12/10/09 - 26/10/09
Week 7
Late Posting - On Friday the 9th of October at about 2:00pm the electricians arrived and started disconnecting electrical services to the toilet block ready for demolition. On Saturday the 10th of October they completed the toilet block disconnection, and installed some circuits for the new split system air conditioners at the youth centre. They also disconnected the ceiling lights and fans in preparation for insulations batts to be installed in the ceiling.
Latest news - Alan, the block layer, has recently resigned. Without a block layer and welder there could be some significant delays with renovations to the public toilets, and construction of the stage roof. IST is currently recruiting for new staff, and it is hoped that positions will be filled as soon as possible.
Monday the 12th of October – The concrete was mixed and poured for the pathway at the airport shelter. The students also removed the coin operated washing machines from the swimming pool area.
Tuesday the 13th of October – Alan left Ngukurr. The students put rafters in place on the airport shelter and welded them to the columns.
Wednesday the 14th of October through to Friday the 15th of October – The students continued with construction of the airport shelter. They cut and welded in place the spacing beams between the rafters, put purlins into position, bolted them to the rafters, and then finished welding the columns to the base plates.
Attendance hasn’t been terribly good this week. There has been a lot of sorry business activity, including corroboree dancing at the house of the newly deceased person in preparation for the body’s arrival back in the community. The corroboree began on Thursday night, and went to the early hours of Friday morning. Only 3 students attended training on Friday.
On Sunday the 18th of October – Jake from the Roper Gulf Shire took all of the students out to discuss their enthusiasm and on-going commitment to the training. Collectively it was agreed that a core group of 9 would continue to work with IST on the projects.
Week 8
Monday the 19th of October – The students put cross bracing on top of the purlins at the airport shelter, and then screwed the roof sheeting in place.
A 16 year old student from the Ngukurr School has been placed with IST and the team for work experience. The placement has been organised by Haidee McKittrick, a Project Officer from the Rivers Region Youth Development Services Inc. The student will be with the team for a period of a week, and if it goes well other work experience students may be placed with the team too.
Kerry returned to the community at 7:30pm that evening with a trailer load full of materials. Derek will be leaving for Darwin the following morning.
Tuesday the 20th of October through to Thursday the 22nd of October – Kerry worked with the students to install insulation batts in ceiling of the recreation room at the youth centre. They also cut and fit skirting boards to all of the walls in the youth centre.
Attendance has been fantastic this week with 10 students participating each day, including the work experience student.
Tommy is back in the community after being air evacuated out the week before, and is recovering well.
Friday the 23rd of October – Sorry business, body flown back into the community. No work today.
