Castleton 2003

by Colin
Monday 4th August 2003

Stand of Trees Full Image
Seen on the side of the road near Hamilton.

4 August 2003
I spent today driving through western Victoria. Down the Geelong Freeway, onto the Princes Highway, then through Colac and Camperdown, both towns I have worked in before. Near Terang I turned north, heading to Mortlake. There the road joins the Hamilton Highway. It was along this stretch that I stopped for the first time when I saw an abandoned homestead and got the camera out for some shots. I stopped again near the town of Hamilton this time to photograph a small stand of trees in the middle of a paddock.
Six hours after leaving Melbourne I arrived in the town of Casterton. The company had booked me into the Glenelg Hotel, which is the first building in the main street.
I went to the main bar to pick up the key to my room. Number three the owner told me and I followed her to the side of the pub where the three units were. Reparked the car and noticed the boot was only a footpath away from the busy Hamilton Highway.
It was still light, so I had plenty of time to go for a walk along the main street. I went in search of the kindergarten where I will be working, the following afternoon.
The counter meals started at 6.30 pm. I was already on first name terms when the owner asked me how I was and then said I could sit anywhere. I’m starting to realise basic motels are run by very friendly people. I sat down and made myself comfortable at a table decked out complet with plastic flowers and the warm air from the gas heater rising up my back. The meal was good and when finished I left the other two patrons still eating and walked back to my room. After the long drive I got an early night and wasn’t disturbed by the noise of the semi trailers rattling past my window.

5 August 2003
It was 7.45 am when I locked the door to my motel unit. Started the car and drove east along the Hamilton Highway to Colerain. The journey, through picturesque rolling green hills took about thirty minutes.
I found the kindergarten without any problems and made myself known to the director. She let me organise the children, when we went outside to photograph them playing in the yard. The morning session was finished around 11 am.
I drove the 30 kilometres back to Casterton and had enough time to drop off the exposed films into my room before heading to next kindergarten session just around the corner to the motel. By time the children had finished their lunch and my coffee was consumed I started work. Again the director let me take organised shots when the children played outside. As I was leaving at 2 pm the mums and dads were waiting to pick up their children.

6 August 2003
This morning I started a 150 kilometre round trip from Castleton, east towards Colarain then north to Balmoral. Blue skies with some cloud was the weather forecast. I stopped a couple of times to film the countryside before arriving in the small village.
Next to the primary school was the kindergarten. As I was unloading my gear, I heard the voice of the director telling me where the front gate was. It was only the day before when I photographed her children at Colarain and there was no need to introduce myself again. Fifteen children, all in the four to five year old bracket and easy to work with. I was on my way back to Castalton before the children sat down for lunch. Again my video camera was brought out to record the scenery along the way.

7 August 2003
This was to be my last day working in the Castleton area. Last night I had a meal in my room instead of the pubs dining room. While I was waiting for my meal I sat down in the public bar and got into a conversation with a gentleman who was running a demonstration on farming practices. Which explained why the lounge was so busy and no room for me to have a meal. When the meal was ready I left him to start his lecture and made my way back to my unit to eat.
It was a long five-hour drive from Castalton to the town of Bendigo. The journey was through pleasant green countryside. It was good to see water in the dams again.
Arriving in Bendigo I found the pre-booked Budget Motel. I picked up the key from reception and drove around the back to find my room. In contrast to the accommodation the company have been arranging for us, this unit was good. On one of the trips to get my gear from the car I noticed a vehicle pull up and two people getting out. A girl dressed in summer gear, which looked very out of place being the weather was cold. They both went to the unit next to mine. He went inside said “Hi” to someone, than left. The girl went inside and closed the door. What I had just witnessed was a pimp delivering a prostitute. I drove out ten minutes later and saw him parked outside waiting for her to finish.
Found the centre where I was to work the next day and went in to introduce myself. The director and I chatted as she took me around to each of the four rooms.
That evening I went in search of somewhere to eat. My first choice was not successful but they directed me to a Bistro a block away from the fountain in the middle of town. Kangaroo was on the menu and it was cooked to perfection.
On the way back I observed I had walked the long way around to find the eating establishment. It took a fraction of the time to get back to the motel. The rest of the evening was spent watching TV and catching up on news from my girlfriend when she phoned around 7 pm.

8 August 2003
This morning started in a frustrating manor. I arrived at the centre just after 8 am. Rang the doorbell and one of the staff members came to the door, she asked for identification. I told her the name of the company I worked for, than mentioned that I had visited the centre the day before and the director knew I was coming. She was adamant that I could not work unless I could prove who I was. I had never had this problem before and was upset at the situation I found myself in. My boss was contacted and after a lot of faxes and phone calls I was finally let into the centre to start work an hour after arriving. The rest of the session went well and all of the staff, were very helpful.
I left Bendigo and headed for home, glad the week was at an end.

Castleton 2003

Castleton 2003

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