Hi to all our readers!
Firstly I would like to announce the winner of our ‘Subscribers Only’ book prize, Our Shadows by Gail Jones. It is Charmaine Edwards who is also celebrating her birthday today believe so ‘Happy Birthday’ as well Charmaine. I hope you enjoy the book. Can you send me your postal address to research@outabckfamilyhistory.com.au
Have you ever had an ‘Outback Adventure’?? If so I would love you to share it with our readers.
I thought I would start by telling you of my own modest adventures many years ago. In 1974 I had been in Australia only three years and was 17 yrs old. I was employed for about three weeks on a large sheep and cattle station about 100kms from Port Headland, Mundabullangana Station (now called just Munda Station), to be the ‘chief, and only cook and bottle washer’ for a group of temporary workers on a Government facility which is situated on the station land some distance from the homestead. This is where my memory fails me as I’m not exactly sure what this facility was for. I had thought it was a weather-tracking radar station, but I could be wrong. It had a secure building which operated by itself and housed a lot of equipment and had a really big tower. (If anyone knows what I was I would love to know).
When we arrived, myself and three workers, we had been told that the electricians would be there who held the keys to the building which had a shower and a toilet. Unfortunately, they didn’t turn up till several days later which was most annoying and meant the toilet arrangement involved a long walk and a shovel. Once we had keys to the building things went better. I got the job of radioing in every morning at 7am to say we were all still ok.
One great part was I had my dog with me, a German Shepherd called Pepper (she was never loose should anyone worry) and we were also right on the coast just a sandhill from the beach. I have searched Google maps but can’t find anything, so perhaps it’s not there any longer. My cooking was pretty basic and consisted of mostly tinned stuff which wore a bit thin after a while. However, I did rig up an excellent washing machine by cleaning out the cement mixer and using that. It worked a treat.
I remember one morning we woke up to strange noises outside the caravans. A bit strange as we were a long way from civilisation. On opening the door we found that we were surrounded by a considerable flock of sheep who has trampled down everything that was left lying about. They had even pulled everything off the washing line. There was quite a lot of other wildlife around mostly cattle and a small herd of wild brumbies.
After the sheep episode, it was decided (well decided for me) that I would be delegated to drive to Port Headland and to get various shopping supplies for the six others working there. Mostly meat, chocolate and of course beer. It was only about 100kms along the old Coastal Highway which even then was pretty rough. So I set off one morning in the old ute (no air con of course) and made it to Port Headland without incident. Supplies purchased, I set off on the return journey. In the whole trip I only passed one other vehicle on the return journey.
Within a few kilometers from the base, smoke started to pour from the engine and we ground to a halt. I was reasonably good mechanically but I knew this was unrepairable, at least by me. The chances of someone passing by were remote and as it was August, and not too hot, the only thing was to walk. I grabbed my backpack and set out. I know you are always told to stay with your vehicle but I could see the top of the tower in the distance and knew if I kept it insight I couldn’t get lost. As I got closer I climbed a slight rise. The base its self was in a large depression something like a mini wolf creek. Completely flat with only the vehicle tracks to the base across the middle.
Not far now I thought. To my right grazed the Brumbies, about 20 mares and some foals and a resident stallion who had up to this point caused no bother and had been quite friendly. I had got about halfway across when I heard noises behind me. The stallion had decided to take offense at me for crossing near his small group and was advancing towards me with ears down and a determined look. I have been used to horses all my life and wasn’t too worried at first till he came closer and closer. He came to a stop about 20 meters away and with his ears back he snorted the dust and stamped his front feet.
I thought to myself he’s going to attack. The only thing I could think to do was to lie down and cover my head. I certainly couldn’t run anywhere. So here is me curled up on the ground with hands on top of my head and face in the dust waiting to be stomped to death, when I heard a car horn blaring and getting closer and closer. My would-be attacker took off as a ute pulled up beside me. The young electrician who had been at the very top of the tower had seen what was happening and had climbed down as fast as he could and jumped in his vehicle and sped to my rescue in the nick of time.
As a postscript to my dramatic rescue, the men seemed more worried that I had left the beer unattended in the broken down ute and the following morning the stallion presented himself at the back door for toast crusts. So it all ended well.
I do hope that you enjoy this week’s stories.
Moya Sharp
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