Tuesday 31st July
Made the trip to Cunnamulla along the Mitchell Highway. This highway must have the fattest carnivorous birds in Australia because along this highway they have a smorgasbord to choose from. In many places the road was littered with dead carcasses of kangaroos, wallabies, pigs, goats, emus and other smaller animals we could not identify, maybe rabbits? In some places where mobs of kangaroos and wallabies had come to the edge of the road to eat the green shoots of grass exposed by recent mowing most of them had been hit by trucks and six or seven or more were all on the road. It was very sad to see, but also meant that Ross had to be very alert to wind his way safely around and be aware of passing traffic as well as oncoming traffic.
Our first experience of Cunnamulla was more than 25 years ago when Ross and I drove up here in my old Datsun 200B over the Christmas school holidays. What a trip that was, with no air conditioning except open windows. Back then we recall that Cunnamulla was an intimidating town with groups of people on the streets who really didn't want you there. I remember we walked down the street and got what we needed and very quickly drove away.
Today Cunnamulla is a different story indeed. It is a welcoming town with no trouble whatsoever in the streets. The people smile as they pass by and say"G'Day" The shop people are friendly and smiling. The buildings have been done up, painted or whatever was needed. Cunnamulla is now a great inviting place where we came for one day and stayed for three.
Wednesday 1st August
Today we booked on a town and industry tour for $30 each. It was great and well worth the money. First we looked at the houses and were told an interesting thing. If you have a house and you want a smaller or larger block then you simply move your house to the block of your choice and someone takes over your block. I didn't ask about the money side of it or how title to land worked, but I guess they have all that sorted.
We had a look at the weir built by the government which has a lot of issues too numerous to mention here. We saw the tall trees the tops of which were under water in the March floods.
We were shown a huge vineyard where the grapes produced were of such high quality they were exported. Why are things of quality exported? What about giving us some luscious grapes?
We saw a property that went from being one of the richest and most innovative growers of merino wool till the wool crash in the 90s to becoming a lucrative cotton plantation today. The setup they had was enormous and very water conservation conscious, even though this area has good rainfall and good water supply from the Warego River which is fed by the monsoonal rains further north. The overhead watering system is approx 3km in length and is controlled by computer from back at the station property.
That night we went to a campfire dinner (3courses) where we were entertained by an old retired drover with a demonstration of whip cracking. He loved those whips and would give them a crack every now and then and frighten the life out of everyone. He knew what he was doing though and was a very good "shot".
Thursday
We went for a drive to Eulo which we were told was a nice little heritage town. When we got there we said "is this it?" Only a few houses and a pub. We went and had a look at some mud baths fed by the artesian bore and bought some Sticky Date Liqueur as well as some local honey. After a steak sandwich at the pub we drove home.
You will see a photo of the Cunnamulla Fella sculpture which is two and half times life size. The statue is made from bronze and was given to to an Australian to make, Archie St Clair, who is a Territorian born and bred, living in Texas. He was a ringer, drover, helicopter pilot, station manager until a helicopter accident saw him go to Texas to carry out his other love of making bronze sculptures. The Cunnamulla Fella was chosen from the winner of a competition to choose the most likely depiction of an outback ringer. Lots of locals criticise the sculpture. The hat is not right, he should have dog, he is too young. But he looks good and the poem that goes with it is very touching.
Tomorrow we leave here and go to Charleville.