Timber Creek Little But Busy

One enthusiastic student from Timber Creek school said “We may only be little Miss Kate, but we are always busy!”
To most, Timber Creek is the stopping point for those travelling from the Kimberly to the Northern Territory. Located on the Victoria Highway, 285 km west of Katherine and 193 km east of the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia, it is merely an overnight rest before tourists move on to their ‘real’ destinations. Not so for the Sports Challenge mentors, who have been frequent visitors now for three years.
With the school providing the meeting place for all the children from the six communities that surround Timber Creek, there is never a dull moment. It seems that there are 25 hours in a day at Timber Creek; the students manage to fit so much into their program, keeping all Sports Challenge mentors on their toes. Jesse Philips (kayaking), Kate Melia (hockey) and Patrick Scalabrini (pro baseball) moved the students through a series of problem solving, communication, leadership and cooperation activities all with time to spare for a quick game of baseball. This was followed by the timely removal of a ‘king brown’ snake from the oval and fun on the water slide before signing off for the day.
As the sun sets on another 46 degree day, the Sports Challenge mentors retreat to their accommodation exhausted but exhilarated by the untapped potential of these kids.