The Heather to the Hawkesbury

by Sheila Hunter

  “Well, let me think about it, son. Let us see how this works out first. I find that these get-rich-quick schemes sound all right, but don’t always work out. As for the rest of your idea, I go along with that. I am proud to think you want to give your life to doing this. I did think you might want to return to the Manning River. You are a very good farmer, son.”

  “You are a good farmer too, Father, but you seem very happy to be teaching the children here. You could go back to farming, you know.”

  “Yes, I do know, but now have no inclination to do so. Jack is doing as well, if not better, than we were and I appreciate the money he sends me. I am as happy here as I have ever been in my life Donald and do not wish to disturb that. Your mother is very content here with her family and I want that to continue.”

  “You will think about my project then?”

  “I certainly will. There may be some sort of training you can do, or some sort of study. I will try to find out. In the meantime, don’t expect to make money that easily. Nothing comes without hard work.”

  On the day before they planned to go, Bill Turner, Alec’s old prospecting mate, came up from Sydney to visit Alec and look around for a farm. He came to the house to see Murdoch and was interested in their preparations and sat talking to Murdoch while he worked. “Makes me get itchy feet, seeing you get ready for a trip like that.”

  “Why don’t you come, Bill? I am sure we could use your experience. We are not very used to big mobs of cattle, you know.”

  “Well, I dunno. Would you mind if I did? Me time’s me own. Yes, I think I would like to go. Get me hand in, for when I want to buy stock for me farm.”

  “We will be glad to have you.”

  “I’ll go and break the news to Alec. I came to see him and I’m running out on him straight away.”

  “Alec won’t mind. In fact, he will be glad that we have an experienced hand to guide us.”

  So next morning an excited Macdonald family rose to say ‘goodbye’ to their father and brother. They walked up to the yard at the Park where they were all to meet and found Donald waiting ready. Ian and Bill came soon after and with ‘God speed’ from Mary and the family, they set off, Mr. Forrest giving them last minute instructions. They each carried a heavy pack containing tucker,[13] cooking utensils and clothing and soon were out of sight.

  They were able to cover about thirty five to forty miles a day and found the going quite easy. At night they camped out as the stars shone brightly in clear skies. The days were warm, just right for travelling and they were pleased to see that there was ample feed for animals for the trip home. None of the Scots folk had been south of Camden and so after that town were most anxious to see the country. They were surprised to see such lovely mountain country and the farms that lay along their route. They called in at several of these places and were always offered hospitality in the form of food and shelter should they want it. The boys liked to camp out and so they usually refused. Near Goulburn they stopped at a beautiful dairy farm owned by Dick Hassel and his son, where they were hosted in the usual way and directed to Carmichael’s farm where they were to collect the cattle. They still had many miles to go, but Mr. Hassel knew Guthrie Carmichael, as everyone seemed to know everyone in the back country, and was able to give good instructions as to how to make a more direct route than going through Yass. As they travelled they arranged for yarding for their mob on their return journey and were surprised to find that this was very easy to do. Bill suggested that as the farmers were in great trouble getting their beasts to market, they were only too pleased to be helpful to anyone who may take theirs sometime. Certainly, Donald and Ian showed interest in doing this, Donald seeing that he would be able to put his plan into action, all went well, and Ian because he liked the adventure of it, wanted to make money.

  Over their camp fire at night, they had the opportunity to get to know one another better. There was little opportunity for chatter in their lives at home. In Murdoch’s spare time he usually spent it with Alec and did not see so much of Ian. He often had thought how alike he and Alec were and wondered whether Ian had that same, well you couldn’t call it unsteadiness, that Alec had, but it was a certain something that made Alec what he was. A good fellow for all that, mused Murdoch, but he had a real knack for getting himself into trouble.

  “What are you young’uns going to do with yourselves when you settle down?” asked Bill on their last night before collecting the cattle.

  Malcolm said, “I have no thought but to help Father buy a farm. I am wondering whether this type of trip will help our goal come nearer, Mr Turner. I hope so.”

