8006 Newspaper articles Australia

8006 Newspaper articles Australia

=== Page 1 of 21

(AUSTRALIA)

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Wednesday, April 9, 1980

Even good rai

# in their thousands

# Drought set to linger for six months

Thirty per cent of NSW farmers will have to endure the drought for at least another six months.

But rain could save thousands of other farmers whose properties are now gripped by the drought.

For rain to be effective it has to come before the first winter frosts, which stop the growth of feed for farmers' stock.

The first frosts have already hit the tablelands and southern NSW.

In the north-west of the State there has been no rain for up to two years.

There is no adjustment facilities for stock to graze in unaffected areas in the whole of NSW.

The nearest agistment is at Longreach in central Queensland, 1500km by stock route from Armidale and 2000km from Cooma, two of the worst affected drought areas.

As a result two-thirds of the State's farmers are hand-feeding their stock.

But for many graziers this will soon become financially impossible -- it would cost $650 to hand feed a cow for six months.

## Affected areas

Many farmers are slaughtering stock and this number will soon spiral.

In the Hillston area about half-a-dozen farmers have already slaughtered their entire stock of several hundred cattle and several thousand sheep.

Many farmers have kept only a handful of selected young breeders and others are holding out in the hope of rain.

All of the State's 17 main irrigation dams are below normal capacity.

Seven are less than 40 per cent full. They are: Burrinjuck (near Yass, 33 per cent of capacity), Blowering (Tumut, 23), Keepit (Gunnedah, 39), Wyangala (Cowra, 35), Dartmouth (Albury, 39), Hume (Albury, 27) and Chaffey (Tamworth, 17).

## Below normal

Here's how some of the worst affected areas have been hit:

BOURKE had its last big rainfall 16 months ago and has been declared a drought area for a year.

Stock numbers are 50 per cent down on average, with half of these on agistment in Queensland since mid-1979. The rest are foraging in the scrub for feed.

WALGETT has been a drought area since last May. It has not known a good rainfall since December 1978.

Farmers say their stock is already weak and will be in trouble by winter.

There has been virtually no wheat crop this year and there is little hope of any next year.

ARMIDALE will have no pasture growth until September. All streams have dried up, and there has been little rain since November.

Stocks are 30 per cent down on normal. Record numbers have been sold at local sales by farmers unable to provide sufficient feed.

It has been almost impossible to buy hay.

MUDGEE experienced its last big rainfall in October, but was only declared a drought area last month.

Fodder and water are going quickly.

A spokesman for the Pastures Protection Board said the situation was desperate.

FORBES has had only brief scattered showers during the past six months and has been listed as drought-stricken since January 1.

Most dams are almost dry and even if good rain came now there would be no suitable winter growth of fodder -- only green shoots full of water.

YASS had some rain in February but it was patchy and missed many properties.

There is little feed and hay and grain is very expensive.

The June wheat-sowing is in danger because good rain is needed to prepare the paddocks.

Most cattle are being hand-fed.

# Parts of NSW still hit by drought

In spite of above-average rainfalls in May, parts of New South Wales are still suffering severely from drought, according to the acting Director of Meteorology, Mr R. B. Crowder.

He said one drought area in particular is along the NSW Queensland border including the North-West Slopes and Plains.

Other areas include parts of the Central and Southern Tablelands, the South-West Slopes and the South Coast.

The rainfall for May was the highest on record for the North Coast, Northern Tablelands and Central Western Plains.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat, June 7, 1980

COOMA had its last good rain in February last year. There have been a few showers since but nothing to encourage much-needed pasture growth.

Ironically the only rain which fell last month was on Cooma Show Day.

Farmers have been hanging on to cattle in the hope of rain but have been selling sheep in large numbers.

A spokesman for the Pastures Protection Board said the Monaro district had not had worthwhile rain for about a decade.

BEGA's dairy production is slipping.

There was a big storm in January but the rain was so heavy that most of it ran off the land and only a fraction soaked into the soil.

HILLSTON has not had a good rainfall for about three years.

Most properties still with stock remaining, now rely on underground bore water.

But Mr Max Watson of the Pastures Protection Board said: "Once this dries up it will be the end."


=== Page 2 of 21

(AUSTRALIA)

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wed, April 9, 1980 11

# Drought 1980: 'portents of a disaster'

## Call for water bores

The State Opposition Leader, Mr Mason, said yesterday that a massive, co-ordinated water-boring program was needed to lower water shortages in drought-affected areas of NSW.

He proposed that the existing subsidy of 25 per cent of the cost of putting in new bores be increased to 50 per cent.

From the outskirts of Sydney to the central slopes of the western plains, NSW is withering under drought.

Throughout the State pastures are brown and bare, many farm dams have dried up and homesteads have run out of water.

When expensive hand-feeding of fodder cannot be afforded, stock are beginning the slow march to starvation.

Drought 1980 is different to those of recent decades.

It is not restricted to the semi-arid western regions but has struck even the normally drought-free eastern districts of the State.

More than 75 per cent of NSW has been officially declared drought affected.

This was the scene inspected yesterday by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Hallam, on the first day of a tour of the drought areas.

At the end of the day at Walgett he said: "This drought has all the portents of being a widespread disaster.

"It's different to other droughts because it covers such huge areas of the State and at the same time other States are also suffering.

"Even if rain falls soon the situation is critical. But if we don't get rain it will be a national disaster.

"At stake is the NSW 50 million sheep herd, six million cattle and the welfare of 75,000 landholders."

The 37-year-old minister, who was allocated the agriculture portfolio only four weeks ago, walked through the dry beds of farm lands, saw the hand-feeding of cattle and listened at woolshed gatherings to the requests of landholders for assistance.

At Camden, dairy farmers requested a 6.5c-a-litre increase in the price of milk to help overcome their drought problems.

# Major crisis: cattlemen

From JOSEPH GLASCOTT in Walgett

Mr Bob Wilson, chairman of the Dairy Farmers' Association, said dairy farmers in the district were buying fodder from as far away as Victoria at up to five dollars a bale to help save their herds.

Mr Rowan Moore, of Glenmore, said he was struggling to maintain his milk quota by spending up to $300 a week on fodder.

His father, 93-year-old Mr Val Moore, a pioneer of the Camden district, said it was the worst drought he could remember, except perhaps for 1901.

Camden dairy farmers said Sydney might face milk rationing if the drought continues.

At Mudgee farmers said the district was in a critical situation. Unless rain fell in the next two weeks there would be no pasture growth for winter.

The veterinary inspector for the Mudgee Pasture Protection Board said graziers had the choice of allowing stock to die, sending them on agistment, of which little existed, or hand-feeding at exorbitant prices.

One grazier, Mr George McDonald, of Rylstone, asked for assistance to send starving stock to abattoirs for production of meat meal.

Mr Gil Wahlquist, secretary of the Mudgee Wine Grape Growers' Association, said Mudgee's vineyard harvest would fall by 30 to 60 per cent this year.

At Walgett, Mr Hallam was told that most farm dams were dry. There had been no run-off rain since 1977.

Mr Hallam promised to consider requests from graziers for increased low-interest drought loans, and increased subsidies for the cartage of water and fodder.

The most critical drought in 50 years combined with falling US beef prices faced Australian beef producers with a major recession, the Cattlemen's Union president, Mr Maurice Binstead, said yesterday.

The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Hallam, has declared 44 of the State's 58 Pasture Protection Board districts drought areas.

All areas in the State have received lower than average rainfall over the past nine months. For most districts, it is the worst drought since 1964.

Mr Binstead said the long-term consequences were alarming.

Federal and State Governments must realise that drought conditions were creating a state of emergency and current relief provisions had to be reassessed.

The seriousness and spread of the drought through much of eastern Australia meant the only alternative for cattlemen was to sell stock now before their condition deteriorated further, resulting in short-term market depression.

Meat prices would initially fall as the producers were forced to sell but prices would rise again as production fell.

"Fluctuating export prices have severely damaged industry confidence and uncertainty will be increased by drought conditions," he said.

Smaller producers were selling out and there was no incentive to increase the national herd, reducing potential to increase export earnings.

Mr Binstead said Australian consumers would once again pay the penalty for lack of stability in the cattle industry.

A more immediate impact would be felt in country towns and cities, where severely reduced cash flow for cattlemen meant sharp falls in sales of machinery, materials for improvements and general commodities, and reduced employment opportunities.

The Pastures Protection Board provides subsidies for farmers in drought-declared areas to help them to move fodder, livestock and water.

