Homework W/E 1/1/18 The High Country

[Terry]

I write only of my limited knowledge of the Snowy’s up above Gindabine
It may be different elsewhere


The High Country

Where the granite hills surround you and the snow gums line the slopes,
it’s so easy to appreciate the early settler’s hopes.
They had found their piece of paradise beneath these brooding peaks,
with the roar of raging rivers and the countless snow fed creeks.

So a way of life was born back then that echoes still today,
through the pages of our history – it seems it’s there to stay.
Poets added to its mystique with the sound of drumming hooves
and the exploits of the horsemen with their daring skilful moves.

But the romance is now gone – so are the settlers of those days.
yet some shacks can still be seen, although the stock no longer graze.
They have left the stony hillsides for the valleys far below
and the brumbies just a memory of times lost long ago.

© T.E. Piggott

[Shelley Hansen]

Very evocative, Terry. I haven't explored that part of the country very much - but it's definitely on the "bucket" list!

So much history there!

Cheers
Shelley

[Terry]

I've spent a bit of time up there Shelley and loved it.
You can sense the history around you - well I can anyway.
There is a caravan park up in the National park its-self, that's run by the national park, a good place to base yourself.
Of course there are slightly more up market parks down in Gindabine as well.

There is also of course the Ski Villages but, I prefer the wilder areas away from them.

Both Val and I love it there.

Cheers

Terry

[Maureen K Clifford]

Great use of the prompts Terry and a lovely write. You may have picked up that the brumbies are dear to my heart and I am a member of a rescue group and the Snowy Mountain brumbies have recently been under fire (so to speak) by our Govt - being trapped and moved out ... I can visualize their country so well with your lovely words.

[Catherine Lee]

This is lovely, Terry - I've not been there yet either, but this really paints a wonderful picture. I love the 'piece of paradise beneath these brooding peaks, with the roar of raging rivers and the countless snow fed creeks'.

[Terry]

Thanks Maureen & Catherine

I might do a bit more with this one one day.
I suppose having been reading about the area through the poetry of the Banjo and others,
that it's not surprising that you get that sense of history when you're in that country - well as mentioned I do anyway,
This coupled with the undoubted beauty and uniqueness tends to stir the pride of being Australian, and this place is special to us.

Cheers

Terry