While no grazier in the state will complain about the rainfall they’ve received from December 1 through to present day after huge periods of absolutely nothing, it still seems Mother Nature is being a cruel mistress in the way the liquid gold is being dispersed region-to-region and even neighbour-to-neighbour.
John and Roz Mercer, Kandanga Valley, Gympie, said overall the town has been dry but the Mary Valley where they’re situated seems to be a natural path for storms to come through.
“We had 1176mm in 2015 which is around our yearly rainfall average and we just had 60mm last weekend,” Mr Mercer said.
“Our western property Tansey has been very dry but we got good falls of around 50-75mm last weekend there as well,” he said.
“But during the trip to Nebo for our annual sale late last year you could really see the disparity in how little other areas have had, we’ve been very lucky.”
Based on figures from Weatherzone (accurate at the time of print) their have been great disparities in the amount of rainfall towns are receiving within any given region since December 1.
In the Northern Goldfields Georgetown has received 184.8mm while Hughenden has only had 52.4mm over the same period, with Charters Towers in between with 129.4mm.
Grace Harriman, GI Brahman Stud, Muttaburra, said they’d had 63.5mm since Christmas, but said it’d been very patchy in the region.
“It was very hit and miss, our neighbor for instance got 208mm over the same period,” Ms Harriman said.
Brian and Cindy Hughes, Lanes Creek, Georgetown, had a most welcome downpour of 120mm between Christmas Day and New Years Day but have had nothing since.
“It’s kicked it (grazing land) a bit, but we need follow up rain to keep the momentum going,” Mr Hughes said.
“It has been inconsistent around here, they received about the same amount to the north but about double in the south,” he said.
Pam Berryman, Winddancer, Charters Towers said between Christmas and New Years Day they had around 70mm in the paddock, but have only had another 20mm since January 1.
“It’s greened things up, but a lot of the paddocks haven’t responded,” Mrs Berryman said.
“If we don’t get follow-up rain the situation is going to get pretty sad again,” she said.
She also pointed out what a crapshoot it has been as she presumed her neighbor would have been poured on last week but only ended up getting 2mm.
Up in the Gulf Country the situation is similar with Burketown receiving 452.4mm while Normanton has had about half that with 232.4mm.
Rain has been fairly consistent across the Lower Burdekin region with Ayr receiving 134.8mm; Ingham getting 135.4mm and Townsville gaining 151.4mm.
Barry and Leanne O’Sullivan, Glenalpine, Collinsville, had 88.9mm between December 25 and January 1 and another 30mm since then.
Mrs O’Sullivan said everyone in the town has had at least an inch or so, but that it has also fluctuated wildly across the region with those in the west getting approximately three times more and while those in the south have received very little.
“We’re really happy, it has greened everything up, it has been beautiful grass rain, it’s just a shame it has been so erratic in the area.
The imbalance continued across the North Coast with Innisfail attaining 357.9mm while Mareeba has had a comparatively low 143.6mm.
In the state’s North West Mt Isa has had 152.6mm and Camooweal has received 205mm.
Rodger Jefferis, Elrose, Cloncurry, said there had been very little rain around up until and including Christmas Day.
“But on Boxing Day and that night the skies opened up for six straight glorious days,” Mr Jefferis said.
“We ended up receiving 203.2mm in that period which was great,” he said.
“A lot of people around us have said since the rain stopped the ground has dried out very quickly, which gives you an idea of how dry it was beforehand.”
In the Central Coast region Mackay has only had 99.2mm while Proserpine has had 214.4mm.
Emanuel Pace, Blue Water Hills, Mackay said they’ve received 101.6mm since Christmas Day.
“It’s very patchy around the region, you go a few kilometers one way and they had twice our total and then if you find out another property nearby in the other direction has almost missed out completely,” Mr Pace said.
Margaret Maloney, Kenilworth, Mount Coolon, summed up the inconsistent falls perfectly.
“We’ve been luckier than a lot, but some have been luckier than us.
Mrs Maloney said she received 82.5mm between Christmas and New Years Day and was extremely fortunate to have a particularly heavy fall in one area that filled a dam.
“My neighbour two properties over got 16mm between December 25 and January 1 and another 16mm since, she said.
“It has been unbelievable, it really is the luck of the draw.”
