Water

Water, water – everywhere and not a drop to drink!

At present and in many country towns of western Queensland and New South Wales, this saying could well apply. The fast flowing waters of the muddy yet mighty Maranoa river, have inundated the small town of Mitchell, for one. The waters have slowly receded leaving a shell-shocked people in its wake and this brave little town of the west. It has survived many worries and disasters but this one will take much hard work and many dollars a long time to rebuild and refresh the living areas. Such devastation from water inundation has not been seen since the late 1800s.

So many months during the past thirty years, landowners and towns people alike have prayed for the drought breaking rains to save the livestock and therefore the necessity to begin again. And always, the extraordinary artesian water supply has been the saving grace for the hot dry paddocks of the west.

The present difference of opinion between graziers and coal gas miners is obvious. The unknown has not yet been bridged. Will the artesian basin of precious life saving water - be in time poisoned by the content of the gas-lines and its depths? “No”, say the miners, but who can tell! Should the salt table rise and lay waste to the beautiful agricultural land which now supports so many gas wells in its acres – water – life saving or otherwise, will not help!

When I married and moved west to live – water was a precious commodity. I learnt very quickly to appreciate and to save this commodity in quantity - whenever possible. In so doing I remembered the deep clear creeks I had enjoyed in my girlhood home. But alas, I took them for granted.

During the many droughts we experienced, my husband drilled wells as a sideline – many bores in the Maranoa district were his handiwork. Yet our water was firstly always used for livestock. Our home and a large part of the property were on a plateau, the bore put down for house and garden use was well over 1,500 feet. After two lots of valuable equipment had been lost in its depths, we were reliant on dams and tanks for our water supply.

When they reached school age our children loved to visit friends and enjoy long bore water showers – a luxury not enjoyed at home.

Today, I am still careful with water usage in the home and garden. I enjoy fountains and water scenic spots of the area. All of our paintings have water or seascapes within their frames. I enjoy them almost as much as the rolling waves of the sea, which I love watching nowadays. A passion shared by our grandchildren, only they all enjoy water sports and surfing.

May there always be water to use, to drink and to treat with respect - in this, the driest of continents. May we realise before it is too late, that water conservation is life saving for future generations. May there be water, water, everywhere and plenty for humans and animals to drink and share alike.

Jocelyn Allan
9 February 2012