Engagement

I finally found a mention of the relationship and romance that had grown between my father and mother. However there are still a lot of gaps that I hope to find answers to in future readings of m y father's diaries.

Thursday June 13 1935....

Had to have another go at my stove chimney today and lengthened it but still it smokes. Quite a crowd gathering in town for the races. Had a letter today from home. .....? and a cheque. Eileen got her ring and quite thrilled. Got some more writing done and tok wireless down to Shorty. Had Bill Blog call in after tea. Went to the hall at night. CWA ball on.

Friday June 14....

Was a bit late in rising today so that breakfast was also late. Post Office open for only one hour so had to hurry down and send a telegram home. Came back and did some writing, then went down to the store. Came home and got some lunch then cleaned and called for Eileen and Mrs Synnott and went over to the course. Had tea at Synnotts and then home and dressed and took Eileen to hall. Startled natives when they saw ring on Eileen's finger.

Saturday June 15....

A busy morning at home. Got some mail away, also telegrams. One to Marj. and one to Works Dept Townsville. Took Eileen and others over to course. Went to hall at night and very soon after arriving had brush with Sonny Darcy. Mr Campbell intervened and later Darcy locked up for night. Eileen very upset.

Sunday June 16...

Had the usual nice crowd at S.S this morning and after lunch loaded up bus and Eileen and self came out to Morestone? Arrived in time for tea. Afterwards tried to fix wireless.

MacArthur River Station

AS I have searched my fathers diaries for mention of my mother on his visits to the station where her family had moved I have found nothing indicating his visits to my mother's family or his feelings for her...other than the earlier mentioned diary extract where my father said his favourite girl's name was Eileen (my mother's name). It is also unfortunate that I have no written records from my mother's early family life. But I am able to recall some of the memories she shared with me over the years about her life on MacArthur River STation.

My mother always spoke proudly of the manner in which her father treated the aboriginal workers on the station...that he respected their need to 'go walkabout', expected his family to treat the women well, they were housed and paid and fed well. As a result they all worked well and the women in particular became true friends of the family. My mother often mentioned Ivy, an aboriginal woman who worked in the house and appparently had a lot to do with my mother and her older sister Ann. One story that has always stuck in my mind tells of twin boys being born to one of the aboriginal women on the property and my mother and her sister Ann were asked to name them. At this time in the early 1930's there were many reports in the news pf the doings of Hitler and Mussolini. As a result the two sisters named the twin picaninnies...Hitler and Mussolini. I remember being horrified when I first heard this story but in later years could see the funny side. It was especially surprising as my mother was such a lady and not prone to making this sort of joke. But then I guess we can see it with the hindsight of all the tragedy that later came to pass, involving those two .....Hitler and Mussolini. As far as I can ascertain my mother was 17 or 18 years old when her family first moved from Charters Towers to Mac Arthur RIver Station and they were only there for a few years when my grandfather became sick and died. It was my father who assisted the family to move back to the coast of Queensland EXCEPT for my mother and her sister Ann. My father obtained a job for my mother as a housemaid at the Reilly's Hotel and I feel sure that her sister Ann remained with her as a chaperone. My parents were married in Camooweal in 1936.

I will continue to read the copious notes in my father's diaries in search of some reference to meeting or visiting my mother's family and maybe even a mention of his romantic interest as it grew.