Farm saved from bank manager's mate and still in family now

Fields at Wheatvale dry, dams at Junabee nearly empty, this must be the worst drought on record.

Adam Cummins changes his grip to go for a right-handed sweep at Wheatvale on Saturday. Hugh Inmon is keeper on a field where the drought is very evident. Picture: Gerarda Walsh

MANY farmers are telling me this is the driest time they can remember.

I headed to the cricket at Wheatvale on Saturday and you could see the tyre marks left by the mower all over the ground. The tyres had 'burnt' what grass was there.

I remember when the synthetic wicket was laid for the school and community. I was involved with cricket at the time and recall the great spirit of co-operation between the school, Education Queensland and the Wheatvale Cricket Club.

On Sunday I headed to the Junabee Hall to take photos at the Kelly Family Reunion and noticed on the way out most of the dams had very little water.

There are some summer crops showing potential but they are desperate for rain by the end of the week.

It is a credit to the people of Junabee and the hall committee to see the hall and surrounds in such outstanding condition. I love the pioneer walk where families are able to place a small plaque to remember their forebears from down the years.

Sounds like a great idea for all hall committees as the people who came before us are the ones that paved the way for us to live in the country and to farm.

One thing we must give credit to the pioneers for is building the houses in the best possible position on the farms, all on a rise with good views.

Talking to the Bureau of Meteorology, the next change with any chance of rain is a week away.

Like most primary producers, our family has had a visit from a bank manager or two.

My mother told me about the time a bank manager sat at the kitchen table at our property at Greymare and said he couldn't help. He then added he knew someone who would buy our property.

The next day, my grandfather tried another bank and there was no problem getting the money.

Not sure how the first manager would have gone at the banking royal commission.

So the farm wasn't sold to the bank manager's mate and it has remained in the hands of our family for another 100 years.

Bank managers tend not to look at properties much in the current era but that doesn't mean they don't look at the dollars and the capacity of farmers to repay loans.

I remember as a teenager someone telling me if you wanted to be popular, you had to be critical of the bank manager and shire clerk.

I think that was true to some extent but we have to accept many bank managers and many shire clerks down the years did great jobs.