Cattle driving in Australia
ON THE stock routes of Queensland and New South Wales in Australia, the crack of dawn is accompanied by the crack of a whip — and followed by the steady stomping of 1,400 thirsty cattle, pushing towards the next water hole. Directing them with a flick of his whip is boss drover Bill Little who, along with his team of experienced stockmen and women, has embarked on what is already being hailed as the biggest cattle drive in Australian history.
In a country where moving thousands of livestock to market from remote outback stations in this way has been a matter of course — and great national pride — for over 150 years, the number of cattle alone would barely raise an eyebrow. However, this is only one of many herds, totalling 18,000 cows altogether, being walked almost 2,000km to their final destination, all in the midst of a widespread drought. Eyebrows have been raised and people have been asking whether this cattle drive is perhaps too big.
