Everyday we’re mustering- photo diary
Host: Wongawol Station
It’s early morning and ‘Moose’ is waiting for the engine in his mustering buggy (called the ‘Beer Fridge’) to warm up
Meanwhile Graham and Dusty are trying to warm up by having a morning smoke, while we wait for the chopper to find cattle.
Dusty with his rolled smoke looking like an old cowboy
Megan with her teeny tiny fire one morning, while we were waiting for the chopper to arrive. We ended up making a bigger one but, but Megan was determined to see hers survive!
The Rocky, a mustering buggy that has done many km’s of hard work, and has mustered many cattle!
The first mob of the day. Once the chopper brings the first lot of cattle to us, we start walking them towards the yards (which are usually several kilometers away), and throughout the day the chopper brings in more cattle, so the mob grows bigger and bigger.
Rocka and JP having a mid morning conference to discuss the mob (or probably just catch up on the goss)
Mustering the cattle through some rocky terrain
Holding up a mob, while waiting for more to cattle to be brought in by the motorbikes. How cute is the little calf in the middle of the picture, with it’s big “Dumbo” ears?
Andy have a stretch on the two wheeler
Rocka watching out over the mob
Dusty, Spencer and Russel reflecting on the days muster after we have yarded up
Holding a mob up on a grassy flat. We stop the cattle and hold them in one spot when we bring new cattle into the mob because there is less chance of things going wrong. Sometimes when fresh cattle are brought in by the helicopter and motorbikes, they can be quite flighty, and try to break away from the mob, and run back out into the bush. When this happens, they can stir up the cattle we have already mustered. So we hold them up until they settle down, and are able to walk off quietly with the bikes and buggies.
JP the Av-Gas man, making sure the helicopters keep going all day
Russel, Colin and Spencer having a chat after the days yard up
Meg, Russel and Rocka having a chat after a yard up.
Daniel ready to muster in his buggy, the “Hulk”. The door didn’t open so everyone literally had to ‘climb in’!
The mustering buggys all ready to go…
Whoops, Megan had a little accident! These buggies are tough little things, but sometimes the country gets the better of us!
Mustering along an airstrip into a beautiful sunset in the red dirt
Andy cutting out Jiminiminy the poddy calf from the mob. He was too small to finish the muster so Andy caught him and he got to ride in my car.
Bushing cattle one afternoon. “Bushing” cattle refers to releasing the cattle from the yards back into the bush, so they can go off and have more babies, and so the babies can go and grow up.
Andy and Yurem waiting around one morning.
A fire is essential to start any morning, and finish any night.
The best view I have ever seen in a rear view mirror! This was taken by Megan when she was in the lead.
Luke watching the mob
Vehicle repairs are a common occurrence throughout muster. These buggies get a bit of a thrashing!
Sometimes holding up a mob can be a bit slow and boring!
The boys checking the bike is working right
Holding up another mob on the flat
Panel yards… my favourite activity ever!! NOT! Aurghhhhh words can not describe how much I loathe setting up and taking down portable panel yards.
Meg and Rocka having a chat.
Sitting back, waiting for someone to come and rescue me on one of the 3 occasions I got lost during muster. It appears to be a habit of mine.