And then I remembered to tell Caitlin, ‘Scientists have actually found that the plant that we smoke ourselves with releases an antibacterial substance, so it really is cleansing us.’

‘Incredible,’ Caitlin said and I knew she was blown away.

We stood gazing up at Abmiwara for a few minutes and being amazed by its beauty before Dad said, ‘It’s time to press on. Wapma knows we’re here now.’

It was late when we arrived at the park ranger’s quarters at Mambray Creek. When our bags were inside, Dad lit the potbelly stove in the living room and Caitlin made some chai.

‘What are we going to do tomorrow?’ I asked Dad.

He said, ‘We’ll just walk for as long as we can, but nothing too full-on. Some time while we’re here, I want to test water quality in a couple of spots, and that’s about it.’

I liked the sound of that. After I had my chai, I went straight to bed. I put it down to being back home that I had the best sleep ever.

When I woke up the next day, I found Dad and Caitlin already prepared. They’d packed lunches and snacks, were wearing their hiking shoes and their spray jackets in case it rained. It was more like in the hope that it rained. Nothing made Dad and me happier than rain, especially on our Country. It’s like Wapma is telling us he’s happy we’re home.

I quickly had my breakfast, a shower and then chucked on some comfy clothes.

We strolled from the park ranger’s quarters straight down to the creek that was full of river red gums and native pine trees. Occasionally there would be a native cherry tree. We startled some kangaroos when we made our way onto the walking trail.

Whenever I saw game like roos and emus, I thought about how my ancestors lived off of the land; how they ate things along the creek like the yams and used the wattle seed and kangaroo grass to make bread. In the freshwater Country there’s things to eat like ducks and yabbies. Along the coast there’s all types of fruits and of course the crabs, prawns and shellfish and all of the fish like whiting, flathead and squid. I reckon my ancestors must have had a pretty good life living among all of that abundance.

As I took a deep breath in, I could smell the intoxicating fragrance of the native pines. I’d known forever that it had a calming effect on me, and walking along the creek bed with Dad and Caitlin, the native pine was again calming me down.