It’s been a big week, beginning with big rain and ending with a big flood fencing task ahead.

There has been a range of emotions unravel, that I think most in the area can appreciate – I’m sure they’ve felt them too.

 

Initially, as Tropical Cyclone Debbie brewed, approached the coast and began to deliver good solid rain, I think we mostly felt jubilation. The country was receiving a good soaking – one that was a little overdue.

Soaked it ended up being, this paddock rain gauge was out of its league when filled to the brim.

As we were able to venture further afield, the gentle streams and gullies running over the paddocks belied the force of water just days before.

Rob was fully expecting that every one of our 72 flood crossings would need repair, something he’s accustomed to and kind of grateful for as it means the season is generally a good one.

The expectant feeling quickly turned to one of sheer gobsmack as we witnessed the change in landscape that had occurred.

The power and ferocity of the water has to be seen to be believed.

The creeks have all changed their courses in some way or form. New waterholes, rock formations and sandbars.

Fences pushed over like matchsticks, debris tightly interwoven and packed in the barb wire traps.

So much green timber ripped from the earth and stacked in piles metres high.

As we rotational graze our paddocks and generally have around 75% of our country locked up at any one time, the plan was to restore the paddocks needed for cattle to move into for their next graze.

We quickly realised this was not a short term project and retreated to restoring our boundaries. That in itself will take some time.

Gates and strainer posts  have been carried hundreds of yards.

Tonnes of rocks reorganised.

This little video shows the disbelief when crossing the creek into the Beaconsfield house.

A once grassy flat now decimated and now looking very moonscape like.

 

Stoney Creek.

Sight seeing and discovery, has quickly given way to ‘getting the job done’.

The kids have worked tirelessly although sometimes the lure of water and sand play gets too strong.

We have now divided our team into two, with 3 of us working on fences and the other 4 gathering mobs of cattle together and putting them in secure paddocks as best we can. To our delight, Tess has taken on a ‘fly in/fly out’ type of role for 2 week-ends in a row. Extra hands make light work.

We have engaged the assistance of the drone, we will accept any help!

The surrounding range on our boundary is littered with land slides. This gives a clue where all our new soil and silt has come from.

So now the shock and overwhelm has subsided, we’re very much in a ‘let’s get on with the job at hand’ frame of mind.

As a gentle 15mm of rain fell late yesterday evening, our cup runneth over as we counted our blessings and felt very grateful.

Must always remember to have faith in those weather god’s 🙂

 

 

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