Love is in the air? or wishful thinking on my part!

Thursday Oct 13^th 1932:

Had to have the usual clean up this morning which is always necessary when I have been away for any length of time. Had ‘smoko’ down at Cronin’s. Spent the afternoon reading and writing and then called on Dr in connection with hospital business. After tea went up to hospital. Home again and more writing.

Friday Oct 14^th 1932:

Was up before the sun this morning and had the car greased and oiled before breakfast. Had several other jobs to d on it and it was nearly lunch time when I had the car ready for the road. Had very little time left then to complete monthly a/c’s and mission report and other writing but did it all by 4 pm. Packed my port then, rolled my swag and went for my passengers. Picked up both ‘Mrs Reillys’ and Jack Logan and left to at 7.15 pm.

( Both ‘Mrs Reilly’s’ ? Maybe Mrs Reilly and another un-named female? Maybe Eileen McAllan? My mother to be. know for sure there was only one Mrs Reilly in Camooweal and several Miss Reilly’s.) Car gave a bit of trouble for awhile but finished well reaching Avon at 7.15 pm. The folk here had kindly waited tea for us and we were all very hungry. Weather had suddenly become cold and showery. Quite a crowd here when we all got together. I felt too tired to stay up for long so Mrs Spratt kindly fixed the hot shower for me which was great, after which was soon lost in slumber.

Saturday Oct 15^th 1932:

Light rain fell last night and this morning it looked as if ‘big mob rain might jump up’ at any minute. Light sprinkles were all we experienced however. Were on the road soon after sunrise, Spratts coming along with a load in their car. Stopped for awhile at the Rankine and exchanging a few passengers continued on to Alexandria. Car gave a bit of trouble through a block in petrol pipes somewhere but managed to reach the homestead without having to locate the block. Brunette and Alroy people already here and after lunch the interstate tennis match was put on resulting in a win for Qld by 3 games. After tea we all played clock golf (?) on the lawn and then I retired leaving the others to continue their fun and frolic.

Sunday Oct 16^th 1932:

After lunch today the various parties commenced their homeward journeys and by sundown the last of the departing guests said their fond farewells. ( My mother, Eileen McAllan lived on McArthur River Station in N.T so it is possible she had been visiting Camooweal – and my father! – and would have left as mentioned with others to return to her home.) I then went out with Bill to one of the bores taking the pumper home. Came back and had some long discussions before retiring.

Monday Oct 17^th 1932:
Spent the morning in looking over the car and remedying any noticeable faults. Felt very lazy after lunch so went to sleep. Played tennis after ‘smoko’. A gin with a badly smashed thumb done in fighting was brought up for my inspection. ( Dr Kettle?) It is a fearful sight and green . I cleaned it up and dressed it during which operation the gin nearly went out to it. I then decided to take her into Camooweal after tea but rain came and so I could not. Staunton’s 3 lorries arrived about 8 pm. Retired early.

Tuesday Oct 18^th 1932:

Rain continued until after ‘smoko’ in the afternoon. Stayed inside and read and wrote most of the time. Got cleaned and went around and called on all the hands about the place. Dressed the gin’s thumb again and as she felt a bit better decided to send her in to Dr on one of the lorries.

Wednesday Oct 19^th 1932:

Got the car ready and loaded up and after ‘smoko; with Mrs Reilly, ( Only one Mrs Reilly this time?) Mrs Johnson, Pat and Cay on board left for Alroy. Had a blow out a few miles along the road and still have not remedied petrol blockage. Reached Alroy for lunch. Took the car down to the shed and spent the afternoon working on it. Found a bad leak in radiator and had to take all radiator off. Did not finish. After tea read for awhile and retired.

Thursday Oct 20^th 1932:

Put in an hour on the car before breakfast which was on at 7 am. Left it then and put my essential requirements together and in Schmidt’s Hudson 8. Six of us and a big load then left for Rockhampton Downs. Stopped with the stock camp for awhile and also at No 14. Had a yarn and left reading. Reached ‘Rocky’ for lunch. Just as soon drive the Ford. Talked for quite awhile. Had a swim in the tank. George not home. Had some music before retiring. Friday Oct 21^st 1932:

More hot weather and today heavy clouds gave promise of good storms falling. Got the kiddies together at Rocky this morning and gave them their S.S lesson which they seemed to enjoy very much. Mrs Easy had the baby wireless going this morning and listened in and could hear Anderson from Cloncurry very clearly. (How things change with time! ) Packed up after lunch and returned to Alroy. Called around at the bore where the stock camp was and as they had just killed one had grilled bones for tea. Called again on old Frank Grteen and hd a good yarn to him. Reached Alroy at 9pm. At midnight we caught the edge of a good storm but all we got was wind.

