopold Downs. It will provide an easier pathway to higher level secondary education for local students than has been the case as students were sent away to the city for senior school. The city was so different and lonely that the transition was very difficult for them.

There was so much to do we were invited to camp on Leopold Downs and had dinner at the Homestead, which was lovely.