July 1951 School Magazine

July, 1951

July, 1951

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

:Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

TULLY, THE RAIN TOWN OF THE NORTH

most Northerners know of such plants. Closer to the coast is found the common golden orchid. This is of a rich golden- brown colour with a serrated edge; although it is not as striking as other orchids, it has its own particular beauty. Tully 's hinterl~nd is the famous Atherton Tableland where there are many interesting places to visit, including the Tully Fails. There has been some talk of making hydro-electricity from the water coming over these falls. A road is being built up over the mountains to the falls. Many people refer to our beautiful north as the "Forgotten North". Indeed it is not, for there are thousands who come great distances to see our tropical paradise. Our north will never be allowed to be forgotten. -NANCY BODE (3 B)

Why must people associate Tully with rain? Oi course ihey are right to a certain extent, .Qut we do not see just rain, rain, rain. There are days when we see dry, parched ground, under an extremely hot tropical sun, and withered grass. Th1s state of a ffairs is noticeable during the month of November and December. Then comes January, February, March and rain, torrential rain, pelting down on the roofs, drowning all other sounds . The thunder peals deafen ingly, lightning crackles, illuminating our wet world with a weird blue light, and the rain comes down, almost a solid sheet of water. The gutters overflow and the water pours down off the mountain until ihe road is like a shallow swifly-running river. Still the rain comes down. This will go on all through the night. Then morning dawns, the sun comes up, a very d im watery sun, but indeed a sun, to shine on a drenched world that has only dripping leaves, a few puddles, and wet grass to show for 1ast n ight's downpour. We may have only received twelve inches that night, or we may have received sixteen to twenty inches. Tully lies at the very foot of a mountain over 2,000 feet nigh and the rain received runs off into creeks and rivers. This water is pure and it is unnecessary for lime to be added. The Tully and Murray rivers are also clear, though crocodiles havE! been found in both. Tully's main industry, of course, is the manufacture of brown sugar. The cane grown in the surrounding fields and districts is of a very good quality. Other minor industries are fruit farming, dairying and timber. There are five or six large timber mills around Tully, most of them obtaining the timber from .the dense tropical jungle. These areas contain valuable timbers such as maple, milky p ine, silky-oak, black bean and many hardwoods. This bush, or as it is common!y called in the north, "mulga", contains a great variety of beautiful plants, palms, and ferns. In the denser, cooler parts, a pale mauve orchid is to be found, but invitingly beautiful as it is, it is dangerous, because after one has touched it, an irritable, tender rash iorms on the hands. This rash is hard to cure. However 30

CAVALCADE OF PHYSICAL. EDUCATION

In the very beginning, I do not know How many thousand years ago, The one · thought in man's noble head Was to keep alive and keep well-fed . But primitive man was bold and brave, He took up residence in a cave. And issued forth at dawn each day With clubs, and stones, and spears to slay whatever might consent to die To ensure fresh meat for the home supply. Sometimes of course he'd disagree With a neighbour about what ought to be, And a friendly argument would ensue In which he'd kill a man or two. Then to occupy his lonely nights He would indulge in socred rites Of his wooden gods, with dance and song, And keep it up the whole night long. 31

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