About a decade ago I travelled to the desert regions of the New South Wales and Queensland border area to the west and north of Hungerford on a scientific research trip. I’ve always wanted to go back and take another look at that vast country. However today it came to visit us on the coast of Queensland as dust from the interior travelled on westerly winds and filled the air with a strange hue.

It all arrived very quickly during the mid-afternoon and provided a welcome break from working on the next print edition of Eco News. Temperatures suddenly cooled and the air carried the heavy smell of dust as I ventured up to the nearest vantage point to take a few photographs.