Travelling Vets - 19. TV Chapter 19

Over at Lakeside Park, the apartments over the commercial space on each of the four blocks would be leased out for long-term residents, while the commercial space already has an interest in establishing new businesses, including a café, a hairdresser, and even a GP Medical Clinic, who requested to adjoining business units with a door to link them together, and the shopping centre with the supermarket and restaurant is close to completion, including having plenty of parking space for customers at the front of the building.

With approximately 800 houses in the Lakeside Park development, which includes a small resort, there was already a lot of interest in the new shops and supermarket, even before the fit-out of shelving, furniture and equipment and supplies began to arrive. I had managed to secure a ten-year lease for the supermarket, with the option to renew that for a further ten years and ten years after that, while the restaurant was on a two-year renewable lease, as are the tenants of the four business suites, and the apartments were on a one-year lease.

At Auggie’s recommendation, we had a partnership meeting to discuss the future of the business, with Auggie suggesting that we invite Jessica to become a junior partner, but Marcus was not too keen on the idea and suggested she be an associate instead, and we discussed this in more detail, and did some research into it, before agreeing that offering Jessica to be an associate was more appropriate.

With the two additional Vets who were filling in while we were away, both overseas and over east, still working for us, Marcus recommended that we keep them on and have them move from the apartment behind the business complex to one of the new staff quarters, so to allow me, some more family time with the boys and on our other investment projects, which surprised me, and that Auggie agreed to this.

Thankful to be able to have more time with the boys, I would now be called in on Emergencies, and I suggested that I assist with managing the Stock Quarantine Station, to free up staff to concentrate on cattle station runs, and working at the vet hospital complex. Later that evening, after the boys had showered and headed to bed, Marcus suggested that now that we’re able to have more control over our work hours, maybe the family could spend weekends at the Corunna Compound.

I laughed when Marcus said this, and I shook my head, “So that is the reason for your recommendation with the extra vets staying so that we can have more time together down at the complex?” I asked, and Marcus winked and smiled, “Yes, maybe,” he replied. “I must admit, we have been working fairly damn hard lately and yes, it is nice to be able to relax some more in regards to vet work, but now that we have the staff village and the shopping complex, that is still going to keep us on our toes,” I said to my husband.

“I am sure, that once all of the commercial and residential clients have settled in, everything will run nice and smoothly for you,” Marcus replied and I nodded in agreement as we cuddled together, which I always enjoyed. Less than a week later on Friday afternoon as a family not including the boy’s grandmother, who decided to go and stay at Newry Station, we flew down to Corunna Base to spend the weekend there, landing on the main runway and we taxied to the first hanger pit, where my bi-plane used to stay.

After offloading our luggage, I was wondering how we were going to get to the compound when I heard a vehicle approaching from that direction, and I smiled when I saw a familiar face. “Jake Smithton, I had no idea that you were still in the district, how are you mate,” I said when the vehicle pulled up beside us. “I’m good thanks, boss, your Mum has employed me as caretaker of Limestone Station, while you and your Husband have been away,” Jake replied smiling as we shook hands. “That is great news, so how are things going over there?” I asked.

“Quite good, with all the rain that we have had this season, the cattle have put on some weight and will be ready for shipping soon,” Jake responded. “Good to hear that. Now did you make the one-hour journey south, just for our weekend visit?” I asked Jake, “Yes, boss. Your Mum called me and informed me of your planned arrival for the weekend, so I came over early today to do some cleaning, and to stock up on some supplies for you,” Jake replied. “Do you have your swag with you?” I asked.

“Yes, as I always do,” Jake responded, “Good, you can stay for dinner and overnight, and head back in the morning,” I suggested. “Very good, boss, oh and your jeep is in the carport, I have given it a run, to make sure that it is running well, just had to charge up the battery a little and topped up the water, oil and fuel,” Jake said happily.

