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.