As drought drags on in parts of South Australia, sporting clubs are feeling the pressure.
While some areas of the state have had rain, locals at Hawker, 380 kilometres north of Adelaide, say they have faced more than a decade of drought.
The town has a population of fewer than 230 people — many of whom play sport on particularly dry grounds — and has recorded around 80 millimetres less rainfall this year than its annual average of 300mm.
Hawker local Scott Teague, whose family has run the town’s service station and information centre since 1952, said it was unsurprising.
Scott Teague says he has seen community morale take a hit in the past 12 months. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)
“I think everyone has just grown up used to having no rain, but it does get you down,” Mr Teague said.
“We haven’t got out of drought conditions here in the Flinders for 15 years probably.
“You have some good years, but you never really have consistent good years; you’ll have one good year and then you have another five of nothing.”
Once a relief, now a reminder
Like most regional towns, Hawker’s residents look to sport for distraction — something Mr Teague knows keenly.
The nine-hole Hawker Golf Course has seen better days, according to Mr Teague. (ABC North and West SA: Viki Ntafillis)
As secretary of the Hawker Community Sports Centre and treasurer of the Hawker Golf Club, he knows how much sport can mean to farmers as a much-needed reprieve from what can be a tough job.
While regular social events and sporting games held at the dry ovals and fields — and the particularly barren and dusty golf course — are not providing the same escape from the drought they once did, they are still offering solace.
In Hawker, water is scarce, with annual rainfall down as drought carries on. (ABC North and West SA: Isabella Kelly)
“We’ve got a couple of farmers that play golf, and they see their dry paddocks, then come out and see the dry golf course,” Mr Teague said.
“You just try to cheer them up, and you get to have a beer with them and keep them motivated.
“We try our best, try to keep everyone happy.”
Ways to forget about drought
At the Hawker Racecourse, the lack of rainfall is just as pronounced.
The Hawker Cup, held at the end of May, is the event of the year for the town, and draws in about 1,000 people each year, effectively quadrupling Hawker’s population for that day.
Paul Smulders, president of the Hawker Racecourse, said the race meet was almost always a dusty affair.
“Obviously, you know, drought affects people mentally, doesn’t it?” Mr Smulders said.
“It’s just dusty, and it’s like everybody’s sort of sad; everybody’s sort of just a little bit down in the dumps.”
The Hawker Racecourse welcomes about 1,000 people on its annual race day. (ABC North and West SA: Isabella Kelly)
But the dry, red dirt of the track does not always overpower the sporting spectacle for attendees.
Sport, even in an arid place, can still help people cope.
“It’s a day out just to forget about things,” Mr Smulders said.
“People need that.”
Simon McNamara, a farmer in the Southern Flinders Ranges and an avid golfer, agreed.
At his farm south of nearby Orroroo, he said it had been “absolutely atrocious” contending with the drought, but sport had helped.
“You’re just off the farm and you’re not thinking about it,” Mr McNamara said.
“It’s an incredible outlet for your mental health.
“It knocks your enthusiasm [when the course is dry], but it doesn’t overwhelm the fact that you’re just out there with a couple of mates.”
And with a wet spring forecast, things could come good for some of South Australia’s rural sporting grounds and, importantly, its farms.
“An early break of rain for the season, that would take a lot of pressure off,” Mr McNamara said.
“It would be a game changer.”