Drought loans are provided through the Rural Bank.

The Water Resources Commission is having no difficulty in meeting irrigation demand this summer but many town water supplies are affected.

Dams feeding the metropolitan area are at 73 per cent of capacity and the Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board says water restrictions are unlikely in the near future.


=== Page 3 of 21

(AUSTRALIA)

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Friday, June 6, 1980

# CONCERN

**Drought aid to Q**

CANBERRA -- The Federal Government has agreed to provide further drought assistance to Queensland. Prime Minister Fraser said the Federal Government's decision followed an approach from the Queensland Premier.

# Bjelke wins big drought aid boost

The Federal Government is to provide further drought assistance to Queensland, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Mr Fraser told the annual convention of the United Graziers Association of Queensland that the Government's decision followed an approach from the Queensland Premier Mr Bjelke-Petersen.

The announcement incorporates extensions to the National Disaster Financial Assistance arrangements.

From today:

THE maximum concession applicable to road transport concessions will be increased from 40c to 50c a kilometre for a loaded cattle truck, and from four cents to five cents a tonne a kilometre for fodder and water.

THE freight concession on water cartage will be extended to the carriage of water on properties to points beyond the farm gate.

This concession, however, will not apply to transport of water between points within farms. A 50 per cent concession will apply to the cost of transporting essential machinery and equipment to affected properties to or from where fodder is available.

This concession will apply only to equipment which is an essential part of drought mitigation practices.

IN addition and because of the severity of this drought, the rate of concession payable on all rail and road transport movements of fodder, water and stock will be increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.

This additional concession will apply for the duration of this drought only.

Joh . . . . . . . . . . concession

With thanks and felicitations
yours respectfully, Bruce

Bruce Kell
4 TORRINGTON ROAD
STRATHFIELD N.S.W. 2135
AUSTRALIA.

Encl $10--

WHO is YOUR "EGYPTIAN POWER" ?


=== Page 4 of 21

2 THE SUN Friday, May 9, 1980 2

# FLOODS SWAMP DROUGHT TOWNS 5/9/80

RISING floodwaters and landslides have isolated the northern NSW town of Bellingen, blocked three lanes of the Pacific Highway near Lismore and cut many minor roads.

People went to work by boat in Bellingen today as heavy rains broke the 10-month drought with a vengeance.

The Weather Bureau predicts more rain and State emergency services in the north are on full alert.

Moderate to major flooding is expected at Murwillumbah, Lismore, Nambucca and Kempsey.

"There is a lot of water north of Taree and more areas are expected to go into flood," a Weather Bureau spokesman said.

"It could get much worse."

Some northern centres have had 304mm (12in) of rain during the past four days -- too much for the parched land to handle.


=== Page 5 of 21

# STORMS
# SWAMP
# NORTHERN
# NSW

| | | |
|---|---|---|
| DROUGHT | HIGHWAY CUT | MURWILLUMBAH |
| BROKEN HILL | FLOODING | LISMORE |
| | | CASINO |
| | | COFFS HARBOR |
| | ARMIDALE | BELLINGEN |
| | GALE WARNING | |
| | | NEWCASTLE |
| | SYDNEY | |
| | WOLLONGONG | |

"Daily Telegraph"
Australia
May 10, 1980

Continued


=== Page 6 of 21

Sydney Morning Herald

FIRST PUBLISHED 1831

AUSTRALIA MAY 10, 1980

# Dry areas of north are flooded

State Emergency Services in northern NSW were preparing for possible major flooding last night as further heavy rain was forecast for areas formerly listed as drought-stricken.

The dramatic change from drought to flood in the area has occurred within 48 hours. Flood warnings were issued yesterday for the Tweed, Richmond, Bellinger, Nambucca, MacLeay and Hastings, Wilson and Clarence Rivers.

But overall, the drought has not been broken yet. There has been only light rain west of the Great Dividing Range. More is needed, according to the Weather Bureau.

In the northern coastal areas there has been widespread minor flooding.

Bellingen, north west of Nambucca Heads, was isolated for most of yesterday.

About 30 people were evacuated from their homes at Marx Hill, near Bellingen, when the Bellinger River rose to 6.8 metres at noon.

A spokesman for the State Emergency Services at Grafton said he expected the position to ease overnight.

The Pacific Highway was blocked about six kilometres south of Nambucca Heads last night as the Nambucca River continued to rise.

## Heaviest rainfall

The heaviest rainfall reported by the Weather Bureau was at Meldrum, just south of the Queensland border, where 369mm fell in the 36 hrs to 9 pm.

Heavy pockets of rain fell in the upper reaches of the Clarence River. Although the situation was beginning to ease last night further rain would cause minor flooding.

Several major roads in the area were cut by minor flooding, including the Pacific Highway north and south of Grafton. Traffic was forced to use a high-level bypass.

The Gwydir Highway, west of Grafton, was cut for several hours at Mulligans Bluff after a 13-metre landslide.

Further south, a State Emergency Service spokesman at Taree said many of the roads and bridges to Wauchope had been closed by floods along the Hastings River.

Caravan parks at Lismore and Murwillumbah have been evacuated.

At Lismore, declared a drought-stricken area only eight days ago, some flooding was expected.

A policeman said: "The river is rising steadily and is expected to reach its peak about 6 am.

"No one, however, is prepared to guess how extensive the flooding will be."

### TODAY'S WEATHER

Metropolitan: Rain. Windy. Max temp: City 21, Liverpool 21. Pollution: Low. NSW: Rain with heavy falls Central and North Coast.

PAGE 31: Full details, map and flood warnings.


=== Page 7 of 21

Continued (Australia)

May 10, 1980

More than 5000 people around Bellingen on the NSW north coast are cut off by the flood-swollen Bellinger River which has swamped major access roads.

And for many other northern NSW communities, the worst is yet to come.

Lismore received minor flooding and the situation is expected to worsen today.

More general rain is forecast for today. In Sydney, the forecast is wet but easing tomorrow.

Late last night, the Richmond River had risen to 10m at Lismore and was expected to break its banks early today.

Co-ordinator of the State Emergency Service in Lismore, Mr Bob Phillips, said people had already been evacuated and more would probably leave their homes today.

An SES officer in Casino said last night: "It doesn't look good."

# Storms lash towns

From P1

In the second rescue, three crew members of the 10m sloop Ible were rescued in heavy seas off Taree by an Indian freighter, the Apj Karen.

The freighter's captain said the three men, Trevor Hancock, of Sydney, Jim Lee, of Cremorne, and Stephen A. Godman, of Frankston, Victoria, were all in good health and sleeping off

## Vans moved

"We expect a lot of farmers at small towns such as Woodburn will be hit.

"It's no good trying to sandbag the river banks if it breaks its banks, that's it."

At Lismore, SES workers expect the crisis to come early today.

"If the river goes over 10m it will flood the business area of the town," one said last night.

"A lot of business people have stayed back tonight to make preparations for the peak.

"If it's over 10 metres they'll have to move their goods out . . . if they've got time."

Yesterday, most minor roads around the two towns were cut by floodwater and more than 60 caravans were moved to higher ground from low-lying caravan parks.

A flood boat was used to take a sick child from the township of Lester, 10 km south-west of Lismore, after it was feared floodwater would cut off the town.

At Bellingen, emergency workers used boats to ferry supplies over flooded roadways, and two families in East Bellingen were evacuated to save them being cut off.

But by last night, local authorities were confident the river would recede enough to allow normal access to the district today.

Bellingen was worst-hit among the NSW northern coastal towns.

Light rain also fell on many of the State's drought areas but there was not enough rain to substantially ease the situation.

For the six hours to 3 pm yesterday, Broken Hill received 3mm, Narrabri, 19, Walgett, 7, Armidale, 12 and Coonamble, 11.

In Sydney, falls of about 3mm caused minor traffic delays, but there were no reports of major flooding.

## Holed

Six yachtsmen were snatched to safety as one yacht sank and another was set adrift in stormy seas off the coast north of Sydney yesterday.

Three crew of the 9m sloop Kehaar were winched aboard the Wales rescue helicopter about 2 pm after their yacht was holed and dismasted by a huge wave and washed on to Long Reef.

The Kehaar, sailing from Newport to Elizabeth Bay, was towed off the reef by the helicopter and a surf rescue jet boat, but she sank soon after being taken in tow by the police launch Nemesis.

The three men, Andy Devine, 38, of Bronte, Guy Monteith, 21, of Potts Pt and Allan Nagy 20, of Maroubra, were not hurt.

