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Monique Hohnberg

Visual Storyteller | Encouragement Leader Stories and photography that will uplift and move you.

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Update On Bessie A Rough Week

Photography by Monique Hohnberg

It was a rough week. Mum started chemo. I searched for Bessie out on the farm (which we used to own but sold a while ago now) and had no luck. And I saw what has happened to my childhood farm.

I drove out to the old property and saw my old home for the first time.  It used to be an oasis of green, loved. Now, it’s surrounded by dead lawn. Some of the bigger bushes and trees are alive, but a lot is dead. The house is covered in dust and spider nests. Many of the firebreaks we had around the house to protect it from bushfire are gone.


A crop burning in the distance Photography By Monique Hohnberg
A crop burning in the distance. By Monique Hohnberg

A good bushfire-safe home must have a tin roof (eucalyptus trees with all their oils love to spit out fire balls) and be surrounded by lawn. Outside the entire perimeter of the large garden you must have dirt – be it dirt roads or scarrowed land – on every side of the home. This acts as a firebreak. Without these 3 things, your house will burn if it is the path of the fire. Outside the firebreak you have a treeline to protect you from dust storms. These are quite far from the home.

(My aunt and I saw this 2 weeks ago. We drove towards it  (along with loads of other cars) to find out it help was needed. It turned out to be a controlled crop burn. We breathed a sigh of relief. )


Black Bessie, Monique Hohnberg's dog

I’ve seen bush fire rage through a paddock of golden wheat in 20 minutes flat. And I’ve seen plenty of bushfires on our property over the years. So, I don’t really think they (new owners) have thought it through at all.

Banks are buying up huge (I’m talking tens of thousands of acres) swatches of land around Forbes. They are planting crops for their investors. They have pulled down all the fences inside the property and burned most of the trees in order to maximize every square meter for profit making.


Photography by Monique Hohnberg. Looking out from the workshop.

I don’t know what they will do if they decide to sell the land. You can’t put sheep or cattle on it. No fencing, no shade for the animals. I’m also very worried about it from an environmental perspective.

(This photograph is looking out from the workshop. All that land is being prepared to plant a new crop.)

There weren’t many places for Bessie to be. There aren’t many trees left anywhere. She wasn’t around the old homestead. I searched all the dams and water holes near the entry road, as she loves being near water.



We also searched the stockroute outside of the property.  Stockroute is honest to goodness Australian bush. It is also called the Queen’s Land, (as in the Queen of England Land ) as it can’t be bought or sold. It’s called the stockroute as you can take cattle or sheep droving on it. You do this if you have drought in your area and can’t feed them.  Often it is the only way to keep them alive, taking them to a greener area far away from you.

(This is a photo of a dam in the stock route. My Dad was actually paid to build this during drought years decades ago.)

I always said if things got much worse (back in my very scary health days) I’d get myself a motorbike, 6 dogs from the pound, a vehicle to live out of and go droving. “With my swag’all on my shoulder, black billy in my hand. I’ll travel the bushes of Australia like a true born ….” An old colonial song comes to mind.

But I never did. So it must have been just talk going on in my head. One of those fantasy life options you flesh out in your mind ~ when your lying in bed really ill thinking there must be a better way to live than what I’m doing right now. Thank goodness those days are over.


Stockroute or the Australian bush. Looking for Bessie. Photography by Monique Hohnberg

Everything has been done to find Bessie. We have had no luck. Notices went up at the vets. Ads put on the radio. She is a very friendly dog and I think someone has taken her. I trust she is in a good home. I haven’t given up all hope of finding Bessie, but I do think she is gone. Read my Packing Up the Farmhouse article and my original Bessie Has Gone Missing.

Seeing the old childhood home the way it was. My mother started her first chemo treatment after her operation. (I am staying in Forbes, looking after her. I haven’t made it up north yet to find a place to live. I am in between homes, so to speak.) Then not finding Bessie all got to me. And I melted into an emotional heap.


This is a photo of Monique driving the Landcruiser in the stockroute while she searched for Bessie.

Thank you for the hundreds and hundreds of well wishes on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I have been flooded with your kindness. I wish I could reply to each of you but there are too many.

Best,

Monique

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Comments

  1. Gary Gruber says

    at

    You are resilient, both tough and tender, you care for yourself and others and like so many of us love dogs, the outdoors and doing what we can to help others live more fulfilling lives. Keep on track, fuel your vision when you need to and use that metaphor of droving to drive on, finding the resources as you need them. Take care, be well, celebrate! And best your Mom and the chemo. We went through that in London with wife’s C. You might enjoy my blog, “The Big C” and you can find it here: www,garygruber.com/the-big-c Compassion, especially in the face of the other C.

    Reply
    • Monique says

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      Thank You Gary.. these are kind words and an inspiration to me. Thanks Monique

      Reply
  2. Susie Wendorf says

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    I’m still praying for Bessie to come home to you. But I’m thinking someone took her in and she is loved and cared for. Which is sad but good for her sake. I’m also praying for your Mum. It’s scary to watch them go through this but I know many survivors young and old. It’s hard though as you love her to want to take care of her. I’d give 10 years off my life for more time with my Mom. Here for you! Praying for her and Bessie. I’ve been thinking of her too.
    Love your friend,Susie Wendorf

    Reply
    • Monique says

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      Thankyou so much! Susie for your kind words and support. Best, Monique

      Reply
      • Susie Wendorf says

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        So sad to hear of your home not taken care of,sad if a fire breaks out. Last year it was so bad in Oregon,the smoke was so think I had a hard time breathing. I’m thinking Bessie is with someone,which us good she’s being taken care of. Don’t give up though. I’ve seen stories of dogs finding their way home. Here we have a site called Craig’s list,casn advertise free. Even local papers have a section for lost and found pets, also free. Praying for her return and prayers for your Mom! For you too as I’m sure you’re stressed. Take time for you too. Hugs! ????

        Reply
        • Monique says

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          Thank You Susie!!

  3. Jill says

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    I am praying for your mom. There is hope. I had my chemo 18 yrs ago.

    Reply
    • Monique says

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      Thank you Jill. I’m so happy to hear you’re well now and you’ve been cancer free for all those years.

      Reply

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