Thursday Aprl 12th 1934:
We were up very early this morning
as Mr Hosier was awake before 4am and had Jim and I out just as the morning
star appeared. We boiled up and had breakfast and were traveling long before
daylight. A couple of miles this side of Inverleigh we ran into a bit of bog
but not enough to stop us and we reached the station just as the cook as getting up. Here we learned that heavy
rain on ahead had made the roads impassable so there was nothing to do but turn
back which we did after our second breakfast. We had a good run back although a storm or two had fallen
since yesterday and after calling on again at Wernadinga and Armraynald reached
home at 7pm. While coming back we caught a young brolga and a duck and took
them both up to matron who goes in for livestock.
Friday April 13th 1934:
As Mr Hosier still had a few days
leave I decided to do a hurried trip to Wollogerang so after filling up and
loading up after breakfast this smorning we took Jim out 20 miles to meet a
drover who wanted some men but as it was only a short trip Jim decided to wait
and try to get on with someone else. We took him on and left Jim at Touchstone
to come back with Bert Booth. We went on then about 5 miles and stayed for the
remainder of the day in the stock camp, waiting for Booth to bring out the
mail. He assured us that he would be at Touchstone at 6pm. Two storms worked up during the early
part of the night but although we had to roll up our swags a couple of times
and seek the shelter of the car, we only got a few drops each time.
Saturday April 14th 1934:
After breakfast at the camp we ran
into the station and a mile out went right into where the storm of last night
passed. It was all we could manage to get through but we did. Booth however had
not returned so we had to go on without the mail. We got to Bannockburn, the
crossing of the Nicholson river about lunch time so we pulled up and boiled the
billy. This crossing is about ½ mile wide and is difficult to negotiate being
over rocks, through sand and water, winding and twisting in all directions and
finished up with a very steep ‘jump up’ onto the bank through a narrow cutting.
The old bus did not flinch however. While
the billy boiled we tripped off and had a swim and it was glorious. I
did not want to get out but we had to go on. We reached ‘Turn Off’ andf stayed awhile with Mr and Mrs
Murray and had smoko. Constable Wilson has just taken over here from Const
Barclay who has gone to Cairns. We went on again and pulled in at West Moreland
a bit after sundown. This is a very lonely spot, 125 miles from Burketown and
50 from Turn Off. Mrs Irwin was the only one at home which is generally the
case as the men spend most of the time out on the run. She got us some tea
after which we sat on the verandah and talked. A little excitement was caused
when a snake glided on to the verandah amongst us but was quickly dispatched
when I got the gun off the car. Soon we all retired.
Sunday April 15th 1934:
Before breakfast this morning I
went down to the lagoon and shot a couple of ducks for Mrs Irwins Sunday dinner
and after leaving her some books etc went on and arrived at Wollogerang about
11am crossing the border into the
N.T. four miles from the homestead. Mac was home as well Billy Mallins the
cook. We yarned then until dinner time. Mac has just bought a car, a second
hand job that needs a fire under it. He knows nothing about a car and already
it was owing him trouble so I went to have a look and see if I could fix it for
him and was kept going all the afternoon and not much further ahead. After tea
we all gathered together and with the help of the accordian and gramaphone had
a big sing and both sacred and secular songs. The others went to bed then amd
Mac and I sat up and yarned until early morn.
Monday April 16th 1934:
Got to the car again after
breakfast and had the satisfaction ofngetting it going alright just before
lunch. Had then to mend a puncture on one of my tubes and load up ready for
another start. Said farewell about 3pm and had a good run to West Moreland
where we had smoko. Here another job prevailed me as their only rain water tank
had sprung a leak so I patched that up as best as I could and on we came. We
had hopes of getting to Turn Off but it was not to be. Carburettor trouble again delayed us for awhile and running
on top of a stump caused further delay so we pulled up and camped.
Tuesday April 17th 1934:
Up at daylight and had breakfast
and then a good run into Turn Off. We stayed here a couple of hours. Mr Hosier
down talking to Const Wilson while I talked to the Murrays and talked to the small son and gave him some
papers and a hanging text. After a drink of tea we went on and stopped long
enough for me to have a hurried swim in the Nicholson when we crossed it and by
lunch time we were at the Touchstone stock camp. Stayed here awhile and had
lunch and after making arrangements for Chong’s wedding, came on. Did some
shooting over the last 30 miles knocking over a few wallabies and bringing home
3 turkeys. Retired soon after supper.
