It was nineteen sixty six the year
On sheep and stud cattle station then-
With only a fill in boss at the time
All horse work away back when-
Myself,a daughter of three and my wife
Expecting then another back then one-
It had been raining heavy for a month
The river rising daily then and some-
The property was cut all around from road
More than a good few miles from town-
The river flooded daily even more still
Endless water it was coming down-
My wife pregnant at the time
But we thought all it was fine-
Was not supposed to be just yet
And we thought that we had time-
I'd been moving stock up to higher ground
To keep them all alive and dry-
Started doing so at five in morning
So non of them would get caught and die-
I'd come home for lunch at two in afternoon
My wife was in labor then so I found-
We had no choice but to carry on alone
And how the rain still came tumbling down-
At that time never had done this before
But as it was it all went well-
Doctor called and arrived at nine that night
Bush telegraph how it lived to tell-
They took her in across the flood in boat
Into hospital simply miles away-
The stand in boss almost had a fit
And I rode into town next day-
My son was eight and a half pounds in weight
Upon my old fish scales when born-
I will never forget that first long cry
And followed by a big relieving yawn-
Surprising what one can do at times
Though they've never done so before-
Strength it comes from God knows where
Most of all for those then you adore-
Presence of mind and not time to think
One sometimes carries on with all within-
Surprising what one can do at times
And how one can yet still live to tell and grin-
Terrence Michael Sutton
copyright 2008
( Photo of myself on
Charlton Sheep Station
1966 )