Friday Dec 4th 1931:
Still very hot and sultry but no good rain yet. Had the kiddies sports in the afternoon at the school. A very good afternoon’s sport for everyone concerned. Was chief starter and handicapper for all events. Kiddies were all coming up home for a party at night as it was Mr Quinns last night. Rain spoiled the arrangements however and we had after a few games inside to send them all home early. Quinn then packed his belongings ready for the trip.
Saturday Dec 5th 1931:
A good storm just before daylight made things very messy and doubtful whether the plane would be able to take off. Quinn was very anxious. Went up to ‘drome at 5.30 am. Plane got bogged in one spot and took us an hour to get it out but eventually it got off without further mishap. Plenty of mud about. Tidied up the home as m uch as possible. Did some reading and writing.
Sunday Dec 6th 1931:
Had a nice number out at S.School this morning, considering that they have had such a heavy week. Went out to Laffins camp after lunch. Had service at night but not a big crowd present. Too tired I suppose.
Monday Dec 7th 1931:
Had another shower of rain during the night and so this morning Willie Miller and I took the roller down to the tennis court and spent the morning in rolling, making and playing on the new court. Did some writing later in the afternoon when the weather cooled off.
Tuesday Dec 8th 1931:
Did some washing this morning and this afternoon got on my knees and scrubbed the place out. Felt very sore and weary on finishing. Weather very hot. Too hot to work in fact. Had little Dot Darcy up helping me.
( My father often spoke of the Darcy family who consisted of ‘old man Darcy’ and his ‘gin’ and a tribe of children who dad christened at one stage. Years later the Darcy’s became successful wealthy station owners and never forgot the Methodist Inland Mission. I am making an assumption here that Dot Darcy was one of those children.)
Wednesday Dec 9th 1931:
The town was somewhat enlivened today through it being the monthly meeting of the ‘City Fathers’, the Country Women and the hospital committee and as such bringing several outsiders in. A dance was held in the CWA hall at night. Paid a visit to the hospital this evening.
Thursday Dec 10th 1931:
Spent the morning down on the tennis court with some of the ‘never-never’ folk and it was hot. Did not venture outside my door during the afternoon.
Friday Dec 11th 1931:
Got the car ready for the road this morning and did some writing for the mal afterwards. Still very hot but no rain.
Saturday Dec 12th 1931:
Got up at 4.30 am and loaded up and then woke Bill Miller up. Put him on, called for John Darcy and set out for Mandangi. Called in at Beaumonts 10 miles down, and found the kettle was just about to boil. Pulled up for awhile at Barkly homestead and at No 6 bore. Broke a back shackle after getting on to Headingly country which delayed us for ¾ of an hour. Stopped for a few minutes at Headingly and then put behind the remainder of the 140 miles when arrived at Mandangi at 12 noon. A terribly hot wind blowing and Mandangi looks completely dried out. Had a clean up before lunch and a sleep afterwards. Kiddies had their sports late in the afternoon but they were very quiet all through. Only excitement was in the ladies tug’o’war when at the time the strain was greatest the rope broke. Old Tom Hanlon of ‘copper’ fame is in town and is celebrating the occasion right royally. Prize distribution and a dance took up the evening.
Sunday Dec 13th 1931:
Had to get to work this morning and do a couple of jobs on the car, which kept me going till lunch time. Got the kiddies together this afternoon for Sunday School and did some visiting afterwards. A lot of sickness in the town at present. A nice crowd at Church at night, a load of folk driving in from a selection several miles out. Went across to a home afterwards where a very young mother with her two weeks old baby are both very sick with whooping cough. Had a service there when the baby was christened. Just at the close of the service, the heat betc of the sick room proved too much for one girl who fainted. She was coming round alright when to keep her company another girl went out to it. Both were taken home and put to bed, and went in for awhile to Thomas’ then and after supper went to the hotel and bed.
Monday Dec 14th 1931:
Beat the sun up this morning and practically everyone else in Mandangi. Got packed up and had a drink of tea at Millers. Called on all the sick folk and found them progressing favorably, so got Bill and Jck and left the place at 6.30 am. Had another drink of tea on reaching Headingly and arrived at Lake Nash at 9.30 am just in time for ‘smoko’. Before leaving here had to have a game of cricket with the chaps. A few miles on from here had a blow out, which caused extra work and loss of sweat. Pulled into Arcadia and after a very dry yarn enjoyed the lunch provided. Came on then and reached the selection at 4 pm just as the cups were rattling for ‘smoko’. I can judge it now to perfection. Had Joe Pellor on for the last 10 miles into town. Enjoyed then a good shower and clean up. A hot day but no sign of further rain. 100 miles for the day.
Tuesday Dec 15th 1931:
Had a very pleasant surprise on reaching home last night as the ranch had by no means the appearance of a bachelor flat. Everything was tidy and clean and order reigned throughout. Covers etc had been washed, ironed and replaced, with a few extras as well. My dirty clothes had also been washed and ironed. Words failed me. I could only look and think. Did a bit myself today in cleaning windows and paintwork and then did some reading and writing.
( This is the end of another of dad’s diaries that he so meticulously kept.)
