Thargomindah pray for rain by recreating old grass church

Crowds gathered in the small south west town on Sunday (June 3) to pray for rain as part of Queensland Day celebrations in the Bulloo shire.

It comes after the shire’s mayor, John’ Tractor’ Ferguson, became a fan-favourite of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull recently when he told him the drought was so bad, he was hand feeding his bees.

While their church service may seem humorous, the handmade religious fixture paid homage to the town’s former Cane Grass Church, built in the late 1800s. 

Due to severe drought conditions at the time, the town’s goats began eating the structure, turning it into a ‘holey’ church. 

In a bid to open the heavens, Cunnamulla’s Anglican priest Father Steffan held a service in front of a replica grass church, which was later offered up to some crowd-shy goats. 

The event was described as a celebration of the community’s ability to find humour in a down-to-earth ‘that’s life’ approach to misfortune.

Bulloo Shire Mayor John ‘Tractor’ Ferguson said their prayers may yet be answered with a change now predicted in the west.

Cr Ferguson told Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during his visit to Charleville on Tuesday and Wednesday that drought had forced him to hand feed his bees.

While Mr Turnbull initially thought he was joking, it was far from a laughing matter.

He said the area hadn’t received rain in seven to eight years. 

“I’ve got about 500 hives and I also run cattle out there,” he said.

“I’ve got a little place there at Thargomindah and cattle on agistment we are feeding lick and mulga to.

“Everybody is feeding their stock...we’ve had no relief rain. 

“So we turned to the heavens, hoping God is going to look after us.” 

All funds raised from the special church event were donated to the Anglican Church Renovation.