194307
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It was so long ago. Surely the fathers of these oldest here\\ | It was so long ago. Surely the fathers of these oldest here\\ | ||
Were children when I lived. I built a house\\ | Were children when I lived. I built a house\\ | ||
- | And made a fence and ploughed a field. To-day\ | + | And made a fence and ploughed a field. To-day\\ |
A name is all of me that lingers here;\\ | A name is all of me that lingers here;\\ | ||
And still the proud trees stare into the creek,\\ | And still the proud trees stare into the creek,\\ | ||
Line 102: | Line 102: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
+ | =====Fruit Picking At Mildura and Holiday In Tasmania.===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Dot English. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Having finished my allotted span at the Munitions Laboratory, and as there was an urgent call being made just at that time for volunteers to bring in the grape harvest at Mildura, and some thousands of pickers were required if the harvest was not to be lost, I entered my name with the Harvest Labour Bureau and was right smartly and without further delay allotted to Redcliffs, up in the Murray River Irrigation area, 350 miles from Melbourne. | ||
+ | |||
+ | A special " | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Jacobs household consisted of Dad Jacobs and Mum and two charming and talented daughters 18 and 20 years of age. I was boarded at their house, two other young lasses were boarded next door, a young married couple and brother put up a tent in the vineyard, and several men had shacks down by the river. We worked from 8 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. and the sun shone strongly all day on the bright red earth and I sat under the vines and pickd purple currants for a week at the rate of 100 or so buckets a day (the bucket is really a flat tin which holds abour 20 to 25 lbs. of fruit) at £1 per hundred, and the next week golden sultanas at the rate of 200 tins a day. Before we got enough men on the job to do the heavy lifting I assisted Pa with the loading. Daughter Barbara drove the tractor towing a long wide dray, and up and down the vine rows we dashed, Pa and I running on opposite sides and stacking the filled tins on the dray. Then we'd lumber off with our load to the racks, the tractor and its loosely attached purple hindquarters looking like a not-too-well-organized huge insect. Here we'd empty the fruit out onto a wide flat tray, and Pa with a smart sudden jerk would spread the grapes out over the wire mesh racks. Then we'd load the empties back on the dray and Barbara would run us down the unpicked rows while Pa and I threw out bundles of tins at regular intervals under the vines. By the time we'd loaded and tipped and re-stacked and hurled the tins forth again - several hundred tins up to 25 lbs. weight each - we sure knew we'd been working. I was there about 3 weeks, at the end of which time I banked a cheque for £20 and sang the praises of piece-work which allowed an energetic person like myself to reap the reward of extra work. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Returning to Melbourne I found that a party from the Munitions Lab. with whom I had been discussing the possibility of taking our annual holidays in Tasmania, had finalised arrangements, | ||
+ | |||
+ | The Tourist Bureau had told us that there was no chance of getting trans[ort to the Cradle Mountain Reserve (our destination) so we took bikes with us. The crossing is by night, and we arrived early next morning. With 50 lb. packs balanced on the handlebars we made a pretty rough journey over terrific 5th grade roads, through first a hail storm which later developed into a snowstorm - and us with no gloves! O dearo dearo dear! We took the best part of two days to do what the service car does in an afternoon, and when we were only a couple of miles from our destination (what irony!) we met the service car and the driver told us that of __course__ it was still running, what nonsense! and he didn't know what was biting the Tourist Bureau people. | ||
+ | |||
+ | We eventually reached Waldheim, the guest house at the Northern end of the Reserve, and thawed out in front of a big log fire. A large stew and a warm bed and life once more assumed a rosy hue. We awoke to find all the mountains and highlands covered white (and this __March__, and __Australia__! - incredible!). The huts are spaced through the Reserve at 1-day stages (anything from 8 to 15 miles) and the track goes through rugged mountainous country, peaks and lakes and innumerable tarns, swampy button-grass plains, birch forests and pine forests filled with thousands of wallabies and wombats and almost __millions__ of possums at night. This is the most marvellous mountainous spot in Australia. I had no idea we could turn on such New Zealand-like scenery. We walked 150 miles and climbed 10 first-class peaks in as many days. They are only 6 thousand footers, but one forgets they are not so high as the Mt. Cook giants and enjoys them just as much. We had snow the first day, and then a fortnight of perfect sunny days, so once again the gods smiled on me. And once again, just to keep up the old tradition, we managed to get ourselves benighted while completing a successful traverse of four 5,000 ft. peaks. One of the party was quite new to mountaineering and so somewhat slow on the rough stuff, so the final burst of speed which would have just got us back to the hut by dark had to be foregone and we spent a pretty cold night, first sliding and crawling and falling down through a mountainside of dwarf beech (or birch) in the dark, then through dense almost impenetrable wet forest along the valley floor until they called a halt, so I bedded the party down on a spot of dry ground and covered them with dry dead palm leaves, then crawled into the pile myself and shivered and dozed and woke and slapped ourselves and each other, and changed our positions and sang all the songs we knew, beating a tattoo meanwhile on the beck of whoever happened to be in front of us, while the river gurgled and rushed and crept through the dark tangle of trees and vines, and the glow-worms turned on their cold ineffectual fires in all the crannies and crevasses in the moss. | ||
+ | |||
+ | An hour or so before drawn I'd had quite enough of inactivity (I'd always much prefer to go on through pitch dark grizley ways rather than indulge in spineless inaction), so I voted that we get going again and warm up. I might say we had set out in nothing but shorts and shirts and boots, and crawling through the dwarf beech had torn our clothing to ribbons, so for all practical purposes we might just as well be naked. Anyhow, not to prolong the agony any further, at last the dawn arrived, and was just as welcome and miraculous as the time on Mt. Cook after picking our way down the thousand feet of rock face and negotiating the maze of crevasses in the dark. Half an hour more saw us at the hut. We put on billies of water and had hot baths and a big stew, than slept till mid-day and felt not a whit the worse for the night' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
+ | =====Stranger Than Fiction.===== | ||
- | FRUIT PIC.T.C.ING AT MILDURA and HOLLeAY IN TASMANIA Dot English. | ||
- | Having finished my allotted span at the Munitions Laboratory, and as there was an urgent call being made just at that time for volunteers to | ||
- | bring in the grape harvest at laTdura, and some thousands of pickers wore required if the harvest was not to be lost, I entered my name with the He_rv:st Labour Bureau and was right smartly and without further delay allotted to Redcliffs, up in the Murray River Irrigation area, 350 miles from Melbourne. | ||
- | A special " | ||
- | was a strange and motley collection of Pickers in every type of garb imaginable, mostly fairly juvenile, and all in great s-)irits 7. just like a holiday train, | ||
- | boys and girls calling out to each other, laughter and songs ,nd ukeleyles(? | ||
- | metropolis. Men sat at tables along th) street outside the station calling 0, out name 6 and allotting numbers, with queues of people lined in sieerny rowsrp | ||
- | up and down the stret. Growers pushed thsir way through the milling throng | ||
- | uttering unintelligible calls, and railway hands and officials dircted enquiring pickers to Mr. This or Mr. That fast vanishing in the seething mob. | ||
- | However the organization was pretty good, and by the time I had located a Station master, who iodated Mr. Jacobs (my " | ||
- | seemed to be emerging from chaos and various cars and lorries etc. were | ||
- | moving off with their full tally of pickers collected. | ||
- | The Jacobs household consisted of Dad Jacobs and Mum and two charming and talented daughters 18 and 20 years of age. I was boarded at th ir 11PLIM | ||
- | two other young lasses were boarded next door, a young married couple and brother put up a tent in the vineyard, and several men had shacks J!own | ||
- | by the river. We worked from 8 a m. to 5.15 p m. and the sun shone stron:Jly | ||
- | all day on the bright red earth and I sat under the vines aftd pickd purule | ||
- | currants for a week at the rate of 100 or so buckets e, day (the bucket is | ||
- | really a flat tin which holds abour 20 to 25 lbs. of fruit) at1-:1 per | ||
- | huedred, and the next we-)k golden sultanas at the rate of 200 tins a day. :fore we got enough non on the job to do the heavy lifting I ascisted Pa | ||
- | 17:1th the loading. Daughter Barbara drove the tractor towing a long wide | ||
- | dray l and up and down the vine rows we dashed, Pt and I running on o-7:posite | ||
- | sides and stacking the filled tins on the dray. Then we'd lumber off with | ||
- | 6. | ||
- | .our 'load to the racks, the tractor and its loosely attached purple hind- | ||
- | ' quertees looking like a not-too-well-organized huge insect. Here we'd empty the fruit out onto a wide flat tray, and Pa with a smart sudden jerk would spread the grapes out over the wire mesh racks. Then we'd load the emties back on the dray and Bakbara would run us down the unpicked rows while Pa and I thraw ol;t bundles of tins at regular intervals under the vines, By the ti/T1,.? I0,1ad and tipped and re-stacked and hurled the tinc forth | ||
- | again Idrad tins up to 25 lbs4 weight each - we sure knew ' | ||
- | been worXi u:, I iac7 there about 3 weeks, at the end of which time I banked | ||
- | a cheq-a=?, f_20cad s:_ng the praises of piece-work which allow d an ener- | ||
- | getic zyc,:.if to reap the reward of extra work, | ||
- | to Melbourne I found that a party from the M7Initir., Lab. | ||
- | wit. } i dir_cuseing the possibility of taking In- o 1olidays | ||
- | in , ii nalised arrangements, | ||
- | a 1:ujilag provisions for a fortnight' | ||
- | The Tourist Bureau had told us that there was no chance of poi:tjng transliort to the Cradle Mountain Reserve (our destination) so we tr-,ok bjkes us, The crossing is by night, and we arrived early next morning, With | ||
- | 50 21o, eelcLes balanced on the handlebars we made a pretty rough journey over | ||
- | teerAfie !:-,th grade roads, thr,-ugh first a hail storm which later developed into a snowstorm - and u with no gloves! 0 dearo dearo dean l We took the 11; part of two days to do what the service car does in an afternoon, ana wheu viz: were only a couple of miles from our destination (what irony)) we mEA the service car and the driver told us that of course it was still running, what nonseusel and he didn't know what was biting the Tourist Bureau people. | ||
- | We eventually reached Waldheim, the guest house at the Northern end | ||
- | of the Reserve, and thawed out in front of a big log fire. A large stew and a warm bed and life once more assumed a rosy hue. We awoke to find all | ||
- | the mountains and highlands covered white (and this March, and A..us_tralial - incredible1). The huts are spaced through the Reserve at 1-day stages (anything from 8 to 15 miles) and the track goes through rugged mountainous country, peaks and lakes and innumerable tarns, swampy button-grass plains, birch forests and pine forests filled with thousands of wallabies and wombats and lroost millions of possums at night. This is the most marvellous mountail-et: | ||
- | th: -r:rT-,1 day, and then a fortnight of perfect sunny days, so once again the | ||
- | gods smiled on me. And once again, just to keep up the old trc.!1: | ||
- | moillring and e, somewhat slow on the rough stuff, so the final burst | ||
- | of v!hich would have just got us back to the hut by dirk had to be foregoTe and we spent a pretty cold night, first sliding and crawling and falling down through a mountainside of dr-orf beech (or birch) in the dark, then through dense almost impenetrable wet forest along th valley floor | ||
- | 7. | ||
- | a../. | ||
- | until they called a halt, so I bedded the party down on a spot of dry ground and covered them with dry dead palm leaves, then crawled into the pile myself and shivered and dozed and woke and slapped ourselves and each other, and changed our positions and sang all the songs we knew, beating a tattoo meanwhile on the beck of whoever happened to be in front of us, while the river gurgLed and rushed and crept through the dark tangle of trees and vines, and the gLow-werms turned on their cold ineffectual fires in all the crannies and creyassec in the moss, | ||
- | An hour or so before drawn I'd had quite enough of inactivity (I'd always much prefer to go on through -pitch dark grizley ways rather than indulge in spine:ess inaction), so I voted that we get going again and warm up. I might say we had set out in nothing but shorts and shirts and boots, and crawling through the dwarf beech had torn our clothing to rjbbons, so for all practical purposes we might just as well be naked. Anyhow, not to prolong the agony any further, at last the dawn arrived, and was just as welcome and miraculous as the time on Mt. Cook after picking our way down the thousand feet of rock face and negotiating the maze of crevasses in the dark. Half an hour mdre saw us at the hut. We put on billies of water and had hot baths and a big stew, than slept till mid-day and felt not a whit the worse for the night' | ||
- | and was drifting in a most disconcerting manner around in a circle, Then a light loomed out of the darkness, and our boat ran up a signal and I discovered to my relief that we were just entering Port Phillip Bay, It gave | ||
- | one a strange feeling to think such things were going on in mid-ocean., | ||
- | STRANGER THAN FICTION | ||
by " | by " | ||
- | Rationing and lack of various commodities have caused us inconvenience and irritation but should we be forbidden to discuss and argue life would be for some appalling. And quite unrecognisable. To prove this let me take | + | |