Wednesday Dec 16th 1931:
Thus does today bring the commencing of another book and one wonders just what will be the events, circumstances etc that will go to the filling of its pages. Today is hot, too hot to be pleasant or comfortable, with the rain keeping well away. The prediction is big rains within the next week, let us hope that is correct. Received word from the Colonel today confirming my reappointment to te Gulf Mission, also granting me leave, thus enabling me to decide to leave here on the 27th of this month. Cars are a nuisance as they are always needing attention and today I had to get all dirty and greasy doing a couple of small jobs on my bus. Spent the morning down at Dawsons watching a young lady sewing, and offering very valuable remarks, not always appreciated.
Thursday Dec 17th 1931:
I looked in my pile of unanswered correspondence today and said “ Verily thou shalt be answered” but alas, it was as with many other good resolutions, and now at the end of the day the pile is as it was before. Very little in the way of writing did get done. The weather is so hot it assists in the doing of only one thing, nothing. At the committee mtg of the local tennis club held this evening, I filled the position of acting sec, owing to the absence of Mt Quinn, and while there was plenty of talk, not much business was done, too many ladies on the committee.
Friday Dec 18th 1931:
If it were not for the Methodist Inland Mission many of the folk out here would die, I am sure. Two folk in the town went to see the Dr today, only because I went and forced them into the car and drove them up. Of course, being on the hospital committee I have to keep the institution going somehow. The car looks a little more respectable now, as today we replaced the torn and frayed back of the hood with a new one. Put through some very important business at the Cricket Committee meeting this evening. In good time too, no ladies present.
Saturday Dec 19th 1931:
How hot it is and how dry the air and being election day the hotels are closed, in front. Thought I was liable for a 2pound fine but in the end discovered my name on the roll. A very quiet day for election day although quite a few extra in town. Nobody stayed however, any longer than they could help. The car gave me a couple of hours on the broad of my back this morning, and did the job over at Don Ramsays. Went for a drive out along the road before tea got a puncture and after tea on the way out to where some chaps are camped 12 miles out got another. Was very pleased to receive them too. ( Tongue in cheek remark I suggest. ) A dance in progress when I came back. The fighting spirit had got hold of several of the men as cuts, bruises and black eyes testified next day. I had te job at 12.30 am of driving 3 of them 10 miles out to their camp thus putting them out of harms way.
Sunday Dec 20th 1931:
2.00 am is far too late to retire as I realized when I awoke this morning. It was a fearfully hot night too, not at all a good one for sleep. It shows how keen are the kiddies on Sunday School when several of them came up here this morning at 9 am, 2 hours before time and waited for me to go down. Read a letter to them this morning with Xmas wishes from Brother Norton. Again today the heat has been terrible. Sweltered at home here until 4 0’clock, in quiet meditation , then got in the car with 3 others and went along the river and tried to find a cool spot in the shade. The heat was evidentally too much for the folk this evening as not too many came out to service.
Monday Dec 21st 1931:
Today promised well for rain all day but just when it seemed as if we were going to get a deluge it disappeared. I am right out of water here and thinking it was going to rain fixed the spouting on the place and got two small tanks ready and caught nothing. A little baby died at the hospital this morning and I buried it this afternoon. When the same lady was in hospital previously , for weeks she was on the point of death and noone thought she would recover. Sent out a lot of books and papers to some folk who are camped a few miles out, where there is one I have just discovered who used to be a Sunday School teacher in a Methodist Church somewhere inside.
Tuesday Dec 22nd 1931:
It is still doing its best to give us a drop of rain but is not being very successful. All today has been very dull, but the only moisture about has been perspiration and plenty of it. Visited all around the town today which will be the last time for awhile. Folk are all getting ready for Xmas revellings. Impressed upon them not to forget its real significance. After tea, with several others, went down to the ‘Bore’ and spent the evening.
Wednesday Dec 23rd 1931:
The mail was late getting in last night so did not receive anything until this morning. Expected pictures and films to arrive but they missed somewhere, so had to disappoint the children. Had to go down to the ‘Bore’ this afternoon, taking Mrs Mostert ( Moslut? ) and family for the run. Spent over an hour mending punctures on their car down there, one puncture which they had been unable to locate.
‘ Xmas Eve’ December 24th 1931:
How unlike all that we usually associate with this day is it out here. I can hardly realize that it is Xmas, but it must be as is it 12 months since last Xmas Eve. Before breakfast put the Rocklands roller on the bus and after eating took it out to the station. Had then to stay and talk for a while with the lady of the house, which lengthened out until ‘smoko’ time after which I returned to the town. Had then a very busy few hours. Several folk had been looking for me, as I had the tennis and cricket a/c’s etc to finalize and leave in order, and also the mission interests to settle and my own personal a/c’s to wind up. I am hoping I have not left undone the things I should have done. Late in the afternoon with one of the boys I went out after ducks and got nine, so was able to give 3 of the local people duck for their Xmas dinner. The children of the town were givemn a Xmas treat at night in the hall, at which for awhile I was present, which was a bun-fight and a dance, but there was more noise than anything else. I brought a family in from 3 miles out who are camped there and never see anything in this way, but they went home again early, the kiddies getting very tired. After the evening was over there was another family to take home 10 miles away and quite a crowd of young folk came for the drive. One chap spoiled the drive by both going and returning taking fits, once jumping out of the car before I could pull up. He took some holding too when we got him on the ground. Once he got up after a spasm and went for his life across the downs, but stood on his head after going a hundred yards, was no further trouble after that. Thus for us was Xmas 1931 ushered in.
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