PHOTO – Morney Plains Stock Camp 2012 L-R: Luke Wolfenden, Luke Barton, Timmy Norris, Ruby Schmidt, Dan Durie, Jack Turnbull.
“Radio Pouches – You don’t even know you’re wearing them.”
For Michael Oehlmann, better known as Boondi, a two way radio is essential. “You’ve gotta have it really.” Boondi, and the crew in the Durham Downs stock camp carry their radios in Kent Saddlery radio pouches.
Michael is pleased that “the pouches are good and light; you don’t even know you’re wearing them.”
Working with first year ringers, Boondi finds that teaching them to use the radios is a challenge. “I have to tell them, “If I talk to you, ANSWER me!” You don’t know if they’ve got the message or not!” There’s a quiet laugh. “Anyway, its part of the job.”
At Durham Downs, horses are used in conjunction with choppers to muster the cattle out of the channels, and communication between the pilots and those on horseback is essential. Michael explains, everyone has a radio; it makes the job a lot easier.
Photo of Boondi, Durham Downs Station, 2011