After the East Coast low of last weekend when we had over 300 mm or 12 inches of rain over the past four days. The first week of winter has been fine with above average daytime temperatures. Over the past two days some high cirrus cloud has been moving in from the southwest, the forerunner of a northwest cloud band, but today’s synoptic chart indicates any associated rainfall is likely to be light by the time it reaches the coast.

Sugar Bags

A few weeks ago we talked about how the early settlers recycled the use of everything that came to hand and the various uses of the kerosene tin. Another item put to good use in the humble homestead was the ubiquitous ‘sugar bag’. Countless millions of these sturdy Hessian bags, manufactured from jute, were in circulation. There were not many households without a used sugar bag.

Many stories are told how every member of the settlers’ family found a functional use for the ‘used sugar bag’. Perhaps its versatility is best described if I read from this anonymous poem.

The Sugar bag

“We had one on the floor, by the kitchen door, and another out in the hall.

No ordinary rag, was the old sugar bag, to be used once and thrown away On a Swagman’s back, on an outback track, it still had a part to play.

It was used to repair anything, anywhere. It made an apron for Mum.

And Dad had one on his old plough seat, to protect his bum from the sun. There was always the chance of a hole in your pants.

And if you hadn’t the right coloured rag.

Though it didn’t match, you made do with a patch Cut from an old Sugar Bag.

With supplies getting low, to the township we’d go And not in a Fairlane or Jag Our transport of course – was a homely old horse And the old carry-all Sugar Bag.

There was no shining trolley to push around With fancy packets – all prices and tags.

In the leisurely ways of those wonderful days,

The days of the old Sugar Bag.

May I suggest, to those folk who know best,

An Emblem of our Queensland Flag.

It would look good, if they could include A piece of an old Sugar Bag”