SUPPORT FOR THE ’CURRY IN DROVES
MEMBER for Kennedy Bob Katter jokes that all male babies born in Cloncurry have their tear ducts removed at birth.
The inference is that ’ Curry boys don’t cry. There may be something in it.
The town of 3000 took a huge hit last year when the January flood turned Gulf flowing rivers and their tributaries into a northward-rushing, inland sea and “hundreds of thousands” of cattle were lost.
But last week Cloncurry was back in business. Four-wheel-drives and late-model cars lined the streets of the CBD as people went about their daily business. As well as being a beef capital, Cloncurry is a centre for mining and mineral exploration. These mines include Ernest Henry, Osbourne, Mt Cuthbert, Phosphate Hill and the Dugald River zinc mine. Mining and beef sit by side when it comes to underpinning the Cloncurry economy.
Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell tells an interesting tale about the determination of the town and its outlying residents to rise above the impacts of the flood. Cr Campbell said that due to the cattle losses in the shire it was feared beef cattle numbers at the annual June show would be down. But in the end the show committee had to tell people that they couldn’t take any more. The beef cattle section was full to overflowing.
“It showed people were determined to prove they were on top of it. The beef cattle at the show was as good as ever,” he said.
It wasn’t just the show. There were fears campdrafts would have to be cancelled because there would not be the cattle numbers available to hold the events.
Wrong again. The cattle turned up in droves and the campdrafts went ahead. Cloncurry had picked itself up and gotten on with things.
Bob Katter’s words that Cloncurry boys don’t cry were starting to ring true.
But, in these politically correct times Mr Katter might add a rider, saying as well that Cloncurry girls don’t cry. Everyone in the bush knows that when the going gets tough, men and women stand shoulder to shoulder.
And making things more bearable as well in a practical sense are quickly rolled-out government grants.
Cr Campbell said the support given by all sectors from Prime Minister Scott Morrison down had helped flood-affected grazing operations and town businesses get back up on their feet. Funding of $75,000 to graziers and $50,000 to town business operators not only helped the operators but it sent much needed money back into circulation in town.