Theres this idea of Australia as a land of sunsets and red dirt tracks, kangaroos and wild country that tugs at the heart strings. Look at Australia travel photos on Instagram and you'll be greeted by rich colours and big skies - a dream really, and why, pre virus, millions would flock here every year to dip toes in red earth and warms seas. I love country too, as opposed to 'this' country - a spiritual heartland that beats into the emotional ribcage, whether you're first people or not, it's common to us all who love this isolated continent. But there's also a side of which I feel so sad for, as well as a good dose of shame.
Camped on the Murray River west of Mildura, we had found a spot you could only dream about. An hour and a half of hot dirt track through scrub, wildflowers and huge Mallee gums, and we'd found a bit of paradise. A long stretch of river beach, gum trees and the perfect spot to watch moon rise and sun rise whilst sipping a beer and cooking dinner on the open fire. It's a kinda wildness you long for, a chance to walk barefoot and watch the stars swirl their orbit across the sky.
Until the rednecks arrive.
I say rednecks because that's the derogatory term people use here for people with little consideration for others. As much as I hate to generalise, we believe them ignorant assholes with little interest with anything but their own small world. And that's certainly what rocked up to camp Friday night.
We should have known better.
I mean, all the signs were there - literally. The track in was called 'Deadman's Track'. On the river was a grave with a cross of sticks - a silly kid's joke, we thought, although in retrospect it was clearly a warning. The weekend was approaching, and regional Victoria had been let out - with none of the usual festivals or gatherings that would normally happen at this time of year, a month or two off summer and warm weather for a welcome change.
Even the family camped there, who were rather nice, were packing up camp. They didn't say why, but in retrospect, they'd mentioned something about parties on the beach.
But the place was far too pretty to pass up.
Friday was hot - windy, and around 32 degrees celsius. We'd winnowed away the afternoon, reading and sleeping, taking photographs, cleaning up the Landrover, talking. At 5 pm, three utes rocked up, three adults and around 10 teenage boys tumbling out, all football jersey'd and full of bravado. Still, we didn't listen - we didn't want to leave so late in the day, and the spot was so beautiful.
By 8 pm, we were looking at each other, wondering why the hell we hadn't left. The boys were drinking, and the adults didn't tell them to quiet down or stop swearing, anything else any parent would have done in the presence of strangers, or even out of courtesy for your fellow camper. By 10 pm, we were up in the rooftop tent whispering about what we should do. Should we pack up? Wait for them to go to sleep? Play dead?
At one point, a boy said 'I feel kinda sorry for them', but that simply resulted in the others running up right beside the car and screaming and hooting. Jamie leapt down and shouted - 'oy! are you in charge of these lot?' at the adult men who sat drinking - and supplying booze - to their charges. Coming back in, armed with a knife (just in case), he heard one of them say 'We'll see what he says with two broken arms when we send him back to the city'.
That's right.
We had our own Wolf Creek. And it was scary. At one point, Jamie thought he'd chat to them nicely - but I didn't want him to go over. What if they attacked him and I was there on my own? We couldn't drive off, because what if they chased us? They knew this area more than us.
And so we quietly, in the dark, packed up the camp as best could, throwing the water butts, solar panel, table and chairs willy nilly in the back. We worked as a team, efficent, knowing exactly what we needed to do. Jamie started Buttercup and we slowly drove to the other end of the beach under some trees, the rooftop tent still set up. That made us feel vulnerable too - if they decided to keep attacking the Landrover, we were up top. Jamie brought the shovel and I brought the knife. I was likely to sever my own arteries with it, but I could at least hope to pierce a ball or two.
Then the other campers started heckling.
For about an hour, there would be bouts of drunken shouting. Sentences like this razored through the thick night heat:
'Go back to where you came from, city fuckers'
'Get off our beach'
'Going to bed at 11 pm, are ya, pussies?'
And so on.
Keep in mind that this camp hadn't been privy to the stuff going on at the other end of the beach and appeared not to know each other. Somehow we'd camped in a place full of toxic localism and toxic maleness, pathetic men drinking and big noting each other and attacking the 'tourist' for a laugh. Like it was some Murray River pasttime, a way of pissing territory in a world increasingly smaller and less wild. Sure, it may have been 'their' territory, but wasn't this 'our' land? It was a national park, advertised in tourist brochures. Sunsets and wine at all that.
What saved us was a baby crying in the next camp. Thank goodness they had the decency to realise they were waking one of their own, and stopped. We sat there with beating hearts, unable to sleep, especially as the wind picked up and the tent began to flap and shake. At first light, we quietly packed and left.