Continued P2


=== Page 8 of 21

4--THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN May 10-11 1980

# Homes flooded, sport cancelled after record rain

By HARRY DAVIS

RAIN which has lashed Brisbane for a week, causing evacuations and traffic chaos, eased on Friday, too late to save many sporting events from cancellation. The deluge of 355 millimetres (14.2in) which fell in the first nine days of the month up to 9am on Friday already exceeds the previous record of 352mm (14in) for the whole month set in 1876.

Brisbane also had its heaviest 24-hour rainfall on record with 149mm (5.9in) recorded at the weather bureau in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday. The previous 24-hour record was 142.7mm (5.6in) set on May 9 last year.

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers used rescue boats to evacuate families from flooded houses in low-lying outer suburbs.

Large areas of drought-stricken north-western NSW received soaking rain, bringing fresh hope to thousands of farmers.

The NSW north coast, which was gripped by drought last week, is now preparing for serious flooding following 425mm (17ins) of rain in some districts.

Gales and rain have cut roads, ruined vegetable crops, inundated pastures and sugar cane crops, and ripped out banana trees.

The rain in Brisbane caused the cancellation of the Oaks Day race meeting at Eagle Farm on Saturday. This was replaced by an emergency meeting on the sand course at Albion Park.

Many other sporting events, including major football fixtures, were either postponed or transferred to other grounds.

The annual City-Theiss Toyota rugby league match, scheduled for Sunday, may be played at Lang Park on Tuesday night. A decision will be made after a ground inspection on Saturday.

All metropolitan rugby league fixtures have been postponed until Sunday week.

Rugby union games set down for Ballymore Park at the weekend have been put off but officials were still seeking alternative grounds late on Friday.

In soccer, ground inspections by the referees association will decide whether matches in Divisions 1 and 2 will go ahead. Both divisions are involved in the Soccer Pools.

Matches in Divisions 3 to 8, Colts divisions and South-East Queensland League have all been postponed.

The State League game between Mt Gravatt and the North Queensland team, Mareeba, at Dittmar Park, Mt Gravatt, has also been postponed.

Australian rules under-17s and under-19s matches scheduled for Saturday have been postponed and a decision on other club fixtures on Sunday will be made late on Saturday.

Women's athletics and hockey and men's cricket fixtures have been cancelled.


=== Page 9 of 21

THE SUN-HERALD, MAY 11, 1980

# Mother's Day starts off sunny

Heavy rains have now cleared NSW, after breaking the drought in some areas and easing it in others.

### Mike Bailey's WEATHER

Mothers' Day promises to be mostly fine, although there will be some cloud and the chance of afternoon showers in some districts.

Coastal areas will again be mild to warm and humid, with fog, mist and cloud this morning.

Sydney's temperatures should reach the low to mid 20s and winds will be light to moderate northwest to north-east.

Seas and swell, which have been heavy for the past few days, are abating and will be less dangerous for boating or even surfing today.

A cooler south westerly change will enter the south-west of the State today, bringing a few showers and isolated thunderstorms.

That change should reduces both humidity and temperature levels as it moves across to the coast in the next day or so.

Talking of movement, the low pressure system responsible for much of the heavy rain over the past few days really took flight in a hurry on Friday night - and moved in a most unusual direction.

It had been off the southern Queensland coast for about four days when it shot through like the proverbial "Bondi tram," and moved south-west through Dubbo in Central Western NSW.

Strong winds and some of the best rains for months accompanied its passage, and showed again just how quickly our weather can change from drought to minor floods.

Dorrigo is a classic example of the contrasts.

That area was declared drought stricken on May 1, and just 10 days later it has recorder 584 mm of rain.

The town is second only to Mullumbimby, with 610mm so far this month.

While the rain has provided a needed boost to crops such as oats and barley, it has come a little too late to boost pasture growth prior to winter.

SYNOPTIC WEATHER CHART
DATE 10-5-80
TIME NOON

NOTES ON THE CHART: The low responsible for heavy to flood rains along the NSW northern coasts has moved south-southwest wards. It is now centred over the Riverina and should continue southwards. Rain is contracting into southern parts of the State and should ease to showers. In the north it should be mainly dry. Another low and cold front have crossed the Bight. A colder change should spread over southern inland NSW. Some showers and thunderstorms are expected with this system. Fogs will be widespread.

**Northern Rivers:** Early morning fogs. Isolated showers but mild with sunny periods. NW to NE wind 10-15 knots. Flood warning current for the Richmond River. Outlook Monday: generally dry with NW to NE winds.

**Mid North Coast:** Early morning fogs. Flood warning for Clarence and Macleay rivers. Mild day with showers and chance of isolated thunderstorm. NW to NE winds 10/15 knots. Seas mainly slight. Moderate easterly swell.

**HUNTER:** Morning fogs. A shower or two but sunny periods. NE winds 10-20 knots. Further outlook: generally dry and cool.

**South Coast and Illawarra:** A strong wind warning is current for E to NE winds 20-30 knots at times at first but easing. Showers or rain periods will also ease to a few showers. Outlook Monday: generally dry with cooler westerly winds.

**Northern Tablelands:** Morning fogs. Light to moderate NW winds. A shower or two with cloudy periods. Further outlook: generally dry with NW winds.

**Central Tablelands:** Morning fogs. A shower or two with moderate NW winds. Further outlook: generally dry with cooler SW to W winds.

**Southern Tablelands:** Morning fogs. Cloudy periods with rain periods or showers, mainly in south. Risk of a thunderstorm. Winds freshening.

**North West Slopes and plains:** Mild with cloudy periods and a shower or two at first clearing. Morning fogs. Light to moderate W to NW winds. Outlook Monday: generally dry and mild.

**Central West Slopes and Plains:** Rain or showers easing. Overnight or morning fog areas. Light to moderate NW winds. Outlook tomorrow: Generally dry. Cool SW winds.

**South West Slopes:** Cloudy with rain periods easing to a few showers during day. Risk of thunderstorm. Winds tending west to SW.

**Riverina MIA:** A few showers persisting with the risk of a thunderstorm as winds tend colder moderate SW. Further outlook: Generally dry and cool with westerly winds.

**Lower Western:** Becoming generally dry with winds tending cooler SW to S. Further outlook: Generally dry and cool.

**Upper Western:** A few showers persisting with the risk of a thunderstorm. Winds tending colder moderate SW. Outlook tomorrow: Generally dry and cool with westerly winds.

**RAINFALLS**
In the 24 hours to 9 am yesterday general rain fell over NSW. Falls were heavy in the north and central coasts, northern tablelands, north-western slopes and plains districts and in the Blue Mountains region of the Central Tablelands and light to moderate with isolated heavy falls over the remainder of the State.

Highest reported falls included: 145mm at Meldrum (Lower North Coast), 125mm at Dorrigo (Lower North Coast) and 120mm at Katoomba (Blue Mountains), and inland, 85mm at Nyngan (Central West Plains), 56mm at Narrabri West (North West Plains) and 37 mm at Hillston (Riverina).

By yesterday morning winds were moderating along most of the coast and rain and drizzle was easing and gradually contracting Southwards.

Rainfall at Observatory Hill 21mm, highest reported suburban fall 66mm at Glenorie.

## SYDNEY BRIEFLY

Early fog and mist patches. A partly cloudy day with the chance of a few late showers. Mild to warm and humid. North-east to north-west winds. Seas abating to slight on a decreasing swell. Max temperature in the low to mid-20s.


=== Page 10 of 21

AUSTRALIA

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Monday, May 12, 1980

Australia, Africa, India Special

- World Rain Attack -

# Floods easing as rain stops

The NSW north coast flooding eased yesterday and no more rain is forecast for at least a few days.

Flooding peaked on Saturday in the area after several days of rain and heavy storms.

At Lismore, the town most affected by the floods, the crisis came at 7 am on Saturday.

The Richmond River reached a height of 10.31m - just 20cm below a major flood classification.

Many roads were closed and farmers were forced to move stock to high ground.

But yesterday, cattle and sheep were brought back to the lower paddocks.

The Pacific Hwy near Kempsey and Grafton was covered by waters yesterday afternoon but the route was officially open, with detours bypassing the worst areas.

At Grafton, the Clarence River reached 6.4m at 3 pm on Saturday.

According to State Emergency Service measurements, that made it a major flood although they reported damage and disruption were minor.

The major rivers in the area - the Clarence, Tweed, Hunter and Richmond - were still swollen yesterday but levels were dropping.

The storm causing the rain has moved south-east into the Tasman Sea.

