“Red Dirt” by Laura Bairstow

Laura spent her gap year in 2008 working on a cattle station in W.A’s Kimberley.

It had a big impact on her and gave her a love for the north of Western Australia.In her words…

“Now unable to return until I complete my studies I would like to share that feeling that so many people get from being up north. 

That yearning for the place of hard work and good people. The tie of red dirt.”

                                     “Red Dirt”

Towards the town of Fitzroy, in W.A’s true north
Is a land of dust and desert, so deceiving of its worth.
Red soil and coursing rivers, gorges open wide.
A soil that thirsts all year for rain then is flooded in wet tides.

Here lives forgotten legends, the true loved Kimberley souls
With their tales of death and danger, from the plains up to the knolls.
All wrinkled cowboy characters with their akubra hats and boots,
With their tales of wild horses, of bores and cruiser utes.

There are also lots of young blokes, the ones who wont say die,
Who ride the bulls and broncs, though in the morning don’t know why.
The invincible young ringers, who have fallen for the land
And may not be the smartest but can work well with their hands.

Then there are the women, that make the station home
That work cattle and the cooking with their blood, their sweat and bone.
All homely hardened women, who protect their little brood
And can charm the toughest cowboy with her wholesome, home cooked food.

There’s the bore man and the pilots, mechanics, truckies all,
That make isolated stations a good place overall.
The children and their laughter that echoes through the air
And the dogs and cats and horses that pass time without a care.

Way up north near Derby, lives the lifestyle that I love
The way of life supported by the land and sky above
A rough and ragged landscape, but beautiful to roam
Where red dirt becomes part of you and will always draw you home.