Our People
29 June, 2026
Passing on the rain gauge
FOR years, Redbank residents have turned the pages of The Pyrenees Advocate to see the weekly rainfall figures. Behind those numbers has been local woman, Ruth Spargo, who has been faithfully checking and recording the weather from her Redbank property. Now, after close to two decades of rainfall recording, Ruth is preparing to hand over the role as she and husband Van make the move away from Redbank.
What began as a personal interest more than 30 years ago became a valued source of information for local farmers, gardeners and weather watchers.
Ruth admits she cannot remember exactly when she began supplying the figures for The Pyrenees Advocate but believes it was sometime after she and Van left the Olive and Lavender shop in Avoca.
"I can't really remember how long, because I first met Craig when we had the Olive and Lavender shop in Avoca," she said.
"I don't think we started the rainfall straight away."
Ruth said it was a simple task and was happy to provide the readings every week.
"It must have been since 2010 when we left the shop. Craig just asked me. I'm sure that's all that was."
Each day began with a trip to the rain gauge, which is mounted on a pole near the couple’s chook yard.
"Every morning I check the rainfall at 9 o'clock because that's the time I think the Bureau checks the rainfall. I must have got that information from somewhere," she said.
"It was easy, because I'm always down there in the morning to let the chooks out."
The routine has become such a part of daily life that even holidays have required some planning. Admitting that no day is missed, Ruth said a trusted friend takes over the duties whenever she and Van are away.
Ruth's rainfall records stretch back more than 20 years and will remain with the property after the couple's departure.
"I've been taking rainfall records for 20 years or more, as long as we have been here. So I've got them all and I've offered them to the new owners and they are really happy to have those records."
A rainfall chart has long occupied pride of place on the family fridge and, despite relocating to Bairnsdale, Ruth suspects the habit may continue.
"I enjoy doing it, so I better print it off before I go, so I have got a chart to take with me,” she said.
Living in a farming district, Ruth said rainfall remains one of the most discussed topics in the community.
"It's nice to read what other towns have received. Everybody talks about it, not just the rainfall but the cold. Even just in the township or the other side of the crossroads in Redbank, they can be different. You go down to Moonambel and that can be different."
Over the years, Ruth said the records have captured both drought and flood.
"We almost had a 10-year drought from the late nineties into the early 2000s, a few years ago there was a flood," she said.
One flood event remains particularly memorable.
"I couldn't get to a funeral in Ballarat because we couldn't get through. There was a lot of flooding in Redbank and all the way to Ballarat."
Recalling a major flood during the 2010s, Ruth said the force of the water coming from the Pyrenees Ranges was remarkable.
"We've got the Pyrenees Hills just directly behind us, so we've got a large catchment area with those hills and the rain poured down those hills on our property, and just moved logs down. It was just incredible. That was a huge event that took bridges away,” she said.
Among the wettest years in Ruth's records were 2010, which received 941.5 millimetres of rain, and 2022, which recorded 990 millimetres.
As she steps away from the role, Ruth is pleased the rainfall reporting will continue in capable hands.
"I think it's very important and I'm very pleased Hans (Schippers) is going to carry on."
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