tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post5374957881631775460..comments2023-07-10T01:17:13.383+10:00Comments on Brona's Books: Sheep Country in Spring by Thomas W. ShapcottBronahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-34974149478883733882018-11-20T22:10:53.499+11:002018-11-20T22:10:53.499+11:00When I travelled to England and Europe in my 24th ...When I travelled to England and Europe in my 24th year to nanny and see what I could see, besides taking a photo of my family and my then (but not for much longer) boyfriend (who turned out to be the future Mr Books many years later), I took a photo of drought stricken Central West NSW taken from atop Mt Panorama in Bathurst. At the time I thought it was a bit of a joke, but several weeks into being away from Australia, a dreadful feeling of homesickness overtook me. That photo saved the day - the blue of the sky, the dry, brown paddocks dotted with gum trees and the wide open horizon screamed of home. I could smell the heat and the dust and the gums and I knew that I would always be an Aussie girl, no matter how far or wide I roamed.<br /><br />And yes, I agree that over cropping, over grazing and mono cultures have had a huge part to play in the 'drought problem', but after reading Taboo by Kim Scott, I also think it's how we look at our country, still with European eyes. I can't remember exactly what he said in Taboo now, but I was left with the idea that the indigenous populations don't have a word for drought, there is water available if you know how to find it and if you respect the land.<br /><br />And yes, my father-in-law passed away just on a year ago. He is greatly missed, but our times at his place over the past 12 months, cleaning up and packing up, have been cathartic and healing.Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-52037839562045530452018-11-19T22:54:23.917+11:002018-11-19T22:54:23.917+11:00I've been travelling backwards and forwards ac...I've been travelling backwards and forwards across the Riverina, it's lovely country even if I do prefer desert wildflowers. We West Aussies are bringing fodder, most recently to Nyngan and before that to Moree and Tamworth. The country's quite damp by WA standards and I wonder sometimes if 'drought relief' is not a reward for overcropping or overgrazing. Yes, those towns aren't Riverina but I go home from Sydney via Wagga, Narranderra, Hay ...<br /><br />And I'm sorry if, as I read your implication, you've had a recent loss.Bill Hollowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08226596508434055521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-22807785466894499722018-11-19T07:37:28.266+11:002018-11-19T07:37:28.266+11:00It's the line that called to me too Jennifer.It's the line that called to me too Jennifer.Bronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11110584237325026052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1483877654474162845.post-59825287420552154592018-11-18T23:53:28.289+11:002018-11-18T23:53:28.289+11:00"And this day, this spring, this amazing bud ..."And this day, this spring, this amazing bud of the land." I like that. How lovely. Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07878149675832228998noreply@blogger.com