This country is built on arid planes, built on indigenous and first peoples; a land rich of mixed imported culture, busy cities, urban sprawl, slow internet (don’t get me started) a rule - a bylaw and process for nearly everything we do in our daily lives….but there are so many things we cannot control.
It doesn’t matter how much education you have; how much you listen to the older members of your village, how in tuned to are to your environment or how you interpret the signs.
Nupe nothing
We cannot control the weather.
The elephant in the room for so many on the land is DROUGHT.
It is the D word...we all hate..
It is vicious, unrelenting and unpredictable.
It doesn’t discriminate it affects large landowners and small landowners…its’ cycles test friendships, personal resolve, the creditors, the stock, the families and their communities.
It is affecting most of our country and all the predictions and strategic plans etc won’t understand nor prepare what it is like to be at the grassroots level or dust level in a drought cycle.
Our hearts are breaking for our farmers, being on the land ourselves its an insight we wish we didn’t have…
Would it make it any better? Not knowing firsthand what drought is like, it was our first introduction about 3 years into our wonderful region.
Heartbreaking. Debilitating, costly on so many levels…
For me, the worst nightmare is hearing the cows cry.
Well, its more of a low moan and they do this when they are hungry and bored.
If there is no grass to eat what do you do in a paddock for 24 hours, 7 days per week for months on end until it rains….then there is mud, then there is sunshine and eventually, grass begins to shoot.
But it takes forever. and truckloads of hay, hay suddenly goes from $60 a round bale to $180 and beyond, transport becomes an issue, there are delays and the truckies bless em drive 7 days per week... there is no break from it...
You can’t sell stock as they are in the bottom of the market and farmers don’t like to give their stock away for nothing, it does not pay the bills nor the huge fodder bills.
So…. we feel helpless as if we could turn on the rain for those north of us we would in an instant.
Now to an amazing local queenly story.
This week I was approached by a local woman. Well respected, quiet and unassuming who in her words “ I woke up Friday with an idea for everyone in our community to dress up in a flanny and donate to the farmers."
I was in the local supermarket when I was asked to whip up a flyer…. and I thought oh my god! This queen is going to rally the troops with this idea.
We all need to support local initiatives like this.
More importantly, we need to rally behind those in our community who feel that motivated to not only think about the situation but to engage others and step up to providing a way for people to assist those going through a rough time.
So, I whipped up a poster and a tin wrap and Janet was off and running.
What struck me the most was a comment that Janet said a day or so later
" Gotta do something don’t we ... after all the rest of Australia got on board when the fires came "
At last count schools, well over 40 local businesses and individuals have taken up the challenge to assist!
From advertising to taking a tin and a poster, to encouraging their staff teams to dress up for the day and our local schools encouraging their students to dress up and donate. Even the ones without shop fronts are stepping up in their flannys.
Even the MOTH was looking for one in the bottom draw this morning...
Inspirational indeed!
13th of August 2018
Everyone in town will be wearing their flannys…13th of August 2018
Love where I live and so proud of the locals. 👑
Janet, you are a QUEEN!
#flanny4thefarmers #janet #queen #legends #lovewhereilive #murrindindi