The Pub Veranda and Rain
Finally, the very first edition of ‘The Yaraka News’! So to all the subscribers who have hit the subscribe button on the yaraka.com.au website, thank you for patiently waiting. And to those to whom this is being sent who have not subscribed but have either given us e-mail addresses or business cards, we are sending this to you in the hope that you might want to subscribe officially through the web site – you can always unsubscribe later!
The wonderful news from Yaraka is that the township received 80 mm of beautiful soaking rain over a twenty four period. The town dam that still had a small amount of water left is now full and the new desilted and enlarged dam is now over half full! We can start watering again; we can start planting plants. Many properties between Yaraka and Isisford had around 130 ml and you can well imagine the positive reaction this has had on the region. Already plans are in place to start bringing back stock which have been on agistment for long periods of time and at a huge expense to their owners.’
As I sit here on the Pub veranda looking out over the common there is already more green than brown showing, and in another few weeks the whole countryside will be changed. Hopefully we will see the wild native flowers blooming to add additional colour to our majestic landscape.
Naturally, all roads to Yaraka are closed at the moment and last week we suggested to the caravan tourists who were here that it would be sensible to head out unless they wanted to be stuck here, literally (in the mud). We suggested they head for Blackall or Longreach. They heeded the advice so at the moment the caravan park is empty. We are getting frequent calls from folk who are camped in the larger centres as to when the roads will be open again and our best estimate is about this time next week – subject to the possibility of more rain arriving!
We are making the most of the quietness of Yaraka by catching up on the ‘things to do list’ when we have the energy! However the latter part of May and the first half of this month was unbelievably busy starting with the Graham Rodger concert on top of Mt Slowcombe when we had 77 caravans/motorhomes spread around the township. The concert was in full swing as the sun was setting, followed by a spectacular display of colour from the clouds! We then had two different groups from Brisbane and Chinchilla who came to Yaraka to celebrate a significant birthday. The groups did not know each other beforehand but it was declared to be highly successful by all with Yaraka deemed to be a great place to celebrate such occasions, especially with Tom from Beaudesert providing excellent live music for dancing and singing along.
And then the weekend after that demonstrated how this community works together. There was a working bee at Kiama Park in preparation for the Gymkhana that is taking place on the first weekend of July. There was a huge roll up of helpers who after a hard days work adjourned to partake of a few coldies and meals.
Nick who had spent the day at the working bee was confronted with having to slave away in the kitchen where he cooked, with his usual brilliance, 56 menu meals!
There are indications that we might have an exciting announcement for Yaraka to announce shortly so please watch this space!