The Sheep Station (week 2)

There were initially 6 on us here on The Station, not a good number as we have but one car. After a couple of days, and a team meeting, the Australian couple travelling together decided they would move to another farm to help out there. Works for all of us. 4 is good for tools and car transport reasons. So me and a Korean, French and Canadian girl are the team at the moment. We work well together and getting the job done.

Settled in to a regular routine working from the shearing quarters 5km from the homestead. It's closer to the fences that need attention. First up was the laneway feeding the shearing shed. Then working our way out to the boundaries and wild dog exclusion fencing. 

The 'dog fence' requires heavy machinery as it stands well over 2 meters tall and has serious end and strainer assemblies that our gear is not capable of handling. We are talking trucks, bob cat and a heavy loader. But we get to fit off the ring-lock mesh to the upper support cables and twitch the bottom and apron mesh to the bore pipe housing used as posts. These post have stays and welded supports to guard against the next flood event. At the base of the fence an apron extends out a meter or two along the ground to stop the dogs attempting to dig under the fence.

The two weeks so far have been punctuated by a Sunday trip to the Yaraka Pub for a BA lunch and food delivery pick-up. Also the Longreach show where the guys went into town for the night to see what living and socialising is like for the locals living in the country.

Twitching tool that twists a wire loop
quick and easy 

Extra high crossing a washaway

Did I mention the ever present flies? 

I love big machines doing the BIG work

and even smaller ones

BlazeAid Helping at Jundah

The camp was moved from Blackall to Jundah to be closer to the action. Stopped for a night at Isisford on the way to Jundah. Isisford, always a popular stop for me, was very quiet. It would seem "The Grey" don't know its back open for business. The tracks down by the Barcoo have been graded and all looks as it should again but there were just two others camping.

Got to Jundah next day to find a small camp in the process of getting established and only a handful of volunteers camping at the town CP and gathering in the local hall for meeting and meals. 

Cleaning dog fence

Travelled out to two different jobs both over a 100km away, mostly working on boundary dog fences, that being the top priority.

Then agreed to go on-farm to stay instead of driving so far each day. This looks to be the logical way to do the work in this region. So headed to The Station to join 5 other Vols. The property is about 100km east of Stonehenge on 4x4 roads good enough for my 2x4 front wheel drive vehicle but only whilst the conditions are dry. There were a few washaways but at the right speed, no problem.

The Station's next muster will be in September and will give a better indication of stock loss. They were running 10,500 Merino sheep.  But in the meantime the focus is getting the fences back up. Matt the manager is using a grader to ready other fence lines whilst the 6 of us, BA Vols, clear and stand fences closer to the homestead. We have been doing laneway fencing that feeds the shearing shed 5km away from the homestead. All the distances are big here.

The yellow sign says
 "Hit the Skids not the Kids"

A welcome sign after 80km of dirt-
 not far now.

The daily ride to check
fences, stock and for mustering.