Emotional Rollacoaster At Parkes

“Everyone is getting a bit uptight, as it has been 38 days since we have been here now”, commented Parkes detainee, Donna Wright. “The tests taken last week came back positive for horse or horses still positive for shedding the virus. They took the second lot of samples on Friday and promised to have the results back yesterday (Sunday) and then today, but at 6pm we were none the wiser. Its very frustrating and the feeling is that we are being given the runaround. They shouldn’t tell us they are going to give us results and then don’t. They would be better saying sorry we just don’t know and will let you know as soon as possible. People get their hopes up and some people have started decontaminating and things like that. It just makes it so hard for people to organise their lives. Those of us who can have taken leave without pay, but those who have horse related business are desperate financially.

“It was easy for the DPI when the horses were sick, but now they are getting better, I don’t think they know what to do with us. The horses are getting better but even that is frustrating, as the vets tell us to keep them out of the dust and wind, because of the respiratory disease, but how do you do that in Parkes? It is as dry as here and windy. Not only can we not get the horses home, we are keeping them in an environment that is not conducive to their recovery.

“But it’s not all bad, the showgrounds people and the locals are beautiful. The caretaker here yesterday bought legs of lamb and vegetables and came and dug a big hole and started a fire and brought huge camp ovens and six hours later produced a Grand Final dinner, the best meal I have ever had, it was beautiful. Another local lady also brought us a Grand Final dinner that we will have tonight. There is lots of bad, but plenty of good, more good than bad.

“The DPI officers were fantastic in the beginning, helping with yards and everything, but now there is not much for them to do, but they are still paid to be here. It’s not their fault that nothing is happening, but it is like ‘a cone of silence’. The emphasis has been on the racehorses and we understand that, but we have been put on the back burner. But we’re surviving. We are told there is to be a Disease Control meeting tomorrow at Orange, so perhaps we will know more after that”.

Perhaps so. Horse Deals will stay in touch with the Parkes lockdown in the hope of announcing that they are at last on the move.