## Drizzle

The tail of the storm will bring thunderstorms to the south-east corner of NSW today but the rest of the State, including the drought-stricken western areas, will remain dry.

Broken Hill, Narrabri, Walgett, Armidale and Coonamble all had falls under 20mm on Friday, as did Bourke, White Cliffs and Wilcannia.

But it was little more than drizzle. To noon yesterday no falls had been reported since Saturday morning.

But the rain was too light to ease the drought.

SYDNEY can expect a dry day with sunny periods and a temperature range of 14 to 24 deg C.

Frosts are expected on the NSW Northern Tablelands.


=== Page 11 of 21

AUSTRALIA

# It was the driest April of the century

Coastal areas of New South Wales will have more drought-easing showers in continuing cool and partly cloudy conditions this morning.

But sunny periods will return as the rain contracts to the north later in the day.

Some drizzle patches moved across the western side of the ranges in the past day or so. They were not nearly enough to relieve the areas worse affected by the drought, and today will bring more dry and mostly sunny weather warmed by winds slowly turning northerly.

Winds near the coast will continue to be mainly south-east to easterly in the 5 to 15 knot range, with mainly slight seas on a low swell.

Sydney's maximum temperatures will be in the low 20s -- continuing to be rather mild to start the school holidays.

That old saying about time being "as slow as a wet week" seems to have special connections with the city's weather in the opening days of May.

For the second successive year, we've begun the "merry merry month" with persistent showers.

Rainfall for just the first three days of May is already ahead of the total for April -- which at 12 mm was the driest for that month so far this century.

The first week of May last year was close to the wettest in all of 1979, with 98mm dumped on the city, but it came from a system different to the one bringing us the current moisture.

A coastal trough, fed by moist south east winds from a strong and very slow-moving high pressure system just east of Bass Strait, is responsible this time.

Last year, it was an upper atmospheric trough moving down from Queensland, which brought a better spread of rain across the State -- again aided by a slow moving high, typical of late autumn.

That system failed to give anything like the snow and hail reported around Bargo last Wednesday night, triggered by very cold air in the upper atmosphere.

On the subject of snow, school holiday skiers won't find immediate joy in our Snowy Mountains, where resort operators are still waiting for the first falls of the autumn.

Around Sydney, fogs are likely to become more widespread in the next day or so as the skies clear.

This will allow the cool nights to chill moist air for a spread of the fog patches so far confined mainly to the Western Suburbs and the Blue Mountains.

This city usually has more fogs in the months of April, May and June than at any other time of the year -- but there's been little evidence of that so far, a pattern again similar to 1979.

## Mike Bailey's WEATHER

### SYDNEY BRIEFLY

Early cloud and showers, breaking to sunny periods. Light to moderate south to south-east winds. Mainly slight seas, low swell. Maximum temperatures in low 20s.

SYNOPTIC WEATHER CHART
3-5-80 NOON

ISOBARS -- 1016 -- (Value in millibars)
COLD FRONT
WARM FRONT

SEAS
Slight
Moderate
Rough
Very Rough

WINDS
Calm
10 km/h
20 km/h
40 km/h
60 km/h
80 km/h
100 km/h

RAINFALL
Previous 24 hrs.

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE -- BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY -- SYDNEY

NOTES ON THE CHART: A strong high pressure system is located east of Tasmania and is only slow moving. This system is maintaining a moist SE to NE flow along the NSW coast with resultant showers. Further west of the divide generally dry weather is being experienced with NE winds. An upper air trough now moving over southern New South Wales will cause local thunderstorm activity in the south east of the State as it moves eastward. Little change however is expected in the general pattern

REGIONAL FORECASTS

Northern Rivers: Some showers, heavy at times but easing with SE to NE winds 15/20 knots. Cool to mild. Further outlook: Mild, a shower or two, NE winds.

Mid North Coast: Some showers easing with SE to NE winds 10/20 knots. Cool to mild. Further outlook: Mild, a shower or two, NE winds.

Hunter: Some showers, the risk of a thunderstorm or two developing. E to NE winds 10/20 knots by day. Cool. Further outlook: Cool to mild with NE winds and a shower or two.

South Coast/Illawarra: Some showers mostly clearing but the risk of a thunderstorm or two developing. Cool with E to NE winds 5/15 knots. Further outlook: Generally dry and cool to mild with NE winds.

Northern Tablelands: Cool and cloudy with some drizzle mainly in the east. Risk of thunderstorms developing. Light to moderate SE/NE winds.

Central Tablelands: Some morning fog or frost patches, afterward mostly clearing but the risk of a thunderstorm or two developing. Winds E to NE, light to moderate NE. Cool. Outlook: Generally dry and mild with northerly winds.

Southern Tablelands: Early morning fog or frost patches. Sunny periods but the risk of a thunderstorm or two developing. Winds light E to NE, mild to with northerly winds.

North West Slopes and Plains: Some cloud with a shower or two possible eastward. Morning fog or frost patches. Winds tending light NE. Further outlook: Mild and dry with NE winds.

Central West Slopes and Plains: Morning fog patches on top parts and highland frosts, though a risk of thunderstorms developing in the east. Light NE winds.

South-west Slopes: Morning fog patches and highland frosts. Mild and partly cloudy day with the risk of thunderstorms developing. Light NE winds.

Riverina/MIA: Mild mostly sunny day with light NE winds. Further outlook: Mild, northerly winds.

Western: Mild and mostly sunny with light to moderate NE winds. Further outlook: Mild to warm, northerly winds.

Lower Western: Mild and mostly sunny with light NE to N winds. Further outlook: Mild to warm northerly winds.

TIDES TODAY
Fort Denison: High 5.01 am (1.4 metres); 4.40 pm (1.6 metres). Low 11.02 am (1.3 metres); 11.06 pm (1.7 metres).

SUN, MOON
SUN: Rises 6.32 am, sets 5.11 pm. MOON: Rises 8.19 pm, sets 9.43 am.

PLANETS
| | Rises | Sets |
|---|---|---|
| Mercury | 5.41am | 4.45pm |
| Venus | 10.05am | 7.27pm |
| Mars | 1.51pm | 0.46am |
| Jupiter | 1.48pm | 0.50am |
| Saturn | 2.47pm | 2.25am |

WORLD WEATHER
| | | |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam, clear | 12 | 18 |
| Athens, cloudy | 13 | 21 |
| Bahrain, clear | 24 | 28 |
| Bangkok, clear | 27 | 32 |
| Beirut, clear | 16 | 19 |
| Belgrade, cloudy | 13 | 18 |
| Berlin, cloudy | 4 | 12 |
| Bogota, clear | 7 | 21 |
| Brussels, clear | 8 | 15 |
| Buenos Aires, clear | 8 | 17 |
| Cairo, sandstorms | 18 | 38 |
| Chicago, clear | 13 | 21 |
| Copenhagen, clear | 4 | 12 |
| Curitiba, cloudy | 12 | 22 |
| Denpasar, clear | 23 | 33 |
| Dublin, clear | 8 | 11 |
| Frankfurt, clear | 7 | 20 |
| Geneva, cloudy | 9 | 15 |
| Helsinki, clear | 0 | 8 |
| Hong Kong, cloudy | 21 | 25 |
| Honolulu, cloudy | 21 | 29 |
| Jakarta, cloudy | 24 | 32 |
| Jerusalem, clear | 16 | 30 |
| Johannesburg, clear | 10 | 22 |
| Kiev, cloudy | 9 | 20 |
| Kuala Lumpur, rain | 24 | 33 |
| Lima, clear | 18 | 23 |
| Lisbon, cloudy | 10 | 18 |
| London, cloudy | 8 | 15 |
| Los Angeles, cloudy | 14 | 19 |
| Madrid, cloudy | 6 | 18 |
| Manila, cloudy | 24 | 35 |
| Mexico City, cloudy | 10 | 25 |
| Miami, cloudy | 19 | 28 |
| Montreal, cloudy | 9 | 23 |
| Moscow, cloudy | 10 | 20 |
| Nadi, fair | 21 | 32 |
| New Delhi, clear | 27 | 40 |
| New York, cloudy | 16 | 23 |
| Nicosia, cloudy | 11 | 26 |
| Oslo, clear | 6 | 17 |
| Paris, cloudy | 10 | 20 |
| Rio de Janeiro, cloudy | 18 | 34 |
| Rome, clear | 9 | 22 |
| San Francisco, cloudy | 16 | 17 |
| San Juan, clear | 25 | 32 |
| Sao Paulo, cloudy | 16 | 27 |
| Seoul, clear | 9 | 22 |
| Singapore, rain | 25 | 33 |
| Stockholm, clear | 8 | 12 |
| Taipei, cloudy | 21 | 26 |
| Tel Aviv, cloudy | 18 | 30 |
| Tokyo, clear | 10 | 20 |
| Toronto, cloudy | 10 | 18 |
| Vancouver, cloudy | 8 | 22 |
| Vienna, clear | 8 | 16 |


=== Page 12 of 21

RAIN
LIFTS
CROP
OUTLOOK

Page 3

MAY 15, 1980

"THE LAND" NEWSPAPER
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

0-25mm

50-100mm

25-50mm

100mm+

The above is a sketch map of the state of New South Wales one of the "Eastern States" of Australia. It shows the recent rainfall THANK YOU Approx conversion factor: 100mm = 4 inches of Rain

Bruce Kello

P
RE
E


=== Page 13 of 21

Rain brightens outlook

"The Land" Newspaper (Australia)
May 15, 1980

# Record crop now possible

Hopes for a near-record wheat crop received a boost this week following widespread rain across the State.

