Partners In Life

[Glen Hughes]

21 - PARTNERS IN LIFE

In the middle of Australia,
in the arid pastoral zone,
they lived and worked a station,
raised a family built a home.
Salt bush, mulga, sand dunes,
reaching out across the plain,
in a land where seasons come and go,
and people do the same.

The great artesian basin,
lies a thousand feet below,
the lifeblood of the country,
from it’s many bores does flow.
The Afghan and his camel train,
the drover and his horse,
the teamster with his bullock teams,
helped to open up the north.

A lifetime in the outback,
they have seen them come and go,
raging dust-storms in a drought,
stock drowned in a flow.
Good times and bad, the ups and downs,
the making of his life,
all memories that he’s mustered,
with the loving of his wife.

Hard times in those early years,
isolation heat and flies,
when the only sounds for miles around,
were mournful dingo cries.
When he thought it was all over,
and they’d have to walk away,
the heavens would break open,
and save another day.

Wells & mills, tanks & troughs,
water number one,
poly pipe, mile on mile,
opened up the run.
Stock in smaller numbers,
scattered further out,
caring for the country,
prepared for further drought.

A lifetime in the outback,
they have seen them come and go,
Kalamurina, Etadunna,
James and B.J.O.
Some carved out a living,
and there’s some have gone to rest,
but all endured the outback life,
and gave it all their best,

From roly poly dust storms,
to rivers in full flood,
their kids soon grew from boys to men,
with the outback in their blood.
Motivation, generation,
air-conditioned homes,
aviation, four-wheel drive,
with fancy mobile phones.

So with sons to run the station,
and with grand kids in the yard,
a sense of satisfaction,
having toiled and worked so hard.
Having taught his sons as he was taught,
the ways of station life,
it’s time to hand it over,
and retire with his dear wife.

A lifetime in the outback,
worked together side by side,
they toughed it out, year in year out,
and now look back with pride.
Sunsets over tree tops,
in the twilight of their life,
he has always been her rock,
and she his loving wife.

Glen Hughes ©
31/3/22