The challenges of outback travel in 1930

These exerpts from my father's diaries describe in detail the both joys and hurdles he encountered in his travelling ministry role. He proved over many years, subsequent to these experiences, how adaptable he was, how he could relate to all people no matter what their position in life and that he was a practical jack of all trades when it came to fixing anything.

1931 Mon June 1………

Got away from Camooweal at last. Got everything ready this morning and picking up a bagman left the town at 2.30 pm. Had a good run out of 50 miles to ‘Austral’ and there stopped. People here are R.C’s but very nice. Only one protestant on the place. Pleased them all very much after tea by showing them the pictures. Had a good talk then until bed time.

Tues June 2………

Stayed at Austral this morning and did some work on the Kodascope and reading.Left after lunch for Lake Nash. Picked up a bagman along the road who was sitting right in the wheel track so as to make sure he would not miss a ride. Stayed the night at the Lake. Mostly all R. C’s here.

Wed June 3….

Did a small job on the car this morning and after Smoko left Lake Nash and went 12 miles over to a sheep selectors home. Stayed here for lunch and afterwards went across country 20 miles to Bullecourt, a small cattle selection. The lady of the house home on her own and not too well, so as could do nothing soon moved on. Did some more cross country work and and came to a family who had been working on the rabbit fence but who are now out of work , through a rabbit boards ceasing to exist. Stayed here. The mother is an R’C but allowed me to talk to the children and give them and herself pictures and reading material. Showed them also my Kodascope pictures. Not feeling too good here and had to prowl about several times during the night.

Thurs June 4…….

Left this home after breakfast although did not have any myself. Had a good run of 40 miles to Headingley Station. A big crowd here. All men. The horses for the Wandangi races have been paddocked here and came out today, so all the owners are here to take charge of their own. Stayed here and had ‘Smoko’and went on traveling 20 miles further to Wandangi. After lunch called on a couple of sick folk and then continued on the road, intending to reach if possible Rocksborough Station 90 miles down along the Georgina River. Passed through Walgia and Carrandotta, only stopping for a few minutes at each and for 40 miles had good going. Left the road then and truck down to the river and started to follow it along. Was then on the Georgina stock route. Mobs of cattle traveling have the country for miles as bare and desolate as it could possibly be. The road is powdered up a foot deep. Very heavy going for the car. Rough in places. Rocky ridges and steep gullies to negotiate. Was 25 miles from Rocksborough and 25 miles from Carrandotta when I stopped to put water in the radiator and then it all happened. Water poured out of the exhaust and the carburettor. I thought a walk was in store for me as I knew it was the cylinder head gasket gone. I took the head of however and saw the break by aid of the spotlight. Lit a fire ten and boiled the billy and had a drink and a few biscuits. Made an attempt to patch up the break although did not know if it would work and put the head back on.

Before putting water into the radiator got down on my knees for a few minutes and then went on with the job and it held. Unrolled my swag then and turned in.
Fri June 5…..

Up with the morning star, boiled up and ate a few biscuits. Packed everything in and turned back as was not risking getting further away from help. Had breakfast with some chaps camped along the river who gave me half a dozen very nice fish. Went on then and reached Carrandotta. Car still going alright so decided to keep going and all went well until about 17 miles from Wandangi when gasket again began to leak. Kept going however and got into Wandangi on 3 cylinders with no further trouble. Think I was very fortunate however to get back so well. Discovered then that I could get a new gasket from Headingley Station and that it would be brought in. Got the bus ready then to put the gasket straight on when it came. Got cleaned and did some visiting and went to be early.

(Saturday and Sunday spent fixing the car and visiting people at Wandangi and conducting Sunday School.)

Mon June 8…..Up before daylight and after having a cup of tea left and was at Headingley by sunrise and there had breakfast. Went on and called in at a drovers camp where last week a chap was sick but who had now recovered. Thought I might have had to take him into hospital. Called at Lake Nash, Arcadia, Barclay and The Selection and reached Camooweal at 4pm after 180 miles traveling.

Do it yourself building!

My father had trained and worked as a builder's carpenter prior to his studies or the ministry and it seems these skills came in very handy while he was stationed in Camooweal. In various parts of his diaries he indicates the processes by which he was able to establish a simple, yet comfortable, dwelling for himself ..... not an easy task it would seem at times.

