From the beginning of 2020, rainfall up to and including 16th January 2020 at Bluegum Suffolk Horses in Brisbane only amounted to 39mm (1.5 inches) and the drought which had been biting hard since 2018 showed no sign of relenting. The bone dry conditions contributed to the early start of the bushfire season in South Eastern Queensland had begun early in September 2019.
The 16th January 2020 was also Bluegum Lady Alice’s third birthday, and this is when the oh so welcome rain began. 90mm (3.5 inches) was recorded over 20 hours.
Shade area becomes a rain shelter for the Suffolks plus friend as the hard deluge pelts down
The dam before and after
The dam is home to turtles, whose tracks are seen in the exposed mud, as they head past the dried water lilies to the last remaining deeper pool.
Some of the turtles are as big as dinner plates, some much smaller, close up of their footprints.
The transformed dam three weeks later. The edge of the water lilies marks the dried out area before the rain, with the grey sky signalling more rain to fall. Grass is green and growing again.
Bluegum Lady Alice – from birth to third birthday
Here’s a look back at how she’s grown and developed since her arrival three years ago.
16th January 2017: It’s morning and Capleach Eugenie gazes at her first foal, recently born Bluegum Lady Alice.
Three months: growing well on her Dam’s milk. Capleach Eugenie proved a devoted dam from the very first day.
16th January 2018: one year old, and the tufty mane is growing out.
16th January 2019: two years old. The drought was well underway.
16 January 2020: Bluegum Lady Alice, three years old to the day, and just hours before the rain teemed down, breaking the drought, at least for Bluegum Suffolk Horses.