Isolation and alligators

Monday Sept 23 1929:

A beautiful day although inclined to be somewhat warm about midday, the reading being over the 100. Moved on from Brookdale after ‘smoko’ and after also having watched shearing operations for a while. A few miles a.long the road we came to a very pretty creek crossing, known as The Brook and so fascinating was it that we stopped here for quite a while, had some lunch and a lie around in the sun and water. Had Cec have had his own way he would have remained there for a couple of days. After reavelling from here, some 200 odd miles, Burketown gradually became visible out of the haze on the horizon. Half a dozen houses with a couple of stores and an hotel. Drove up to the P.O and billeted ourselves on P.M Young for the period of our stay in the town. Went to the hotel for tea, had a walk and talk and read afterwards.

Tuesday Sept 24^th 1929:

A nice warm day also, very pleasant. Cec today went out with some chaps to the Nicholson River hunting alligators. They had some good sport too they said, seeing plenty of ‘gators and shot one. They also saw a big mob crockodile and Cec was very proud of his achievement in shooting a flying fox and a wallaby. As alligator hunting was not our purpose for coming to Burketown I did not go out but spent a day among the folk. Sent around them all and enquired after their health etc arranged for a service at night. Christened a baby, went to the State School and had a yarn to the kiddies and it was tea time. After tea and before service had time for a little recreation which I found on the tennis court. Thought that Cec was going to desert us for the service but he arrived back just as we were going to the hall and we started without him but he came across later and sang. Had a nice service with practically everyone who could come, present. After service we had a little social gathering in the form of some supper back at the P. O with a tin of pineapple, 2 packets of biscuits and black tea in glasses. All very nice too.

Wednesday Sept 25^th 1929:

Weather is great. Only hope it does not get any hotter. A vain hope though. Had several to see in the town this morning and also had to arrange for someone to take on the Sunday School as the present teacher is shortly leaving to go to Brisbane. As soon as ,lunch was over we ‘hot the trail’ once more and soon Burketown faded out of view. Called at a couple of camps by the wayside and had the father been at home at one camp there would have been another baby to Christen. Not meaning that the father was the baby. The road this way was very rough in spots but we bumped along over it. A lot of smoke was hanging around during the afternoon indicating a fire somewhere and late in the afternoon, big black clouds came up and looked a certainty for rain but nothing happened. Met a chap at the Gregory crossing and after a yarn and leaving some reading with him moved off again. There are some characters out in these parts and we met one today. An old chap who patrols portion of the rabbit fence. We called at his camp and he would not shake hands with me until I had fully explained who I was etc and then was rather reluctant. He gave us a drink of tea but as soon as the last mouthful was done he told us as we intended going on we had better hurry and be off. He is one of those out here to whom anyone who comes near them is an intruder. At 7 pm we reached Lawn Hill homestead, 120 miles from Burketown and getting here a decent reception we took our bags inside. Had a good tea afterwards sat out on the lawn in the cool and talked till bed time. Had a decent bed here too, the first for over a week, as we having been sleeping on boards, floor and ground.