It was hard to shake it off, as we left. I practiced compassion, knowing those men were raised exactly how they're raising their own boys, poor role models. Poor examples of what it means to be a decent human being. Afraid they'll lose what little they have - a small stretch of beach on the Murray under starry skies, a beer with mates. We rattled off the beautiful things we were seeing as we left - a flight of galahs, the sun rising behind the trees, the river all golden with dawn, the huge kangaroos bounding through saltbush. All to move our minds away from the appalling, frightening and intimidating behavior exhibited by people who were our country men.
But we felt ill, and a little naive, and a little daft we hadn't seen all the signs. As well as fucking angry that people like that existed, and we lived in a bubble that forgot to look out for them.
We weren't the only ones - relating this on Instagram, where we connect with like minded Landrover fans and overland travellers, we recieved a stream of messages telling similiar stories - the shooters firing guns round children until threatened by phonecalls to the police, the loud parties til dawn in family camps, the heckling of woman who were scared to travel into wild places on their own.
What kind of country are we, Australia? How are we raising our boys?
What accountability is there for this kind of behaviour?
Because most people I know just are damn relieved when the nightmare ends. They camp with an ear to the wind, the driver's seat empty ready to go if there is trouble, or they camp in the safety of caravan parks. We tell stories of redneck men in bush camps and shiver.
Meanwhile, men like this still terrorise their territory - and get away with it.
What are your experiences of camping with people like this? How do you deal with it? What advice would you give?
With Love,
https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmcGSZxvsXD8YbSCNAo6KWc4a9RjXyRCjWupZdPXJapkXk
Are you on HIVE yet? Earn for writing! Referral link for FREE account here
PeakD - The Best Way to Experience The Hive Blockchain
Join The Best Natural Health Community on Hive
Oh crap and double crap - what an utter desecration.
Me? I would have posted this one right up there in the Man Cave Community for comments about masculinity and how to raise boys. Urgh.
I am SSO SORRY that your time of sanctuary and solace was not only disturbed, but that you felt threatened and violated and vulnerbale. I DO hope you write an official letter of complaint to someone and attach a printed out compy of this blog - I'm SURE the National Parks people will have something to say. Perhaps you should send this blog is, as is, to The Age? I would.
Sending you a hug and hoping you enjoy a hot herbal soak.
Thanks for those alternatives for 'what to do' - I hate to think of them getting away with it. I think that's a good idea, and I think I'll do JUST THAT. Please let me know if there's anything you'd add or edit. It was really sickening.
Thanks so much for your warmth - feeling a bit teary to recieve it! Good call about the man cave - I actually couldn't think of what community to post it in! Perhaps I'll add the tag.
Hot herbal soak coming up!
ABSOLUTELY add The Man Cave as a tag. They should have a CHALLENGE about this post - how to raise boys differently! LOL... No need... hopefully they check their mentions.
Might make a good challenge idea for the Motherhood Community too!
Hugs. Teary is normal. Wine, bath, rest.
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.Thanks for those alternatives for 'what to do' - I hate to think of them getting away with it. I think that's a good idea, and I think I'll do JUST THAT. Please let me know if there's anything you'd add or edit. It was really sickening.
Thanks so much for your warmth - feeling a bit teary to recieve it! Good call about the man cave - I actually couldn't think of what community to post it in! Perhaps I'll add the tag.
Hot herbal soak coming up!
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know every user has their own profile map?
And so does every post as well!
Want to have your post on the map too?
Sorry your trip had to end like this. It's the same here, poorly raised menchildren...
Jamie suggested it was only Australians, but I told him I doubted it. That's a good way to put it -- 'menchildren'.
Ugggghhhh...this took me back to when I was 15 years old with my friend and his parents on The big island of Hawaii. We were all in a camper and driving around the island sleeping wherever. It was my first trip anywhere wild and exotic. One night at a beach park down the end of a steep dark wet valley things got just like you described. His parents ended up driving out late that night. It was awful for us kids not really knowing what was going on. It wasn't the only time on that trip. A couple of times we drove into little coastal towns that were really locals only! The tension from his mom and dad would just rip right through me when this happened.
Drunk rude dangerous young men... they are everywhere and always regenerating it seems. That Hawaii story was in 1973. Right now there are drunk guys down at the end of my street in the beach parking lot...
