Queensland Small Towns Documentary Project 2018 : Roma

It is June, 5:45 in the morning, 6 degrees. The quiet of dawn hangs over the town. The sun has yet to rise. It should be pitch dark, but hundreds of flood lights illuminate the cattle saleyards like a sports field, casting ghostly shadows through tangles of steel gates. The cows do not sleep. They call out to each other – their cries echo across the yards and are returned by a dozen others. It has rained in the night. The dirt under their feet is cold and wet. The sun begins to rise but they are not fed. A trough of water is shared between two pens, each pen holding over thirty cows. The water is green and cloudy, the trough the size of a kitchen sink. Even if a cow wanted to drink, there is barely room for them to move, let alone make their way to the trough.

It’s 8 o’clock. Preparations are being made for the day’s sales. Cattle are moved from their pens, herded by staff on horseback who hiss at them to mimic the sound of a snake. The cows move out of fear. Those who won’t cooperate are beaten with hard plastic rods until they move in the right direction. The noise from the weighing area is deafening. Steel fences clang open and shut. A voice blares over the loudspeaker, announcing the breed of the next group of cattle. The weighbridge hisses as the weight of each group is calculated. This cacophony of sound does not frighten the staff, or those viewing from the overhead bridge, only because we understand what is happening. The cattle do not. They are scared. To them, each gate that opens in front of them could mean freedom – from the noise, the violence, the confusion. But they will not be freed.

From the pens, they are loaded onto trucks, jabbed with cattle prods to encourage them to move. The prods are electrified, sending a painful current through the cow’s body with each jab. Crowded into crates, the cattle have no choice but to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with one another, unable to move or even turn around in the crate. Some journeys will last up to 16 hours without a break for food or water. In a double-decker truck, all urine and faeces produced during the trip will run off the edges of the top crate onto the cattle in the crate underneath.

After spending a number of months in a feedlot, a cow is led into a cage-like metal structure, its head trapped between two bars, unable to move. They must watch as a bolt gun is aimed at their skull. They struggle against the bars, but they will not escape.

“To identify with others is to see something of yourself in them and to see something of them in
yourself – even if the only thing you identify with is the desire to be free from suffering.”

 – Melanie Joy

Three female visual storytellers connected with four young women to find out what connects them to Roma.  As young females living in the city we assumed that life in a rural town would be isolating and put young people in a position of disadvantage, however through the relationships built during this project these stereotypes were challenged and redefined.

Tied into the greater community, the following images show the uncomplicated love and support Roma gives these young lives. Their experiences all connect around the close knit community that is Roma, and highlight the sense of purpose, comfort, and simplicity of country living in a small rural town.

1800 free range chickens forage amongst the grass on the Muckadilla Farm. Kept in an electrified fence and moved every few days to allow the 220 Acres of land to replenish. Megan Mackay who started the business in 2017 now supplies free range eggs to surrounding towns IGA’s and even as far as Brisbane. She first bought the hens to churn up the earth following the cows in the paddock. With the continuous scratching the chickens aerate the earth and dig up nutrients allowing the soil to regenerate.

Many people are wary about buying free range eggs due to the noticeable price difference. They unaware of the conditions the chickens are kept in. The industry standards used to allow companies to call themselves free range even if their animals never get to see the outdoors, but with new acts coming into place, it is now mandatory for companies to print on the carton the amount of chickens they have per hectare to avoid overcrowding and that during daylight hours the animals must have access to the outdoors. Megan has well below the recommended 10,000 chickens per hectare, so consumers can be guaranteed the animals have the freedom and space to roam as they please.

Megan has a deep connection to all of the animals on her farm and has a very hands on approach with her animals. When she first receives the chickens, she teaches each of them where to sleep and where to lay. Chickens are very habitual animals, so it doesn’t take long before they get the idea of where to nest and sleep. Although some are still resistant hens laying eggs under bushes and even breaking out of the enclosure and sleeping near the house. Even with the constant capture and relocation of the escaping chickens they still manage to get out and so Megan has accepted defeat and now allows them to wonder where they please.

A breeder from Brisbane producing Highline Brown chickens is where Megan sources her hens. The breeder keeps their beaks intact as many chicken producers will crop beaks to avoid plucking out of stress. As Megan keeps her chooks happy and healthy she has no need to crop beaks. The prime laying time for chickens is when they are 12 to 18 months old, this six-month period each chicken will lay one egg a day, after this period it may only be every second day that they lay. After the chickens reach this age, Megan then sells them off to the Muckadilla community and to their forever homes where they can live out a normal chicken life.

Many things come into play when producing eggs for public consumption. If the eggs are dirty, they are not sold. If the eggs have been laid on the ground, they are not sold. If the shells are thin and prone to breaking, they are not sold. Broken and misshapen eggs are also pulled out of production. After collection each egg is dry cleaned with a pair of gloves and run over a light to see any cracks that may be forming from the inside, they are then rolled over scales and weighed to be put into the various cartons. Every egg sold has been picked, hand cleaned, and packed lovingly and carefully by Megan and her family.