Wheatgrowers had planned to increase the area under wheat by five per cent to 3.4 million hectares before the drought conditions set in.

But further follow-up rains will be needed in the next three weeks for this sowing to eventuate.

Principal winter cereals agronomist with the NSW Department of Agriculture, Mr Bob Komoll said if good weather prevailed for the rest of the season a crop equal to the record 6.6 million tonnes of 1978-79 was still possible.

The Riverina had already received follow-up falls and sowing was well underway.

But he said it was generally too early for many farmers in the north to start sowing wheat.

Coonamble agronomist, Mr Greg Fenton said some district farmers would not risk waiting for follow-up rain and would start sowing wheat in the next week.

At Dubbo the regional director of agriculture, Mr Brian Clinton said farmers west of the city were getting ready to sow lupins, oats and barley.

Some wheat could be sown he said but farmers would generally wait for further falls.

Wagga agronomist, Mr Ken Simmons said the follow-up rain was just what farmers wanted.

Farmers were still preparing their ground but the bulk of the district's wheat crop would be sown in the next two weeks.

Bourke agronomist, Mr Doug Campbell said the rain was scattered with about 14mm falling near the town and at Cobar.

But at Nyngan up to 75mm fell and many farmers were ready to start sowing.

At Griffith, Department of Agriculture officer, Mr Pat Keenan, described the rain as a "beautiful" follow-up.

Falls of between 30 and 40mm as far out as Hillston were reported and most farmers would soon be sowing.

Moree agronomist, Mr Max McMillan said there was little rain in the western part of the district but in the east falls were up to 200mm. Many farmers would sow forage oats and barley. Follow-up rain was needed for sufficient sub-soil moisture to sow wheat.

At Gunnedah up to 62mm were reported giving farmers the chance to "line up" wheat seedbeds according to district special agronomist Mr Rob Browne.

Farm manager of Auscott Pty Ltd, Warren, Mr Neil Sowerby with one of 38 pickers valued around $50,000 each held up by rain last weekend. The farm at Warren received around 70 mm, while properties 15 miles west received up to 125 mm.

# Rains delay cotton harvest

The rain of the past week has had little effect on the cotton harvest which is more than half over according to Namoi Valley Co-operative agronomist Mr Andy Mengersen.

"Generally I think everyone is thrilled with the rain as it takes much of the pressure off the area", he said.

Mr Mengersen said the rain was variable but in areas where it was heavy the main effects on the cotton would be the delay in picking.

Some cotton could be down graded in quality but it was too early to tell.

This week "The Land" presents a special Cotton Feature starting on page 25.


=== Page 14 of 21

Rain brightens outlook

"The Land" Newspaper (Australia) May 15, 1980

Record crop now possible

Hopes for a near-record wheat crop received a boost this week following widespread rain across the State.

Wheatgrowers had planned to increase the area under wheat by five per cent to 3.4 million hectares before the drought conditions set in.

But further follow-up rains will be needed in the next three weeks for this sowing to eventuate.

Principal winter cereals agronomist with the NSW Department of Agriculture, Mr Bob Komoll said if good weather prevailed for the rest of the season a crop equal to the record 6.6 million tonnes of 1978-79 was still possible.

The Riverina had already received follow-up falls and sowing was well underway.

But he said it was generally too early for many farmers in the north to start sowing wheat.

Coonamble agronomist, Mr Greg Fenton said some district farmers would not risk waiting for follow-up rain and would start sowing wheat in the next week.

At Dubbo the regional director of agriculture, Mr Brian Clinton said farmers west of the city were getting ready to sow lupins, oats and barley.

Some wheat could be sown he said but farmers would generally wait for further falls.

Wagga agronomist, Mr Ken Simmons said the follow-up rain was just what farmers wanted.

Farmers were still preparing their ground but the bulk of the district's wheat crop would be sown in the next two weeks.

Bourke agronomist, Mr Doug Campbell said the rain was scattered with about 14mm falling near the town and at Cobar.

But at Nyngan up to 75mm fell and many farmers were ready to start sowing.

At Griffith, Department of Agriculture officer, Mr Pat Keenan, described the rain as a "beautiful follow-up."

Falls of between 30 and 40mm as far out as Hillston were reported and most farmers would soon be sowing.

Moree agronomist, Mr Max McMillan said there was little rain in the western part of the district but in the east falls were up to 200mm. Many farmers would sow forage oats and barley. Follow-up rain was needed for sufficient sub-soil moisture to sow wheat.

At Gunnedah up to 62mm were reported giving farmers the chance to "line up" wheat seedbeds according to district special agronomist Mr Rob Browne.

Farm manager of Auscott Pty Ltd, Warren, Mr Neil Sowerby with one of 38 pickers valued around $50,000 each held up by rain last weekend. The farm at Warren received around 70 mm, while properties 15 miles west received up to 125 mm.

Rains delay cotton harvest

The rain of the past week has had little effect on the cotton harvest which is more than half over according to Namoi Valley Co-operative agronomist Mr Andy Mengersen.

"Generally I think everyone is thrilled with the rain as it takes much of the pressure off the area", he said.

Mr Mengersen said the rain was variable but in areas where it was heavy the main effects on the cotton would be the delay in picking.

Some cotton could be down graded in quality but it was too early to tell.

This week "The Land" presents a special Cotton Feature starting on page 25.


=== Page 15 of 21

SYDNEY MORN. HERALD
MAY 17, 1980

# Down on the farm in droughty country

denly appeared in the distance framed by the bleak sides of a road cutting. It was a bright exhausted shade of blue. We seemed to be rushing towards a blighted quarantine area, another planet. In autumn, this country is usually emerald green. But now the bare hills look like upturned earthenware bowls; the uncultivated paddocks are indistinguishable (except up close) from the freshly-ploughed ones, all uniformly brown.

Around Cowra, in the central west, the last good rain -- in August -- was followed by grasshopper hordes. Now they and the grass have vanished. There's no sign of the once-reliable lucerne, either.

The Department of Agriculture estimates that the three types of lucerne aphid (the spotted, the blue and the pea aphid), all accidentally imported since May 1977, cause about $30 million worth of damage to the State's lucerne crop each year. How did the creatures get here? No one knows.

Many people in country towns keep horses, and let them graze on vacant lots, but they have to buy hay during the drought. So at present it costs more to keep a horse in hay than a car in petrol -- about $30 a week.

In some paddocks around here there's nothing above ground-level except crows and camel-melons. The melons are noxious -- they send horses blind. Their small relative, the paddy-melon, is reputedly poisonous but so bitter that it would take remarkable willpower to eat one. Only children like these hardy vegetables: they throw the little ones at each other and hollow out the big ones to make jack o'lanterns. The crows sit there confidently, sleek drought kings who feast on dead sheep.

Water-diviners are kept busy these days, looking for the fabled "underground stream." Some diviners use the traditional forked stick, but most favour metal -- a piece of bent fencing wire, or even grandmother's wedding-ring on a thread. These diviners, usually old men, seem to have great faith in their own powers -- as do the property-owners who engage them. They are a great annoyance to the bore-sinking contractors who are called in after the diagnosis and told where to dig -- for the underground stream is a myth except in limestone country, and this is porphyritic granite.

The drought brings out generosity in some people, meanness in others. Old feuds are shelved as neighbours share water (for dams and wells are drying up all over the place). On the other hand, some farmers deliberately graze their stock on the reserves and the road (known as the "long paddock"), thereby conserving their own land and destroying the feed for legitimate drovers.

