Saturday Feb 1st 1930:
Had a great day or rather afternoon 2 miles up the river with the Sunday School children. Glen Reilly and self gave them a bit of a treat. We spent the morning in getting things ready, cutting sandwiches etc and left after lunch. Had Reilly’s lorry which Miss Dooley Reilly drove and my bus. Both were well loaded with kiddies with a few grownups to help us look after the younger ones. Gave them buns and drinks when we arrived, 2 miles up the river. Had games etc and then took most of the children in swimming and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Got caught in a storm but all soon dried again. Had tea out there, then took them all for a drive and arrived home at 7 pm. All the kiddies reckoned they had a good time and so did we grownups. It was great to see the youngsters enjoying themselves as they get very few such outings.
Sunday Feb 2nd 1930:
Went across this morning and helped at the Sunday School. A nice crowd there and all very interested in their S.S work. Spent the afternoon at home, reading and preparing for service at night. Not a big crowd out at night but for all that had a nice service. A nice number of children there who now sing their own hymn by themselves. Went across and had supper at Reilly’s.
Monday Feb 3rd 1930;
Spent most the day in reading and writing and going over the car. Weather very hot and numerous storm clouds about. Am a bit dubious as to whether I will get through to Anthony’s on account of appearance of ‘big wet rain’.
Tuesday Feb 4th 1930:
My Dear mother’s birthday. 73? not out. (This is definitely incorrect as she was born in 1878, making her 52 on this birthday.)
Loaded up the car this morning with plenty of provisions, petrol etc and started west at 11 am. Took with me as a wet road guide and a ‘pusher’ a chap from here who is out on bail awaiting trial for the shooting of a black. We had a good run through to Avon Downs. With no trouble, although in places the road was boggy. Had lunch there and left about 2.30 pm for Rankine. The road now became very wet and soft and we started to cut a track and had now to pick our own road, on the high ridges. The six mile creek stopped us for a while and we had to go along a few miles to find a crossing. Here Renton proved his worth as he knows the country and was able to show me the best tracks around the bad parts. Crossing the 6 mile Renton took off his trousers and waded through and found a crossing and then I followed in the car. From here on it was mostly second and low gear work until we got into the desert and then the going was good. Lorne creek when we got to it looked impassable and we had to wander around to find a shallow crossing. Had picked up another chap at Avon so he was an additional help. Found a crossing at last, that was only 2 feet 6 inches deep so took a risk and plunged in. Did not reckon on the force of the current though and in midstream the car started to rise and turned her nose downstream. Beck jumped on the running board and the water washed in through the door and she settled down again. The engine stopped then and I thought it was all up but the age of miracles has not passed, as although with the force of the water, practically the whole of the engine was covered, when I pushed in the self starter she started and we got out. Renton standing on the opposite bank said that at one time the water was washing right over the bonnet, that however is probably well exaggerated. A few miles further on the country in front of us was one big swamp and we started on a long detour around it. On the way we dropped into a boggy patch and there stayed. The back of the bus nearly went out of sight. Had to unload and then off came shoes and socks and into the mud we went. Could not use the shovel as the mud stuck to it, so had to use our hands. Rigged up a Spanish windlass but the rope would not hold. Worked till dark and the car was still in the bog. Had some tea and rolled out our swags. Went to sleep with a coating of mud on us.
Wednesday Feb 5th 1930:
Up at daybreak and after an hours work got the bus out. Greatly relieved. Had some breakfast then. Moved off again and it took us five hours to do the next 15 miles. Arrived at Rankine at lunch time. Could not have got through without the two chaps I had on, to push. Had a shave, a shower and clean up here and felt much better. After lunch set off for Alexandria. Crossed the Rankine river and it took 3 hours to find a way round and through the next 2 miles, as over 2 inches of rain had fallen here the day previously. All 2nd gear work until we reached the Buchanan and in crossing it we were bogged and had to take off the load. Got through and went another 6 miles and decided to camp as it was about 11 pm, not a cloud in the sky and we felt safe enough and were only 7 miles from Alexandria.
Thursday Feb 6th 1930:
All were awakened in the small hours of the morning by thunder and a few drops of rain. Had only time to roll the swags and throw them on to the bus and crawl in ourselves, put up the side curtains and down it came. In a few moments there was a flood of water racing around us and before morning we had over 3 inches. The three of us sat huddled together trying to sleep until daybreak. Before we got out we opened a tin of salmon and made breakfast of dry bread and salmon. On surveying our position it was not very promising. Water as far as the eye could see. Tried to get through with the car but no good, had to leave it and making a swag of a dry change for the 3 of us, set out to walk the 6 miles to Alexandria. What a walk it was, with boots and socks off and trousers rolled up, wading through mud and water at times knee deep. Was just about done when we got in and the others were not far from being in the same condition as myself. Spent the rest of the day in recovering.
Friday Feb 7th 1930:
Mr Johnson got the horses in this morning and several of us rode out to the car taking 3 pack horses with us and brought in all the mail and goods I had on for the various station people. It took the horses all their time to get through the mud and slush that was everywhere. Spent the rest of the day in reading and yarning to the men on the place.
Saturday Feb 8th 1930:
Another lazy day. Reading most of the time. Intended going down with horses to pull the car in but the river came down and could not get the horses across. Had a game of golf between 3 holes, the only 3 on the course where we could walk.
Sunday Feb 9th 1930:
Ground dry enough this morning to get a car over it, so went down in the station Chev and drove mine back. Could not get any further out, on account of the Playford being a banker, so decided to return, as I have to be in Isa for next Sunday. Cleaned the car up and greased and oiled her and left after lunch. Had a good run through to the Rankine having only to find a way around a couple of bad patches and was only bogged once and that not badly. Did not stay long at the Rankine as decided to push on while the weather was fine. Crossed Lorne Ck alright this time and then had some tea. Off again and arrived at 6 mile Ck. In the dark it was a bit difficult to find a way round but successful in the end. They had had rain from here in to Avon just recently and made the going soft but in the small hours of Monday morning reached Avon and soon had the swag unrolled and was asleep.
Monday Feb 10th 1930:
Flies would not permit sleep after sunrise, so got up and shaved and cleaned and went down to the homestead for breakfast. Left soon after that and had a good run in to Camooweal. River was running again and had to go to the one mile to cross. Gave the car a good wash and clean up at the river, then cleaned up myself and had lunch. Had a lazy afternoon and evening.
Tuesday Feb 11th 1930:
Reading and writing most of the day. Took Glen with me in the afternoon and went down 10 miles to Beumonts selection. Had tea down there and spent the evening and came home. There has been plenty of rain all round lately but Camooweal has missed. We have not been able to get a mail through here for a fortnight. Mt Isa has been nearly flooded out again! Larry Doyle the stock inspector, a young chap, who often travelled with me, was drowned in there. He was out on horseback and trying to swim a flooded creek, got into difficulties and hitting his head against a log, had no hope of saving himself. A couple of chaps saw it happen but evidentally could not help at all. Practically everyone in Mt Isa, I believe, was at the funeral.
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