The ‘end of the line’ can mean anything or anywhere. From long queues for event tickets to major sporting games, festivals, concerts or perhaps historic monuments. Then there is the literal ‘end of the line’ destination wise, the last stop. Historically this could referr to the last station on a railway line or the last staging for the Cobb & Co coach. These days we could be talking about a Greyhound Bus service. Out here in the bush the ‘end of the line’ for us is the electricity, as the main homestead is at the end of the power line. We are in fact on the end of a ‘feeder’ line which veers off the main grid from Moree and then veers off again at the village of Garah and then again to the west to us. It’s a weird feeling sometimes knowing that there isn’t anyone after us, power wise. Rural dwellers to the west of us actually receive their power from the town of Mungindi, which leaves us – at the ‘end of the line’.

Being at the end means our power is always fluctuating both winter and summer. In the hotter months with airconditioners on and coolrooms battling the heat quite often the power decreases. You can actually see the lights dim and on some days the lights are yellow the power is so poor. These fluctuating power surges wreck havoc on light bulbs-we go through bulbs like a kid at an icecream stall-and it does nasty things to electronic dishwashers and ovens, which is why many bush homes in remoter areas have gas cooktops and generators for backup. Long blackouts during summer are the norm and you can bet it will be on the day you’ve been out in the stockyards in 40 degree heat and you’re dreaming of a cold shower and the airconditioning. With everything electric these days an eighteen hour blackout becomes a nightmare. We’ve just had two five hour sunday evening blackouts in a row recently. The power surging was dramatic and despite running around turning off every conceiveable thing from computers and televisions to fridges, invariably there are casualties. This time it was the walk-in coolroom. Bang! There goes the compressor, $3,000.00 worth. Luckily insurance will cover the repairs.