Drought was biting very hard in the region on this day in 1968. A four-year-old Ian Brooke, of Gundagai, stood on a post looking out over the cracked surface of a fast disappearing Burrinjuck Dam.
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Graziers in the Yass were facing financial disaster, losing stock and being forced to hand feed and cart water.
George Johnson, who had a 1400-acre property not far out of town, said: "It's the worst season I have had in 42 years. In my opinion, people are not realising the full seriousness of the situation.
"I'm losing September lambs all the time. I pick up dead ones every day. If we don't get financial assistance soon some properties will be crippled permanently."
The huge Burrinjuck Dam, south-west of Yass, was only 5 per cent full, and about 40 metres below the spillway and dropping 10cm a day.
Obviously the drought wasn't only Yass's concern. Also on the front page was news the National Capital Development Commission was planning a fourth dam for the ACT. Corin was empty, the Cotter had been disconnected from the city and only Bendora was supplying water to the capital. That fourth dam would end up being Googong.
Given the state of things, the front page included advice for readers to save water.
This included:
- Don't leave the tap running while brushing your teeth and if you must wash your car do it on the front lawn;
- Put water to a dual purpose. If possible, pour washing water on the garden;
- Fix all dripping taps. A dripping tap can waste from six to nine gallons a day;
- Don't take 10-minute showers if you can be clean in three; and
- Show reasonable restraint in flushing lavatories.
