THE GOULBURN RIVER (part II)

It will rain again in the years to come
But might not be as much if the climate warms up
Remember the country it has cried many tears
For too long in drought by God it’s been tough.

We rely on the water to hold us in good stead
For without it life would be dead
To fill the dams and see mighty rivers flow
But when it rains nobody knows.

Eildon Weir from five river friends
Was built when the dry was here again
It feeds the Goulburn River that flows to the west
A sway through valleys steeped with the best.

A plethora of food it grows along the way
And joins the Old Murray that does the same
Across the land to South Australia
They need it too; it’s their savior.

Its Heritage is one of honour and is true to its fame
The flora and fauna and beautiful terrain
Along its reaches are many towns and farms
Then off to the sea into its mother’s arms.

But the pressure has come to change its course
To extract it south brings a horrible thought
For years we passed legislation to keep it lateral
To engineer it south is not natural

But a group has decided that savings will come
From lining only 10% of its some!
With new metering as well
They say it will make more water as well!

Who are they kidding these silly folk
Don’t they understand they could send us all broke
It belongs to us all not a select few
Or those with the power to plunder

If we use the water wisely we can make it last
Then we can all sit together and drink from the one flask
So lets keep the Goulburns’ integrity strong
For without it nature won’t by singing our song.

Ellen Hogan