Dimensions
255 x 255 x 10mm
Dougie and his sisters can't remember the last time it rained. The rainwater tanks are empty, and the creek is just a string of muddy pools where birds and animals come, seeking water.
Each day Dad and Dougie cart water from Last Stop Well, and hour down the track. They haul the water up bucket by bucket to fill the tank on the dray, then bump back over the ruts, making clouds of dust. The crops are brown and crisp in the sun.
One day, Dougie's dad tells him about his grandfather's gift for water divining, or witching. Dougie wishes he were a water witcher - then they would have a well of their own, always full of water. So Dougie teaches himself the art of water diving and, despite his sisters' teasing and his mother's scepticism, he discovers a night soak of fresh water.
'Water Witchers' brings to life, through the story of one family, the experience of drought-stricken rural Australia during the Depression era. Seen through the eyes of Dougie, the optimism of childhood shines through, despite the tough work and harsh conditions.
Jan Ormerod's stunning, evocative illustrations make this a rich and resonating book.
