Wilma Geraghty, 89, and her son Peter own the Mukinbudin BP. She still works five and a half days a week because “What else would I do?” As well as working in the office this diminutive lady whose skin belies her years told me “I pump fuel, do the gas cylinders but I gave up carrying the 20 litre drums quite some time ago though…I’m the dog’s body! I do everything and anything but I’m the master of none.”

Clean, simple landscapes in the Wheatbelt with flat horizons and big, big skies.

I got chatting to Bill at the check-out in the IGA in Merredin. Turns out he’s a dingo trapper and was able to give us lots of good advice for keeping both us and Jazzy safe as we head north.

Small plane enthusiast, Richard Spark retired from farming and moved from Bonnie Rock to Mukinbudin 25 years ago. Since then, and now aged 82, he has owned and operated the town’s mechanics business. He was the founder of the Mukinbudin congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses which also still keeps him busy.

We caught up with our great mate Tony Docherty out a Elachbutting Rock, north of Mukinbudin in the Wheatbelt a few days ago. He’d been taking part in the annual bird survey near Bullfinch and was heading back to Freo. He’d been sleeping in his swag under the stars for a week and had clearly been using any fresh water for rehydrating rather than washing! Jazzy was pretty happy to discover her own pool of freshwater on top of the rock.

A team effort: flying skills by Steve, composition by both of us, post-processing by me. Steve usually flies drones for 3D imaging, mapping, GIS etc so taking pretty pictures from above is a whole new thing for both of us.

It’s a week ago today we found ourselves in the small country town of Kellerberrin on the Great Eastern Highway. One moment we were standing on the dusty pavement as a road train trundled past on its way to Kalgoorlie, the next we were in a room, grand in its scale, and opulent in its contents, with warm hues, 14ft high ceilings and Mary and Joseph towering above us either side of the antique sideboard. We were in the home of artist, menswear designer and TAFE lecturer Robert McCaffrey. His home is a work of art in its own right - eclectic and diverse, it was an outward expression of all that is Robert.

Windrow burning can be seen all around the Wheatbelt at this time of year as the broad acre farmers prepare for seeding.

Rising before the sun to photograph the salt lake and salmon gums at first light.

When Veronica called Katrina to check she was home and there was no reply, she presumed her friend was having a sleep. We tried phoning again a little while later and discovered that Katrina, the oldest of the three friends at 91, was in her garden planting dozens of seedlings she’d been given and showing no sign of needing a nana nap.

Judith is the quietest of the three friends in Bruce Rock. She grew up in Narambeen just down the road. A gentle soul with sadness etched in her face but ready to smile and stay busy. It would seem her story is unknown to the Bruce Rock locals despite the close community.

Veronica was the first person I met in Bruce Rock when I took refuge in the craft shop from the torrential downpour. Veronica was behind the counter, crocheting a blanket and up for a chat. I was struck by her energy and how active she is in the community - volunteering in the craft shop, helping out on the local newspaper, and a self-appointed chauffeur for her friends who can no longer drive, she also crochets blankets and makes greetings cards which her son sells in his shop in Alice Springs.

I explained the serendipitous circumstances that led us to De and Leigh Strange of Strange Images Photography in my earlier Bruce Rock blog post, and we still can’t quite believe how lucky we were to find them within an hour of arriving in town. De and Leigh not only let us camp next to their shearing shed, again amongst the beautiful salmon gums, they welcomed us into their home and into their lives.

We rolled into Bruce Rock a week ago, with no plan, just as the Wheatbelt’s long dry spell was broken by a heavy downpour and storm. The sleepy town centre has a row of maybe a dozen shops on one side - one shop is a cafe, as well as the butchers and the bakery. 

Worthy of a five star rating on Trip Adviser, the Kulin Bush Races in WA’s Wheatbelt is so much more than just a day at the races. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, it takes place over the first weekend in October and is an event for all the family to enjoy, with live music, good food and spectacular scenery as festivities are nestled between a granite outcrop and a salt lake.

I loved spending time at home with Lisa and Grant and meeting their gorgeous kids while we’ve been in Lake Grace. Theirs was the first wedding I photographed after we returned from our own honeymoon a few years ago.

Annie and her artist daughter Michelle were two of the first people we met when we came to do a recce in Lake Grace prior to our week long North of Us project almost a decade ago. They spent the day showing us around, and helped us find the perfect spot to set up camp. If you know of any lovely Oldies between Lake Grace and Bruce Rock (via Corrigin) we’ll be in the area for the next week or so and would love some suggestions :-)

Talented and respected Lake Grace artists Kerrie Argent and Tania Spencer took time out from installing the latest exhibition at the Multi-Use Art Space in town to show me around their studios.