  “Yes, it will be interesting to see how it goes. You’re a man now young Malcolm, so you can call me ‘Bill’. It seems too easy to me, but I reckon it should work. Mind you, it’s no fun in a drought, but the seasons here have been good by the look of it, and barring accidents, we should do well with it. I brought some money to buy some if they are good and I checked with the meat bloke in Penrith to see whether the price is steady there and he assured me it was.”

  “I have brought money to buy three,” said Donald. “I do hope the scheme works, Bill, because I have a plan if it does.”

  “What is it, Donald?” asked Murdoch. “Something serious, I imagine.”

  “Oh, I’m not all that serious all the time, Uncle Murdoch. I like a bit of fun, but yes, this is serious, because I want to go into the church and I thought that if I could make enough money in two years bringing cattle up from the back country then I would be able to train or something. Father is going to try to find out for me, but I couldn’t do it alone. I would have to have help and it might cost more than I would like to spend.”

  “Is that what you would like to do, Donald? I wondered at your not returning to the Manning.”

  “Father said I could do that, but for one thing I would be too far away from the family and as they are not wanting to go back there, I wish to stay as near as I can.”

  Bill said, “I think you could make it work out, son, and I don’t think you would find it hard to get companions. I’ve heard of several decent blokes who want off-siders to do just this. I could tell them about you. I am sure they would take you along. You can always buy beasts to sell and add it to the mob, like you are doing this time. I heard about a big mob of fifteen hundred go up from the real outback and into Bathurst to the goldfields. I think if you are keen you will find a lot of this work to do.”

  “What do you want to do, Ian?” asked Murdoch.

  “Well, I too, want to help my father get into a farm. Mother and I think he is well enough for another move. We would like to think that at least he could call himself a farmer, even if he does have to direct us from his bed. After all, look what he did so we could have a farm. So I want to farm for Father.”

  “And I want to be near them, too,” put in Bill. “I reckon I want to be near me little mate, so if we can get a farm close by, I’ll be there to lend a hand when they want it.”

  “What sort of farming are you going in for, Bill?”

  “Well, it won’t be dairying, like you want, Murdoch. I reckon I don’t want to be tied down to cows twice a day. A man’s got to have some time for himself, so I reckon I’ll grow a bit of crop and have some cattle run. I saw a decent-looking farm the other day that had a bit of hill country at the back of it, that should be right for cattle.”

  “Where is it, Bill?”

  “Not that far from Riverbend on the Jingalong Road. It backs onto some good Crown land too, that looks interesting. I could get a lease on that too. There’s a decent farm near it too, that I want Alec to look at that backs onto the same Crown land. I think it would be good for Alec’s horses.”

  “So your Dad’s going in for horses, Ian? He’s a dark horse himself. He didn’t tell me that.”

  “I think he thought you may not like it. He said you might think that horses are too chancy.”

  “As a matter of fact, I don’t. Horses are bringing in a good price at t
he moment. I daresay he isn’t thinking of race horses, is he?”

  “We would like to have Thoroughbreds, Uncle, but we think they are a bit chancy. No, we are wanting Clydesdales. We would like to try to build a good stud of Clydesdales. We would have others, too, but they would be our specialty. What do you think about it Uncle?”

  “Well, I think you and your father would do very well, Ian. You still have a lot to learn about them, as they are really very new for you, but you and your father both have a real love and talent with them, so you should do very well.”

  “When we get back we want you to have a look at the farm, Murd, and get Mr. Forrest, too, if he will come, to advise us. Will you?”

  “For what it is worth, I certainly will, Bill, but I am no great authority on farms, you know. I will be hoping that Mr. Forrest will advise me when I can go looking for a farm myself. I am sure he will help, both you and me. He had always said he will. I wondered when Alec would start thinking farms. I am sure he feels that Meg has had long enough in the store. I know she likes it, but she really doesn’t have to now and I am sure Alec would like to see her settled in her own home.”

  “Before he dies, do you mean, Uncle Murd? Do you know, I don’t think he will a while. I think he’ll stay for a bit,” said Ian seriously. “He’s got too much fight left in him.”

  “I think you are right, lad.”

  “Me little mate’s got a lot o’ courage,” put in Bill.

