Friday July 25th 1930:
Was all ready at lunch time to set off and did so as soon as loaded myself up. Went north and north west through Rocklands country, passed the Homestead and onto Gallipoli or really Alexandria country 45 miles out. Left Queensland and entered N. A. Pulled up and stayed for a while at a bore where a chap was building a dam and pumping. Arranged to come back and get him when I go across to Alexandria. Reached Gallipoli homestead . A bachelors quarters. Cook, pumper and a couple of men hewre. Stock camp out. Left parcels and mail and went on to No 7 bore where found ‘Red Dick’ pumping and the stock camp. Went no further. When cow bell went announcing tea, lined up with the rest, with pannikin and tin plate for my stew and later, custard and prunes. All sat around anywhere to eat. Got the gramaphone out afterwards and played records for nearly four hours while the men in various attitudes of ease and comfort, either by the fire or on their swags, listened and talked. A wonderful night, something about the whole scene was very attractive and comforting, although in its naturalness, quite crude. The cold, at last, made us think of warmer places and drove us to the cover of our blankets.
Saturday July 26th 1930:
Camp shifted this morning and after seeing them on the way returned to homestead and then back to No 5. Picked up Dick Carter and made for Alexandria. Called at 3 bores, had lunch at the first, where the pumper and his wife spend a very quiet time. Murphy the Scotchman was at the next and ‘Pretty Peter’ the …………was at the third. Reached Alexandria after a 90 miles run, in time for ‘smoko’. A shower, shave and a good clean up, a game of golf, a hit at cricket made it dinner time. Some gramaphone, wireless, and ping-pong filled in the first part of the evening, when I began my very cold and lonely vigl\il at the wireless placed outside. Stayed until 2 am when Aust were 345 and England 3 for 130. ( Cricket!) Slept soundly.
Sunday July 27th 1930:
Went back to Gellipoli today with Bill Harvey in the Dodge, taking Dick Carter back. He came over for his bus but had to return without it. Did the 180 miles in good time. A bit tired when arrived back. Brought my records in and had some music before retiring. Weather very warm.
Monday July 28th 1930:
Spent the morning up at yards where the horse breaker had a few young ones to handle. One horse, rushing blindly, stuck his head in the top rail and retired with a broken neck. Did some writing and reading this afternoon and evening.
Tuesday July 29th 1930:
Spent a good part of the day on the car. Frank Neale and party arrived from Melbourne today in the Lasconder. ( an aircraft ) Had lunch and went on. Father Twomey arrived by car this evening.
Wednesday July 30th m1930:
Left lexandri and continued west. Lunch at Brunette, played 5 sets of tennis and on again. Loaded up with ‘bagmen’. Reached Anthony’s Lagoon and had supper at Police station. Thursday July 31st 1930:
A busy morning at Anthiny’s Lagoon. Ambulance plane arrived and then shortly afterwards the mail plane. 4 sick people here, nigger with a broken thigh, 2 sick and 1 broken ankle. All had to be taken to hospital. Plane took 3 and I left after lunch with the other. Came straight through and camped at midnight, 20 miles from Camooweal after a 250 mile run. A cold night. Picked up a bagman on the way.
Friday August 1st 1930:
A day of rest. Feeling rather tired and weary. Did a bit of writing and reading.
Saturday August 2nd 1930:
Greased and oiled the car and cleaned up a bit. Rested this afternoon. Retired early.
Sunday August 3rd 1930:
Left Camooweal early and reached Rankine. Was going to hold a servive but unable. Crowd here. A cricket match on. In bed at 8.30 pm.
Monday August 4th 1930:
Cunningham, another ‘crank’ airman flew over yesterday. Was talking to him in Camooweal. He is flying to England but I tip he will lose himself long before he reaches there. When he got here he had no idea which way to go to reach Wyndham, had no maps or atlas and we had to show him the way. Spent all today myself at the Rankine Police station, writing. Very quiet. Went up to the store and talked for a while.
Tuesday August 5th 1930:
Left the Rankine and went across to Alroy, taking Mrs Lloyd with me. She wanted to go to Rockhampton on C.W.A business. Practically noone at home at Alroy so only stayed for a bite of lunch and went on. Reached ‘Rocky’ at 4 pm. This is practically the most isolated station in my area. The C.W.A are hoping to erect here a wireless set, receiving and transmitting which would be a very good thing. Had some gramaphone music at night.
Wednesday August 6th 1930:
Mrs Lloyd found she could not stay so had to return this morning. Left books and papers and some cards for the kiddies and came back. Called in at a bore and had a yarn to the pumper and left him some books, also Froggie. Had a cup of tea at Alroy and reached Rankine at 8 pm. Stayed the night at the store.
Thursday August 7th 1930:
Left Alroy and went across to Soudan stn. Found a few at home and had a baptismal service, the second son of the cook’s wife. Could not get the father or any of the men to be present. The father was in the next room baking bread. Seemed afraid to be present. Left after lunch, called at a bore, also at Avon for a while and reached Camooweal for tea.
Friday August 8th 1930:
Did some writing and had a straighten up of everything. Went to the school for half an hour. A party at Reilly’s at night.
Saturday August 9th 1930:
Writing and reading this morning and this afternoon. Took a party of ladies in Relly’s car to the ‘Don’.
Sunday August 10th 1930:
Had Sunday School this morning with the now usual good attendance of kiddies. Got the car ready and set off for Mt Isa, taking Glen with me. Reached Isa at 6.30 pm and put up at the hotel. Got changed and cleaned and went to Church. Menear reaching as it was Anniversary service. Just 12 months since Gribble, Menear and I held the opening service of the Church. After Church Glen, Stan and I had some supper and home to bed.
Monday August 11th 1930:
Spent most of the day at the dentist. Did a bit of shopping. Went over to the mines and called on Mrs Moores. After tea ran a couple to the hospital whose baby was rather ill. Dooley and the cook arrived on the train at 9 pm.
Tuesday August 12th 1930:
Took us all the morning to get away and part of the afternoon. Women are frightful creatures to get away from a place. Was 2 pm before we left, well loaded up. Car gave a bit of trouble in a couple of places and we had a one puncture, but apart from that all went well and reached here at 9.30 pm, very dirty. Road is terribly dusty. The cook was sick on the way and fed the birds and beasts en route.
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