Record winter rain has transformed Queensland’s Channel Country into a riot of colour, filled with the heady aroma of honey and the sound of chirping birds and insects.
From the air one can see rivers of gold and white twining their way through emerald green paddocks, but it’s on the ground that the effect of the record winter rain is really appreciated.
It took me nearly four hours to drive 200 kilometres between Quilpie and Windorah, such was the overwhelming urge to stop every few kilometres and capture the glorious scene that appeared around each bend in the road.
Brilliant sunshine a year ago would have been described as harsh and cruel, scorching bones of dead animals, and burning the bare clay soils.
Today it’s playing with the edges of leaves, tracing their form, adding translucence and warming the soul.
Even in the thickest of thickets, flashes of gold were apparent. A walk through the quiet bunches of flowers in the scrub was almost magical. I closed my eyes and listened hard for the gumnut babies I’m sure were nearby.
Flowers are overloaded with honey, so much so that the smell wafted through my car’s air-conditioning system as I drove along.
Every time I stopped I inhaled another dose of sweet scents.
When the occasional caravan disappeared down the road, the sounds of chirping, twittering birdlife took over.
Everything was so content.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
