I hit the road out of Goondiwindi after a somewhat disrupted sleep – nothing too serious just the difference between a bed with a luxurious lambswool under blanket to the harsh reality of a camp bed in the back of the car! It’s different, this princess definitely felt the pea.

My trek today – Goondiwindi to Charlotte Plains, a sheep station about 40km short of Cunnamulla with an Artesian Bore and baths by the bore!

There’s a pioneer cemetery by the side of the road, so I stopped to pay my respects to these pioneering families whose hardships would exceed what is known in this world today.

I make my way to St George who’s riverside is hard to pass. I pause to take my lunch by the side of the river next to the Jack Taylor Weir that has been in action since 1953.

I encounter many travellers doing the same and conversations flow with ease. It’s heartwarming to know that during this time of COVID, Queenslanders are still travelling and making the most of seeing their own State.

As I hit the road again, I’m mindful of the road trains and large vehicles transporting farming equipment, these beasts take over the roads and I’m still cringing as I pass them by.

The further west I travel you see the changes in the flora and the colours by the side of the road. It some areas, it’s barren they haven’t seen rain in a long time. Some have been fortunate, so there’s greenery and trees with leaves.

Upon arrival at Charlotte Plains, I’m immediately hesitant as I leave the main road, I’m aware I don’t have phone coverage, I wonder will my emergency sos on my phone work out here? I forge ahead, I take note of the kms on the car, mindful that I can walk back to the main road if need be.

I continue to drive some 12km on this property and still the homestead is not in sight. I query whether I’ve taken the wrong turn and then I remember, these stations are bigger than some countries! I finally come upon the homestead and know instinctively this farm has seen brighter days.

Upon arrival at the bore site, it’s a popular place, there must be 20 campsites popped up with everyone enjoying the spoils of the bathtubs by the bore! I set up camp and popped the champers and take my place along the bore’s edge to raise a glass to the sunset!

Day 2 at Charlotte Plains, sees me jumping in with property owner, formidable woman and one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. Robyn collects myself and a couple of other campers for a Station tour, she’s tiring in her later 70’s, she stopped doing tours every day but I’m sure the additional $$ from the tour help meet the crushing blows of a long drought!

Charlotte Plains is steeped in history, from the original McDonald brothers who made their way from Scotland in 1860’s to take hold of 385,000 acres. They gave their lives to this property, their graves in the property’s cemetery – one passing at age 46 the other at 48! By 1914, the property ran up to 67,000 sheep! Robyn’s family have had the property for 98 years, when her father passed, her mother took the reigns, upon her mother’s passing, Robyn returned to take her place as the next matriarch, who I’m sure will be interred in the cemetery beside her beloved husband Reid and her mother.

I can only imagine the harshness of living on a Station – the very brief look in to this life, leaves me with absolutely no doubt, it’s not a life I would choose. Robyn and one employee, now tend to some 1,800 sheep – the flock which has been reduced over the years due to the hardship of drought. They’re in a good place at the moment, they don’t have to feed them. I’m staggered at what the sheep might eat, the grounds seem dry and infested with burr!

Robyn shares the tales of the annual shearing plan, there’s a hierarchy of shearers and this impacts where they take their place in the shed. Robyn fondly retells the story of a female shearer from South Australia, who was quite, unassuming, took her place down the line. She out-sheared the blokes and racked up 299 sheep in one day. Each sheep can weigh somewhere between 40 to 50kg. Imagine lugging 299 of them in one day and then shear the wool from them! This is a woman, I would definitely be in awe of!

I depart early from Charlotte Plains, after a storm blew through last night, I had to frantically pack my campsite before it was blown to the fields! Early morning visitors kept me grounded to country.

I promise an update of the corked hat is on the way…