More travels in a shaky bus.

Saturday April 4th 1931:
Among the books all the morning and went to a buckjumping show this afternoon given by some of the ‘bagmen’. Very tame thoiugh as nost of the horses forgot to buck or had never learned how.
Sunday April 5th 1931:
Had 33 children at S.S this morning. Very nice to see the crowd there. Mrs Quinn came along and helped. Had the afternoon at home reading and sleeping. Had service at night and again a congregation of 30. Hope it continues. Had coffee at the ‘Cottage’ afterwards.
Monday April 6th 1931:
Easter Monday.
Had a picnic today out at Bullring 10 miles out. Went out by lorry and my bus and a couple of private cars. Did 2 trips myself. A fair crowd went out and all had a good day. Not much water in the ghole and the place rather dusty but noone worried as it was quite expected, so also were the myriad of persistent sticky flies. Reached home by sundown. Went up to Pollards after having a bath and clean up and got a magic lantern to work for the kiddies, that they did not quite understand.
Tuesday April 7th 1931:
Cleaning up, writing and reading all day. Mail expected in early but lorry broke down 70 miles out. Got my Kodascope working tonight and gave a private screening.
Wednesday April 8th 1931:
Both mails in today so plenty of reading, although very little in letters for me. A fair number in town today, monthly meetings of Council and the Hospital. Weather warming up again although wind still south east. Attended hospital meeting at night. Tennis Club ran a dance to raise funds and think it was a success. People coming in form the Territory report a cloud burst 60 miles out last Thursday night and still a sea of water there. Had trouble in getting through.
Thursday April 9th 1931:
Still have plenty of writing to do and have been at it practically all day. Weather very nice, although rather warm and we may get some rain. Had a number of men in during the day for a read or a yarn.
Friday April 10th 1931:
Getting my air mail ready today. Had a chap in seeking my help in finding his brother, so that he may ascertain from the brother if their mother is alive for if she is dead there should be some money left for him. He is one of the society outcasts that the west shelters and of the kind that is known by the fact of having with him two gin wives. Drove a lady who has to go into hospital 10 miles down the river to her home so as to get several things she wanted and brought her back again. Spent the evening in reading.
Saturday April 11th 1931:
Had a clean and tidy up at the ‘ranch’ this morning and fixed up a comfortable ‘deck’ chair in which to sit. Tried to get the lads out to cricket practice this afternoon but was not too successful although we did have a practice. Had the general meeting of the club at night with a fair attendance.
Sunday April 12th 1931:
Had a record roll up at Sunday School this morning with 45 children attending. Very nice it was to se them all there. Could do with several more teachers for this number. Did some visiting around the town and had a sleep this afternoon. A big crowd assembled at the ‘drome at 5.30 pm to welcome ‘Scotty’ after his record trip from England. He made a very spectacular landing and was enthusiastically welcomed especially as he is so well known in the district. A dinner in his honor was given y the council at the hotel and not commencing until 7.15 pm greatly interfered with the attendance at service. Had a service never-the-less although the children predominated in numbers.
Monday April 13th 1931:
A close muggy day ending with heavy storms all round but only 30 points in the town. Visited the school for religious instruction and afterwards called on the new Dr and wife his and spent the remainder of the afternoon there.
Tuesday April 14th 1931:
Ordinary mail arrived in today with quite a budget for myself, all very nice too. Did a lot of writing myself.
Wednesday April 15th 1931:
Air mail brought a few more letters today. Spent most of the day on the car, changing and patching tyres, oiling and greasing up. Writing letters at night and getting ready for a trip.
Thursday April 16th 1931:
Put all my things on the car and then loaded up from the stores and Post Office and left Camoweal at 11.30 am. Four miles out at the crossing of the Georgina at Rocklands station, found a loaded lorry bogged. The river was running as a result of Monday night’s rain. Stopped with the lorry and helped get it out, which was only accomplished after unloading. Travelled with the lorry the for 10 miles. When we got out of the stretch where rain had fallen a good day traveling and then I left them. Did a foolish thing after getting the lorry out of the bog. I went on ahead to pick a good track and having to go off the road frequently I struck another road and followed it for 2 ½ miles before discovering was on the wrong one, the lorry driver blindly followed me. Did 5 miles on very heavy going more than need have. Reached Gallipoli station at about 5 pm 60 miles from Camooweal and stopped. Delivered mail and papers. After tea gave them a picture show using the side of the tent for the screen and the men sat on the ground. Unrolled my swag and retired.
Friday April 17th 1931:
Up before the sun this morning and answered the cook house call. Caught a horse and went out mustering with the men, yarding cows and calves so as to brand all clean skins. Had fifty branded by lunch time. Stayed at the yard for a while after lunch and then went on to Herbertvale station another 20 miles further and was not allowed to continue. Had another picture show there after tea. This time inside.
Saturday April 18th 1931:
Went on after breakfast and traveled some very rough rocky country, reaching Lilydale Springs after 40 miles traveling. A crowd camped here all out of work. Had lunch and went on to Riversleigh station . Only the manager and his wife and 3 black boys on the station at present. This place is a delightful spot on the Gregory river. Had another entertainment for whites and blacks here.
