Thursday Aug 8th 1929:
Cec did not get up for breakfast so had to go down on my own. Met with a great reception at the pub as it appears the folk were getting somewhat concerned seeing as how we were over a week overdue and noone had heard anything of us since hearing we had arrived at Rockhampton Downs. Was very pleased to know that our appearance comforted and allayed the anxious fears of the concerned population of Camooweal and district. Received quite a …..? of mail and papers which took nearly all the morning to get through. This afternoon did several odd jobs and at 3.30 went to the school and had a talk to the youngsters after which Cec and I went across to the hospital. Left Cec to entertain Sister Smallhome(?) while I went and interviewed the cook who shortly is to enter into the bonds of holy matrimony. After partaking of afternoon tea paid a sick call and then filled the bus with petrol, oiled and greased up, found a broken main leaf and patched it and so had everything ready for the road. Cec and I repaired to our domicile and spent the evening in writing.
Friday Aug 9th 1929:
Beat the sun in rising this morning and at 8 am we were hitting the trail for Mt Isa. The roads this way are as hell to Heaven compared with those out further west. Had only one stop on the road when we demolished a tin of pineapple and a packet of biscuits and eventually reached Isa at 2.30 pm. Took Cec straight to the dentist and while he was having a tooth extracted I went and had a watch repaired at the jewellers. On returning to the dentist found Cec just ‘coming to’ as he had ‘gone out’ to it while having the tooth extracted . After a while we went and were fortunate to get a bed apiece at one of the hotels and then wandered around until tea time. Mt Isa is a real mining town and is making rapid strides. Houses and shops are springing up everywhere and everything is rush and bustle. After tea Cec and I sat out on the balcony of the pub and listened to all the sights and sounds, men walking and talking, drinking beer and arguing, cars and trucks rushing around and creating a din and dust, a piano being strummed unmercifully across in the hall while the energetic section of the community tripped the light fantastic. After a while of silent meditation on all this Cec awoke with a start and made the alarming statement that were he to be here for long he would be a moral and mental wreck. The first church building has just been erected in Isa and belongs to the Methodist Church and is soon to be opened; although they are months behind what they ought to be. Both of us tried to do some study but the excitement of being in such a busy centre after weeks of solitude and quietness was not a good nerve tonic, so we gave up and sought our beds. Cec had a bed in a room but I was out on the balcony where there was just a continual row of beds the full length. It was a warm night and a sheet and one blanket sufficed.
Saturday Aug 10th 1929:
After breakfast and an interview with the dentist, set off for Cloncurry across rough roads and over hills. It was good to see hills again and I appreciated the run into Cloncurry as I did not when I was going out. Had only one mishap when another main leaf broke but kept going until came to a fence and pinched some wire…………..and patched the break sufficient to carry us in arriving at the Parsonage at 6 pm. Were both very dirty and dusty and welcomed the hot bath that was soon awaiting us. Had tea with Rev Mencar and wife and family, after which I left Cecil there and went up to the Moores where I am staying. Had a yarn for a while and then went to bed. Moore’s have all been sick and had the blight and Mr Moore is just about a nervous wreck, so I am hoping that I do not catch any of the complaints, especiallyMr Moore’s although I am rather subject to nerves.
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