  Chapter 23 - A New Style of Farming

  The party found Carmichael’s cattle station quite easily. Murdoch liked the look of this country west of Yass. So different to the closed in Hawkesbury River farms. Guthrie Carmichael was an Englishman who was making a real job of being an Australian squatter. His cattle and land were in excellent condition and Murdoch could understand his concern, when he saw the quality of his stock, at his not being able to get them to sale yards. Murdoch, Bill and the boys had their choice of beasts at five pounds a head. It seemed as though they would make a good deal if the price was what they expected it would be at the Emu Plains Market near home. They took a herd of two hundred and Murdoch silently wished he had more capital to spend on buying more. He hoped he would be able to return during this winter and get more for himself.

  They had quite a pleasant stay at ‘The Downs’, Mr. Carmichael proving to be a very generous host. They saw quite a lot of the property and were very impressed with the working of such a large run. The place seemed immense to the men of the river farms, but none were really tempted to want a big place like this. Just as well, for it would take more capital than they had together to set up a place like this.

  They left on their way home after a three day stay, with a promise of more animals if they would care to return later in the season. Donald and Ian made a promise that they would do this.

  They had quite an uneventful journey home. They took it slowly and were happy to see that the cattle lost no condition, but with such good grass all the way, they considered themselves fortunate in their first venture. They were relieved when the stockyards at Emu Plains came into view and they could cut the herd, yarding the beasts for sale and driving the rest towards ‘Forrest Park’. Murdoch then took their own beasts to put in a yard at the cottage. Mr Forrest had repaired the stock gate on the hill paddock while they were gone and the beasts were ready to go straight in to the wooded hill paddocks that he’d recently acquired for such stock. They got the price they had wanted and they felt very pleased that the deal had gone so well. Mr. Forrest showed his gratitude by giving each of them an extra beast to sell. They all felt rather pleased at that, even Bill, who looked upon himself as quite a capitalist these days.

  A few days after their return, Murdoch shared the ambitions of the group with Mr. Forrest and asked if he would look at the farms Bill and Alec were thinking of buying. With the boss’s assent he arranged for everyone to go and look at them one fine autumn day. Duncan emerged from their work shed pushing a solid looking wheeled chair, with huge wheels on the back. Murdoch lifted this onto the wagon, covered it with a large rug and set off to collect Alec. They loaded Alec in his stretcher and put both him and it into the wagon along with wives and children and picnic baskets, the party set off. Mr. and Mrs. Forrest came with their three children in their gig and the day took on quite a festive air. Ian and Malcolm rode alongside and dogs ran everywhere.

  The farms were about a mile apart, both backing as Bill had said, onto a strip of fairly rough wooded ground that should be ideal for stock. The farms were cleared and the ground sloped gently down to a creek that promised a good supply of water all year round, a necessity in this dry land. There was no house on Bill’s proposed farm, but on the one that Alec would buy there was a small farmhouse that would need a great deal of improvement before being able to house the Fraser family in the style that Alec wanted for his brood.

  They pulled up in the shade of a tree on Alec’s farm and made a picnic camp. The men lifted Alec out and put the wheels on his stretcher, then set off to inspect the farm, walking slowly over the ground and every now and then stooping to pick up a sample of soil to look at it, smell it, feel it and then discard it.

  A chuckle bubbled out of Mrs. Forrest as she watched procedure. “I love to seeing them do that. I wonder if it is really necessary to go through that little rite. I am sure I would only look down as I do now and say what a lovely place to live. Oh, Mrs. Fraser I do hope your husband buys this. I am sure it would be a lovely place to live.”

  “I hardly know how to breathe, I am so excited, Mrs. Forrest. I cannot believe that it is happening. I know Alec has been talking about this ever since he came home, but it never seemed true that we would have enough money to buy a farm, just like that,” said Margaret, clasping her hands together.

  “Enough to buy some good stock too, Meg” smiled Mary. “Isn’t it wonderful that Alec is able to do this for you.”

