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6 June 2011
Dear Tess,
I am sending you this e-mail, having returned to Melbourne and begun to catch up on work I would normally have done at that time I was in Darwin.
I wanted to send you this message to say how much I enjoyed the day at Lichfield, and the experience you gave me.
It was all I hoped for in the sense that we did a lot, saw a lot, and I did not have to think about where we were going, timetables, or the like. I had of course already carefully looked at the area by map and had an idea in general terms before we set out. That knowledge however, does not help you know exactly which cafe is pleasant and makes good coffee early in the morning. You knew that!
I was really interested at numbers of things that I know may not necessarily interest others, but absolutely fascinated me. For example, I did not know there were different types of termite nests, or even that the ones on the ground are of different styles and nature (much less to taste one). Nor would I have any idea that honeybees might take over part of a termite mound. Even though we did not actually get to see that, the concept was very clear, and having a look was itself fun. I cannot say I had actually anticipated termite tasting, but that again that was a novel experience. I know not everyone would do that or want that, but I found it interesting. That you could identify various birds through the course of the day I also appreciated.
A lot of my work involves clarifying diagnoses when my colleagues are having difficulties. That is really a discrimination, identification, and pattern recognition task. In that context, it was a real lesson to me to have the struggle I experienced at first in identifying yams in the field of grass, until I was able to come back again and have a better identification of the discrimination that can enable you to identify that particular plant. I can see that you really spent time with your elders in learning the skills over the years.
It was also very unique to have an indigenous perspective on the area, and to try to understand that in a contemporaneous context.
Having had occasion to make cooking fires in New Zealand on many occasions when camping well out into the bush, I was in awe of your speed and success in getting fuel for, and lighting, the barbecue. I recognise the difference is that I frequently did it in the rain, and in bush that is really quite wet, while this was in a relatively dry setting. Nevertheless, it was impressive. I personally really enjoyed the barbecue, and the opportunity to take a break.
I had brought swimming trunks and a towel with me so that it would have been possible to have a swim, had I felt like that. I chose not to, because I was really enjoying what we were doing, and frankly I can have a swim any old time, but cannot have the other experiences any old time. It was useful to have had the gear with me in case it had gotten too hot and I wanted to cool down, but that was not necessary.
I am sorry that you are having such difficulty in getting and retaining staff who have a sense of application and dedication to the work. That can be a challenge in any area, and I appreciate you have some unique difficulties within your community. I do hope that changes, and evolves over the years as young people become better educated, and understand the benefits that can come from education, knowledge, and contribution not only to your own community, but to the broader community.
I must say going to the Art Gallery at the end of the day was a surprise that turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. The paintings have not yet arrived but I hope they will the next day or two. I am very pleased with the opportunity to have seen those, and both will have the safe and secure places to live where they will be appreciated by many. I am very grateful for your accommodation and flexibility in turning around and taking me back to the gallery to complete that purchase, even though I do understand it was rather challenging in terms of your own timetable and your own commitments. I was very grateful for that.
I can see how you have progressively changed, modified, and evolved what you do and how you do it to suit your customers. I am sure you will continue to change and modify things further as you develop your business. Because I do such a lot of work internationally as well as nationally, I am very aware of how different people in different cultures have quite different expectations. It must be very hard to cater to all of them. However to understand their different needs and expectations will, I am sure, help you evolve and develop what you do to be even more successful.
Anyhow, I must send us off. Once again thank you very much for your help and assistance in what for me was a magnificent day. Thanks also to your husband, who was so clear, pleasant, and helpful when I telephoned him to clarify issues before I arrived.
Best wishes.
Dear Tess,
I am sending you this e-mail, having returned to Melbourne and begun to catch up on work I would normally have done at that time I was in Darwin.
I wanted to send you this message to say how much I enjoyed the day at Lichfield, and the experience you gave me.
