She’s a barren looking country
Looking hungry for the rain
And they call this farm Myella
Quite a gentle sounding name.

There’s five acres to a bullock
It’s more acres for us few
Even with the visitors and
The “two-headed kangaroo”.

 People know now from experience
That the trees did feed the ground
But the under-storey’s come back
And there’s lots of firewood round.

 There’s a gentleman who’s Clancy
Though that’s not his given name
But if Clancy’s the name you fancy
Well then Trevor’s just too plain.  

Now Lyn she knows a thing or two
Can step into a twirled lasso.
Can crack a whip and also find
The best horse for someone new.  

Coming back from feeding out with
Alwyn as our guide this time,
This shrub hitherto unnoticed
Yields refreshing tastes of limes.  

“Every day’s a holiday
When you do the work you love.”
Horseback treks with chats with ladies 
Well a bloke could do much worse!  

Now who got this team together?
They must know a thing or two
Olive and Peter the owners
They will share their place with you.  

All the animals are cared about:
There’s the orphaned kangaroos
Galah George with wing long-damaged
Roos that brought their young back too.  

“Who’ll bring in the cows?” we are asked
“Separate a steer out from the mob?”
“You’ll work it out,” they say to us
And do you know what we did.  

So much pleasure from what’s simple
Cooking breakfast on the fire
And the ever-ready billy
Then on bikes to sunset skies.  

Motorbikes to round up horses
And blat round the outback tracks 
Looking out for every one:
No one will be walking back.

 Then the cowbell calls out dinner
Had with Peter’s home-brew beer
Tales are told that evening
And our past and plans are shared.  

Well I left there on a Monday
And I headed on my way
Taking along a memory
In my heart, it’s tucked away.  

No longer is there barrenness
When I’m passing grassed gum lands
I have borrowed special glasses
They’re from those who love this land.  

Helen K. Orchard
(New Zealand)