2011 - Theses - Flinders University

‘Hey, yaka! Not me, I’m too old. You the one with daughters!’ They are both laughing,and turn to watch Joycey, Winnie’s daughter, hanging clothes out on a bush and listening tothem.‘Not that one. She a good girl,’ says Winnie, proudly.Jim has barely left his hut since the delegation team left. It was, by all accounts, a successfulweekend for him, and he has heard Mr Wyld muttering and stamping around the place,obviously disappointed it did not go the way he had planned. But Jim doesn’t care. The strainhas taken its toll.For the umpteenth time, he reads the letter he has received from Reg Williams, and flicksopen the copy of the Messenger Violet thought to leave with him. So Reg was to be back onthe track again, this time with Dr Duguid who seemed like he had the wherewithal to set up amedical and spiritual mission in the Musgrave Ranges. Reg had even written why didn’t Jimcome along too? To itinerate yes: to set up another settled mission: no. He wanted to writeback, why not set up travelling teams like Rev Flynn had done, but knew this would not findfavour with the good Doctor. The UAM had seemed to lose interest in travelling altogether:not itinerating, not deputation either. Nepabunna was probably the only place for him, and asa single man too.There is a knock at his door, and some giggles. Jim considers not answering, but relentsand, fixing a smile to his face, opens the door. It is a bevy of those older girls again – youngwomen, really – and they have their sheafs of paper in their hands.107