Saturday Oct 22^nd 1932:

Got to work on the car again this morning and by lunchtime had everything together again. Ivan greatly assisted me. After ‘smoko’ all the folk left for Brunette the Hudson going first and I brought up the rear. 3 miles out I had tube trouble again so I did not see the others until I reached Brunette after dark. They had kindly kept tea for me. We had a ping pong tournament then before all retired. A terribly hot night.

Sunday Oct 23^rd 1932:

A fearfully hot day. Too hot to do anything. Folk here are all R.C’s and very nice. Late in the afternoon we all drove out 3 miles and had a cool of in one of the dams, a bonza swimming hole. I had a read after tea while the others played cards.

Monday Oct 24^th 1932:

Spent the morning on the car and in talking to the men about the place. Changed the tyres and tubes about on the car and put the bad tube into the spare tyre. Cay Johnson drove over from Alexandria 60 miles this morning and on his way home again, 30 miles out found that Crows Nest bore with a big mob of cattle on it had broken down, so had to come back to Brunette to tell them and then set out again for home. I left after lunch for Anthony’s Lagoon. Called on an old German pumper on the way who was very stern and abrupt at first but thawed afterwards and showed it by remarking ‘I will put the b…… pot on’ and so we had a drink of tea together. Reached Anthony’s alright and pulled up at the store for awhile and then went across to the Police Station and invited myself to stay there. Had some music after tea.

Tuesday Oct 25^th 1932:

Had half an inch of rain last night with the result it was too muddy to move about this morning so stayed inside and read all the latest papers about a month old. Set to work on the spare tube after dinner and spent the whole afternoon in trying to mend it but was unable to get it to hold for more than a couple of hours, so will have to

travel without a spare. After tea went over for a while to the store.

Wednesday Oct 26^th 1932:

Called over at the Cattle station homestead this morning, after which went north down to Malapunyah Springs, 90 miles into the real ‘never never’. ( No name for property? This may well have been McArthur River Station where my mother lived as it was close to Mallapunyah Springs ) Awful roads for most of the way, but reached there safely in the afternoon. One family of 12 lives here; kiddies very shy and nervous. They are getting a very nice garden going and plenty of nice spring water to use, the father is white but mother a quarter caste abo! The kiddies are all very fair. Gave them some pamphlets after tea. Had a light storm just as we were about to retire. Had a good feed here of bananas and paw paws, pulled straight from the trees.

Thursday Oct 27^th 1932:

Got the kiddies together this morning and gave them pictures and books and tried to talk to them but they were too shy to do much with. Have broken the ice however. Left during the morning and found the ground very heavy in places where storms fell yesterday. Did not get bogged however and reached Anthony’s in the afternoon. Went over to the store after tea and had a little service during which I baptised Biondi’s latest.

Friday October 28^th 1932:

Drove down to the aerodrome this morning and met Alf when he told me about Mavis Wilson having her scalp torn off while being shown over Mt Isa mines. A terrible thing and felt very much off after hearing about it. Spent some time over at the cattle station

( McArthur River? ) with the manager and then across to the store where I had lunch. Picked up a passenger and left for Brunette. Had another cup of tea with the German pumper and reached Brunette at 5 pm. Very hot so decided to cool off in the dam with the others. Played ping pong for awhile after tea.

It takes all sorts!

Friday Sept 16^th 1932:

Had further hospital business to attend to today in connection with resignation of present nurse. Got some mail away but not as much as wanted to. Visited the hospital at night and Dr like a sulky child will not speak now.

