After years of dry earth and dusty horizons, the recent rains across Mildura and the Mallee have transformed the landscape. The green stretching across Country almost feels unfamiliar — a reminder of just how long it has been since we’ve seen this kind of abundance. Country moves in cycles, just as we do. There are seasons of flourishing and seasons of hardship. Times when everything feels full of life, and times when survival is enough. Yet Country always knows how to heal itself when given the chance. This piece reflects the resilience of the Mallee and the quiet lessons Country teaches us. Growth follows hardship. Renewal follows struggle. What may seem lost can bloom again. A reminder that healing isn’t always immediate, but it always comes in its own time.