Safely cradled in her Mother’s pouch Elsie pokes her nose out for the first time to see nothing but golden grass in the heart of the Australian bushlands. She sleeps and suckles for milk, while her mum forages for grass. Hopping along one night they were struck. Elsie was cold, scared and her mother was motionless. She was found and brought to the Maranoa Wildlife Caring and Education Centre. Placed into the care of Mitch, he nurtured Elsie, comforting her thought the loss of her mother.

She now hops and plays with Mitch’s horse and dog, waiting for him to return home from work each day. Her delicate little arms dangle as she suckles on her milk bottle, before being tucked into her pillow case pouch, sucking on her toe throughout the night. Although she has been through considerable trauma Elsie is well on the way to one day being released back into the Australian bushlands surrounding Mitch’s Roma property. This unlikely band of friends began with someone checking the pouch of a road kill roo.

There are an estimated 560,000 marsupials orphaned each year, usually a result of roadkill. 50,000 of these marsupials are rescued after surviving the impact of a vehicle collision. They are rehabilitated and released by human support. Through human interaction and care, some orphaned wildlife may experience some domestication. Joey kangaroos, possums, koalas and other young animals are better off being raised in the hands of a human than to be left to die on the side of the road. Motorists are encouraged to always check roadkill for live young and contact wildlife services if joeys are spotted.

When spotting an injured or orphaned animal in need the RSPCA Hotline 1300 264 625 can assist for rural and urban communities.

Regional towns have a necessity for self-sufficiency.  In major centres the easy accessibility of any and all services leads to an expectation of amenity, which cannot be expected to be matched six hours west of Brisbane.  In Roma, however, can be found a bustling hub servicing the surrounding smaller towns and graziers.  The familiar corporate logos adorn the main street, mixed with the local business only known out that way, and among them is Peter Lude’s Elvine Photography, the shop servicing the area since 1948.

Born in Sydney and being brought to Roma at 6 months old, back to the familiar ground of his mother’s family, Peter discovered his passion for photography in his teens.  By his early twenties Peter had his own darkroom set up, and was photographing for the Western Star Newspaper and working commercially.  Peter purchased the business from the original owners in 1979 when he was in his early twenties and under his ownership Elvine Photography has dealt with the continuing changes in photography ever since.  Peter has broadened the scope of his services to include framing and restoration as well as continuing his portraiture and commercial work while still being one of the few remaining locations to offer traditional colour film processing in Queensland. 

Through his lens Peter has seen Roma through highs and lows, droughts and times of plenty, as well as noting the grandchildren of previous clients who had him photograph their weddings are now getting married themselves.  Peter considers his work photographing for the local council and industry as perhaps the records that will best service the history of the town, creating the records of the changes Roma has been through for future reference.

There isn’t too much time to reflect on what the future holds, however, as the door chime sounds again and Peter returns to the business of processing memories.

For my project, I went to men’s shed. Men’s shed is an organization that gather woodworkers who want to spend their time with friends together. Roma men’s shed was established 7 months ago funded by Geoff fernside who gave the men’s shed 50 thousand dollars and the local community also helped the funding of men’s shed. Men’s shed is about giving back to the local community even most of them are retired years ago. They build a strong relationship between each other. They are friends, family. They share their stories and feeling in the men’s shed while they are helping the community.

What are the discoveries made relevant to the story being told?

People in Roma are more united and close. In a small town, people prefer to help others. That is what men’s shed doing now.

Men also need emotional support, even many people don’t do woodwork but they still go to men’s shed for friendship and support.

Why should an audience be told of these discoveries?

Understand the how people in small town help each other.

Understand why men need support. Especially after they retired, they need companies and friends when they feel lonely.

What response is sought from the audience?

I want the audience to be happy while also raise the awareness of the emotional feelings of retired men. They need support and help and they are soft inside.

What do you seek the audience to do with this information?

I hope the audience can help men who need help. Donate their money to men’s shed or help other organizations that related to helping men. And It could be a solution for the audience’s fathers, if their retired father just staying at home doing nothing. They could send them to the men's shed.

I find myself somewhere peaceful and picturesque, 

“Welcome to… Roma Bush Gardens.”

Long grass sways in the breeze as the sun creates a golden glow across the land. Everything is calm. 

I hear birds all around me, they begin to whistle and crow, their combined voices create a sweet harmony that starts to circulate in the air. I am captivated. I follow the sound, travelling down winding paths and earthy trails.

Looking around I see nothing but beauty.

Bush birds are flying high in the sky, perching on treetops and branches.

They’re keeping watch over the land, as water birds dive down into the shimmering dam below.

Seemingly secluded in this place of tranquillity, this is their home. 

I am an outsider, much like the pigeons I see flocking above me.

Though they too have made the gardens their home. 

Wandering around this beautiful Australian landscape I feel at peace with myself, knowing that one day I will find my own place to settle. For now, however, I continue to wander. 