Sunday April 19th 1931:
Spent a very quiet morning at the station and let during the afternoon, taking with me and elderly man, father of the station manager’s wife and a little girl, ‘their daughter’. (?)
Only went the 15 miles to the Springs and stayed. After tea got the pictures ready and gramaphone and had music , pictures and a little service. About 14 men present and one lady. All the men are chaps out of work, traveling through the country. Only one went away during the service.
Monday April 20th 1931:
Left the Springs at 8 am and 12 miles on came to Sam Ah Bow’s at Loney Ck. Black, yellow and brindle inhabit this ‘ranch’. Sam has a graden. 6 miles further on came to main camp of Lawn Hills mines: no work being done, only caretaker , wife and family here now. People are nice. Stayed for lunch and then on again and had 100 miles of terribly rough traveling. Roads cut up fearfully by lorries and wagons, traveling during wet and cattle. One place I did 10 miles at a stretch with going that rough I could not get out of second gear. I wondered the car held together over all the bumps and shocks. Reached Burketown at 9 pm. Pulled in at Police Sergeant’s and stopped the night with no intentions of staying anywhere.
Tuesday April 21st 1931:
Had a very quiet day. Doing nothing. Went across the river and had a look at an alligator that some of the chaps had trapped but had shot that morning. Played tennis in the afternoon and at night spent the evening at the home of the Post Master.
Wednesday April 22nd 1931:
Did some writing this morning and visiting and making all arrangements this afternoon for the wedding ceremony. At 7 pm in the Shire Hall, united on the bonds of matrimony, two local young folk, the girl having just turned 17. A very pretty wedding. Breakfast afterwards had plenty of go as plenty of ‘laughing water’ available. A dance followed, held in the hall and the bridegroom was at work next morning at 8 o’clock.
Thursday April 23rd 1931:
Spent the morning working on the car and discovered my tyres will not see me much further. Will be lucky to get back to Camooweal without trouble. I played tennis during the afternoon as stayed at home at night.
Friday April 24th 1931:
Went out 25 miles to Armarandal (?) Station taking 2 ladies and 4 children. Another terribly rough road. Called in at the Murray’s home when returning.
Saturday April 25th 1931:
Anzac Day. Burketown has never had an Anzac Commemoration service so decided they should be put right this year. Arranged during the day for a service at night, as well for my own service tomorrow night. A nice crowd came out and we had four speakers including myself, but there were several others who could have attended. The minute silence was rudely broken by a child running around and crying out ‘Bubbah’. I did my best to make the folk realize their obligation on this day and not neglect the observance in future.
Sunday April 26th 1931:
A very quiet day. Did some visiting and trying to get the children linked up in Sunday School work again. A nice crowd out at service at night.




Monday April 27th 1931:
Spent the morning writing and working on the car, patching up the tyres. Played tennis during the aftrnoon and at night put on a social in the hall, when I again showed the pictures. Games and competitions followed and supper was partaken of at home by those who were lucky. Visited school for religious instruction.
Tuesday April 28th 1931:
Got the car ready for the road, said fond farewells and picking up Gran Shadforth and Gladys Foster, left at 10 am. 18 miles out pulled up and had morning tea and a talk by the wayside at a small home housing a big family. Road rough for a few miles along and then improved. 35 miles out called in at Brookdale selection. Had another cup of tea and talk here. Plodded on then to ‘Almora’ and sat down to a bachelors dinner. Left here about 3 pm and kept going until reached Donaldson selection, where again ‘tea-ed’. 5 miles further on reached Planet 70 miles from Burketown and called it a day. A crowd of children here. Went down for a swim and after tea, entertained the kiddies until bed-time.
Wednesday April 29th 1931:
Went on after breakfast and 12 miles ahead came to Gregory hotel, police station and cattle station. Visited all in turn. Had another passenger by now. Gran Beaumont from Camooweal. A squeeze to get them all in the car. Both ladies seemed to object to the other being a passenger but managed to keep them from scratching and biting each other.
Boiled the billy at the ‘Lily’ and ate. Reached Riverseigh at 4 pm and stopped. Car not going too well. Had some music before retiring.
Thursday April 30th 1931:
Spent the morning and part of afternoon on the car, at the carburettor and tyres. Went out in man ager’s car after ‘smoko’ and fished until supper time in both Gregory and O’Shannessy rivers. Caught 6.
Friday May 1st 1931:
Left after breakfast and had a rotten day. The car just went and that was all. Had several punctures and blow outs and just got home amd that was all. Passed several droving camps on the way and of course had a yarn at each. Only had Gran Beaumont on board today. Reached Camooweal at 8.30 pm. Ate! Got my 2 weeks mail and read it. Had a bath. Did some writing and retired at midnight.
Saturday May 2nd 1931:
Was busy all the morning around the town and in my ranch. Had to arrange and play a cricket match this afternoon. Weather rather hot too. ‘Bagmen’ had a win too. Our first innings only realized 23 but second attempt brought 129. Their scores were 56 and 102. A good game but was very tired and went to bed early.
Sunday May 3rd 1931:
Went to S.S this morning with a nice number of children present. Visited and arranged for service at night. Had a fair number out but a lot more could have been present. Had another early night to bed.