1932….
On furlough until March 29th when back in Camooweal per mail lorry. With most of the traveling excluded, a very happy time away. Feel very much better in every way as the result.
Wednesday March 30th 1932:
Getting over the trip back, renewing acquaintances and friendships and getting settled with the life again.
Thursday March 31st 1932:
Into the vast accumulation of mail matter. Not much of it very interesting, although most of it has to be taken care of.
Friday April 1st 1932:
Was caught a couple of times during the morning, through not being sufficiently wide awake. Started to give downstairs a good clean up today in readiness for the commencement of batching. Found some very nice friends down there too in the way of centipedes, none of them under 6 inches in length. Harry Foster came in today and camped with us.
Saturday April 2nd 1932:
Still preparing the home for ‘the cook’ ( not a long haired one ) …. ( not sure what was meant by this comment )…….and had a game of tennis in the afternoon. The court is in much better order than when I went away, the rain having done good work.
Sunday April 3rd 1932:
Very nice to be back among the kiddies again and had a good attendance at Sunday School. Visited the hospital and a few places during the afternoon and had a nice number out at the night service.
Monday April 4th 1932:
Got in a supply of provisions and started the batching life today and got through the day without any hitch. ( My father had previously been fed at Reilly’s hotel or with the Reilly family.) Mr Quinn I can see is not fond of cooking, so it seems as the responsibility in that direction is going to be mine. Toook the car down to the local ‘garage’ and had the radiator taken off and repaired. Went down and visited the selection folk at night.
Wednesday April 6th 1932:
Got my mail this morning, including the picture films, which meant getting the hall and lights in readiness for the night. Alf gave me a hand. Was kept going the whole afternoon in mending and changing tyres and tubes. At night had a good roll up to the hall, where everything went off very nicely.
Thursday April 7th 1932:
Got some mail away this morning and then got the bus ready for the road., as I am on my way to the Rankine, to look up a couple who are very anxious to be married, in fact, have been waiting? For three months for me to turn up. Had more trouble with tubes which delayed my start but got away after lunch with three bagmen up as passengers. Stopped for awhile at Avon and reached Rankine at sundown. Took the bagmen up to the bore and came back to the store. The ‘bride’ and ‘bridegroom’ had n ot put in an appearance, as they were supposed to meet me here. Decided to stay the night son was given a room at Lloyds and became one of the family.
Friday April 8th 1932 :
Spent most of the morning mending tyres and tubes so as to keep going. Decided then to go and find the couple, which meant firstly, making for Alexandria homestead. Constable Pryor came with me. On arrival at the homestead the cook gave us a late lunch, much appreciated. Discovered then that the couple were out on the run and due today at Bore No 14, so with the book-keeper on board now, the three of us set out for the bore. On arrival find noone here, so went across the to No 3 and found them here. After much talk, arranged to meet at the homestead that night to make final arrangement. We returned ten and left them to follow later, which they did and hour or two after dark. Decided then that the ceremony should take place at the Rankine on the following afternoon. Stayed the night at the homestead.
Saturday April 9th 1932:
All hands and not the cook decided to go across for the big event, so waiting until after lunch, two cars well loaded set out for the Rankine. On arrival there found the couple all ready for the ceremony in their home. The bride had cleaned the place up very nicely too. It took awhile to get everybody together at te one time as everybody hd developed a big thirst on the way over, which was difficult to quench. After a very unique ceremony in which the two were made one and the dusky ( aboriginal I assume ) damsel pledged herself to love, honour and obey her lord and master, the fun started. Grog flowed freely, tongues were loosened, the gathering became very merry. At six o’clock the bride had the ‘breakfast’ ready, of corned beef, potatoes and onions and fruit for dessert. She waited on the rest of us but did not eat with us. I thought it best not to wait about too long so left the party and taking Molly Lloyd as passenger, had a good run through to Avon, where I stayed the night.
Sunday April 10th 1932:
Was not able to leave here until late in the afternoon but got word to Mr Quinn to hold service himself if I was not in in time. Rain fell this morning but although it looked as if we were going to get something decent, we only received a few points. Church had started when I got here, so slipped in quietly and listened to brother Quinn.
April 11 – April 15 1932:
( Mail, visiting, Religious Instruction, cricket and hospital meetings, visit to Rocklands. )
Saturday April 16th 1932:
Carted wood and water this morning for the domestic side of the life. Mr Foster gave me a hand. Got the lads out at cricket practice this afternoon and had quite a good roll up.
Sunday April 17th 1932:
Children did not forget that it was Sunday, neither did quite a number of the grown ups who attended the service at night. In the afternoon I took a car load of the children down to Mudgee selection.
Monday April 18th 1932:
Got two new tyres and tubes today and put them on the bus and changed the others about a bit.
Wednesday April 20th 1932:
Harry Foster came in last night and this evening in both our separate busses we set out for Riversleigh. Pulled up at No 7 on Gallipoli where the camp was and roused Jack out, who cut us off a big piece of steak each which we grilled on the coals and made a very good meal. Talked for awhile and the unrolled swags and turned in. Cold night.
Thursday April 21st 1932:
Up at daybreak, and after breakfast journeyed on, calling at Herbertvale, where I made the acquaintance of the new manager and his wife. Had lunch at the Springs and reached Riversleigh during the afternoon. After ‘smoko’ enjoyed very much a swim in the river. Beautiful water in spite of being the home of crockadiles ( interesting spelling! )and why should they be the only ones to enjoy it? Enjoyed the beauty of the lawn bathed in the glory of the moon;ight. How does it sound?
Friday April 22nd 1932:
Gave the kiddies and the governess a holiday from school today and with a couple of the piccaninnies from the station motored four miles down to the junction of the two rivers. A glorious spot in all its natural beauty. Had a great time fishing and wading about up and down the rivers. Disturbed a ‘crock’ sunning himself on the bank. Boiled the billy and had lunch. Caught six fish and got back for ‘smoko’. Swam then until nearly supper time before which had a game of tennis. Gave the kiddies their Sunday School work. A very enjoyable day.
Saturday April 23rd 1932:
On the road again. After breakfast then on reaching the Springs loaded up with the remainder of the timber and iron belonging to me. Bumped along over the rocky, dusty, dry road. Two miles from Herbertvale had a blowout. Had a drink of tea at the homestead and took a passenger on from here to Gallipoli. Stayed here awhile and then continued, reaching Camooweal a while after dark. Unloaded and then made some tea and cleaned up and entertained visitors.
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