That must have been a moment where you lost a little innocence! I think about those boys and how theirs has been destroyed by asshole fathers.
It really speaks for a culture, doesn't it, that allows their boys to end up like this.
Yes there are some people that have no respect for anyone else and only care about their on little world.
I wish there was a way of making them accountable though - no one seems to care!
105 years ago those kids would have been lying about their age and falling over themselves to enlist to fight a foreign war, do their duty, and give their lives if need be.
Now...Well, you know what some are doing first hand. Not all mind you, but enough. They're not just in the country either. Cities have them also. Far too many of them.
That's a difficult situation Riv, Faith and haven't been in it but I can understand the feeling of helplessness. I can take care of myself, but overwhelming numbers make it difficult to make the decision to act.
It was a tough break for you guys, and this sort of thing puts people off camping in remote areas or in outside of van parks etc.
Numbers MATTER. As Jamie said, what could one guy do against a mob? And worse, he's English - so the accent can get their back up. Never mind the English was the reason they're here in the first place. Dicks.
Yep, add in some alcohol and it's a bad mix and situation for a couple to be in. It's pretty un-Australian and is shameful to be honest. Lack of respect seems to be more prevalent in society these days, but generally rife amongst the younger people.
Yeah I guess we have to be careful about generalising - I've met so many awesome respectful young people too. But when you meet the other kind, it's sure confronting.
Yes, me too, hence my use of the word generally - There are some legit operators out there who tend to stand out among the crowd of not so legit ones.
Best to know an area before pitching tent, ask on Instagram where other people go to find peace and quiet. Landrover club here in South Africa go out in groups, safety in numbers, not that I have ever been able to afford a vehicle like that, it is the done thing.
Times and attitude have changed, sadly one places oneself in more danger confronting them when they already tanked up and looking for a fight.
Sounds like you ended up having a shit for luck weekend away, don't let it stop you, be better prepared next time.
@tipu curate
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 0/16) Liquid rewards.
You can't always know, and that's the thing, if you want to explore and find new places, you don't want to rely on social media! Others we just keep going to same boring places.
Australia isn't an inherently dangerous country. We SHOULD be able to camp alone, that's the thing.
But we are certainly more prepared for next time - we could have camped a mile up the river where you could only fit one car in. Not the beach, but at least a beautiful spot.
The chances are it was all bravado and showing off to each other. You probably took the best course of action to just move away from them. I can imagine the is like to do for entertainment when you live out there, so this is about the best they can manage.
Once people get in groups and add some alcohol to it, I sometimes wonder if it even matters how you're raised. Mob mentality just takes over. And some people think we're superior to animals...
Oh no! You did the right thing getting outta there asap. Maybe in the very beginning, just when they arrived, there might have been a chance to touch base with them and establish that you're all cool... or maybe not. Hard to say.
I actually pride myself in getting along with rednecks, but that's more in the daytime, meaning before they start getting liquored up. And it doesn't include young spurs, full of youthful urge to prove themselves to each other.
Though I believe this phenomenon of irresponsible localism cut across divisions of race, gender, and culture. I've seen in among the locals in Mexican towns, as well as in California, on and off the reservation, among men and women equally. And the worst thing is, that people who at one moment are super chilled end up engaging in completely inappropriate behavior. So even once I've made friends with them, and I'm pretty sure that they won't attack me, I feel more comfortable on my own.
We did think that, we should have gone over and said hi, established common ground. Except Jamie had waved at a boat not half hour before, and he yelled 'fuck off' to him, so he was feeling a bit weird about it anyway. We should have left then - hindsight's all well and good! I agree though, talking to them can often allow them to see you as a person and not an object of disdain or a punching bag for their own inadequacy or issues. You often get 'oh, he's English, but he's okay' or 'they're not from here, but they're alright really' - small concessions but valuable life savers in tricky situations. They won't beat on someone they've identified with in the smallest way.
We're pretty streetwise, and we get along just fine with rednecks too - but not rednecks in the way we see them here, which is just pure asshole and no amount of cameraderie will help. Funny though, it's these same people who crap on about patriotism and helping fellow Aussies in crisis ie bushfire. Hypocritical they can't treat fellow Aussies the same way in this situation.
I tried to tell that to my English husband who was really angry at Australians as a whole, as if they were unique in that regard. But the comments on this post have just proved to him that it's not unique to Australia, it's a problem with people.