Saturday Sept 17^th 1932:

Carted a lot of rubbish away this morning and was then called to go around and see Nora Faser, a half caste, who is very sick. She was inclined to favor a trip into Mt Isa to the hospital there but I managed to persuade to stay here and go into our own hospital. Took her up before lunch. Paid a visit in the afternoon to the township on the creek. Four families down there. Mobs of kids. Got them all to promise to come to S.S and promised to call for them in the morning. Took one of the womenfolk to the maternity ward. Paid a couple of other visits. Played tennis, went to the P.O for tea. Listened to the wireless. Home. ( In those days the wireless was quite treat and I remember my father telling me how he enjoyed listening to test cricket on a station wireless at times.)

Sunday Sept 18^th 1932:

Collected 6 children off the river for S.S this morning and had a good attendance all round. Went down to the bore in the afternoon taking a few kiddies with me. Had a very disappointing attendance at Church at night.

Tuesday Sept 20^th 1932:

An awful windy dusty day. Jack and self put in a full day setting pout the improved court, watering and rolling both courts and marking both. Both look very nice now. Played before tea. Was told about a very sick man down on the creek, so went down during the afternoon and took him to hospital. Have a very sore eye and the wind and dust of today did not improve matters.

Wednesday Sept 20^th 1932:

Did some writing and reading at home. Visited school for R.I. Also hospital and othert homes in town. Was given a party at one of the homes. All in my honor. Very nice it was too.

Thursday Sept 22^nd 1932:

Have very sore feet at present. A sort of eczema and went to hospital this morning. Dr seems as if bent on getting his revenge as he ordered the very strongest iodine to be painted all over. Terribly sore and on top of it I foolishly went and played tennis. Could hardly walk afterwards. Went to P.O for tea and argued and listened to wireless afterwards. Very pleased when able to retire.

Friday Sept 23^rd 1932:

Paid another visit to the hospital this morning and went through some more torture. Feet ached all day. Heard that visitors were making a surprise visit at night so did some extra cleaning up. Got some airmail away and did other writing. Left tennis alone today. Called on Broady in connection with hospital business. Two ladies came up for the evening and were decent visitors as they set to work and did some cooking which we all enjoyed very much at supper time. ( Being 2 un-named ladies – he usually names his visitors - and a surprise visit – she would have had to travel from her home north on McArthur River Station - I am wondering if one of the ladies was my future mother? It would make a nice story! )

Saturday Sept 24^th 1932:

Did not feel like doing anything at all after leaving the hospital, and in fact did not do much except lie down. Tom Lewis called after lunch and asked me to go down and take his mother to the hospital as she was very sick. I don’t think however she is as sick as she makes out. Called down at Watson’s for awhile, also at Cronin’s and then had a look at the tennis players. Meeting at night.

Sunday Sept 25^th 1932:

Went to the hospital before Sunday School and then down to the river and collected my half dozen kiddies from there. Had a great crowd out for the school numbering 47. They took some handling though. Spent most of the afternoon at home in preparation for evening service. Went down for awhile to Watsons. Had 25 out at the evening service after which went across to Reilly’s for awhile. Had supper and then home to bed. Weather very hot.

Monday Sept 26^th 1932:

Having to be cook is a big nuisance as it breaks into too much of the morning with the result that nothing much gets done. Let them have another go at my feet this morning. Did some reading for awhile and writing. Heat and flies are very trying. Played some tennis. Went to Booths to tea and stayed for the remainder of the evening.

Tuesday Sept 27^th 1932:

Again at the hospital and are somewhat better. Called at a few places around the town. Visited school for R.I. Played tennis. Called at Darcys after tea. ( THE Darceys ? As mentioned by me previously , the Darcy clan became very wealthy in later years and acknowledged the support they had over many years from the Inland Mission. )

Wednesday Sept 28^th 1932:

Started on my Aug a/c’s and returns today. Paid up all round and finished all returns. Played a couple of sets of tennis. Had tea at hotel. Went down to Watsons for awhile. Hot and muggy day. Might get a drop of rain. Constable Prior arrived in town with his bride and her daughter. Father Kinnane arrived by plane.

Thursday Sept 29^th 1932:

A wonderful thing happened early this morning, before daybreak, one point of rain fell. There was a good deal of thunder and lightning too. Did some writing this morning and before I got cleaned after lunch had a visit from Father Kinnane. A very decent chap, elderly and a sick man. Comes from Albury and is out in this country for his health. Had the two girls over for their teachers lessons after which I went down to Watsons an fixed up the papers for Heather’s admission into the Wilson Ophthalmic hostel. Played some tennis and after tea called at Dawsons and Watsons. Got our ordinary mail today being two days behind time. Had letters from Don and Colin both roaring me up for my neglect in writing, which I certainly deserved. ( Assume these are his mates from Victoria. ) Colin sent a snap of his wedding and he certainly looked very happy and also Florrie.