  “Before he dies, do you mean, Mary? He’s not going to you know not for a long while anyway. He is so excited about this. He can hardly contain himself. I cannot imagine how he has been able to wait so long. I felt sure he would rush out and buy the first farm he saw. I think he must be learning patience.”

  “Yes, Meggie dear, I think he has learned the very hardest way. I agree with you that I think he will defy the doctors this time. You are looking after him so well that I am sure he won’t die yet,” said Mary.

  “Let us walk over and have a look at the cottage.”

  The three women walked over to the poor little house, leaving the children to follow or stay and play as they liked. The grass was green and good and so the girls were soon busy in their usual games.

  Mrs. Forrest wrinkled up her pretty nose. “I cannot see you in this place, Mrs. Fraser, knowing how well you look after your house and shop.”

  “No indeed, I think it is not much good. You couldn’t do anything much with this. Bill suggested that we build another one completely, if Alec buys it.”

  “It is just the right place for a house though, isn’t it, Meg? You would build right here, wouldn’t you? There has been quite a nice garden here at one time too, but I do not think the last people cared much for that. Look at the lovely creeper on that trellis. Oh, and Meg, look at the roses.”

  “They are really beautiful, aren’t they?”

  “What about cleaning this verandah up a bit and having our picnic here?” said Mrs. Forrest. “I think if we settled here for our meal, Mr. Fraser would be on flatter ground for his stretcher.”

  “That’s a good idea, Mrs. Forrest, but we have a surprise for Alec.” said Mary “I will go over and get the lunch. The children can help me bring it.”

  “We will tidy the old table and chairs up and have it ready when you get back.”

  When the men returned, the women had the lunch spread out on a pleasant cloth on the old table and soon they were sitting along the edge of the verandah, eating their lunch and discussing the merits and demerits of the place.

  “I
do not think you know what you are eating, you men. You are so wrapped in the discussion that you are just eating anything I put in yours hands,” laughed Mary.

  “No, love,” said Murdoch, “I am eating a bannock and a good one it is. I would know your bannocks anywhere.” He broke off wondering at the laughter from the women.

  “Well, you are wrong.” said Mary. “Meg made those bannocks and Mrs. Forrest made these. So I did not bring any today.”

  “Well, they are good anyway. I like bannocks.” He turned to Mr. Forrest. “Well, Mr. Forrest, what do you think of it? What is your opinion?”

  “Yes, I think they are fine bannocks, too.”

  The group roared with laughter, knowing that Murdoch had really meant the farm when asking for Forrest’s opinion. Murdoch was quite taken aback at the turn of the question. He joined in the laughter.

  “Yes, sir, very fine bannocks, but what of the farm?”

  “Yes,” said Alec and Bill together, “What do you think, Mr. Forrest?”

  “I think it is a fine place. There is a good depth of soil on it and the pasture looks right. It has the makings of a good farm. I don’t need to go into the hill country because I have just taken some of it for my own cattle and had quite a good look at all the country round here. I think if you could get it at the price you mention you will do well.”

  Alec looked pleased. “Yes, I am very pleased with it. It is even better than Bill said. What do you think, Murdoch?”

  “All I can say, old man, is that if I was the envious type I would be envious right now. It is a bit above my touch and I would like to see you and yours in it” said Murdoch. “Alec, with a new farm you’re going to want to move around a bit yourself. So, the boys and I have made you a gift. Duncan, you can do the honours, as it was your idea.” Duncan and Malcolm came around the corner of the old house carrying a large bundle hidden under a rug. They placed it on the verandah and Duncan pulled off the cover. Alec was astonished it was a chair with huge wheels. Not only did it look comfortable, but he realised he could push himself around when the ground was flat. It had two big solid wheels, with a lip on them, that Duncan, Malcolm and Murdoch had smoothed and polished to shiny and edged with leather for protection. Everyone gasped. They’d not seen one like it before. Alec’s eyes misted, as did Meg’s. This amazing gift would give Alec back some independence. Murd lifted him into it to give it a try. There were also handles on the back to make it easy to push if required, but Alec was keen to try it all by himself. What a day! He felt like a boy again, a farm and mobility. Meg and Ian realised the importance that this gift would make to their lives. Alec loved it!