A Disaster Declared in Mitchell, Outback Qld

Today has been spent with my mind swinging between the floods of Mitchell and the reality of our trip to Dandenong (two hours by car, west of Phillip Island, on the outskirts of Melbourne), where I had stitches removed from skin cancers on my ear, forehead and chin.

Later, as I wandered around the Dandenong market -- where a huge array of goods were for sale, with buyers of all age groups and nationalities -- my mind was back in Mitchell, buzzing with concerns, possible outcomes and a deep sense of loss -- both for ourselves and for all our friends in Mitchell and surrounds who are flooded.

The irony of our house name in Mitchell struck home today. We had a sign made that said 'Welcome to the Bering Sea'. The former owners of the property had porthole windows built into the front door. The name was meant to suggest our migration from Phillip Island to a warmer winter in outback Queensland, like the Phillip Island mutton birds who fly to the Bering Sea for the winter. Today, our house is surrounded by a sea of flood water, and the photo shows our friend Richard checking our house, in his kayak. You can see Stego's house to the right. Stego is, of course, safe here on Phillip Island. The water is now up to the house sign!

Meanwhile the river has risen higher still. In all probability water is waist deep throughout our house. This is the worst flood in white history.

We knew there was a risk of flooding when we bought our home alongside the Maranoa River, but somehow we didn't expect it to happen!

I feel a profound sense of disappointment and loss. It's not just a house and its contents, but a way of life. After five years of living seven months of each year in Mitchell, we've made ourselves very comfortable, fitted into the community, made friends and feel the outback is home. It's a unique outback lifestyle that is at risk rather than a house and its contents. After all, the contents are mainly stuff.

The only thing I really care about is a manuscript I wrote about St Francis of Assisi and his gift with animals. I have only one copy of the book and it's sitting on a bench in the kitchen. I hope the flood waters haven't destroyed it. Nothing else matters as much as this book which took over one year to write and involved research which took us to Assisi in Italy. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, our hearts go out to all our friends and neighbours in Mitchell who are suffering stress and dreadful damage to their homes. We are thinking of you.

Water self-sufficiency on Phillip Island

The town water provided on Phillip Island contains at least 10 different chemicals because the catchment comprises dairy country where cow manure and the effluent from dairies drains into the reservoir.

For this reason, we've chosen to install a 25,000 L tank which collects rainwater from the house and shed roofs. With an annual rainfall of around 28 inches (700ml) we've never run out of water; in fact, we've never fallen below the half-way level. Because of this, I indulge myself with long showers and never skimp in my use of water. But we don't waste water either, nor do we use it in the garden. Our garden is planted with native trees and hardy shrubs that don't need watering.

We have a water filter attached to a tap in the kitchen to eliminate any of the 'nasties' that could come from the roof, and we usually boil the water as well. The idea of being self-sufficient in water appeals to me.

On the other hand, I enjoy the artesian water we drink and shower in while living in Mitchell. I believe the mineral content is very beneficial, health-wise.

PS

Apologies about The Dish photo. I got the numbers mixed and don't know how to delete.

Gilgandra to West Wyalong -- missing the floods

At the entrance to the showgrounds at Gilgandra there's a water tower (filled from an artesian bore), and the last bottle tree seen south of Mitchell. The spacious well-treed showgrounds provided an excellent place to exercise our two German shepherds.

At Parkes, we stopped for coffee at the radio telescope, the location of the famous Australian film 'The Dish'. I wonder how many of you have seen this excellent film?

Before leaving The Dish Cafe, I visited their immaculate toilet block. Even this has a scientific flavour. Each cubicle has a fact about astronomy attached to the inside of the door. You get educated as you sit!

Tomorrow I'll show you a famous apple tree and the most exotic of all eucalypts -- and more.

PS

We've just heard that Mitchell has had 130 mm (5 inches) of rain since we left on Thursday. Also, that the Maranoa River is running. How exciting.

The umbilical cord connecting me to Mitchell is stretched tight!

A Bobook owl calls out to me -- rest in the calm

Every evening, a Bobook owl calls from a river red gum growing alongside the Maranoa River -- over the road from our home. I love its distinct 'mo-poke' call and believe that the sound carries for several kilometres. It is a strange mixture of soft sound and loud.

One of our friends painted a beautiful watercolour of a bobook owl which we bought recently at a local charity art auction. Elizabeth Gearey's painting (as shown in the photographs) show the large golden-yellow eyes of the owl, and from its position in our kitchen, I often feel it watching over me.

I'm glad I'm not a mouse, sparrow, moth or beetle!

In the velvety hush of the evening, beneath a vast star-studded sky, the mournful hoot of the owl reminds me of the good and the bad. Every day I'm feeling a little better; however, my feelings of frustration at not been able to do much (because of almost constant nausea) threaten to overwhelm me at times.

This the owl knows. He tells me to be patient and rest in the stillness and calm of the outback. I will try.

