Wednesday May 28th 1930:
Two mails arrived today. Lorry and air. No tyres so sent an urgent wire, roaring, and soon had a reply. They would be here tomorrow. Built a cage for cocky this afternoon and then did some writing. After dinner this evening went out to Rocklands and had a yarn to Mr Little.
Thursday May 29th 1930:
Got my tyres at last. Hope to be off tomorrow. Did a lot of writing this morning and getting things straightened up. Started to get things together ready for the trip. Town rather quiet, although a fair number about. Heavy clouds about and reports give information of rain in Mt Isa and Cloncurry.
Friday May 30th 1930:
Changed tyres etc and got car in good going order. Left the ‘weal at 3 pm. Weather very unsettled, storms brewing all round. Rather windy. 40 miles out ran into a heavy storm. Rain poured down. Road soon running with water. Car slid and skidded and was soon cutting a deep track. Went through aboput 5 miles of this and then ran out of worst of it. Reached Gallipoli station in time to grab plate and pannikin and eat my fill. Only a couple of men at home. Started to have some gramaphone music, but another storm drove us all to camp. Rolled out my swag in the tent and slept with four dogs as foot warmers.
Saturday May 31st 1930:
Went on this morning taking a companion with me. Froggie by name. A little bit nervous of the car but she will soon get used to that. Rather a decent dog of the cattle breed. Reached Herbertvale and was not allowed to proceed any further. McMillan’s, although R.C’s, make the Methodist parson very welcome. Changed some tyres on the car and had some music at night. Tried the wireless for a while but too much static.
Sunday june 1st 1930:
Left this morning and had 40 miles of rotten road. Bumpy, rough, rocky, hilly, sandy, everything to make traveling uncomfortable. Reached ‘The Springs’, intending to stay, but Billy Walker was away so sent on another 15 miles to Riversleigh. Foster family scattered somewhat at present. A few home though. Had a song service after tea.
Monday June 2nd 1930:
Went out with Mr Foster and kiddies to drag a couple of holes for fish, but either fish were too cute to be left when river went down or birds were there first. Spent the day at the station with the crowd.
Tuesday June 3rd 1930:
Amnother day on Riversleigh, among the horses, being brought in and shod ready to go out into the camp. A few outlaws among the mob.
Wednesday June 4th 1930:
Left Riversleigh this morning and continued along the Gregory River. Met a drovers camp along the road and stopped and talked for a while. One chap had a grouse on all existing conditions in every way. Reached Gregory hotel in the afternoon. Three buildings here. The station homestead across the ribver, police station and hotel this side. Called at all three and stayed at hotel. Before retiring gathered a few around and had some music.
Thursday June 5th 1930:
Got the kiddies together this morning and had a talk and left them some cards and tickets etc and went on. Called at a couple of places en route and frightened numerous wallabies, as they dashed in front of the car. Pulled up at Brookdale and stayed the night.
Saturday June 7th 1930:
Helped cut sandwiches this morning for a race meeting in aid of local hospital. Went out the road in the afternoon and shot a wallaby and got some meat for my dog. Had Jim Foster with me. Took a chap out home a few miles whose mother-in-law is very ill and who came in to send for aerial Dr.
Sunday June 8th 1930:
Plane arrived this morning with Dr so went out and met it and took Dr to the patient. Turned the car into an ambulance then as patient had to be taken to Cloncurry for operation. Went back to plane and transferred the old lady from car to plane and off they went. Went round the folk this afternoon and arranged for service at which 30 gathered. Very encouraging as a sevice last week by a minister of another denomination comprised only 6 of a congregation.
Monday June 8th 1930:
Did some more visiting today and some reading and writing and arranged for a social tomorrow night. A few spent the evening at the Post Office.
Tuesday June 10th 1930:
Arranged this morning for the S.S to get into full swing again. This had lapsed on account of the previous teacher leaving and making no arrangements for anyone to take her place. Have a Methodist in charge now, the P.M’s wife, so no need to worry about it in future. Went to the school and walked to the kiddies. Got the hall ready. Went to tennis. Had a good evening. Practically everyone present. Young and old alike joined in the games and competitions. Ladies provided supper. Closed with Auld Lang Syne and then the crowd got the parson in the centre and sang ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow….’
Wednesday June 11th 1930:
Left Burketown at 10.30 am. had a load up! Mr and Mrs Scholes for Punjaub and Miss Shadforth and Gladys Foster for Riversleigh. Rain had fallen at several places along the road making it heavy going. Had lunch at Punjaub and went on from there. Got on to some soft stuff at one place and had to unload and dig the car out. A chap ahead of us had been bogged just near and had stayed there all day. The same chap further on had to leave his car on account of some fault with the steering and we picked him up and took him on with us. Passed a couple of places but did not stay. Wanted to reach Riversleigh that night. Just after dark the lights failed so wen t opn with the spotlight. Road rough and many tracks. Got off the main road and on to am old road but all went well until in one place the tracks seemed to fade away into nothingness. For hours I went in all directions trying to pick up the road which, although I felt was not the right road, must lead somewhere and was not going to give in. Drove and walked about until 2 am but no luck so decided to wait until daylight. Fortunately the night was not very cold.
Thursday June 12th 1930:
As soon as day broke looked for the road and found that a wash out had blocked the road, and the tracks of other cars had gone in all directions through the trees and long grass joining the road a couple of hundred yards further on. I nearly missed it this morning, si did not wonder at missing it in the dark. Went on and reached Riversleigh for lunch. Put in a bit of work on Mr Foster’s car in the afternoon, taking carburettor to pieces etc.
Friday June 13th 1930:
Marked the tennis court today and played tennis most of the time. Christened the baby at night, Vera Alice Joan. Retired early as feeling a bit tired.
Saturday June 14th 1930:
Was going to leave today but a chap walked in last night whose car had broken down so went out and towed him in and saw that he fixed the bus properly.
Sunday June 15th 1930:
Got everything ready to leave today, had a talk to the kids and gave them some books and cards. Went out riding this morning and brought in some killers. Waited until they killed so as to take meat along to a couple by the way. Were late killing so did not finish tea until 8 pm so did not leave as intended.
Monday June 16th 1930:
Left this morning and had lunch at Billy Walker’s. Gave him some music for a couple of hours. Joined with another car from here. Did not stop long anywhere on the way in and finally reached Camooweal at 8 pm. Weather turned terribly cold, wind blowing off rain somewhere away down south.
Tuesday June 17th 1930:
Cold morning, wind has a real bite. Had a lazy day cleaning up and delivering a few parcels. Alf and I had a go for a couple of hours on the car and fixed the lights which now are good.
Wednesday June 18th 1930:
Weather turned very cold. Did some writing, cleaning up and visiting.
Thursday June 19th 1930:
Cleaned the car up this morning, writing and reading for rest of day.
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