With much of south-eastern Australia in a crippling drought, and Griffith fervent to protect their water allocation to safeguard local jobs and industry, I assumed that considerable water conservation measures would be in place, inside and outside the city's boundary.

After all, jobs and industry are at stake, right?

How wrong I was!

Sprinklers on during the heat of the day (including council parks and schools), suburban roadside verges with green grass and scarcely any houses with water-wise [native] plants in the front yard.

In fact, you wouldn't know there was a drought at all.

The ACT, like much of Australia, freestanding dwellings (houses) have front yards (including verge) with water-wise native plants and mulch.

Grass is rarely seen beyond parks. Imagine if 100,000 ACT houses had similar front yard to those in Griffith.

Based on simple calculations (10x10 metre front yard and 20 litres per square metre per week), this would equate to 200 megalitres of water every week not flowing to Griffith, not being used for irrigation and not creating wealth for the town.

Griffith, I implore you, ditch the grass (less mowing, yay!), plant water-wise native plants, mulch and be smart how and when you water.

Yes, the town will take on a different facade. But aren't jobs and industry more important than a green front yard.

Let us amble on down Yambil

And see what they have done

I can see them on their diggers,

Looks like they're having fun.

I parked along the sidewalk

The missus got out on her side

And ended in the garden

She had no were else to stride

The first block they kept digging

Not once, not twice, three times

Maybe they are looking

For things they'd left behind.

They're working on the second block

And digging by the Griff

They could be looking for Donald

But that's a real big IF!

I can see them out my window

On their fancy yellow machine

They're digging up the carparks

Where my patrons once had been.

It seems to take a long time

To put the street back right

So Ill amble on down Yambil

Again another night.

With the 32nd celebrated breakfast done and dusted for 2020 Australia Day at Griffith Pioneer Park Museum, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers and sponsors who were involved in this year's event.

To add a little flavour to the traditional breakfast a Bush Poet and folk musicians entertained the visitors.

So the first appreciation goes to Stuart Clarke who preserves the region's history through his poetry and kindly recited several of his poems.

Stickie Fingers is a wonderful band of local musicians that play for pure enjoyment and it shines through their engaging performances.

Their eclectic mix of music complements the museum wonderfully and visitors have had the pleasure of soaking up their tunes on a few occasions.

Without the support and commitment of the 2020 sponsors, volunteers and staff of Griffith Pioneer Park Museum the Australia Day breakfast would not run.

So with much appreciation it is appropriate to recognise these businesses and volunteers.

By providing their services and supplies on the day they support locals to gather and celebrate Australia Day as a community.

So a big thank you to Atkinson's Tomatoes, Axikem, Bertoldo's Bakery, Broomes Fruit and Veg, Coles Supermarket, Gannon's Butchery, Riverina Fresh, Hanwood Butchery, Pace Farms, Real Juice Co, Rossies Foodworks and Woolworths on Burrell. Also our media sponsors WIN TV, The Area News, Riverina MIA Triple M, 99.7 and Community Radio 95.1.

With an event like this it also takes a dedicated group of volunteers that give up their time and work under pressure to achieve a good outcome.

Rotary members cooked and our Griffith Pioneer Park Museum volunteers worked enthusiastically to set up, keep up and clean up!

So thank you all, you are a blessing to us and a real credit to our community.

Lastly, thank you to all the Griffith community who attended the Australia Day Breakfast as the donations and hard work are ultimately the result of you supporting the event and ensuring it continuity.

Let us know, email us at letters@areanews.com.au, drop a letter to the editor in to our Banna Avenue office, or use the form below...