Jeds Place, that’s our destination to which we have never visited. It is a truly lush cattle property on the tablelands high above Mossman and Port Douglas, green and lush like an Irish countryside (without the funny accents). Now Jed needs some introduction as he is a major part of this narrative… he signifies the “Flood” in “Australia, Dust, Fire, Flood and Pandemic.
During January and February 2019 the north of Queensland was inundated by huge floods, no area more so than the iconic Outback township of Richmond. Jed owned a cattle property about 15klm outside the town and during the weeks of flooding and mud he lost over 1,500 head of cattle, about 50klm of fencing and yards, not to mention hundreds of acres that either disappeared into the Dutton River or was covered by metres of sand that was deposited at the height of flooding. A vast region was similarly affected including the neighbouring towns of Winton and Julia Creek.
Watching TV coverage on the Gold Coast, 1,700klm to the south, we decided to volunteer with BlazeAid, head north and see if we could somehow help this devastated community. (Note: BlazeAid sets up and manages volunteers to assist in rural areas devastated by natural disasters. The whole organisation is volunteer run.) It’s a long story how we arrived at Jed’s property, however, with another couple, Sheryl and Paul, we drove into Jed’s at 7am one morning and so began two weeks of work fencing, handling feed, a bit of plumbing and a lot of listening to Jed and his daughter about how the hell they could recover from this dire situation. Jed later told us that on the first day he didn’t even want to come out of the house and meet us, after all the task ahead was huge and what help could these people possibly provide…. Skip forward two weeks and Jed and all of us involved in the task had a tear in the eye as we said goodbye. Jed had sufficient basic infrastructure up to get on with business, BlazeAid and the Government had provided monetary assistance and a host of companies and individuals gave money, materials and time to help these properties.
Skip forward to the beginning of 2020 and Jed sells his Richmond property and buys a much smaller but stunning property at Julatten, and that’s where we are heading, to meet up with Jed, but also we will be joined by our son Tom, wife Aisling and 10 month old Lorcan, our Grandson. So, we arrive on the 29th September, and by arrangement so we get to spend the evening with Jed, Tom will arrive the following day. It is a very happy reunion for the three of us and we are just amazed at the beauty of the property Jed has bought. Not only is it covered in emerald green grass, but the treelined drive up to the house, the formal gardens, fruit trees, vegetable and herb gardens and the beautiful white Queensland Colonial house with surrounding verandas, swimming pool lawns leaves us speechless! As Jeds daughter commented when she first saw this place, “Dad this is so not you”, but he is trying!
We have set up our camp between the house and a huge machinery shed on a lush lawn with access to the house for showers and toilets, otherwise we sleep in the van. The first morning Jed asks Roscoe to accompany him to inspect a 100,000 acre cattle property that he is considering to buy as “this hobby farm just won’t keep me busy”….really! It’s like comparing Barramundi to a Flake, the property is seriously underdeveloped, at the end of the dry season it is shades of brown and grey, and for Jed alone it would require 24/7 for years to come! After a three hour property tour of inspection Jed and Roscoe take a small 70klm detour to have lunch at the Lakeview Pub, as one does!
Back in Julatten, the junior Richmond family has arrived and setup camp in front of us. This also sets up a week of family time (Jed being part of the family now). We introduce Lorcan to some country life…. ride in a Rhino ATV buggy, a short hike through Granite Gorge, feed the Rock Wallabies, meet Jeds cattle and cattle dogs, visit the beautiful Mossman Gorge. The days are lazy and we spend much time together playing with Lorcan, eating and talking. Dinner is a communal affair, afternoon drinks on Jeds expansive balcony and we take it in turns cooking. A visit to Port Douglas for lunch to celebrate Tom’s 32nd Birthday is the only meal outside our bubble, and an excellent meal it is at Watergate Restaurant.
Australia. Dust, Fire, Flood & Pandemic 