50 - Holding the Line
Early years of prosperity,
all thanks to merino wool,
the country’s major export,
so many boatloads full.
Riding on the sheep’s back,
the national economy rode,
better known as Golden Fleece,
right around the globe.
Construction of the Dog Fence,
built eighteen eighty five,
3488 miles
to keep our sheep alive.
A barrier of significance,
from Queenslands Darling Downs,
to Nundroo, South Australia,
long, strong and sound.
A thought for those who built it,
all those years ago,
wagons pulled by horses,
mile by mile and slow.
Hearts the size of Phar Lap,
men were men and fit,
trees were felled by axes,
drilled by brace and bit.
Pick’n shovel, crowbar,
clay, stones and sand,
heat and sweat in combat,
post holes dug by hand.
Existing station boundaries,
construction wasn’t cheap,
so many were upgraded,
dividing cattle and sheep.
Construction mostly 6 feet high,
netting, post and barb,
restricting dogs from heading south,
digging was so hard.
140 years of service,
stood the test of time,
costs to maintain climbing,
and now well past its’ prime.
Electric fence assemblies,
for many years on trial,
photo voltaic stations,
spaced along the miles.
To hold back roos and brumbies,
wombats, emus, dogs,
all to be restricted,
not excluding hoggs.
Early years of prosperity,
all thanks to merino wool,
the country’s major export,
so many boatloads full.
Riding on the sheep’s back,
the national economy rode,
better known as Golden Fleece,
right around the globe.
Glen Hughes ©
19/5/22
Holding The Line
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