It was all I hoped for in the sense that we did a lot, saw a lot, and I did not have to think about where we were going, timetables, or the like. I had of course already carefully looked at the area by map and had an idea in general terms before we set out. That knowledge however, does not help you know exactly which cafe is pleasant and makes good coffee early in the morning. You knew that!
I was really interested at numbers of things that I know may not necessarily interest others, but absolutely fascinated me. For example, I did not know there were different types of termite nests, or even that the ones on the ground are of different styles and nature (much less to taste one). Nor would I have any idea that honeybees might take over part of a termite mound. Even though we did not actually get to see that, the concept was very clear, and having a look was itself fun. I cannot say I had actually anticipated termite tasting, but that again that was a novel experience. I know not everyone would do that or want that, but I found it interesting. That you could identify various birds through the course of the day I also appreciated.
A lot of my work involves clarifying diagnoses when my colleagues are having difficulties. That is really a discrimination, identification, and pattern recognition task. In that context, it was a real lesson to me to have the struggle I experienced at first in identifying yams in the field of grass, until I was able to come back again and have a better identification of the discrimination that can enable you to identify that particular plant. I can see that you really spent time with your elders in learning the skills over the years.
It was also very unique to have an indigenous perspective on the area, and to try to understand that in a contemporaneous context.
Having had occasion to make cooking fires in New Zealand on many occasions when camping well out into the bush, I was in awe of your speed and success in getting fuel for, and lighting, the barbecue. I recognise the difference is that I frequently did it in the rain, and in bush that is really quite wet, while this was in a relatively dry setting. Nevertheless, it was impressive. I personally really enjoyed the barbecue, and the opportunity to take a break.
I had brought swimming trunks and a towel with me so that it would have been possible to have a swim, had I felt like that. I chose not to, because I was really enjoying what we were doing, and frankly I can have a swim any old time, but cannot have the other experiences any old time. It was useful to have had the gear with me in case it had gotten too hot and I wanted to cool down, but that was not necessary.
I am sorry that you are having such difficulty in getting and retaining staff who have a sense of application and dedication to the work. That can be a challenge in any area, and I appreciate you have some unique difficulties within your community. I do hope that changes, and evolves over the years as young people become better educated, and understand the benefits that can come from education, knowledge, and contribution not only to your own community, but to the broader community.
I must say going to the Art Gallery at the end of the day was a surprise that turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me. The paintings have not yet arrived but I hope they will the next day or two. I am very pleased with the opportunity to have seen those, and both will have the safe and secure places to live where they will be appreciated by many. I am very grateful for your accommodation and flexibility in turning around and taking me back to the gallery to complete that purchase, even though I do understand it was rather challenging in terms of your own timetable and your own commitments. I was very grateful for that.
I can see how you have progressively changed, modified, and evolved what you do and how you do it to suit your customers. I am sure you will continue to change and modify things further as you develop your business. Because I do such a lot of work internationally as well as nationally, I am very aware of how different people in different cultures have quite different expectations. It must be very hard to cater to all of them. However to understand their different needs and expectations will, I am sure, help you evolve and develop what you do to be even more successful.
Anyhow, I must send us off. Once again thank you very much for your help and assistance in what for me was a magnificent day. Thanks also to your husband, who was so clear, pleasant, and helpful when I telephoned him to clarify issues before I arrived.
Best wishes.
2 June 2011
Hi Tess,
I really want to thank you heaps for the great day I enjoyed with you and your mum last week. I felt very fortunate to be able to spend the time with you both in such beautiful country. It was special to me and I appreciated all your time and willingness to share. I’m keen to see/do more so if you ever think it’d be cool for me to tag along please let me know. I work shifts so have all sorts of weird days off. I would also love to camp out in the bush some time so if you’re ever thinking of organising some thing like that – I’ll be in .
Anyway, if none of the above comes to be, please just know what a great day it was for me,
thanks again,
Hi Tess,
I really want to thank you heaps for the great day I enjoyed with you and your mum last week. I felt very fortunate to be able to spend the time with you both in such beautiful country. It was special to me and I appreciated all your time and willingness to share. I’m keen to see/do more so if you ever think it’d be cool for me to tag along please let me know. I work shifts so have all sorts of weird days off. I would also love to camp out in the bush some time so if you’re ever thinking of organising some thing like that – I’ll be in .
