RESEARCH IN THE 'LONG PADDOCK'


In early days in times of drought, no feed for stock
system of tracks evolved called the 'Long Paddock
stretches from Far -North Queensland to Victoria, south
feeding many a farmer's stock their hungry mouth

The use of the Long Paddock is rapidly declining
our native animals' sun has once again began shining
researcher put "harps" along these grazing tracks
wanting to know what, where, how wildlife is coming back

No more hiding from those bleating, dumb woolly choppers
Many a bird said to caught insects and grasshoppers
those beasts with horns no more use this patch
more for us now, said the kangaroos to the wombats

Small birds, bats, about those "harps" they don't sing
we fly into them, hard to see, damaging our wing
we do try to fly either higher or really very low
otherwise for us, these "Long Paddocks" are a no-no

The main reason for the "Long Paddock" decimation
road trains, quicker, faster transport to new vegetation
in times of devastating floods, fires, long- term drought
not many farmers with cattle and sheep, are getting caught

Road-trains along higways, byways, day and night
putting legends of drovers and swagman to flight
no more boiling of billy, damper, stew, blazing campfire
forcing many of these colourful characters to retire

Yet another chapter in Aussie Folklore, heritage is lost
in age of computers, mighty dollar, the high cost
it sad, incomprehensible, perhaps a twist of fate
Pitt Street farmers say: " Prosper or perish mate"