Bloody big kangaroo flattens man. Yep, this is true. You would to see it to believe it.
The big kanga may not have meant it, but his bulk, power, and speed was all too much for the man, who was his innocent victim.
BLOODY BIG KANGAROO STORY SETTING THE SCENE.
WHEN?
Time of the worst drought in Australian History. 2005.
It was hot and dry, there was almost no ground water, even Lake Numalla was bone dry. We had water because we had a dozen deep artesian bores.
There was not much feed out there in the paddocks. As a result the kangaroos, including the bloody, big kangaroo in question, built up their numbers in the good times, and then suffered hard when the drought eventually arrived.
It was estimated that there were 10,000 kangaroos on Boorara. This is after the big build up, but just before the full impact of the drought.
WHERE?
Location – Boorara Station via Eulo, South West Queensland. The nearest pub is at Hungerford on the NSW border. Read my story about drinking with a horse in the bar LINK OLD MAN EMU.
Boorara was my station until I sold it to the Queensland Government. It is now a huge part of the expanded Currawinya National Park.
Stage setting.
The drought and many big roos are coming into the homestation area.
BLOODY BIG KANGAROO = ACTORS ON THE STAGE.
The villain? Enter Bloody Big Kangaroo.
The red kangaroo is the world’s biggest marsupial. An average-sized red kangaroo stands about 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall, a bit shorter than an average human. They can often grow up to half a metre (20 inches) taller. An adult male can weigh 85 kg (185 lb), but on average are about 25% lighter than this.
SOURCE: big-animals.com.biganimals.co
ACTORS ON THE STAGE PART TWO.
Enter Craig Slyney. He looked after my station on the Darling River, and then moved up to Queensland to look after Boorara. He is seen here in his usual haunt Royal Mail Hotel Hungerford) – just joking here because honestly, he isn’t so much of a boozer!
The truth of the matter is that it was the Boorara manager who was knocked down, flattened, or perhaps merely surprised to find himself flat on his back. That was Craig Slyney.
The thing is that the big kangaroos would invade the airfield, they would come out of the bush, and seek out our lawns. I have seen them jump over the 2.0m fence to get to the orchard and its fresh grass.
BLOODY BIG KANGAROO – WHAT HAPPENED.
Craig came round a corner of the house. He was relaxed and not ready for business.
He came around the corner and so did the bloody big kangaroo. I don’t know who was the most surprised. Craig? Or the roo?
Well, this kangaroo was tall and fairly hefty for a victim of drought. Likely the big feller had been gettin’ his share.
In that small space, for the fraction of a second it took, there was not room for big Craig and his bloody big kangaroo. I suspect that Craig would have liked the honour, although in truth he is not well known for the task of bouncin’ kangaroos.
The roo, of course, did not do much thinking. He was more of an active, or over-active, jumper and bouncer kind of creature..
Now kangaroos can jump.
” It can leap over a 3 metre (10 foot) fence, and its hopping strides can be over 5 metres long (17 feet).”
He jumped.
Craig didn’t.
Craig went flying backwards. The roo soared over him and boing! boing! boing! The roo got going. Possibly Craig was more stunned than anything else.
The funniest thing is that I had seen that look on his face before.
BACK AT OLD BUDDA STATION.
Once we were working in the pound (round yard) at Old Budda Station and someone (unknown) did not adequately latch one of the gates. Craig and I were both in with the cattle sorting them out and all. At a point in time I was using my cane, gently, and Craig was leaning back on that gate – mistake.
I was on the opposite side of the pound. When the cattle suddenly banged on that gate and forced it open, the gate swung fast and furious, rather like a catapult, lifting Craig into the air, and sending him flying straight towards me. I stared, totally mesmerised by the sudden appearance of this Superman-like creature.
Craig soared through the air, arms stretched out and forward, parting the air. Guess he could’a shown that bloody big kangaroo how to do it.
But no. He soared, but briefly, and then came down to crash in a crumpled heap at my feet, his nose almost between my dirty boots. It was truly magnificent, that quick journey through time and space.
BLOODY BIG KANGAROO AND A GATE.
Luckily Craig was unhurt on both occasions. That’s two miracles for the incredible Craig and one heck of a miracle for the bloody big kangaroo. We cannot identify either the careless bastard who did not lock the gate, nor can we identify the particular cow that banged too hard.
Truth can be stranger than fiction.
Of course, Craig is a bit of a character.
Craig might have been better off with a Grey Kangaroo. Had plenty of them too.
Or maybe he could have picked a Wallaroo.
Here is a Wallaroo hiding in the rocks.
CHECK OUT MY BOOK ON BOORARA