Caedes

  The Ballad Of The Waitaki  

Click here to view at full resolution.
Uploaded: 05/02/19 1:58 PM GMT
The Ballad Of The Waitaki
Views: 166
Dlds: 64
Status: active

For SNATM
- a song this time.
 "THE BALLAD OF THE WAITAKI" is the story of how the Benmore & Aviemore Dams were built to harness the mighty Waitaki River into producing power for all of New Zealand.
The singer is Brendan Dugan, a NZ favourite of many years and he is standing just where I took this photo last week. The song was written back in the time when the dams were being constructed.
The Waitaki River is a large braided river that drains the Mackenzie Basin and runs 110 kilometres south-east to enter the Pacific Ocean between Timaru and Oamaru on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The Waitaki Hydro system now has eight power stations with a generating capacity of 1758 mW, enough to supply almost a third of New Zealand's electricity needs.
I have heard that the Spill gates are open at the Benmore Dam for a few days just now and I hope to go there tomorrow with a camera :)
I hope you enjoy this little song with a story :)

Comments

Post a Comment  -  Subscribe to this discussion
::LynEve
05/02/19 2:06 PM GMT
Rippling waters of Waitaki sing your song of power to me
sing of tall distant mountains, Mackenzie lakes so free,
tell of how the men have tamed you, hear the turbines giant roar,
listen to your waters lapping in the penstocks at Benmore.

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea
Making power for all New Zealand for the like of folks like me.

And when Benmore lake is filled and the generators spun
Flow on again great river to where another works begun,
Flow on down through the valley where the cattle graze no more
where a dam is in the making at a place called Aviemore.

But the men who build the hydros, and the men who make the dams,
are the men who drive the dozers, pour the concrete, draw the plans.
From many towns they have journeyed, and from many schemes they have come,
to work there in the outback and to see that the job is done.

Now listen surging waters as you reach the Pacific shore
and your meeting with the breakers makes the oceans roar.
Tell of more tomorrows when your turbines you will play
and praise the great Waitaki, you will here the people say

So flow on again Waitaki on your journey to the sea
Making power for all New Zealand for the like of folks like me.
Making power for all New Zealand for the like of folks like me.
0∈ [?]
My thanks to all who leave comments for my work and to those of you who like one enough to make it a favourite. To touch just one person that way makes each image worthwhile. . . . . . . . . .. . . . "The question is not what you look at, but what you see" ~ Marcel Proust
::Dunstickin
05/02/19 3:26 PM GMT
This is so lovely to listen too...
1∈ [?]
::Ramad
05/02/19 3:42 PM GMT
A lovely soothing song sung so well! Also a nice photo to go with it.
1∈ [?]
Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors.
::0930_23
05/02/19 3:59 PM GMT
Great song and photo LE.
I could feel some sadness in the line: "Flow on down through the valley where the cattle graze no more."
Amazing how this might river changed lives and gave so much to future generations.
Wonderful addition for the SNATM theme.

TicK


Viewed Full Screen
1∈ [?]
People are like cameras--sometimes they lose focus.
.mesmerized
05/02/19 8:48 PM GMT
Thank you, Lyn, for this lovely contribution to SNATM!...an informative and interesting narrative...and though the song may be unknown to many of us, I appreciate being introduced to it...as Raj said, a lovely soothing song to listen to and I love the lyrics...I can hear its' melody as I gaze on these waters and envision their journey...your well captured image compliments this title beautifully...thanks again, Lyn.
1∈ [?]
::trixxie17
05/02/19 9:34 PM GMT
A beautiful shot and an interesting song to go with it - nice one for the SNATM theme.
1∈ [?]
Friends are like flowers - they fill the world with beauty ... Celeste Barnard
::tigger3
05/03/19 12:20 AM GMT
Thanks for the link to the song, and this is a lovely capture. tigs=^..^=
1∈ [?]
Nature in all her glory is my uplift on life and so is my love of photography. sandi ♪ ♫
::Vickid
05/03/19 4:44 AM GMT
This is truly a scene that keeps your attention, it is magnificent, you want to go there, spectacular work.
1∈ [?]
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
::corngrowth
05/03/19 11:35 AM GMT
Lyn, thanks for this wonderful post (image and narrative).
I've check-out the link with the song of Brendan Dugan, accompanied with wonderful views of the Waitaiki river.
I enjoy this SNATM-theme (🎥) contribution from you very much. Very good work (per usual!)
1∈ [?]
Try to change what you can't accept, but accept what you can't change. Please CLICK HERE to see my journal! Feel free to save my images or to add them to your favorites.
.icedancer
05/10/19 9:20 PM GMT
Really like the big rocks in the foreground, adds a lot of textures, marvelous composition
1∈ [?]
VIEWED IN FULL

Leave a comment (registration required):

Subject: