The Stockman’s Grave –

The Stockman’s Grave

The Stockmen by Roger Garwood

Breezes stir the bowgada scrub
York gums nod and sway
Sheep may graze across the mound
That is a stockman’s grave

No cross, no name at the head of the mound
Only little while stones surround
The fading scars on the bushland tell
How this stockman drowned

Bush bird makes her warning call
Mallee hen scampers away
Horseman looks down with curious stare
At the stockman’s grave.

I passed the grave when just a boy
With imagination wild I saw
Natures’ savage wrath in fire and storm
Claim a good man’s life, what for?

Her cruelest trick was played
On one so brave and strong
In an avalanche of sound one night
A heartbeat, his life was gone.

In nature’s ageless plan of time
Nature took what nature gave
Upon this mound no tears fall
Its just a stockman’s grave

Four-wheel drive grinds through the scrub
Stops near the mound
Prospector thoughtfully rubs his chin
Yes, there’s little white stones surround.

Irishman’s grave was hard to find
Who cared or of any mind
Very few, perhaps two or three
With curious interest in history.

Young man kneels with hat in hand
If only a chance he had been given
To know the sleeper beneath the mound
To meet Grandfather, whilst still living.

Old wooden cross no name, if there ever was
Same little white stones surround
The scars are gone, no longer tell
How this stockman drowned.
By Trevor Tilka

Ref: Western Australian Lonely Graves Vol 2

William HERON died on about 30th March 1927 aged about 65yrs on Wanarra Station in the Perenjori district. He was born about 1862 in Ireland. Witnesses at his burial were S B Hock and Albert Gaylor. His grave is situated near the Wanarra sheep station out camp and Rothsay goldmine. He was a stationhand who apparently died from drowning after a flash flood in the area. His body was found washed up in a tree after the storm.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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