On the 10th of July 2022, I attended a work trip carrying out vegetation surveys in remote W.A at Mt Narryer Station. Our work was ended swiftly due to contracting COVID on the flight over (we assume) and I was left being paid to isolate and write. Here’s a poem I wrote to ensure I never forgot it. Enjoy.
The Shiver at Mount Narryer
If it weren’t for the flight, we’d have all been alright, we’d have never crossed paths with the covid carrier.
Yep, If it weren’t for the flight, we’d have all been alright, but we’d have never got to Mt Narryer.
It started out well, like dominos our sites fell, Robyn and Josh did six in one day all told.
While it started so well, it quickly turned into hell, as three out of four of us came down with a curious cold.
First Rick, then the rest, returned a positive test, we were sick and it was the dreaded covid.
Robyn’s immunity was best, she continued with zest, never sick, not even for a moment.
But that wasn’t where we stopped, we kept working round the clock, till the boss man rang with word from back in town,
That was where we stopped, our dreams had all popped, as Liam had to call time and tools down.
So Rick read, I wrote, Sarah danced, Robyn baked, and we ensured our time was not wasted.
We walked, we ate, and despite being sick, you wouldn’t believe how good Robyn’s Acacia seed bread tasted.
Sadly, we shedded tears, staring in the face of our fears, as we saw entrapped dingos needing the gun.
We even tried rescuing an emu, that needed a vet’s seeing to, but despite its death we made our trip fun.
Whether gawking huge goanna, hiking the base of Mt Narryer, or exploring the Murchison river together,
Always laughter at the station, our sickness was no barrier, I’ll remember kicking the COVID shiver forever.
W. A. Greenly. 