We're told about a recent duststorm, the worst in local memory. Sometimes you couldn't see your outstretched hand, and never more than 10m ahead. It blew for about seven hours. Thousands of tonnes of good topsoil were airborne; there are drifts of soil like snow against the fences. The paddock soil is loosened by overstocking -- of sheep, horses, cattle. When the grass is gone, it's dust.

Sometimes taking to the "long paddock" is the only way to keep stock alive. They have to face the hazards of traffic as well as thirst.

Sheep, because of their teeth and jaw structure, can forage where cattle can't, grubbing out grass stems and roots from almost underground. They are the gambler's pieces: during a drought, you can buy them cheaply -- perhaps from a bankrupt property further inland. If it rains there's a good profit -- and if it doesn't, the sheep starve quietly to death.

But overstocking isn't always due to greed. It's easy to miscalculate. One farmer describes the misfortune of his 40 fowls: he had to economise, and was feeding them a quarter of a kerosene-tin of wheat each day. "Jeez, I knew I was underfeeding those poor chooks," he said, "but I didn't realise how starved they were till a willy-willy came along and picked them all up -- carried them right across a little dam. Some fell in -- the heavy ones."

As we're driving along a dirt road, we see a fine wallaby sitting in a paddock; we stop, walk to the fence: he doesn't flinch, just stares back. The search for food has brought him out of the bush. In the bush, there's no evident damage. The natives are tough. The little lichens that crunch underfoot now will soften like sea-sponges when it finally rains. Only the kangaroo tracks everywhere are signs of distress.

When we left Cowra the useless-looking clouds were still hanging about, as they'd been for days. Occasionally they'd produced a sprinkle, "enough to lay the dust." But it takes at least 50mm of consistent rain to break a drought like this.

It was a nightmare trip back to Sydney: soon the wind and rain began; the car leaked, as usual, and gusts of wind kept lifting its bonnet -- we had to fasten it down with luggage straps. Curtains of rain lashed the road -- as with the dust storm, you couldn't see more than 10m ahead. Nature specialises in ironies: back there in the droughty country, it hadn't rained at all.


=== Page 16 of 21

THANK YOU FOR COASTAL RAIN AND FOR RAIN ON NE corner of New South Wales.

BUT NEXT PLEASE?

14 The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat, May 17, 1980 14

(AUSTRALIA)

The dam is nearly empty and the horse is almost belly-deep in the mud as he stretches for the last of the water.

The grasshoppers have been and the rains haven't come; only the crows are eating well in the Central West.

SALLY McINERNEY has just returned from a visit to her home town near Cowra. It was a long way from downpour-sodden Sydney.

SOME people think that when it's raining on them it's raining everywhere else as well. Indeed, when you're caught in one of the coast's special deluges it's hard to believe in the simultaneous existence, not more than a couple of crow-flights away, of droughty country where there's been no real rain for nearly a year.

Last week I went - for a couple of days - to the district classified as the Central Western Slopes and Plains. It's quite a long journey, particularly in an old Renault 4. Sydney was wet and cold when we set out; the Blue Mountains were wintry, with wind and scudding rain. At chilly Lithgow the sun sprang out for a second, as if to prove it still existed, and that was the last sight of it until we reached the drought country - which sud-

$
ightarrow$ CONTINUED


=== Page 17 of 21

(AUSTRALIA)
DAILY TELEGRAPH, Saturday, May 17, 1980 7

NEXT PLEASE?

# DRY TOWN IN DAM UPROAR

Hundreds of angry Mudgee residents attended a protest meeting yesterday over the State Government's failure to complete the Windamere Dam.

Shops were closed in the drought-stricken town, in central western NSW, for the meeting in the RSL Club.

In 1970 the Windamere Dam project, which was to augment Mudgee and Gulgong's water supply, as well as provide water for irrigation, was announced by a State Liberal MP, Mr Jack Beale.

The dam was to have cost $10 million.

Some local people said the project was an election ploy to return the Askin Liberal Government.

Nothing happened until 1973 when the Whitlam Labor Government gave a grant to Mudgee Shire Council for by-pass road construction.

Last Tuesday, Mudgee Shire Council imposed further stringent water restrictions, the most severe in the area's history.

Unlike other towns, Mudgee has received hardly any rainfall in the past month and the water situation is critical.

The vegetable industry is threatened with extinction as the Cudgegong River which supplies Mudgee's water, has stopped running

Shire president Mr A. W. Cox, told the meeting the council was "snubbed by the State Minister, Mr Gordon, who found time to go to Dubbo to welcome a few animals at the zoo but could not come to Mudgee."

Mr Cox said: "Is it any wonder that after 10 years, $20 million spent on property resumptions and no work being done, that we are so angry?"

Mr Jim Curran, State MP for Castlereagh, whose electorate next year will be enlarged to contain Mudgee and the Windamere Dam area, told the meeting the dam would now cost $46.5 million.

(DAILY TELEGRAPH)
(AUSTRALIA) MAY 17, 1980

# DROUGHT AID 'DODGING'

Good falls of rain in some parts of NSW had not ended the drought, Country Party leader Mr Punch said yesterday.

Mr Punch said drought relief was still necessary in many areas and even in areas where rain had fallen drought relief measures should not be forgotten.

A drought co-ordination committee should be formed, with representatives of primary producers organisations, chambers of commerce, pastures protection boards, councils and government departments which would constantly review drought relief needs.

It was also essential that a national committee be established with representatives from all States to look at ways of minimising the effect of drought.

Mr Punch said the best way to combat drought was prevention measures.

## Hand-outs

Under the present system, farmers who spent money at the right time and money on drought relief measures on their properties were often disadvantaged compared with those who did nothing themselves and looked to governments for hand-outs as soon as a dry spell began.

It was the role of government to provide assistance between droughts to help landholders to prepare for the recurring dry periods.

Mr Punch said that through the present drought the NSW Government had tried to avoid giving aid.

It had tried to blame the Federal Government and had ignored the impact of the drought in urban areas.

Mr Punch said even where rain had fallen, the benefit would be limited because winter was near.


=== Page 18 of 21

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Tuesday, May 27, 1980

# TOWN WANTS A PIED PIPER TO RID IT OF MICE

Mudgee, in the NSW central west, is looking for a modern-day Pied Piper.

First the town was hit by drought. Now it is mice.

With the worsening of the drought and the almost non-existent supply of fodder for sheep and cattle, field mice are invading Mudgee homes in their thousands.

Shops have sold out of mouse traps and poison bait is almost unobtainable.

One resident told a special meeting of the local council that mice in plague proportions had entered her's and neighboring homes.

## In bedroom

Another said: "I have lived here for 12 years and we have never had any mice until now.

"They even come into the bedroom."

But the assistant health surveyor, Mr Peter Wakeling, said: "I am unaware that there is such a problem."

Mr and Mrs G. Wesley, of Third St, said it was "ludicrous" that the health surveyor knew nothing of the problem.

Mr Wesley said: "I have complained about it to the council at least twice."

Councillor Carmel Croan said: "I want to know why it wasn't followed up and brought to councillors' notice."

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tues, June 3, 1980

# Largest sowing in years possible

Recent rains may lead to the largest wheat sowings in NSW in the last decade.

Mild climatic conditions are also expected to boost pastures in some of the worst drought-affected areas.

The principal winter cereals agronomist of the NSW Department of Agriculture, Mr Bob Komoll, reported in The Land newspaper last week, said the rain had fallen at the right time for major sowings in the central and northern grain districts.

Much of the southern and Riverina districts were already sown and the total could now reach 3.4 million hectares of wheat, said Mr Komoll.

This compared with the record 4.03 million in 1968-69.

However, substantial rain would have to fall in the northwest for the state to be able to reach the 6.6 million tonnes crop of 1978.

Falls had been recorded around Tamworth, the Liverpool Plains and north and west of Moree which had missed much of the rain two weeks ago.


=== Page 19 of 21

SYNOPTIC WEATHER CHART
DATE 28.5.80
TIME 9 a.m.

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE - BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SYDNEY

FORECASTS

The Weather Bureau last night issued these forecasts and warnings for today:

WARNINGS: Strong wind warning for coastal waters. Gale warning for the Tasman Sea.

STATE: Showers and thunderstorms in the east, tending to rain on the south coast but clearing north of the Hunter. Becoming dry on the western plains. Wide-spread morning fogs. Light to moderate SW to SE winds inland, SW to SE winds, strengthening along the coast with seas rising to rough. Increasing swell.

