Meeting the locals!

Monday July 8: 1929

Did some cleaning up and reading this morning. His afternoon went to the school and had a talk to the children, after which went and called at a couple of places I missed yesterday. Went up and had a look at the hospital. Just a small place but very nice. Had some tennis there until teatime and found some very good players amongst the folk up here. Had a full and varied program for this evening. Commenced in the hall at 7.30, a Church service. A good muster. Practically all who could come, did come. About 30 present. After the service I plunged the hall into darkness and gave the kiddies some pictures which they enjoyed very much. Following on that one finished the evening with games for young and old, an all voted it the best evening in Burketown for a long time. I do not know whether the service was in mind when that statement was made. After such a strenuous time, ‘Postie’ and I for supper cleaned up a packet of biscuits, a tin of peaches and several lemons in lemon drinks.

Tuesday July 9: 1929

Left Burketown at about 9 am and had Miss Morson again on board on her way back.

Missed the turnoff to come back a different road and went about 20 miles further than necessary. Cam back on to the right road and all went well. If anything the road this way is a little better. Arrived at Oliver Smith’s for dinner and again was made to feel quite welcome. Had a yarn to all of them and played some nursery rhyme records for the kids. Wandered in after dinner and saw thousands of wallabies, mostly very small, until the sight of them annoyed me. One chap even had the cheek to run into the side of the car. A few of the folk through here have taken up sheep farming and saw some of those animals. Sheep farmong has brought with it numerous fences which have made necessary numerous gates and I here appreciated the company of my fellow passenger. She was able to open all the gates, I am not too sure whether she appreciated the gates though. The stations here are quite small compared with out in the territory and the homes of the people are by no means elaborate. Called in at several places along the route and found all the folk very nice with a welcome and an invitation to stay if possible. Arrived at Gregory Downs station at sundown and pulled up for the night. The station homestead is one side of the river and on the other there is an hotel and police quarters. They have a picnic race meeting here once a year and it is to come off for this year in about a fortnight. Mrs Reece, the manager’s wife, is a great hostess and looked after us well. The owners of the station are also staying here. Elderly men. Watson brothers. Both decent chaps. After tea we went with Mrs Reece across to the hotel, met Mrs Barrett, the owner and also Mr Lowe the police constable. Mrs Barrett is one of the earliest settlers in this district and a real hard case. I am looking forward to getting her talking one of these days.

Wednesday July 10: 1929

Left Gregory Downs about 9 am en route for Riversleigh and arrived there at dinner time. The road for the first 30 miles is good and only about 2 gates, but from the turn off the main road into the homestead a distance of 25 miles is about the roughest I have ever been over. Rocky, hilly and dense scrub to get through. The crossing over the O’Shannessy, while rather pretty, is a beaut. It is heavy because of the sand. The bus ties herself in a knot around the trees, pushes her way through scrub and nearly falls backwards going up the opposite bank. Saw some decent sized kangaroos coming along too. After dinner had a lazy time for a while reading and then went out and played tennis with the boys. After tea played the gramaphone outside for the children then inside for the others. Talked for a while and retired.

Thursday July 11: 1929

Left Riversleigh again, this time on my own, back over yesterday’s road. Got through onto the main road alright and continued on my way back to Camooweal. For 60 miles it was a terribly rough road, nearly as bad as from Riversleigh to the main road. Rocky and hilly. Arrived at Finlay’s, just in time for dinner, and sat down to oxtail pie. Did not stay long but pushed on and eventually reached Millers at Undilla. Only stopped for a few moments and then left for Camooweal. Practically everyone is away all along this route, all out mustering, so although I thought I might stay at Miller’s did not do so. Darkness overtook me, 30 miles out but eventually reached here at about 7.30 pm. Was feeling rather tired, so after getting my things in and making a cup of tea, went to bed and slept soundly. Had a good trip and enjoyed it. At the same time the bigness of the work and the difficulty of finding a suitable opening for doing the real job, has again impressed me.