No, I totally understand. Getting a "fuck off" in return for a friendly wave is just way low. Also, I think I should clarify my definition of rednecks, which I don't consider offensive nor derogatory, simply meaning white country folks in the US. And yes, I have been friendly with lots of them, and received warm-hearted friendliness in return. And by that point both of us were ready to completely overlook our major differences in culture, social class, education, or political opinions.
However, this is a far cry from ignorant, inconsiderate assholes. Those are much worse! I have also encountered them, even among people who were much closer to me in terms of culture, social class, education, and political opinions. In fact, as minimal and insignificant as our differences were, with those folks they just got magnified to the extreme. Also, simply seeing their disregard for anyone that's not them made me feel anxious to get as far from them as possible. So my point is, the issue is not with rednecks per se, but with the ignorant assholes.
I absolutely understand and feel precisely the same. We walked past quite a well to do family and overhead a conversation trivializing the BLM movement, showing such ignorance about the black experience I felt ill. 'Redneck' is just a term I was grasping for - but that kind of attitude or disregard for others takes all forms, doesn't it?
absolutely
Still a wonderful country to camp .
Last thing ill try is point those jolly drinkers at there responsibility towards others , like asking....who's in charge ? it's like putting fuel to a fire . Best is to ignore or leave . ,...,.. or join the party , become one and have a terrible night with a pounding hang over for you out drank and cursed them all ;-)
Asking 'who's in charge' was a knee jerk reaction to a heap of young kids shouting around our tent - a lion's roar defence. Yep, probably wasn't best thing to say - but we did get 'sorry' from the teen boys who heard adults roaring. It was their guardians who were pricks about it - I have no regrets about telling them how it was, though it wasn't what they wanted to hear and yes it probably did add flames to the fire. Dickheads needed to be told.
No way would I have joined the party - I could not drink with such arrogant, racist, toxic men - we heard their conversations drifting across from camp and wanted no part of it.
Oh my god, that sounds so familiar. I don´t know how many times we´ve experienced that, traveling through Australia. I can totally understand how you felt. These rednecks are just so annoying. But we had the same issues with other backpackers, german, italian, spain...doesn´t matter, they all have these people who don´t care about others.
We once had a nice place in a forest, until they arrived and made burnouts on the gravel road next to us.
Glad nothing happened!
I'm sorry you have had that experience in Australia - that makes me sick. They should be held accountable. But yeah, you are right - it's not just particular to Australians, is it? And you'd have experience of that, travelling the way you did here. Thanks so much for your comment.
Na, definitely not only Australians. We had more trouble with Backpackers than Australians. Oh well, I can fill a whole evening with camping stories.
I once locked us out of our van in the middle of the night and had to break in. :)
Oh no that's awful!!!! NOt as bad as that poor couple shot in their van in NZ!!!
As a fellow 'man'child I feel ashamed of this kind of behavior and it sucks that it happened to a dear friend of mine.
Perhaps I should not have told you about that Australian horror movie just before your trip ( although it was the nature dealing with people who didn't respect her there, people like the rednecks you're describing here )
P.S. This man hasn't touched booze in 2 and a half months now.
Big hug!
I feel shame too - it's sickening to believe you are part of a species that behaves like this.
Good work in not drinking, bet you feel great!
Wow! It really is hard to believe that in today's day and world this kind of behaviour not only exists, but is being passed on to the next generation. I am glad you got out of there while you couldand without any visible scars.
I know life out in the bush, on a farm is harder than us City folks can imagine, but if 2020 taught us one thing it's that we are not alone, we're all in this together.
I know, I find it hard to believe too! And yes, we are all in it together. City folk appreciate it's hard for bush folk, and how deep did they dig in pockets when the bushfires rages to donate to those in need? And city folk have their own troubles. Regardless, we aren't from the city - they just assumed we were. What have their taught their kids in one moment? Discrimination, disrespect, brutality, unkindness. The world cant go far if this is the kind of role modelling young boys have.
Congratulations @riverflows! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPDo not miss the last post from @hivebuzz:
Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #991.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
Thanks so much @liznomadsoul, very appreciated!
This is why you pay attention to warning signs even when the place is too pretty to pass up x_x
Ergh some people, I wonder how they have enough brain to breathe never mind anything else >_<
Yeah, lesson learnt!!!! Oh mate, we were furious!
Ah Rivers! Such a shame! I was admiring your beautiful photos when I was hit by the horror of the drunken "Rednecks" breaking into your bit of paradise! I'm happy to say I have never encounter the sorts and have lived a fairly sheltered life - here's hoping this will not be a recurring theme on your camping adventures!