Ferals grow along the banks of the Maranoa River at Mitchell

The ancient meandering riverbed of the Maranoa is bordered by natives such as river red gums, acacias and white cedars, as well as feral plants -- good and bad.

The ferals are the result of flood waters that sweep down this mighty river, distributing weed species far and wide. Thistles and burrs are the most obvious and troublesome, with Noogoora burrs (as shown in the photo) one of the worst.

When a Noogoora burr presses its way between the pads of Major's foot, he stops immediately, holds his paw up and waits for me to pull out the offending barb. For people running sheep and cattle enterprises, thistles, burrs and other noxious weeds are a huge problem.

On the other hand, branches torn from fruit trees -- upstream -- sometimes lodge in the bank, there to mature into fruit-bearing trees. The mulberry tree by the bridge is an example, along with a peach tree (also shown in a photo) that grows on the riverbank near our home. This is the same tree that produced masses of pink blossom in August.

Unfortunately, fruit fly often spoils the fruit from the peach, but the mulberry is usually unblemished -- and delicious!

Mitchell's Annual Camel Races

The Annual Camel Races and Ute Show was held today at the Mitchell Showgrounds. After a fine warm day yesterday, today was, unfortunately, quite wet; however, that didn't stop the crowd enjoying the Calcutta Race program, Ute show, wheelie bin and hoop races for the kids, hot food, ice creams and the bar.

This annual event recognizes and celebrates the camel's role in opening up vast areas of outback Australia, Mitchell included. Old photographs taken in the 18oo's show strings of camels hauling huge loads of wool through the newly established township of Mitchell and over the Maranoa River at the old crossing -- to markets on the east coast. On their return trek, the camel trains brought provisions for the new settlers.

Camels, with their soft feet, their ability to haul loads on limited water intake and diet of rough native grasses and shrubs are superior to horses in their endurance.

Today Mitchell celebrated camels and their part in our history.

Garden Day at The Peaks: Outback Queensland

Marion Moore's garden -- located on the eastern side of The Peaks, north of Mitchell -- is spacious, a riot of colour and has magnificent views across naturally rolling grasslands.

An elderly blue flyer kangaroo (female red kangaroo) called Roo grazes within the garden and is as bonded to Marion as a dog. Wire netting protects some plants, but by and large Marion tolerates Roo nibbling hibiscus, rose and other delicacies.

West Australian eucalypts are a feature of the garden with some in full flower at present -- especially Eucalyptus woodwardii (yellow flowers) and Eucalyptus youngiana (red flowers). Bottle trees, Chinchilla gums, eremophilas, geraniums and an amazing variety of other plants and trees grow in Marion's garden -- also vegetables, passionfruit and lemons.

Here is a place where plants, kangaroos, echidnas, birds, butterflies, lizards and frogs are welcome, and live in harmony. With a balmy temperature of around 27°C and a gentle breeze, wandering with friends around the garden, through patches of dappled shade and pools of sunshine was a delightful way to spend the morning.

Marion Moore is the perfect hostess.

Growing vegetables in Mitchell, outback Queensland

Our vegetable garden (actually, I should say Doug's vegetable garden) is coming into full production with our first cabbage and broccoli picked today. Lettuce, silver beet, spinach and rocket are still going strong, with sugar peas, leeks, carrots and beetroot well on the way towards maturity.

Our 40 plus stored pumpkins are beginning to show rot in places, so we're giving them away at an even faster rate than before, to avoid waste. Pumpkin soup is still one of my favourite lunches.

Our neighbour Marg has been giving us sweet potatoes grown over the summer months, as well as turnips and eggs. The sweet potato in this photo is amazingly heavy.

With warm sunny days, river loam soil, horse and chook manure, compost and plentiful water, vegetables grow exceedingly well in Mitchell. Greens are the most important vegetables to grow, as far as I'm concerned. Greens freshly picked from the garden taste much better and have superior nutrients to those that are frozen and grown in China.

PS

I couldn't resist including two more photos in this blog that have rounded off my day. First is a view up the Maranoa River from the old crossing. The second was taken from our front verandah, looking over the river to the full moon.

Mitchell identity: John the Horse Whisperer

Today -- August 13, 2011 -- John Murray celebrated his 82nd birthday by walking around the shopping centre of Mitchell with his horse Honey. Under almost perfect voice control Honey behaves better than most dogs, scarcely ever needing the light rope looped around her neck.

The bond between man and horse is built on absolute trust. John and Honey crossed the busy Warrego Highway, socialised on the pavement, strolled along the river -- as one. Honey is always on the lookout for tasty tufts of grass and never wastes an opportunity for a mouthful.

Yesterday I met John and Honey while on my river walk. Naturally we stopped to chat and for Major to give Honey a lick on the nose. Major met Honey when he was 12 weeks old and smaller than Honey's head. Honey was kind to Major and from that day till this, whenever we meet, it's clear that horse and dog recognize and like one another. Friendships between different species are special.

John is a well-respected colourful Mitchellite and it's always a pleasure to meet up with him and Honey.