Day 1 - Sunday 4/1

I landed in Port Hedland at about lunchtime with Nadia - another journalism student doing the CUCRH placement. We met on the plane and had a lot to talk about - i.e. all our hard work over the last semester, as well as what we expect out of this trip. Nadia has a background in broadcasting, where as I hope to get into print media. We weren't sure what we were in for but knew it would be a good experience.

As far as first impressions go, it was hard to think of anything but the stifling heat that hits you every time you step outside in this baron place. The landscape is dominated by an ochre-red - I'm told mainly from the residue of BHP's iron ore mines. Even the houses have an orange tinge, and the ocean is brown from the dirt. It amazes me how close the mines are to the Port Hedland's town centre, but I guess the main reason this town exists is because of the industry that drives it.

The population mainly consists of men, which did not suprise me because of the amount of mines up here. Still, it can be a bit overwhelming when everywhere you go your gender is far outnumbered! There are not many permanent residents in this town and many of the workers operate on a fly-in fly-out roster.

Shortly after stepping off the plane we drove to our accommodation in the hire car we picked up. We arrived at the house we were allocated but there were no keys in sight, so we had to visit the hospital to find Isabelle (our supervisor). There was a bit of a mix up with our accomodation as well the people we were to stay with. To cut a long story short, we settled in the nurses quarters across the road from the rec club - Nadia, James and I that is. We only discovered James a couple of hours after we arrived. It turns out he is up here for the same reason we are but we didn't see him on the plane so the poor guy had to catch a taxi to our accomodation. We are staying with two other people -Joseph and Susan- in a house with six rooms. They are both nurses at the local hospital.

Nadia, James and I had a brief meeting with Isabelle in the evening, and she arranged to meet us first thing Monday morning.
















View of the iron ore mine from the town















Our house (nurses quarters)