January 10, 2011




January 10, 2011


I have tried to encapsulate all of the themes I have referred to in my Grantham series...The white Kelpie stampeding down the range, bringing with it the deluge that was to destroy Murphy's Creek and Grantham, the black bull that died and became stuck in Grantham railway bridge, as well as the cow that travelled 95 kilometers down the Brisbane river to be pulled to safety at Pimpanbah, the helicopter trying to rescue as many inhabitants as possible, the bombardment of rain, the black crow of the "one for sorrow" adage carrying the twig as Noah's dove did indicating that the flood was to end, the family trapped on the hood of their van, the Queensland houses being swept away not only at Grantham but also in other parts of Queensland, the black dog representing both depression as well as the two black chihuahas that survived and the two black dogs that also survived and returned to sit helplessly at the stumps remaining of their deceased owners' home. Mobile phones were often of no use; but many people were saved by one Granthamite's boat which took survivors to Grantham bridge to higher land before it too was inundated. However, at the top of the picture, Demeter, the goddess of the earth holds her cornucopia indicating rejuvenation and the new life and productivity to come.

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