The school radio network in earlier times worked something like this. A teacher would be centred at a fairly large regional bush town. Every day at a set time she would go "On Air". The children would "Sign On" one at a time. They would submit their home work and then take part in discussions. Pretty difficult that. Only one person at a time could speak. After that there would be a question and answer session. It must have been fun, don`t you think? Living in such remote areas, naturally there was no electricity to run the radios. So they had a weird contraption like a exercise bike that you had to pedal. It drove a generator providing power for the radio.

Just imagine:
Teacher." What is 2+2 John Smith?" .......... "John, Are you there?"
Meanwhile John has stopped pedalling, adds it up on his fingers.
"Er... sorry Teach, I fell off my bike. Oh yeh, 4!!"

There must have been rigid "On Air" discipline otherwise there could have been chaos!! It is quite similar now, but much more fun. They use computer networks with sound and pictures (Blimey! That sheila looks like an `Ol chook!!). Most get their power from solar sources. No more pedalling! That's probably why Oz had so many good racing cyclists in those days, eh? No more excuses like "Me pedal fell off Teach!".

Try to imagine the nearest shop being eleven hours drive away. Consequently, shopping is BIG! So storage areas have to be huge and cater for masses of food, etc. What would you buy? Make a list. Sometimes newspapers are delivered by air. They don`t bother to land, but just hurl them out. Could be a bit dangerous hanging out the washing when the papers arrive!!

In the Northern Territory and elsewhere they have "Road Trains" A massive truck hauls up to ten trailers. Tricky job that would be. The drivers have to stop often to walk up and down and check there are no fires starting owing to flat tyres. If the ninth trailer had a flat, you wouldn`t notice it being so far up at the front. I wouldn`t want to get stuck behind one of those on an unmade road in my little VW!!!

I hope you have enjoyed this, and that it has tickled your fancy to find out more. Knowledge is just a book or a computer away. Don`t be scared or put off by grown ups saying "I just don`t know what to make of kids nowadays" My Mum and Dad said it. No doubt their parents said it!!

Look around you once in a while. Treat every experience as a gift and tuck it away for the future.

Man is no doubt clever, but looking around me I can see a world of nature which is just magnificent. Now whoever organized that is REALLY CLEVER!