McKenna Blackwood and Ella Gibson have struck up a friendship through the KICS mobile playgroup. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Ella Gibson has only known life playing with her two siblings.
The six-year-old lives on Queensland's remote Lake Nash Station near the Northern Territory border, where there are no other kids for kilometres.
However, she's struck up a friendship with eight-year-old McKenna Blackwood, after meeting at Brunette Downs Station for its iconic annual race meet, which returned after recent cancellations.
With her closest neighbours about 90 kilometres away, she couldn't remember the last time she played with another child who wasn't her brother or sister.
And she's relishing time with her new-found friend.
"It's really exciting … we finally got to come and so I get to meet some other kids and play with them," she said.
The two are planning to collect rocks from all around the cattle station to sell to the 600 spectators at the races.
McKenna Blackwood playing with a new friend at Brunette Downs. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Support for isolated families
Like Ella, many children in isolated parts of Australia can go weeks or even months without face-to-face contact with other children their age.
The Katherine Isolated Children's Service is one organisation that helps families bring children together.
Its mobile playgroup at the Brunette Races provided an opportunity for children to meet each other, make friends, and play.
But children aren't the only beneficiaries of mobile playgroups.
Ella's mum Natalie Gibson said the group also provided a welcome reprieve for parents.
"Having just three siblings constantly together, with no other interaction with other kids, can be tricky. [There's] a lot of fighting," she said.
For Natalie Gibson, pictured with her daughter Charlotte, the playgroup is a rare opportunity for her children to play with other kids. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
The Brunette Downs Races were significantly scaled back last year due to unseasonal rain and was cancelled the two previous years due to drought, and the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Gibson said her family treasured the chance to attend the event and connect with others, especially through the playgroup.
"It's like Christmas for all of us," she said.
Isolated families say it's exciting to have the KICS mobile playgroup back at Brunette Downs. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Ella's story one of a thousand
Every year, the Katherine service travels across the Northern Territory to 21 remote Indigenous communities, three remote townships and more than 40 pastoral stations, visiting about a thousand kids.
Children's service worker Nathalie Hayes said the work takes them across the Territory, helping kids build social skills and interact with others their age.
"Last week we were 150 kilometres from the WA border, today we're, at a guess, 250 kilometres from the Queensland border," she said.
Ms Hayes, who started working with the Katherine service in March, along with her husband Brian, said her role had already been deeply rewarding.
"The best part about our job is it's all feel-good," she said.
"We have an easy, happy, enjoyable job, which is just a dream."
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