Moree businesswoman Donna Solomon was inspired to write a poem about the current drought still gripping our region and beyond after noticing a lack of understanding of the topic by people who live in the city.

“I’m from the land,” she said.

“I grew up in Mungindi. My father was from the land; his father had a property out at Weemelah. Dad’s been a wool broker for as long as I can remember and I was often his side-kick as a child. . 

“A few weeks ago, dad started talking to me about how he’s worried about the region and some of his customers and how the drought is affecting Moree and surrounds.

“And that starts to hit home.

“My sister lives in Brisbane and we went there for Christmas and New Year’s. It wasn’t until we got into talking deeply about it that she realised the extent of the problem. It’s a lot to absorb if it isn’t something you are seeing or experiencing daily.

“It can be difficult to understand the gravity of the situation if you’ve never experienced life in severely drought affected areas . 

“That’s a big reason I wrote the poem.”

Having grown up in Mungindi with strong familial ties to the land, Mrs Solomon wanted to do something to help people understand the effect drought has, while at the same time reach out to farmers and those living in rural areas to let them know they will get through it.

“I’m trying to get more people to understand and start looking at ways we can try to find a solution,” she said. 

“Constantly throwing money at the problem isn’t helping. We need to put other solutions in place, such as more water storage, to be better prepared for drought.

“Also, for farmers, depression can be a big factor which can be scary, especially when they’re relying so heavily on their crop or stock for their livelihood and don’t know what the next month or two will bring. It can be very heavy on the heart.

“I want to spread the message that it’s fine to reach out and ask for help. You’re not alone, the rain will come.

“It’s tough times but we’ll get through it because we always do.”

Mrs Solomon also wanted to emphasise how much drought sets in motion a chain reaction, which can impact a whole community.

“For example, without mechanics, people can’t get their engines serviced, if they don’t have their engines serviced, they don’t have the machinery to get crops going, if there’s no crops, we don’t have food. It’s a big vicious cycle,” she said.

“We do all need each other.”

Mrs Solomon and her husband Aaron own DiesalGas Moree, and while they’ve been lucky that they’ve been able to maintain a busy workload, they can see the impact the drought is having on their industry, and Moree businesses in general.

“There are businesses in town that are closing,” Mrs Solomon said. 

“In our industry, a lot of places are downsizing. 

“Without rain for another couple of months, everyone will be in a harsh state.

“But at the same time, we’ve all been through it before. It’s about making sure you’re equipped and prepared.

“I love Moree and I know it gets a bad rap at times, but we’re trying to grow a business and start a family here. We don’t want the drought to scare people away. We have to keep the industry and community trying to thrive.”

Although she loved writing poetry when she was younger, and has fond memories of presenting her poems at the Mungindi Show Poet’s Breakfast, Mrs Horton hadn’t written anything for a number of years.

The last poem she wrote was about her pop for Anzac Day a few years ago, which went “viral” when she posted it on Facebook.

However, that was nothing compared to the attention her recent poem, The Land, has received.

Having finished writing it on Wednesday, January 16, she posted it on Facebook that night and couldn’t believe how many people started sharing it. 

“People started messaging saying ‘can you change [the post settings] so I can share it,” she said.

A week later, and, at last count, the poem has had 539 likes or reactions, 85 comments and 367 shares.

It’s even reached people as far as Western Australia.

“I’m flattered,” Mrs Solomon said.

“I’m really surprised and pleased that it’s getting the message out there in a delicate way, to promote the drought and how much it is affecting Moree and regional NSW.

“I’ve had people messaging, people say ‘we’re going through this so it was great reading your poem and seeing someone else understands that point of view’.

“It shows how much people are really relying on rain and are affected by the drought.”

Mrs Solomon was especially touched that Moree poet Murray Hartin, who is particularly well-known for his drought poem Rain From Nowhere, shared her poem.

“Murray is a bit of an inspiration for me., so it was really nice to see him share it as well,” she said. 

“All his followers will see it and promote it more.”

Dedicated to our Aussie farmers, related small business and rural Australia.

The city folk they questioned,

“Why don’t you just sell those sheep?”

“Why keep breeding cattle?”

“Why keep growing cotton and wheat?”

“If there’s no water why keep waiting?”

“Why keep trying in this drought?”

“Why persist in poor conditions?”

“Why keep living in self-doubt?”

“Why keep checking the elders forecast”,

“When you know you won’t see rain?”

“Why struggle and lose sleep?"

“The next day do it all again?”

“Why buy more water allocations?"

"When you know the crop won’t last?"

"Why still shear and drench?"

"When they are dying just as fast?"

“Why spend your last dollar feeding?”

“Now the bank feels like a tether,”

“Why not pack up and sell the farm?”

“So you’re not so dependent on the weather?”

It’s not their fault, they don’t realise,

It’s not a hobby or a lifestyle,

Its generations, its family,

That’s what makes it all worthwhile.

You see, daily decisions on the land,

Come with serious thought and reason,

It’s the little details that matter,

As they can make or break a season.

It’s not for all we know,

Hard on the shoulders, back and knees,

It’s a life for those built tough,

18 hours in 40 degrees.

So whether it be wheat or cotton,

Or fabas feeding cattle,

City folk please understand,

Country life can be a battle.

When you sit down to your rack of lamb,

Or your sizzling porterhouse steak,

Please remember those tough decisions,

Our Aussie farmers had to make.

Missing George’s soccer practice,

To keep up with irrigation,

Don’t be too disheartened,

Someone has to feed the nation.

Without your stock and crops,

What would line the Woolies shelves?

Would the transport industry fold?

What would we do with ourselves?

How would clothes be made?

What would happen to our export?

Our finance and economy?

Now there’s some food for thought.

So in the hard times, please remember,

That you’re not in this alone,

We always get through flood and drought,

Just as history has shown.

So when you start to question,

Just as the city folk do,

Remember that our nation,

Thrives because of you.

It may take time but it will come,

The soil cracks will be no more,

And just like that, the thunder rolls,

And the rain begins to pour.