- | a concr,te exam-)1e. There will, of tdurse, be nothing concrete about it - it will resemble more a jelly on the top of Mouin in a heat wave. However, you understand my meaning I hope so that we may begin with a feeling of having our feet firmly planted on the ground before we enter this Lunar Park of giddiness and vertigo. | + | Rationing and lack of various commodities have caused us inconvenience and irritation but should we be forbidden to discuss and argue life would be for some appalling. And quite unrecognisable. To prove this let me take a concrete example. There will, of course, be nothing concrete about it - it will resemble more a jelly on the top of Mouin in a heat wave. However, you understand my meaning I hope so that we may begin with a feeling of having our feet firmly planted on the ground before we enter this Lunar Park of giddiness and vertigo. |
- | For those who can read between the lines there are several lessons to be learnt including | + | |
- | (1) (a) Democracy will always get THERE (b) and poscibly back-again.. | + | For those who can read between the lines there are several lessons to be learnt including |
- | (2) We are therefore fighting for the RITHT THING. | + | |
+ | (1) (a) Democracy will always get __there__ | ||
+ | |||
+ | (2) We are therefore fighting for the __right thing__. | ||
(4) All's well that ends well. | (4) All's well that ends well. | ||
+ | |||
It would be impolitic for me to disclose (3) - the scene of the events to be described - as they were too much like a rehearsal for the Second Front. In addition to the above there is some interesting news for those who think that in a democracy the majority rules and its verdict is final. | It would be impolitic for me to disclose (3) - the scene of the events to be described - as they were too much like a rehearsal for the Second Front. In addition to the above there is some interesting news for those who think that in a democracy the majority rules and its verdict is final. | ||
- | One would imagine that Bushwalkers wanting to go walking would just go; but not that would be too easy for people looking for the SIM]:' | + | |
- | enviyorment | + | One would imagine that Bushwalkers wanting to go walking would just go; but not that would be too easy for people looking for the __simple life__. Besides, how could one appreciate the __simple life__ |
- | that the birds supplied a symphony of song" unless one had a yelling, | + | |
- | Now it would have been too, too sim-ole | + | Now it would have been too, too simple |
- | to fit into the seven-seater | + | |
- | don't you think? We sense a battle. A few preliminary rounds among the " | + | Unfortunately the room stewards are trying to enforce the Early Closing Act so a decision seems imperative. Vive Democracy, we shall vote! All those in favour of trip " |
- | that nip; | + | |
- | bacilli in the blood stream is circulating. They are engaged in fierce | + | But, yearning after the original venture, everyone cherishes resentment in his heart and, as we collect our hats, the whole structure is undermined, at the door one begins |
- | controversy. Now and then an interested observer will hover near, judge the position, perhaps have a skirmish and then retire for long range scrutiny. | + | |
- | Maps are waving in the air, maps are being draped on walls and are being drawn in space. Suggestions are made, pounced upon, ridiculed and torn to shreds. At length everyone agrees that trip " | + | Sunday - day of rest - quite true, perhaps, some time before dawn. Up hill and down dale every conceivable |
- | Unfortunately the room stewards are trying to enforce the Early Closing Act so a decision seems imperative. Vive Democracy, we shall votes All those in favour of trip " | + | |
- | But, yearning after the original venture, everyone cherishes resentment in his heart and, as we collect our hats, the whole structure is undermined, at the door one be; | + | By lunch, triumph! oddsboddikins! eureks! |
- | Sunday - day of rest - quite true, perhaps, some time before dawn. | + | |
- | Up hill and down dale every conceivable | + | It is now all plain sailing - only the food to be arranged - who likes this and that, what shall be eaten when and by whom, who will carry what and what will be bought and by whom. Where trip " |
- | 0 | + | |
- | 0 and contributed one just does it by a combination of permutations and the human ingenuity is ataggering. | + | |
- | By lunch, triumph oddsboddikins | + | |
- | We shall follow plan Axb if Y is suitable, B and C willing and -orovided | + | |
- | It is now all plain sailing - only the food to be arranged - who likes this and that, what shall be eaten when and by whom, who will carry what and what will be bought and by whom. Where trip " | + | |
Do you now think that every detail was irrevocably settled and that the trip was performed with the closest co-operation? | Do you now think that every detail was irrevocably settled and that the trip was performed with the closest co-operation? | ||
- | Poor innooent | + | |
- | 501YETTIING FOR NOTHING | + | Poor innooent! Read next month' |
- | Anyone who is interested in the stars may pick out the constellations described in previous issues of the magazine by referring to the same month of the year before. The stars are in the same place at the same time every year and will continue to be in the s-me place atthe same time as long as your magazine hangs together and can be road, | + | |
- | "CANOPUS". | + | ---- |
- | ,.,0 | + | |
- | MORE GOSSIP | + | ====Something For Nothing.==== |
