The town of Longreach in Western Queensland, Australia has had a tough time of late. Their much-loved paddlewheeler, the Pride of the Murray, had sunk to the bottom of the Thomson River. Fortunately, she has been raised from the muddy waters and is now getting a much-needed cleanup.
One of our readers has also been keeping us updated on a feel-good story about an emu family wandering the streets of town. Australia does not have an official national bird, but unofficially, it is widely accepted to be the emu. This impressive bird is pictured on the national coat of arms alongside another of Australia's most peculiar animals, the red kangaroo. Emus are the second largest bird in the world.
So it was with horror that I read that two teenage girls deliberately ran them over, killing two of the chicks.
So how does one start to combine the tale of a sunken riverboat and a wanton act of cruelty against our beloved emu?
But a bit of background first.
I have been often known to say " There's an article there.... " and I hasten away to tap on my keyboard and write some piece of nonsense that reflects my somewhat strange take on life.
One thing that few people know about is the great Emu War of 1932.
The Emu War of 1932 was a peculiar event in Australian history that took place in the Western Australian region of Campion during the Great Depression. The "war" wasn't a conventional conflict between nations but rather a unique and comical struggle between Australian farmers and a large population of emus. Bear in mind that emus are flightless birds native to Australia.
During this time, many World War I veterans were given land to farm as part of a government programme to help them reintegrate into civilian life. However, the area faced economic challenges, including the Great Depression, and the farmers were struggling to make a living. To compound their woes, a large population of emus descended upon the region during their annual migration.
The emus, driven by the need for food and water, began to wreak havoc on the farmers' crops. They would feed on and destroy the wheat fields, which were vital for the livelihood of the settlers. The farmers, desperate to protect their crops, requested assistance from the Australian government.
In response, the government sent soldiers armed with two Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition to assist the farmers in dealing with the emu infestation. The "war" began in November 1932 when the soldiers arrived and attempted to use the machine guns to shoot the emus.
However, the emus proved to be elusive and agile targets. They often outran the soldiers or scattered in large groups, making it difficult to hit them effectively. Additionally, the machine guns jammed frequently due to the harsh environmental conditions of the outback.
Despite their best efforts, the soldiers had limited success. After a few weeks of futile attempts, the government decided to withdraw the military assistance in December 1932. By that time, it was estimated that only a small fraction of the emus had been culled, and the emus continued to cause problems for the farmers.
The Emu War is now remembered as a humourous and somewhat embarrassing episode in Australian history. It highlighted the resilience and agility of the emus and the challenges faced by both the farmers and the soldiers involved. While the "war" ultimately ended without a clear victory, it remains a quirky and memorable chapter in Australia's past.
So here is my story about Emus. And it is not a dark tale. I hope you enjoy it.
In the harsh, unforgiving heart of the Australian outback town of Redgum Springs, there roamed a male emu with feathers as dark as the night and eyes as keen as the desert stars. He was a solitary creature, having wandered the vast, sun-baked plains for years, content in his own company. Life was simple: find food, evade danger, and keep his feet moving.
One scorching summer's day, as the relentless sun bore down, he came upon a female emu. She had feathers as elegant as the gum leaves and a spirit as wild as the wind that swept across the endless plains. Her presence stirred something within him, a longing he had long forgotten. They exchanged a few cautious words, and before he knew it, they were sharing the same stretch of shade beneath a gum tree.
Days turned to weeks, and their connection deepened. She was adventurous and daring, a bird who longed for the thrill of the open road. She spoke of the road trains that thundered through the dusty tracks and the excitement of playing chicken with them, just for the thrill of it.
Passing Roadtrains Noomamah Northern Territory Australia. Emus often first with danger and run out in front of these beasts, only to dash back to the side of the road!
The male emu, smitten by her charm and allure, found himself unable to resist her adventurous spirit.
