‘OUR SPIRIT WON’T BE BROKEN!’
This resilient country family hope their desperate fight to save their farm will teach the next generation to never ever give up
It’s Sunday lunch at the Tongue family homestead in the northern NSW town of Loomberah, and three g generations unite for a chance t to forget the daily struggle for a while as they wait for rain.
They’ve just finished the morning feed, an all-in combined effort, despite diminishing supplies, to ensure every last one of their cattle and sheep live to see another day on “Greenwood”.
Inside, the fireplaces are b burning bright, and the children l laughing at their granddad K Kevin’s corny jokes, while g grandma Janelle serves up her f famous roast beef. Just one of t thousands of families gripped b by the worst drought in 50 years, t the Tongues are determined they will not be broken.
“We’re a half full sort of a family – we’ve had to be,” Janelle, 65, tells Woman’s Day during a visit to the droughtstricken region of Tamworth at the foot of the NSW Northern Tablelands.
Eldest son Paul, 39, wife Karlie, 40, and their children, , Blake, 12, Emily, nine, and Ryan, seven, live next door to o their grandparents. Youngest t son Ben, 34, and wife Rachel, , 35, and their four children, Sarah, seven, Lara, five, Jake, three, and 12-month-old Riley, are on the other side.
Middle brother Alan, a former NRL star, lives in Canberra but checks in with his family almost every day.
“We’re three families, three e generations spread across three adjoining properties, a total of 4500 acres [1800 hectares] – close enough for babysitting, far enough away way not to medd meddle!” Janelle says with a smile.
FIGHTING SPIRIT
“I make sure I bring them all togeth together around the table so we w can talk about eve everything. There are no se secrets and no dark p places. Regular c communication is p pivotal in supporting o our family – and our c community – through t this crippling time. “Last week I watched on one of our boys sit in his truck and cry – that brea breaks a mother’s heart. But we we’re right there at the coalface together, so it does help ease the th strain.” Weatherb Weatherbeaten he may be, but granddad K Kevin, 68, is not about ready to give up the fight. “My grandfather George Edward Tongue first bought this land back in 1909. We’ve worked hard over the years, and here we are five generations later surviving – but only just,” he says. “I’m a tough old boot, but this is worse than 1965, far worse.” Kevin says he’s pleased the farmers’ voices are being heard after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced a $190 million drought relief package last week.
“Without politicising, once this is over, they have to stop the bandaids, and start working towards long-term infrastructure, including dams and pipelines that pump water into hard hit areas,” he says.
“The $12,000 they are proposing will pay for a couple of weeks’ feed and a few months of groceries, which helps, but a bigger picture is needed otherwise it won’t end well.
“With a drought it just creeps up on you. We know we’re a dry continent, but now we have little or no water, and without it, we’re pretty well stuffed.”
With only 13mm falling last week in the region, the Tongue family are constantly reminded how blessed they are to have the large town of Tamworth just up the road. Janelle believes without their support, they would’ve likely gone under by now.
PAYING IT FORWARD
“One kind friend from our church does our washing once a week. Also, we bathe in the same water – cleanest first, the men are generally last, and the grubbiest! That water is then pumped outside to use in the garden,” she says.
“We can’t feed our stocks, because for the first time this year we weren’t able to put a crop in. We rely on those cereal crops to sustain our stock. Our boys are so good at managing for drought time, but sadly no harvest, no feed.
“With a total of 700 head of cattle, including calves, 2500 sheep and our pig supply of 60-plus sows, it remains dire, even with that small amount of rain last week.”
Paying it forward for this remarkably loving family is second nature, so whenever they see others in strife, they’re quick to jump to their aid whenever they can.
“It’s important to remain vigilant in looking out for neighbours, and making sure they are OK. We pop by and do what we can, which is why local initiative – “RUAWAREWECARE” – is amazing,” says Janelle.
“We know the drought will eventually break, but our spirit can never be broken. The next generation will always be reminded of our resilience, and to never ever give up. They really do breed us tough out here.”
‘Our spirit can never be broken’