More floods, funerals and a wedding.

Thursday Feb 13^th 1930:

Another quiet day same as yesterday. Weather very hot. Major Jones, of the Larkin Airways arrived by plane from Melbourne today. Left Melbourne on Tuesday. He is going out to inspect the landings of Camooweal / Daly Waters route, which service is to commence next week.

Friday Feb 14^th 1930:

Weather still hot and storm clouds working up. Called at the schjool this afternoon for religious instruction. Paid a visit to the hospital and went round the patients. Attended an evening in the hall in aid of the hospital. Quite a number in town today.

Saturday Feb 15^th 1930:

Intended returning to Mt Isa today but a chap found drowned in the river, necessitated my remaining for the burial. The chap was elderly and went duck shooting. Evidentally went in after a duck and got tangled in the weeds and drowned. Buried him this evening. Two more planes arrived today both belonging to the Larkin airways. These are the two that are to remain here and carry on the Camooweal / Daly Waters service. Camooweal becoming quite important.

Sunday Feb 16^th 1930:

Left for Isa this morning. Had some trouble in starting through water having got in with the Benzine. Brought a chap in with me. Ran into three decent storms toward this end but was not held up. Tried to cross the Leichardt but could not. Stuck in the sand for an hour and had to back out. Went right around a rough track and crossed in the town. Got everything ready for service at night and had 15 out. Storms about.

Monday Feb 17^th 1930:

Collected a rather large mail. Spent the morning in getting water out of the bus. Had to take carburettor to pieces. Did some writing. Was called in to try and reconcile man and wife, the wife having left the husband and staying at another place across the road. Spent all the evening between the two.

Tuesday Feb 18^th 1930:

Cleaning up at home here in the morning. Did some visiting in the afternoon and engaged again at night as last night. Some of the Alexandria people arrived in today.

Wednesday Feb 18^th 1930:

Went to the school this morning for religious instruction. Business down the town. Had lunch at the hotel with Johnsons. Visiting during the afternoon and the night as previously.

Thursday Feb 20^th 1930:

Visiting during the morning and had a funeral in the afternoon. A chap through scaffolding giving way fell down the main shaft 110 feet. His son was with him at the time. Paid a sick call at night.

Friday Feb 21^st 1930:

Writing all the morning and visiting in the afternoon. Called on the happy couple but can do nothing. She will not return. Weather terribly hot and rain must be the outcome.

Saturday Feb 22^nd 1930:

Received some mail this morning. Found Mick Hill and brought him here and together we pulled the bus to pieces and took off the housing of the tail shaft, as it is cracked in one place and needs oxywelding. Took it to the garage but they could not do it today. . Did some shopping and called on several, including chap whose wife has left him. Home to bed. Just got into bed when down came the rain and we had quite a decent fall.

Sunday Feb 23^rd 1930:

Still terribly hot and close. The river is well up this morning and not able to be crossed. Had Sunday School with 15 attending. A lot absent through sickness and sore eyes. Terrible thunderstorms during the afternoon. Thought the Church had been struck by lightning during the storm. A goat, one of several sheltering at the side of the Church, was struck, so that was close enough for me. Rain held off so as we could jold service but only 15 came out. After Church went and paid a sick call.

Monday Feb 24^th 1930:

Still very close weather and had several storms during the day. Feeling a bit off color, and spent most of the day at home lying down. Called on a couple of sick folk.

Tuesday Feb 25^th 1930:

Storms continue and river has to be ferried in a horse and dray. Went on starvation diet today, had no breakfast or lunch and feel better this evening. Contracted a sore eye this morning, seems to be a touch of blight. Everyone has sickness of some sort in this place, so I am no exception. Did a lot of writing and reading.

Wednesday Feb 26^th 1930:

And still it rains, seems as if the wet season has set in. Rain seems to be general too. Cloncurry is having it and since Staurday Camooweal has had seven inches. No plane out today, could not take off from Cloncurry. No word of the Camooweal mail lorry, so he must be held up somewhere. Started out to call on a few but rain sent me home. Called on a couple during the evening. One man attempted to cross the river last night and got into difficulties but managed to reach a tree in midstream and stayed there all night. Constable Locke sat on the bank and watched him lest he should fall in again. Went to school for religious instruction this morning.

Thursday Feb 27^th 1930:

The sun shines no more and we are having real southern wet weather. Raining lightly all the time with occasional heavy downpours. The crossing is not possible for cars, the water being up to the floor of the drays. No airmail, no Camooweal mail. Went out and called on several this afternoon. Found a good Methodist and several more children for Sunday School. Eye very sore this evening, had it washed out and put some ointment in it and was in bed at 8 pm. Had a visit from Serg Landy just after retiring. A baby died across the river and they want me to go over in the morning.

Friday Feb 28^th 1930:

It has got the habit and now is finding it hard to discontinue raining, no sign of stopping. We are not growling however as for years the country has never had rain such as this. Spent all the morning and portion of the afternoon in making arrangements for burial of baby. A sad case. A young couple, only a few weeks out from Townsville and their first and only child. No friends or relatives here and only their two selves at the graveside. Raining all the time. Was difficult to carry everything through nicely, on account of the river, as the coffin had to be brought to the other side, then brought across in a dray and put on a car this side. Then we had to follow suit. Was hard to take anything but a big lorry to carry the coffin on the other side, but at last minute managed to get a Chev utility.

Saturday March 1^st 1930:

A big hole having been washed in the crossing yesterday, allowed the water to get away so was shallow enough for a car to cross over the space left. Thought I might go across as I wanted to go to the mines. Waited to see a few lorries go across and then decided to stay this side. The crossing is frightfully rough and several holes have been washed out. Two of the lorries had to be pulled out, one got right into the big hole and the water was washing over the back of it. A big crowd down all the morning watching the excitement. A light rain falling all the time. Took some snaps and hope they come out. Pedestrians had to ford the river just below the crossing, as the drays would not risk going across. A stream of people crossing and recrossing. Groups each side either removing or replacing shoes and stockings. One lady was carried across but missed getting a snap of it. One enterprising citizen has erected a rather flimsy swing bridge but it swings too much to be safe and those who venture, do so only on hands and knees. Cars and lorries are getting bogged regularly all around the town. Spent an hour this evening trying to pull one car out but no good, then 2 big lorries tried but they could not shift it, so the car remained in the mud. Had a quiet wedding this afternoon, a widow and widower. Half a dozen of us at thce breakfast, but a merry gathering. Was nearly drunk myself on black beer. Called on a wife-deserting husband before retiring.