METROPOLITAN: Some morning showers and fog patches, then fine. Cool southerly winds strengthening on the coast. Seas rising to rough. Moderate swell.

NORTHERN RIVERS: Early showers and morning fog patches, clearing to a fine day. NW to SW winds gradually strengthening to 20-30 knots on the coast. Seas offshore. Moderate swell.

MID-NORTH COAST: Some early showers, storms, and fogs, clearing to a fine day. NW to SW winds strengthening during the day and reaching 20-30 knots in coastal waters with seas rising to rough offshore. A preliminary strong wind warning is current.

HUNTER: Morning fog areas. Some showers or thunderstorms clearing to a fine day. Light W to S winds strengthening to 20-30 knots on the coast. A strong wind warning has been issued. Seas rising to rough and moderate swell.

ILLAWARRA, SOUTH COAST: Rain periods and local thunderstorms with some heavy falls. SW to SE winds strengthening to 20-30 knots on the coast. Seas rising to rough. Moderate swell.

NORTHERN TABLELANDS: Morning fog areas then fine and cool. W to SW winds becoming fresh at times.

RAINFALL

Rainfall of 5mm or more for the 24 hours to 9 a.m. yesterday:

UPPER WESTERN: Angledool 34, Bourke 21, Brewarrina 6, Collarenebri 29, Coolabah 8, Lightning Ridge 23, Louth 7.

LOWER WESTERN: Broken Hill 8, Menindee 14, Euabalong 24, Ivanhoe 5.

NORTHWEST PLAINS: Boomi 13, Barren Jctn 17, Moree 10, Narrabri 22, Pallamallawa 13, Wee Waa 37.

CENTRAL WESTERN PLAINS: Canbelego 26, Coonamble 72, Gilgandra 38, Girilambone 13, Gulargambone 41, Narromine 9, Nevertire 3, Nyngan 11, Quambone 31, Warren 11, Bogan Gate 6, Peak Hill 6, Tottenham 9, Trundie 8, Ungarie 24, Yalgogrin Nth 31.

RIVERINA: Cargelligo 13, Carrathool 5, Darlington Pt 10, Goolgowi 6, Griffith 6, Gubbata 28, Hay 9, Hillston 6, Maude 6, Rankin Springs 19, Henty 10, Howlong 9, Lockhart 11, Narrandera 17, The Rock 15, Tocumwal 30, Whitton 11.

NORTHWEST SLOPES: Ashford 8, Barraba 8, Bingara 23, Bonshaw 6, Rawdon 11, Delungra 6, Gravesend 11, Warialda 10, Amman 10, Bendemeer 10, Blackville 37, Boggabri 24, Breeza 23, Gunnedah 18, Manilla 10, Mullaley 33, Premer 33, Quirindi 16, Somerton 20, Tambar Springs 43, Tamworth 11, Werris Creek 23, Willowtree 18.

CENTRAL-WEST SLOPES: Binnaway 60, Coolah 30, Coonabarabran 78, Dunedoo 21, Mendooran 35, Tooraweenah 34, Canowindra 6, Cudal 16, Dubbo 5, Eugowra 18, Forbes 11, Grenfell 10, Molong 16, Parkes 10, Wellington 19.

SOUTH-WEST SLOPES: Barmedman 32, Burrinjuck Dam 45, Cootamundra 42, Gundagai 30, Junee 10, Koorawatha 17, Quandialla 23, Stockinbingal 42, Temora 31, Wyalong 43, Young 5, Adelong 35, Albury 15, Batlow 48, Caouramurra 25, Holbrook 8, Hume R'voir 12, Khancoban 5, Sydnecurra 12, Tumbarumba 33, Tumut 35, Wagga 15, Wagga MO 17.

NORTHERN TABLELANDS: Inverell 6, Tingha 8.

CENTRAL TABLELANDS: Gulgong 22, Mudgee 26, Rylstone 14, Bathurst 5, Blayney 7, Cowra 13, Lithgow 13, Oberon 13, Orange A/port 21, Trunkey Ck 9, Wyangala 17.

SOUTHERN TABLELANDS: Canberra M 21, Cooma 14, Crookwell 13, Delegate 8, Frogmore 6, Goulburn 10, Gunning 18, Nimmitabel 11, Queanbeyan 18, Taralga 12, Tumut 35, Canberra City 31, Adaminaby 18, Berridale 23, Dalgety 16, Perisher Valley 17, Thredbo (C'back) 17.

NORTHERN RIVERS: Cape Byron 13, Murwillumbah 10, Tweed Heads 26, Yamba 5.

MID NORTH COAST: Gloucester 5.

HUNTER: C'nock (Nulkaba) 5, Denman 18, Dungog 6, Gosford 13, Gresford 6, Jerrys Plains 12, Mangrove Mtn 12, Maryville 35, Merriwa 15, Moonan Flat 10, Murrurundi 21, Paterson 5, Scone 19, Singleton (Army) 6, Williamtown MO 6, Wyong 10.

ILLAWARRA: Berry 6, Camden A/pt 7, Campbelltown 5, Jervis Bay 11, Kiama 7, Nowra (Council) 8, Robertson 6, W'gong (Uni) 6.

SOUTH COAST: Araluen 5, Bega 8, Braidwood 5, Candelo 11, Eden 12, Green Cape 10, Merimbula A/pt 9.

METROPOLITAN: Ashfield 5, Baigowlah 6, Bexley 5, Bondi 7, Gordon 5, Mascot MO 6, Mosman 7, Newport Bch 12, Pymble 5, Sydney 5, Turramurra 5, Waverton 7, Auburn 5, Glenorie 7.

SHIPPING

EXPECTED ARRIVALS
Today
SEA PRINCESS, Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal, no time.
XAIO SHI KOU, Point Piper Anchorage, no time.
SHINNICH MARU, Bank Anchorage, no time.
MARCONA, 7 Darling Harbor, no time.

EXPECTED DEPARTURES
Today
ADUARA, 11 Woolloomooloo, no time.
WAITAKI, 4 Darling Harbor, no time.
TRICOLOR, 5 Darling Harbor, no time.
ALEXANDRIA, 7 Glebe Island, no time.
CHUBA MARU, 4 White Bay, no time.

TIDES

Tomorrow:
HIGH: 8.40 am (1.4m), 8.50 pm (1.8m).
LOW: 2.42 am (0.3m), 2.23 pm (0.4m).
SUN: Rises 6.49, sets 4.54.

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Thursday, May 29, 1980

Bruce Kell
(Australian Correspondent)
4 Torrington Road
Strathfield 2135
New South Wales (NSW)
Australia


=== Page 20 of 21

STORE STOCK REVIEW Sydney Morning Herald Friday May 30 1980

# Rain brings widespread relief

Good falls of rain over a widespread area of NSW during the week have broken the drought in some parts with falls of over three inches.

Special sales of sheep and cattle since late last week have been well attended with main strength stemming from Victoria, South Australia and Southern NSW.

Before the rain which began last Tuesday, values for stock were irregular with poorer conditioned sheep and cattle cheaper. However better quality lines were generally firm to dearer.

The joint special cattle sales at Barraba and Manilla on Wednesday saw a particularly strong market for weaner age lots and included excellent sales such as Hereford heifers, 5 to 7 months, poor and stunted making $92 and the steer portion $108.

Poll Hereford steers, 14 months $232, Hereford cows, aged and joined to Herefords, $198.

At Casino all but one pen was sold from the yarding of 1,500 on Monday, with South Australians and Victorians providing strong competition against local restockers.

Sales included, Hereford steers, 18 months, $203, 12 months and very good quality $181, 10 months, $144, Hereford heifers 14 months $148, 10 months $135 and 8-9 months $129.

Values were from $5 to $20 cheaper at the big Roma (Qld) yarding of about 9,400 cattle with mature steers experiencing the biggest loss.

Bullocks sold from $228 to $328.50, steers 20-24 months $165.50 to $250.50, weaner steers, $51 to $162.50, heifers 12-15 months $84.50 to $160.50 and cows and calves $132.50 to $247.50.

At the Narromine First Cross Breeders Sale on Wednesday all 4,500 sheep were cleared but values were below prices expected.

Top price was $42.50 for 360 July-August drop ewes which went to Cootamundra.

Other sales included 120 July drop $42, 150 June-July drop $38.50, 230 July drop $36 and 125 March-April drop $38.50.

