Wattle & Blithe Photography

08/03/2023

It’s been a while. But I got a few pictures fighting fires the other day

05/12/2022

Now I’m officially out of pictures

Last photo taken on my last day 2021

05/12/2022

05/12/2022

Found a few pictures I haven’t posted

2021

05/12/2022

Found a few pictures I haven’t posted

Camfield station 2020

18/11/2022

It’s that time of year.

Hot days and longer hours.

This has got to be the latest some farmers have ever harvested before. After late planting, flooding, replanting and in some areas hail many are glad to finally get some crops off.

Only to face some other issues such as

Bogging machinery and constantly being worried about the moisture in the grain.

You will never hear a farmer say he doesn’t want rain but he will wait with bated breath to see if it comes.

Bonathorne- Dirranbandi
No.1
18/11/2022

Sorry if the photos are bad my phone is suffering from a few cracks these days

30/08/2022

A leaders hat

I once heard someone say, "You know you're a good leader when your camp gets the same colour hat as you".

When I first started at Camfield, there was an array of different hats worn throughout the camp. A few in humour we would call "sheep farmer hats". They were usually an Akubra, often old and worn with a closer resemblance to a misshapen dirty rag than that of a hat.

I had one of these and my more oftern worn sunboady. It bore a more similar appearance to a sombrero than a cowboy hat, with the sides going out at a very flat 90 degrees. The crown, having popped off a while ago when on occasion, was used to give a quick shoo to a cow, now had been mended quite fashionably with blue bailing twine holding the whole show together.

As the year progressed slowly, these old worn faded hats gradually phased out, changing to a more dark colour, often grey and black, not by coincidence. I even considered getting one. However, I soon realised I looked terrible in black and decided against the idea. Soon, I did get a new hat with the help of a friend. I got an updated hat mid-year that admittedly looked much better. It was buckskin with bright blue trim.

Although my sunboady survived and still hasn't made it to the burner bin. A sacrificial burning for the hat (not to mention jeans) was requested more than once throughout my time there.

It's funny how a leader can make an impact, even if it's as small as a hat. To have worked at Camfield with the leaders, I was amazed to see how they would lift up a camp and get it running like a well-oiled machine.

Because of leaders such as these, I have left with not only the knowledge of how to work with cattle and where to hold my rains but also how to be a better person.

I'll always be grateful for something that wouldn't have been possible without them. This is why I believe it's essential that every young person have inspiring leaders like mine, and I hope that where ever you work, you want to change the colour of your hat.

Photo 1&2
Catching rouge cattle
( Camfield Station, desert springs paddock panel yards)
26/08/2021

Photo 3
Walking back from tailing weaners
(Camfield Station, house top yards)
20/05/2021

#2021

28/08/2022

Just couldn’t help myself when I saw it was flowering.

Monnie river highway
(28/08/22)

26/08/2022

The Kent belt saves the day

The sun was searing down at 4pm. Having just walked 12km, we were excited to see 500 head sitting on bore next to the yard up the lane we were heading towards.

Cattle rush forward in haste to grab a drink, parched after the long walk.

As we get nearer, we slowly begin to hold them up. Allowing any calves to mother up and get a drink.

As it slowly settled down, the cows began to get comfortable with each other we noticed a poor old cow had a few Mickeys sniffing about. Hurriedly she began to try to push her way out of the mob.

I walked over to push her and her companions back into the mob.

Suddenly, I see a weiner take off from the mob from the corner of my eye.

I quickly take off in pursuit.

The heifer quickly makes way.

Noticing this, a bike was called to help over the radio. In the distance, the distinctive burr of the Honda started to follow.

Soon the heifer starts to bend slowly, and the bike and I work as a team, slowly getting her to face the direction of the mob.

Suddenly She stops

I sit in the saddle hard, almost racing past her.

She turns: and looks directly at me with her head high and eyes full of fire.
Then, lining my horse up, she charges.

My horse quickly moves under me in fright, almost unsaddling me.

She's off again, this time slower but with a giant attitude.

Oscar, on the bike, trys making a bit of noise to direct her.
I ride around her.
She goes to line up for round two, head down, snorting, not even changing pace.

Then suddenly, she trips.

Oscar jumps off his motorbike and sprints to the heifer; I'm scrambling down the saddle, yelling simultaneously.
Oscar quickly grabbed its two back legs, roping them with the belt strap he had only brought from the kent saddlery truck the night before.

Riding back to the mob, there had never been a cowboy with a bigger smile.

Photo
(Camfield Station, Wyalong paddock muster - 13km starting at Chungari Bore to Wyalong Yards)
27/05/2021

24/05/2022

When pressed for time and wondering if you’ll make it to the yards before dark. There is nothing quite like following a random cattle pad.

To see some exciting new country full of large rocky escarpments and creeks that snake around them.

Often feeling lost not knowing if the direction your heading is right and the pad your trying to follow often splitting off or getting lost all together. The only way you know for sure is the occasional helicopter flying overhead giving a guiding hand to lead way.

Only to eventually walk though a large group of trees only to feel more disorientated then before as the yards end up right before you in a spot you never expected.

We did mange to get home in time for a cold beer at the social club so it was a very successful day.

Photo
Camfield station, middle creek muster
30/05/22
(Walk Reynolds bore to Wyalong yards 13km )

09/05/2022

More working gal photos

2021

30/04/2022

Some random pics from 2020