Anyway, if none of the above comes to be, please just know what a great day it was for me,
thanks again,
12 January 2011
Hi Tess
Just affirming our pleasure to be guided by your competence and warmth. It couldn’t have gone better. Perhaps you are familiar with the form of light verse called the limerick. They tend to be a bit earthy, but not always, and I’ve enjoyed writing them as long as I can remember. Anyway, a few relevant thoughts about today in this format:
Driving southward from Darwin Australia,
It looked like the tour was a failure.
Paper work made obscure detailed plans for our tour
plus road blockage – capsized truck and trailer.
But fate worked us out of this mess
in a manner we could never guess.
Though some details were ditched
our lives were enriched
through charisma of skilled tour guide Tess.
Thanks again,
Hi Tess
Just affirming our pleasure to be guided by your competence and warmth. It couldn’t have gone better. Perhaps you are familiar with the form of light verse called the limerick. They tend to be a bit earthy, but not always, and I’ve enjoyed writing them as long as I can remember. Anyway, a few relevant thoughts about today in this format:
Driving southward from Darwin Australia,
It looked like the tour was a failure.
Paper work made obscure detailed plans for our tour
plus road blockage – capsized truck and trailer.
But fate worked us out of this mess
in a manner we could never guess.
Though some details were ditched
our lives were enriched
through charisma of skilled tour guide Tess.
Thanks again,
15 November 2010
Hi Tess
I hope you remember me, though it was ages ago that I did your tour of Litchfield National Park. It was with my friend Kim, in August this year. We were lucky enough to go out for the day with your mum and aunty (as there was only us and one other woman booked for the tour). It was a day I’ll never forget. I wrote some things up on Trip Advisor, but I didn’t manage to get through the login process (I’m not very computer literate) and it never got posted.
Anyway, thank you again for your generosity in giving us such an amazing day. It wasn’t just the highlight of that holiday – it is one of the highlights of my life. I felt we were welcome completely into your world, and it was such a privilege. You shared not only your intimate knowledge of your country, but also yourself and your family. It was such a gift. So many things I’ll never forget, but probably more than anything, just laughing with your mum and Sandra in the back seat as we drove along. They were joking and calling out for you to stop for some special bark to burn, or bush tucker, or whatever. I hope they’re well and that all your family is well. I also remember being driven back to our holiday flat in that fab yellow Monaro.
So many things, and when I look at your photo on the flyer, they all come back to me. You were so generous with your time and yourself.
Anyway, I hope this email finds you well and happy and not too worn out by all those hordes of tourists!
Warmest wishes
Hi Tess
I hope you remember me, though it was ages ago that I did your tour of Litchfield National Park. It was with my friend Kim, in August this year. We were lucky enough to go out for the day with your mum and aunty (as there was only us and one other woman booked for the tour). It was a day I’ll never forget. I wrote some things up on Trip Advisor, but I didn’t manage to get through the login process (I’m not very computer literate) and it never got posted.
Anyway, thank you again for your generosity in giving us such an amazing day. It wasn’t just the highlight of that holiday – it is one of the highlights of my life. I felt we were welcome completely into your world, and it was such a privilege. You shared not only your intimate knowledge of your country, but also yourself and your family. It was such a gift. So many things I’ll never forget, but probably more than anything, just laughing with your mum and Sandra in the back seat as we drove along. They were joking and calling out for you to stop for some special bark to burn, or bush tucker, or whatever. I hope they’re well and that all your family is well. I also remember being driven back to our holiday flat in that fab yellow Monaro.
So many things, and when I look at your photo on the flyer, they all come back to me. You were so generous with your time and yourself.
Anyway, I hope this email finds you well and happy and not too worn out by all those hordes of tourists!
Warmest wishes
