THE Governor-General has won over a legion of fans, writes SANDRA GODWIN
The parched Riverina is a world away from the plush lawns and manicured flower beds of the Governor-General's official residences in Canberra and Sydney.
It is possible to drive for hundreds of kilometres without seeing a blade of green grass.
But for one of Australia's most powerful women, the daughter of a wool classer and school teacher, the Riverina has its own rare beauty.
"One of the things that has underpinned this experience for me is how beautiful our landscape is, even in times of severe drought," Quentin Bryce said from Deniliquin last week.
"I know the Murray River is in very straitened circumstances but still it's a very beautiful and great river."
Australia's 25th Governor-General was on the second leg of her drought tour, visiting Albury, Shepparton, Echuca and Deniliquin with her husband, Michael, and 12-strong entourage.
As part of the tour, Ms Bryce met with community groups, farmers, irrigators, business people and local councillors.
But she counts last Thursday's afternoon tea with graduates of the Women in Irrigation Leadership Program and representatives of the National Rural Women's Coalition in Deniliquin as one of her most important engagements.
"It was a very powerful, interesting, emotional experience hearing women talk about their lives," the mother of two and grandmother of five, said.
"Clearly many of them are in very dire circumstances . . . but there's a wonderful sense of community that brings people together in hard times."
Lynda Chalmers, who farms 5200ha at Noorong, east of Swan Hill, with her husband, Rod, was among those who shared a cuppa with Ms Bryce.
This is the third year they've sown no rice at all and most of their winter grain crops have failed.
"A lot of us haven't had any income whatsoever for two years and this year won't be any better," Mrs Chalmers said.
"We're losing people off farms every day and it's just so sad."
As well as talking with Ms Bryce, the women presented her with a "treasure box" containing pages of stories they had written about their experiences.
"I'm looking forward to opening them and sharing what they've written," Ms Bryce said.
Packed into the tour was a morning paddle-steamer trip on the PS Pevensey along the Murray River at Echuca followed by a civic reception at Deniliquin, which gave local women the chance to frock up and meet their glamorous guest.
The impeccably groomed Ms Bryce did not disappoint, exchanging her pastel blue suit for a darker blue Versace number and a pair of lime green heels.
Ms Bryce chatted, posed for photos and accepted bunches of flowers from local children.
Deniliquin mayor Lindsay Renwick said the visit - the first by a Governor-General in 37 years - had given the town a much-needed boost after six years of drought.