The Roma Bush Gardens are home to many species of birds. With 14 hectares of land and 10 different zones, birds are free to roam wherever they please. There are two categories of birds found in the gardens; the water birds and the bush birds. As I wandered around the bush gardens observing and photographing these birds, I found myself contemplating the concept of migration and my own journey from Brisbane to Roma.

Graziers Peter and Nikki Nichols personify a love for the land, cattle and the community that is Roma. They are deeply entwined in the Grazier community, surrounding them. For the past forty years they have lived on their 4000-acre property, Nichols Grazier, and brought up their family here. They have built their life around the livestock industry. They are now veterans in this field, with much to contribute to this isolated yet vital industry. Upon arriving at the property at 9am, Peter was just finishing his first morning rounds. He instantly showed an interest in my project. Putting all work aside, he offered to drive me around the property pointing out locations and moments of interest, such as cattle licking salt blocks at the feeding lot, gas drills and landmarks such as the old highway entwined into the history of their land.

It was along this road nomadic Graziers were passing through from their properties in New South Wales. With a staggering 1800 cattle, Peter welcomed them to muster on his farm during their time of drought. They generously allowed the passing cattle despite their presence at the local auctions would drop local prices. The Roma cattle auctions, being the largest in the southern hemisphere, are not only a financial venture; a sales point for their cattle, but a social hub where Graziers meet for food, drink and mateship. Tuesday and Thursday, you will find Peter here, running tours as a guide, enlightening the public about the cattle, the auctions, and the life of a Grazier. Peter was very welcoming and approachable in his role alongside Geoff and James, fielding questions from the public they showed a real sense of passion and knowledge in what they do

In a world where everything is instantaneous, Roma’s Patchwork and Crafters group values the slow and careful process of creating something from scratch. While quilt making is generally a singular activity, the finished product is one that is meant to be shared, loved, and used for decades.

From creating care quilts for locals undergoing hospital treatment to crafting blankets for grandchildren and loved ones, the Roma Patchwork and Crafters Inc. have provided comfort to the local community for 32 years.

Strolling through the Roma cemetery, one cannot help but notice the stark amount of religious symbolism. Of course, this is not an uncommon sight in a cemetery, especially an older one. But this symbolism evoked the question, what does religion mean to the residents of small towns?

Churches have an aura about them which is both haunting, yet beautiful. The high ceilings seemingly stretch on forever, yet insinuates everyone steps closer to God.

The stained-glass windows of the All Saints Catholic Church evoke a feeling of hope, and everlasting peace. A single beam of light cascading through the window, spilling across the church floor, illuminates the darkness, and removes the terror of the unknown. Much like the light within the church, religion can often take away that terror of uncertainty by offering people an answer.

Saint Paul’s Church has been a part of the Roma community since 1876, when the first church was built. The first foundation stone was laid in 1913, and finished in 1915. The walls of the Saint Paul’s church are steeped with decades of traditions, and history, and have offered the people of Roma a place for solace and comfort for just over one-hundred years.

All Saint’s, much like Saint Paul’s, was originally built in 1873. The warm yellow tinted windows illuminate the empty cathedral with light. The current building was built in 1962. Founded by the sisters of mercy, the daily mass has quietly welcomed the community daily ever since. To the followers, mass is more than just a ceremony you attend or a ritual in your week, it is a vital part of who you are. This Thursday morning, the empty pews were a powerful sight.  

In the era these two churches were founded, in 1966 only 0.8 percent of people reported having no religion. Where as, in 2016, 30 percent of Australians wrote that they did not have a religion. This decline in the institutional belief of religion could be due to the poor treatment of minorities, including the LGBTQ community. Although according to Ann Martin, a volunteer at the Saint Paul’s church, the local youths in Roma are involved in the church, compared to the All Saints Church; whose mass only has a handful of regular people in attendance. Despite decline in institutional faith, belief in spirituality continues to provide hope and comfort. How do these symbols of religion continue to nurture people’s faith, when the people no longer want to listen?

Unease turns to comfort,
noise turns to silence,
dark corners turn to illuminated frames,
this is solitude.

I found myself drawn to photographing locations with a warm comforting light, they were like little beacons of safety in the dark. While I was still adjusting to my surroundings, they gave me something to focus on and broke through the solid black night. Even as my eyes adjusted, I still found myself drawn to these light sources. I started to find the rustling of the leaves moving in the wind comforting, opposed to unnerving as I did at first. I began to understand the sounds. The sounds were part of the environment, and I was in fact the thing that stood out. I stopped trying to distract myself from the environment, comfort myself with other things. I stopped listening to music and instead listened to the sounds of nature, I stopped looking at my phone for comfort and stability. I allowed myself to completely immerse into the environment, the sounds, the lights, the smells and as I did this, I slowly became comfortable with it, and once I was comfortable it was then that I started truly capturing what was in front of me. I was finally part of the environment, not invading it. As I accepted this, it accepted me.