9/11/09 - 23/11/09
Week 11
Monday the 9th of November – Kerry worked with the students at the youth centre finishing skirting boards, and blocking up the internal and external holes where two air conditioners had been. Three new split systems will be put in as soon as the air conditioning contractors arrive. They are scheduled to arrive in Ngukurr on Thursday the 12th of November.
Derek continued to work at the stage mixing and pouring concrete for the footings.
Tuesday the 10th of November – Kerry and the students finished up at the youth centre, whilst Derek continued with the stage footings. The team only worked on-site for a half a day today. It’s over 40 degrees with extremely high humidity levels.
Wednesday the 11th of November – Another extremely hot day with temperatures over 40 degrees. Derek and the students continued working on the stage footings whilst Kerry removed left over materials and building rubble from the Youth Centre. Several dump runs were required to clean up the site.
Thursday the 12th of November – The students had a day off from the training program. They went up to Wilton River and Roper Bar with Tommy to clean up rubbish at both crossings in preparation for the wet season and rising river levels. IST staff caught up on their bookwork, and organised the compound in readiness for the arrival of two semi trailers due to arrive tomorrow morning.
The air conditioning contractors arrived in the afternoon and worked until dusk installing three new split systems at the Youth Centre. They will complete the job Friday morning.
A new IST trainer, Anthony Beeby arrived at 10pm with a trailer load of materials, including a new cement mixer and IST’s heavy duty mobile generator.
Friday the 13th of November
Derek and the air conditioning contractors finished installing the split systems.
The contractors then left in the afternoon, as did Kerry for his week break in Darwin.
Only two students turned up today. They worked with Senior CDEP workers to remove fences and trees near the Youth Centre in preparation for a computer room demountable to be placed nearby.
Derek spent the afternoon showing Anthony the projects that are occurring in the community, and familiarising him with the plans. The semi-trailers due to arrive today have been delayed.
Saturday the 14th of November – Derek and Anthony were advised by the IST head office that the semi trailers would be arriving at lunch time. They decided to go for an early morning sightseeing drive, but as they were driving out they saw a semi driving in and turned around. The delay was due to one of the semi trailers having had clutch problems. When the semi truck drivers got to Mataranka they left the two trailers, and drove back to Darwin that night to pick up a new prime mover to continue with the logistics operation. They then turned straight back around and drove to Mataranka to pick up the load and continue on. What fantastic teamwork and support provided by the semi drivers, to the construction team on the ground. Now that’s called getting on with the job!
Anthony and Derek spent the rest of the day unloading the steel for the stage roof, blocks, cement and pre-mix for the toilet block.
Sunday the 15th of November – Anthony and Derek spent several hours organising and moving materials around the CDEP yard with a forklift.
Week 12
Monday the 16th of November – The footings at the stage were completed
Tuesday the 17th of November – Anthony set up the shed area in preparation for welding / steel work.
Wednesday the 18th of November – More unrest in the community, it has been building since the weekend. Community leaders called a meeting this morning to try and sort it out. Training was late getting started.
Anthony worked on the plans to put together a cutting list in preparation for manufacturing the stage trusses.
Derek and four of the students finished screwing the roof off at the airport, whilst the others poured concrete collars around the base of the columns.
Thursday the 19th of November – Anthony worked with a small group of students to cut the steel columns for the stage with Oxy-acetylene cutting equipment.
Derek took the rest of the students to the airport shelter site to install the seating and paint the welds.
Derek received a phone call from IST management advising him that Kerry had decided to resign.
Friday the 20th of November – Derek, Anthony and the students took the columns and all of the tools and equipment from the workshop area to the stage site. A lady from the council office came down shortly thereafter to advise Kevin and the others that there had been a death in the community. Students down tools for the commencement of sorry business.