Tuesday August 25^th 1931………Went out with Jock Miller to the O’Shannessy to get blocks for the house. Fell 20 trees and cut into 10feet lengths and barked 10 of them. Raised some beautiful blisters. Camped out.

Wednesday August 26^th……Cut and barked the remaining 10 this morning and then loaded 11 on to the lorry and brought them in and arriving back at 4 pm. Weather terribly windy and dusty. R.C’s holding a mission in the town.

Thursday August 27^th…..Spent the morning in my room, reading and writing. Decorated the Parsonage this afternoon in honour of a wedding that was duly celebrated at 7.30 pm. Had a quiet breakfast with a few friends. The bride was only 16 years old.

Friday August 28^th….Went out the 40 miles today and brought in the remaining 9 blocks. ………

Mon Aug 31^st….Went up this morning and marked out my allotment and pegged out the building. No survey pegs about to define streets so had to do the best I could to find corner. Cannot be ore than a few inches out. Went to the school this afternoon.

Tues Sept 1………Armed with pick and shovel and bar made terrific onslaughts on post holes. Hot work. Hard sinking. Most of holes are a couple of inches under the 3 feet. Wardsman from hospital took pity and gave me a hand with a few of them. Put 10 down by 3.30 when had to knock off. Did some writing at night.

Wed Sept 2…..Finished the other t5 holes myself this morning and then prepared a tin full of ant poison to feed the white ants…………

Thursday Sept 3….Jack Miller went out to the Springs (100 miles) in lorry this morning and I followed in the car. Arrived there a while after dark.Several men camped around the place. Billy W still there.

Fri Sept 4…..Got to work and pulled down cottage. A couple of the chaps camped here gave us a hand. Discovered I made too good a job on the bus as I tightened nut on front axle too severely and so broke ‘roller race???’. Think it will take me home.

Sat Sept 5…..Loaded up lorry this morning and Jack left a while before lunch. Went across to Riversleigh myself in the afternoon. Fixed the wheel axle sufficiently to keep going a while longer.

Mon Sept 7^th…..Loaded up my bus this morning and had a big load on it too. Still about ½ ton to bring in. Held up at Herbervale mending punctures and changing tyres. Reached Camooweal about 9 pm.

Tues Sept 8….………Unloaded car and stacked timber………….

Wed Sept 9…Hard work again. Put blocks in. Some of them took lifting too. Hot weather.

At some stage as I was growing up I remember seeing a photo of the dwelling that was erected but it is now lost and the dwelling itself had to be demolished many tears later as it had become structurally unsafe.

The heat of summer..............

A hot New Year……1931….

Thursday Jan 1 …..

A hot day ushers in the New Year. A fair few in town. A day’s racing held here in town in aid of local hospital. For myself slept most of the afternoon in a Turkish bath. Another big dance at night but did not patronize it. Weather is getting too hot for anything now.

Jan 2….

Another hot day. Coolest spot in the town is under Reilly’s cottage which is up on high blocks and there it was 106 F ………at night went to a show again by a traveling company and it was awful.

Jan 3…..

Still the heat continues and no sign of rain. Went shooting this afternoon but only got 5 ducks……….

Jan 4………

No change in the weather and the river the only place can get cool although even there the surface water is hot and no good until stirred up…………

Jan 5………

Heat still prevails…………

Jan 6…….

…………….Weather continuing very hot. Up to 116F in some places in shade.

Back from North Queensland.

The 6 weeks I spent in North West Queensland was amazing and exciting....especially as I thought back to the diary entries of my father as he related his experiences in North Queensland.

THursday June 20th....

Having risen, showered, shaved and breakfasted, had a talk to one of the men folk about the place, not many being about, as most had gone on to Rankins. Then looked over the bus and got her ready for the next stage of the journey. There are 3 little girls in the family and very nice kiddies they are too. ...........left about 3 o'clock. The bus now begins to give trouble and in the first couple of miles had to stop and adjust the timing which for some reason was slipping. After a while though she went alright. After passing through a couple of gates we came out to Alexandria Station, the second biggest cattle station in the world.......The feed here is better and we came out in to a real open plain. As fas as we could see there was nothing but open flat country, rising away to the horizon. The only thing that broke the sameness was an occasional tree and in places a sub artesian bore......eventually sighted a few tress and pulled up at Rankine on the rankine River.

THis entry depicts exactly the type of country I passed through on my way to Bellfield Station which is in a forest area such a contrast to the open plains.