Out and about....

Wednesday July 3 : 1929

Up at 5.30 am and Mr Johnson and I had a cup of tea and a biscuit and he left for home at 6.45 and I left for somewhere on the Burketown road at 7 am. A nice morning. Passed Rocklands homestead 4 miles out and crossed the course of the Georgina River. The country out this road is different to the territory, more bush, mostly gidgee trees. Eleven miles out disturbed numerous ‘roos feeding, some decent big ones among them. Tried to get a snap but unable. Gave them some hurry up with the tooting of the horn and it was better watching them than the horses at Rankine. 18 miles out met a camp of musterers, 2 white men and 3 blacks, having breakfast, stayed for a while. 30 miles out came to a bore where a couple live, Francis by name. Pulled up and had a cup of tea and a yarn. While there the Burketown mail arrived, returning to Camooweal, well loaded up too with passengers and goods. 15 miles past here crossed the border into N.T and now again the country is flat with no trees. Better feed here than further in the territory. 50 miles from Camooweal came to No 5 bore where they are pumping on Gallipoli station. One pumper here, stopped and gave him some books. Arrived at Gallipoli station, 60 miles from Camooweal, and stayed there for lunch. Most of the men were away mustering but the cook and a couple of others were there. Leaving Gallipoli wandered on and passed back again into Queensland, where about 12 miles from the border came to Herbertvale station homestead. The manager with his wife and family were away and the only chap about was the ‘boss’ of the section of the rabbit proof fence from Burketown to Wandangi (?) Had a yarn and cup of tea with him. Leaving there about 3 pm, made for ‘The Springs’ about 50 miles away. The country now changes from flat and open to hilly, rough, stony country. Passed over numerous dry watercourses but which in the wet season are mighty rivers. Although traveling is much rougher, with plenty of bumps, it is more interesting. Arrived at sundown at ‘The Springs’ where one of the men working on the rabbit fence has his camp. There is a spring here. Walker, the chap in residence, is an old timer and has been here for quite a number of years. Has worked also at the mines in the district, a good talker and knows the history of quite a number around. Had tea with him and afterwards we talked and then sat on the verandah of his domicile and played all my records. Do not know hat time it was when we retired as noone has a timepiece. Unrolled my swag on the floor and was soon lost in slumber.

Thursday July 4: 1929

Got up to fried eggs for breakfast which my hopst had waiting for me. Very nice too. Walker has quite a number of butcher birds which are never absent at meal times. They will not let you catch them though. Left during the morning to go into ‘Riversleigh’, about 15 miles in off the main road. A nice run in too. Plenty of feed in here. 12 miles in came to, and crossed, the Gregory River, a great stream and very pretty. Tropical vegetation on abundance. Do not know as yet the names of all I see. Stayed here a while and had a good wash and paddle, not deep enough for a swim, although up to the running board of the car. Three miles further on came to the station homestead on the bank of a small creek , joining the Gregory and the O’Shannessy, an ideal spot for a home. Mr Foster, the station manager was away, but Mrs Foster, the 5 children and governess were home. Made very welcome here and prepared to stay until the morrow. After dinner we all got on the bus and went back to the Gregory, to the Falls. They are very pretty too with an abundance of water pouring over. Came back and had a look around the place. A couple of good swimming holes are just handy but the water looks cold, although I may go in. There are crocodiles in the water up here, but a small variety and not dangerous. Have a tennis court here too, where the children amuse themselves. There are 4 boys and 1 girl in the family, the eldest being a boy about 14. After tea I showed the children some pictures on the screen and after listening to some of their gramophone records, played on a very nice instrument, retired.