The Teams
With face half-hid ‘neath a broad-brimmed hat
That shades from the heat’s white waves,
And shouldered whip with its greenhide plait,
The driver plods with a gait like that
Of his weary, patient slaves...
Ne of the most enduring images of the Australia bush is that of horse teams pulling their cargo through our rugged and unforgiving outback.
Every bushel of wheat and pound of wool from the western plains was carried by teams from farm to railhead. From lush green coast to the dry golden interior countless teams worked day after day to forge the ties binding country to towns.
One step at a time these teams of working horses toiled side by side with our pioneers to open up the land.
More than just moving produce, man and beast toiled together to clear the scrub, dig dams, and break the earth. They helped to conquer the tyranny of distance that challenged this young nation.
Our developing economy ran on the wheels of the wagons to the rumble of the teams’ hooves. Today the teams have been replaced by trucks and powered machinery.
Our country owes a debt of gratitude to these ‘weary, patient slaves’.