Friday Sept 30^th 1932:

The weather is continuing very hot and muggy bit no further rain. The wind has increased in force and it looks as if we are in for some rough weather. Managed to get some writing done and played some tennis in the cool of the evening.

Saturday Oct 1^st 1932:

The wind has increased in force and is now blowing incessantly. Busy with mail this morning. Jack Logan and self put in some work on the tennis court with water and roller. A car load of tennis players arrived after tea from Isa and were given an evening in the hall.

Sunday Oct 2^nd 1932:

S.School and evening service.

Evidentally sitting in the sun watchi8g tennis being played was too much for the majority. Mt Isa players defeated, returned home after tea.

Monday Oct 3^rd 1932:

Jobs to do on car and visiting.

Weather is continuing very hot and the signs indicate storms approaching but such signs out here are not trustworthy.

Tuesday Oct 4^th 1932:

Had the car greased and oiled before breakfast this morning and got all my ‘plant’ ready for the road. Ordinary mail got in today on time. Collected parcels and mail and lft at 3.30 pm. had a good run as far as Avon and stopped. Got cleaned up, lovely shower and plenty of water. After tea we went up to the quarters and had a talk with the folk there.

Wednesday Oct 5^th 1932:

Was saved using my car today by accompanying Mr Spratt on his round of the bores. Saw all the pumpers, had a yarn to each and left them all some reading matter. Stayed another night at Avon. Constable Smythe and his wife arrived at tea time. Looked at the boys Sunday School work while here as they do the correspondence work.

Thursday Oct 6^th 1932:

Went on today, Dennis and wife accompanying me in their own car. Had a good run to Soudain where stopped for awhile. The cook is a rather hard case, good chap at heart though. Had a drink of tea. Went on then to Rankine. Had a late lunch at Lloyds. Got cleaned up. Water in the river here that low it is nearly mud. Had a round of golf with Dennis. Tea at the Police Station. Talked afterwards. Back to Lloyds and bed.

Friday Oct 7^th 1932:

Played the gramaphone after breakfast for the two little girls and gave them some Sunday School work and enrolled them in the correspondence S.S. Collected all the mail and came back to Soudain. Had lunch here and a very interesting talk with the cook. On to Avon and after a drink of tea at the quarters came into Camooweal just in time to catch the air m il but not to write any myself. Visited a few places after tea.

Saturday Oct 8^th 1932:

Cleaning, visiting, tennis.

Called down at Pedwells.

Sunday Oct 9^th 1932:

Had the usual nice number of kiddies out at S.S this morning and the work here is now going along nicely. After S.S called up at the hospital and collected Mrs Lobby and baby and took them home: a bough shed and tent on the river. Had a quiet afternoon at home. A few visitors. ( Un-named female friends again? ) A fair gathering attended the evening service. Had supper at Reilly’s and home to bed.

Monday Oct 10^th 1932:

Got the car ready for the road and at 9 am collected all passengers and luggage and left for Mt Isa. Had a decent run in calling at all places along the way. Reached Isa at 5.30 pm. Very dusty and appreciated a bath when I got there. Called up at hospital after tea and saw jim Maynard and Mrs Clancey. Took three little girls to Smiths afterwards.

Tuesday Oct 11^th 1932:

Mended a puncture after breakfast and then called for Mrs Watson, Heather and Ivy Darcy, taking them to the train and seeing them safely away. Called around at Moore’s and found the Young family from Cloncurry there. After lunch put car in garage and gave a hand to get ut the torque tube. Went then and did all my shopping and had tea. Went up to the hospital and saw Dr afterwards. Came back to garage and worked on car until 12.30 am when it was finished.

Wednesday Oct 12^th 1932:

Loaded the car up and left Isa at 1.30 am, came out 20 miles and camped for 2 hours. Went on then and had breakfast at 9 am with council men. Stayed for awhile at Dallings and old Jim and reached home at 2 pm. had a sleep and then into business. Hospital meeting at night.