One fateful morning, when the fiery sun was at its zenith, she looked into his eyes and said, "I need to go out and play chicken with the road trains. It's in my blood, you see. Will you watch over our eggs while I'm gone?"
He hesitated, torn between the bond they had forged and the desire to join her in the daring escapade. But love, as fickle as the desert wind, won over his heart, and he agreed to stay behind and protect their precious eggs.
With a fleeting touch of her beak against his, she left in a flurry of feathers, disappearing into the shimmering heat waves of the outback. For days, the male emu sat vigilantly on their eggs, his heart heavy with worry for his daring mate.
Weeks passed, and the male emu grew tired and weary. He fought off dingoes and swooping eagles, determined to protect their unborn offspring. Then, one scorching afternoon, he heard a faint chirping from within the eggs. A surge of hope filled his heart as he realised that their chicks were ready to hatch.
With gentle care, he watched as the first chick cracked through its shell, followed by others, each one as tiny and fragile as the last. He marveled at their soft, fluffy feathers and bright eyes, their innocence a stark contrast to the unforgiving landscape that surrounded them.
As the days turned into weeks and the chicks grew stronger, the male emu's love for them deepened. He became their protector, their provider, and their teacher, showing them the ways of the harsh outback and the art of survival. Together, they roamed the streets of Redgum Springs, forging a bond that could withstand the fiercest storms.
Now in the dusty, remote town of Redgum Springs, life flowed like the slow trickle of a creek in the parched Australian outback. It was a place where everyone knew everyone else, and the rhythms of life were as predictable as the rising and setting sun. But one scorching afternoon, the tranquility of Redgum Springs was shattered by an act of cruelty that would be etched into the town's history forever.
Two teenage girls, Sarah and Emma, bored and restless as the dry season dragged on, decided to take a drive around the town. Little did they know that their impulsive decision would lead to a tragic encounter.
As they sped along, the girls spotted the male emu with his fluffy chicks. Excitement coursed through their veins, but instead of marveling at the natural wonder before them, they made a heartless choice. They swerved their car toward the defenseless birds, a cruel grin on their faces. The tires of the vehicle crushed two of the chicks beneath their relentless weight, leaving a trail of feathers and sorrow in their wake.
Word of their heartless act spread through Redgum Springs like wildfire. Shock and outrage gripped the tight-knit community, where respect for the land and its creatures ran deep. The townsfolk gathered in the town square, their faces etched with anger and disappointment.
The local people, known for their wisdom and fairness, decided that Sarah and Emma must be taught a lesson they would never forget. They believed in the old saying: "If you act like swamp creatures, you'll be treated like swamp creatures."
In the heart of Redgum Springs, there lay an old fishing boat, sunk and forgotten in the muck of a swamp for years. The townsfolk decided that this boat, once raised from its muddy grave, would serve as the perfect symbol of their punishment. Sarah and Emma would have to clean the boat, scrubbing away the filth and grime that clung to it, just as they needed to cleanse their hearts of cruelty.
Under the watchful eyes of the town, the girls set to work. They sloshed through the thick, sticky mud, their hands caked in filth, their faces stained with tears. The boat seemed like an endless abyss of muck, a daunting reminder of their thoughtless actions.
Days turned into weeks, and the girls laboured tirelessly under the relentless sun, their punishment a harsh reflection of the pain they had inflicted. Slowly, as they worked side by side, their hearts began to change. They realised the gravity of their actions and the importance of compassion for all living creatures.
As they finally stood before the now-clean boat, its wooden surface gleaming in the sunlight, a transformation had taken place within Sarah and Emma. They had learned that the choices they made could have far-reaching consequences, not only for themselves but for the world around them.
Redgum Springs, a place where nature and community intertwined, had reminded them of a fundamental truth: in the outback, as in life, cruelty had no place.
The moral of the story?
Don't mess with Australia. It could just come back and bite you. This land and its people will not be tamed. And cruelty and injustice will be avenged.
It's time to clean the swamp.