- | The Social Committee | + | |
- | No doubt many of us would rather not be seen outside a sleeping bag in the | + | |
- | assortment of clothes that we feel is very necessary to our:comfort, but others with no r; | + | Anyone who is interested in the stars may pick out the constellations described in previous issues of the magazine by referring to the same month of the year before. The stars are in the same place at the same time every year and will continue to be in the same place at the same time as long as your magazine hangs together and can be read. |
- | An exceedingly well turrnod log was cl ir., | + | |
- | Walt.Disney must h;; | + | "Canopus". |
- | his famous Mickey | + | |
- | We felt quit6.Concern: | + | ---- |
- | Arthur Gilroy, timing,it very nicely made, a late entrance very effectively, | + | |
- | and another beautiful | + | =====More Gossip.===== |
- | We hope th, | + | |
- | "I wonder How I Look When I'm Asleep" | + | The Social Committee put on a vary nice dance for us on Friday the 13th June in the Club room. Members |
- | think, don't it. | + | |
- | Someone mentioned to us th, oth,,r nijlt that quite a few male members are sporting growths on th,ir 1.11) -r lips. We inv, | + | An exceedingly well turned leg was displayed |
- | It is rumoured of one of newer brir? | + | |
- | Betty Pryde droed in to tell us that she is not in Adelaide as we said. We are rather unfortunate with Betty, we always station her in the wrong places. It is her move now, we hay,e. done our best for her. | + | Walt. Disney must have seen Ray Kirkby |
- | Another junior Bushwalkor to s to the' | + | |
- | 11. | + | We felt quite concerned |
- | LETTERS FROM THE LADS AND LASSES. | + | |
- | . - | + | Arthur Gilroy, timing it very nicely made a late entrance very effectively, |
- | LAters | + | |
- | P. Huntley. Tucker George Archer (P.O.W. Germany) | + | We hope the committee |
- | J. W. Edwards Rory Lofts | + | |
- | Bruce Simpson Jack Parkinson | + | ---- |
- | Peter Merle W. Spedding | + | |
- | Bill Burke Les Douglas | + | Someone mentioned to us the other night that quite a few male members are sporting growths on their upper lips. We investigated |
- | Betty Isaacs. Rita Stanford. | + | |
- | RORY LOFTS.(u-, | + | ---- |
- | I introduced our shas to the sround | + | |
- | sped a lot of my time teaching | + | It is rumoured of one of newer brides |
- | LES DOUGhf1S, | + | |
- | alse eo eee such a healthy list of war-like | + | ---- |
- | to it; they':ee all still whole and hearty - if in some cases suffering in | + | |
- | duleAne,o v:ILo., It would be marvellous to meet some of the gang - so if they know they' | + | Betty Pryde dropped |
- | My work ire here is very interesting - although naturally I can't tell you | + | |
- | p | + | ---- |
- | meell about it - exce-)t | + | |
- | that got away. I' | + | Another junior Bushwalkor to add to the long list. Mrs. Mitchell, to us, Muriel Hall, has a daughter. |
- | four of us - and shoved big cane arm chairs in the back and away - we created much comment and 1, | + | |
- | NOT coming back after the war.. | + | ---- |
- | ffiLL__22, | + | |
- | i:air eft-Sr | + | =====Letters From The Lads And Lasses.===== |
- | up the following morning | + | |
- | place our glad rags at the bottom of the pack and move on to greener fields. quite | + | Letters |
- | a pretty little place; much nicer than Sydney I thought, but perhaps I was influence by the proximity of the surrounding bushlands Twenty minutes, by tram, from the heart of the city to a cool shady, clear run-ling | + | |
- | the people impressed | + | R. Huntley Tucker; George Archer (P.O.W. Germany); J. W. Edwards; Rory Lofts; Bruce Simpson; Jack Parkinson; Peter Allen; |
- | it is quite the acce-)ted | + | |
- | quite a pleasant chat with the lass sitiing alongside me. Thought perhaps that I was lucky but the others all had a similar | + | ===Rory Lofts:=== |
- | rip. -1rig green of the cane fields, grey 3.reen , | + | |
+ | Up Queensland way. Dear S.B.W.s. I was very pleased to receive the May issue of the S.B.W. today. Its good to get a breath of the old fellowship of the bush which seems to come with each issue. Although my whereabouts are all shrouded in mystery, I can talk of some things without fear of the razor blade. I find this one of the most interesting places I have been in from a walker' | ||
+ | |||
+ | I introduced our chaps to the ground | ||
+ | |||
+ | I spend a lot of my time teaching | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Les Douglas: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Port Moresby. I was more than pleased to get your letter - pleased | ||
+ | |||
+ | My work up here is very interesting - although naturally I can't tell you much about it - except | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Bill Burke:=== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Up Queensland | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | |||
THY NOT CUT DOWN TES? | THY NOT CUT DOWN TES? | ||
By Arbores Australis, | By Arbores Australis, |
194307.txt · Last modified: 2016/10/27 13:55 by tyreless