We've copped a hammering in the past year. From dry spells in parts of the Top End to floods and more floods along the eastern seaboard and inland, in New South Wales and Victoria.
Many of us have never seen it quite like this before. Lives lost, homes, land and roads ravaged, thousands of dead livestock, crops ruined. As we count the huge losses, now we all brace ourselves for the fire season.
The one constant for so many country people, the one haven where recovery plans can be organised, tales of woe shared and encouragement given to soldier on together, is the local pub.
