The dirt roads might be impassible around Queensland’s central west at the moment but nothing was going to stop Jack and Billy Banks from getting home for their school holidays.
Their dad, Paul Banks saddled up three horses early Friday morning at the family property, Duniera, 23 kilometres east of Blackall, and rode into town to meet the plane the boys were on.
Suitcases were stashed in a safe location and then the trio was off home, checking the Barcoo River channels and moving cattle out of the way of rising water on the way.
All up it took Paul about two hours to get to town and about two-and-a-half hours to return with the boys.
“We’ve all done it at times,” the boys’ mother Kylie said. “I’ve had to get into town for work as a nurse, and Paul’s sister’s husband has had to return to work in Brisbane.
“It was a first for the boys though, mainly because we haven’t had this sort of rain since they’ve been attending boarding school.”
The eldest boy, Jack, has been at Nudgee College in Brisbane for four years now.
Duniera received 38mm of rain in the latest change, and coming on top of earlier rain, is keeping the soil very wet.
Kylie said it had been a good workout for the horses, who were fat and full of feed.
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.