Prices rose for good quality sheep by up to $3 at the large yarding of $3,000 at Deniliquin with widespread Victorian restocks competing with buyers from South Australia and the local district.

Bristow: Frank

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
NEW. SOUTH. WALES
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 1980

THE NEXT DOOR ON THE RIGHT IS THE E DEPARTMENT.

CHAP TIMING HOW LONG HE DID HIS BREATH IS BRISTOW ONE FOR CHIEF

# Drought over, big wheat crop likely

Timely State-wide rain has not only marked an end to the drought, which was beginning to cause deep concern to the sheep and cattle industry, but has set the scene for a bumper wheat crop.

Rain has fallen at the right time for major wheat plantings in the central and northern grain districts.

In addition generally mild weather should now give pastures a boost in the worst affected of the drought regions.

Throughout most of the State's rural producing areas (except the far west) there has been good rainfall in the past few days.

In most regions it has been of the order of 75mm.

The good rain will halt the rundown in stock, placing some upward pressure on meat prices in the short run.

While this week's rain was a welcome relief to farmers they need good following rains to ensure that they will see a good grain crop in the spring.

PAGE 9: On the path of a drought-resistant wheat strain.

PAGE 14: Stock review.

NEW SOUTH WALES
AUSTRALIA


=== Page 21 of 21

DAILY TELEGRAPH, Friday, May 30, 1980 39

# WEATHER, SHIPPING

## FORECASTS

The Weather Bureau last night issued these forecasts and warnings for today:

**WARNING:** Strong wind warning for coastal waters south of Moruya heads. Gale warning for central Tasman Sea Ocean waters.

**NSW:** Showers and thunderstorms on the far south coast and southern alps. Some showers or drizzle on western slopes of the ranges contracting southwards. Mainly dry on the coast and on western plains. Morning fog areas. Winds mainly W to SW, of light to moderate strength inland, and moderate to fresh on the coast, winds strong at times on the south coast, seas slight inshore, but moderate to rough off the south coast. Low to moderate swell.

**NORTHERN RIVERS:** Fine. 10-15 knot W to SW winds. Seas slight, low to moderate swell.

**MID NORTH COAST:** Fine. 10-15 knot W to SW winds. Seas slight, low to moderate swell.

**HUNTER:** Early fog patches and few showers, clearing to fine. W to SW winds 10-20 knots. Seas slight inshore, low moderate swell.

**ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST:** Some showers and thunderstorms in the south, but dry north from about Moruya Heads. A strong wind warning is current. South of Moruya 20-30 knot W to S winds. Northwards from Moruya, 15-20 knot SW to W winds. Seas slight to moderate inshore. Moderate swell.

**NORTHERN TABLELANDS:** Morning fogs and drizzle on the west side clearing to fine and cool. Moderate W to SW winds.

**CENTRAL TABLELANDS:** Drizzle and fog areas on west slopes breaking in the afternoon. Dry on the east side. Cool W to SW winds.

**SOUTHERN TABLELANDS:** Some thunderstorms in the south at first, showers through the day, cool to cold, gusty W to SW winds.

**NORTH WEST SLOPES AND PLAINS:** Fog and drizzle areas in the east clearing to generally fine afternoon. Cool. Light to moderate W to SW winds.

**CENTRAL WEST SLOPES AND PLAINS:** Drizzle and fog areas clearing to mainly fine cool, partly cloudy afternoon. Light to moderate SW winds.

**UPPER WESTERN:** Early fogs clearing to fine and cool to mild. Light winds.

**LOWER WESTERN:** Morning fogs. Fine cool partly cloudy afternoon. Light winds.

# RAINFALL

Rainfall of 5mm or more for the 24 hours as at 9 am yesterday:

**UPPER WESTERN:** Coolabah 5.

**NORTHWEST PLAINS:** Gwabegar 10, Baradine 6, Bellata 12, Bogabilla 26, Garah 5, Narrabri West 18, Wee Waa 12.

**SYNOPTIC WEATHER CHART**
DATE 29.5.80
TIME NOON

(Map showing weather patterns over Australia with labels for Pt Hedland, Darwin, Alice Springs, Townsville, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart. Isobars marked 1000, 1004, 1008, 1012, 1016.)

| ISOBARS | 1016 | SEAS | WINDS | RAINFALL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Value in millibars) | | Slight | Calm | |
| COLD FRONT | | Moderate | 10 km/h | Previous |
| WARM FRONT | | Rough | 20 km/h | 24 hrs |
| | | Very Rough | 40 km/h | |
| | | | 60 km/h | |
| | | | 80 km/h | |
| | | | 100 km/h | |
| | | | and over | |

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE - BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY - SYDNEY

**CENTRAL WEST PLAINS:** Coonamble 18, Gilgandra 8, Girilambone 22, Gulargambone 18, Narromine 37, Nevertire 17, Nyngan 29, Quambone 20, Trangie 24, Warren 32, Bogan Gate 60, Peak Hill 74, Trundle 68, Ungarie 8.

**RIVERINA:** Maude 11, Ariah Park 22, Barellan 39, Coolamon 5, Leeton 8.

**NORTHWEST SLOPES:** Ashford 19, Barraba 17, Bingara 10, Bonshaw 33, Coppa Ck, Rawdon 10, Delungra 15, Gravesend 7, Warialda 10, Bendemeer 18, Blackville 12, Boggabri 14, Gunnedah 24, Premer 10, Quirindi 16, Somerton 55, Tamworth MO 45, Werris Creek 13, Willowtree 19, Woolbrook 11.

**CENTRAL WEST SLOPES:** Coolah 13, Dunedoo 9, Mendooran 16, Cudal 19, Dubbo 44, Eugowra 11, Forbes 33, Manildra 18, Molong 26, Parkes 30, Wellington 21.

**SOUTHWEST SLOPES:** Barmedman 33, Burrinjuck Dam 11, Grenfell 19, Gundagai 7, Junee 24, Koorawatha 12, Temora 19, Young 31, Adelong 16, Batlow 9, Tumbarumba 7.

**NORTHERN TABLELANDS:** Armidale 6, Bundarra 10, Deepwater 38, Emmaville 42, Glen Innes 28, Guyra 18, Inverell 15, Tingha 16, Uralla 9, Walcha 6, Bonalbo 25, Lower Creek Tabulam 11, Tabulam (Muirne) 16.

**CENTRAL TABLELANDS:** Gulgong 16, Mudgee 10, Rylstone 7, Bathurst 15, Blackheath 18, Cowra Airport 11, Hill End 13, Katoomba 45, Kurrajong Hght 14, Lithgow 15, Mt Victoria 23, Oberon 20, Orange Airport 19, Rockley 13, Springwood 14, Trunkey Creek 13, Wyangala 10.

**SOUTHERN TABLELANDS:** Canberra M 5, Crookwell 16, Goulburn 47, Gunning 34, Taralga 27, Yass 30, Canberra City 7, Perisher Valley 5.

**NORTHERN RIVERS:** Cape Byron 19, Casino 24, Grafton 21, Lismore 25, Maclean 27, Murwillumbah 18, Tweed Heads 12, Yamba 40.

**MID-NORTH COAST:** Bellbrook 9, Coffs Hbr MO 10, Dorrigo 14, Kempsey 6, Macksville 10, Meldrum 14, Smoky Cape 7, Bulahdelah 5, Gloucester 11.

**HUNTER:** C'nock (Nulkaba) 7, Denman 6, Dungog 10, Gosford 8, Gresford 10, Mangrove Mtn 17, Maryville 7, Merriwa 13, Moonan Flat 15, Murrurundi 11, N'castle (Nbys) 9, Paterson 7, Raymond Tce 5, Scone 7, Singleton (Army) 8, Stroud 6.

**ILLAWARRA:** Bowral 23, Camden Airport 27, Campbelltown 15, Greenwell Pt 15, Jervis Bay 9, Kiama 13, Robertson 82, Wollongong 15, W'gong (Uni) 42, Nowra (RAN) 5.

**SOUTH COAST:** Milton 9.

**METROPOLITAN:** Ashfield 13, Balgowlah 10, Bankstown MO 14, Bexley 34, Bondi 6, Concord 13, Cronulla 22, Epping 12, Five Dock 11, Gordon 12, Hornsby 11, Hurstville 19, Mascot MO 8, Mosman 13, Pymble 11, Sydney 11, Turramurra 16, Wahroonga 13, Waverton 8, West Lindfield 16, Auburn 15, Glenorie 6, Liverpool 9, Penrith 45, Richmond MO 9.

# SHIPPING

- [ ]