Dinner that night at the compound was very enjoyable, as we caught up on news, on how things are going at Limestone Station, as well as what Jake has been doing since I last saw him, and he had left very early the next morning before any of us had even risen. As we sat at the dining table eating breakfast, with the broadcasting radio playing in the background, I stopped eating when I heard the headlines for the hourly news.

“First on the news this hour, the Department of Emergency Services and the Bureau of Meteorology have sent out an alert for a fast-developing cyclone off the Pilbara Coast. Developed from a low depression to a category-one system overnight. The cyclone named Faith has currently situated 270 kilometres northwest of the Dampier Peninsular and 420 kilometres North of Broome, over the Ashmore Reef., and over the Scott Reef. The current tracking of this cyclone is South-west at 9 kilometres an hour, updates will be every hour fifteen minutes after the news…”

“That is not good, we may be in the path of this cyclone, so we better start getting prepared for it,” I commented, and I saw Marcus nod in agreement. After finishing breakfast and cleaning up, and instructing the boys to stay within the compound yard and not to go beyond the fence, I headed to the office to make some phone calls.

I spent ten minutes talking to Jake to make sure that he was aware of the cyclone and also to check that he was ok to get everything prepared in case the cyclone passes over or near Limestone Station. As soon as the call ended, the phone rang right away, and I answered it. “Hello Jex, have you heard about the Cyclone? I believe you are at the Compound at Corunna at the moment?” my mother asked, and I smiled.

“Hi Mum, yes, Marcus, the boys and I are at the compound and yes, we have heard. I have just been talking to Jake to see what needs doing at Limestone Station to get prepared,” I answered. “Oh good, I am sending Rhodes and Wynn to help you down there, they left here an hour and a half ago in Rhodes’s vehicle with a trailer, and they will stop overnight at Derby, so they should be there by late tomorrow,” Mum announced to me.

“Oh ok, they may be useful to help at Limestone, as it won’t take us long to get things sorted here, with the storm shutters in place and ready to close and lock when needed. I will call Rhodes and get him to bring a few extra supply items, on his way through. We will stay here and ride out the cyclone here since I am confident that it will withstand any size storm,” I responded.

After the call with Mum, I called the Practice and Auggie answered the call. “Hey mate, as you probably heard there is a cyclone heading my way, so we are staying here to batten down in preparation, will you all be ok without us for a week?” I asked. “Sure mate, not a problem, we will get by somehow. Take care and be safe, ok?” Auggie replied before ending the call.

Next, I called my brother’s mobile, and Wynn answered it, “Rhodes Delivery Service, you ask, we deliver. How may I direct your call,” Wynn said, and I laughed, “Cheeky brother, I hear you guys are on your way down my way. I need you to call into Broome to collect some Vet supplies, that I will have there waiting for you to collect, ok?” I responded. “Sure Jex, not a problem, we will see you tomorrow, and I am looking forward to seeing our former home again,” Wynn answered.

After one last phone call to order the vet supplies that I may need after the cyclone has passed, in case we need to treat some animals, we all climbed into the Ute, and did a drive around the base, making sure that everything was fully secured, and that included the parking bay, where our plane is currently parked undercover. All the exhibits that are used as part of the War Museum part of the air-base, were locked away in the shipping container, for protection from the wind and rain, which would cause a lot of damage.

I was uncertain if the buildings that we had rebuilt were up to withstand the winds from a full-on Cyclone. By the time we returned to the compound, it was almost lunchtime, and I quickly turned on the radio to get an update, since it had been over four hours since we last heard anything, as we prepared some lunch for all of us to eat, before we have to go out again.

“On the news this hour, the Department of Emergency Services and the Bureau of Meteorology have just updated the alert for the fast-moving cyclone off the Pilbara Coast. The category Two cyclone, named Faith is located off the Pilbara Coast. Developed from a low depression system overnight. Currently located 368 kilometres North-west of Broome and 684 kilometres northeast of Port Hedland. The current tracking of this cyclone is South-west at 14 kilometres an hour, updates will be every hour fifteen minutes after the news…”