But the hamlet of Burrumbuttock farther south was not to follow suit.

There was, however, an abundance of flora and fauna during her visit on Tuesday to a natural environment education centre for school students, the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre at Burrumbuttock, north of Albury – despite receiving little rain in the past month.

The visit was a stop on a long list of towns during her tour of the Murray Darling Basin to see first-hand, the effects of drought.

Along with local students, Greater Hume Shire representatives, Ms Bryce was greeted by local grain and livestock producers at the centre.

They told her there was too much water being wasted in the system, and that there was too much “ad hoc” buying back of water by the Federal Government.

She told students that a country childhood would stand them in good stead for the rest of their life, and smiled sympathetically when a 12-year-old Burrumbuttock student, Trent I’Anson commented, “There’s a fair bit of money in farming … if you get the rain."

Ms Bryce concluded by saying that after seeing the students at Burrumbuttock, she was optimistic about the future of the country, and had tremendous respect for communities who supported each other during tough times.