The people’s compassion for the north west Queensland floods has been phenomenal. It’s reconnected communities, past residents, visitors, friends and families from all over.
It’s brought disconnected leaders and media to the land in person, giving an experience that would have to be life changing. They connected.
So what is this special ingredient that connects these humans to our dire situation?
As primary producers, we have this inevitable connection with the Earth, the environment and its animals.
Leading up to this weather event, it seemed even the native animals were getting desperate for feed.
They - dingoes, kangaroos, snakes - were causing more problems than usual. There was this tension that wasn’t letting up.
Then the clouds opened up, we got this elation that happens when the rain cleanses the country; plants and animals rejoice and there’s something that is released into the air that has an effect on us as human beings.
It's not something you can get from thinking or reading about, it’s something you observe and experience being a part of.
More rain followed with no sun, the animals became uncomfortable. We now had the other extreme and everything around us needed some warmth and sunshine. We had a disaster unfolding.
The people on the ground called people they knew who shared this same rural passion and these people dropped tools in their busy worlds to band together with a meaningful purpose.
Maybe when you are a primary producer (or a marine biologist or keen surfer) – you have this direct, live plug with the Earth and its elements.
And as the busy, modern world disconnects the masses from that lifeline, maybe humans operating in secondary and tertiary production, have a yearning for something greater that seems to be a piece missing from their puzzle?
Do we realize the luxury we have being able to plug into our grassroots daily and how important it is to encourage others to plug into it on a regular basis too?
Would it maintain their ongoing understanding and support for our industry? Perhaps, it’s just as critical for their own wellbeing?
- Sara Westaway, livestock and property marketing