The Cry of the Tumut

Friday, April 6, 2001 Tumut & Adelong Times

When it comes to mighty rivers, well we learn them all
at school, their names are as familiar as our own.

Murray, Murrumbidgee, and the Darling, as a rule, are
the ones we've learnt to love as we have grown.

There is another river, that feeds into these three
greats, and the sweetest mountain water does it bring.

But outside its local boundaries, well, the Tumut
hardly rates, and its turned into a channel every spring.

For the Tumut is a pipeline from the mighty mountain
lakes, to feed the irrigators on the plains.

And no one seems to worry, or care how much she
takes, as long as waters there for fruits and grains.

While the locals ponder, shake their heads and dread
the worst, as they watch and wait the outcome of their fears.

For while the Snowy almost died, she almost died of
thirst, the Tumut River drowns in her own tears.

Now the mighty Snowy Mountains Scheme is known
throughout the land, it was built as water storage for the west.

The power that it generates is nothing short of grand,
but it puts our lovely river the test.

For since the Scheme was introduced, it seems we've
lost the plot, and the gardens growing bigger every day.

And the poor old Tumut River carries water for the lot,
surely we must find another way.

So sit up you politicians, and you men of grand design,
help save the sweetest river in the land.

Let's east the Tumut's pain while we've still a little
time, let's lift our heads and clear our heads of sand.

History clearly tells us that we can help her, and I
know she will respond, by not eroding all our fertile land.

For the Tumut is a pipeline from the mighty mountain
lakes, to feed the irrigators on the plains.

And it's the time for us to worry, for this load she
cannot take, to quench the pastures and the fruits and grains.

And the locals need not ponder, shake their heads and
dread the worst, acting now will calm their gravest fears.

As we're helping now the Snowy, so she will not die
of thirst, don't let the Tumut drown in her own tears.

Mick Donohoe
The One Eyed Crow