Dear Fran, Love Dulcie

by Victoria Twead

  I have a pet kangaroo now. It is only a baby and I have to feed her by a medicine dropper. When she gets a bit bigger she will probably take to a bottle and teat. Dad shot the mother eating the corn near his house and kept the joey for me. She weighs only 2 and ½ pounds [1 kg] so you can imagine how big she is.

  Yes, Fran, I will send you some magazines as soon as I go to Yeppoon again.

  Len’s birthday was on 29th May. I bought him an SLC Record player. He likes classical music and waltzes. So he can collect as many as he likes now. The radio mostly plays the Top Forty and Rock n Roll music. I like it myself - can’t stand the classical type.

  We are picking the winter fruit again, pineapples, pawpaws, bananas and oranges and lemons and mandarins. The peach trees are all in flower too and they look very pretty.

  The State Children’s Department wants us to take a little girl into our care. She is nearly two years old and an orphan. The State orphanages are too full and they want people with only a small family to take one or two of the kiddies. We haven’t thought about it much yet - but I would love to take her. Of course, it depends on Len. I think she’d be a good little mate for Terry too.

  Most of my friends who had babies when Terry was born are expecting again. My neighbour is expecting her 9th child.

  Well, Fran, I will have to close now and get the fowl on for dinner.

  So love from,

  Dulcie

  PS Do you collect any matchbox covers or things like cards from cereal packets and cigarettes? I have a lot of spares that I’ll send you if you would like to have them. They are like the one enclosed and they have pictures of Australian birds, animals and flowers on them.

  8th August 1960

  Dear Fran,

  Sorry I’ve been so long answering your letter but I’ve been in hospital for 5 weeks. I had an operation and got over it and eight days later got peritonitis.

  It was terrible. I’ve never had such pain in all my life and my whole body was so swollen I looked horrific.

  The doctors told Len and my family that I wouldn’t live for more than two days. Len stayed with me for most of the two days, but I started to pick up a bit and the doctors said it was just luck as they couldn’t do anything more.

  I feel a lot better but I’m not able to get out of bed. I have 5 more weeks to stay here yet and then the doctors say I may be able to go home.

  I miss Terry and Len very much. They don’t get in to see me very often. It’s too far and the road’s too bad.

  It’s very cold here too. The hospital is very old and the wind blows in through the cracks in the timber. It seems to be colder during the day than it is at night.

  I’ve started to knit Terry another jumper while I’m in here.

  By the way Fran, thank you for the magazines. They arrived a couple of weeks ago and Len sent them in last week. They were nice to read while I’m lying here. When I get home I will send you a bundle.

  Also Fran, many happy returns for your birthday. I’m sorry I’m not able to get out and get you a pretty card.

  Mum and Dad are looking after Terry during the days and Len takes him home at night and takes him back to Mum’s after breakfast. He doesn’t know me and won’t let me touch him when they are able to bring him in.

  There is a small girl in the same room here and she is very nice and good company. They put her in here a week ago after I got okay.

  She had her appendix out. But she is going home tomorrow so I’ll be lonely again, unless they put someone else in.

  Well, Fran, I think I’ll close now and have a bit of a rest.

  So love,

  Dulcie

  26th September 1960

  Dear Fran,

  Well, I’m home at last and feeling a lot better. I had to go to Rockhampton for X-rays a couple of days ago and don’t know the results yet.

  You really must have enjoyed your holiday at the lake. Well, just as you are coming into winter - we are on the first days of summer and very hot it has been, too. However, it looks rainy today and everybody’s praying it will rain inches. Most of the livestock are dead and others just skeletons from the long drought we’ve had.

  Yes, I’m doing some shopping for materials, too, to make up summer frocks and shorts for myself. I hope your cousin’s little girl recovered from her bad burns. Burns are terrible things.

  Karen would have been 4 years old on 29th September if she was alive. Mum’s birthday is on the same day. I bought her a new handbag.

  We had to buy a new radio last week. The old one broke down. This one is a Sanyo All Wave and we listen to Radio New Zealand, Denmark and America at nights.

  We had terrific fires here last week, too. Some people had their pineapples burned out and one farm had the house burnt down too. We didn’t have anything burnt but all our water was used to help the Bush Fire Brigade.

  The smoke is still very thick and we all have sore eyes from it. Our old tomcat hasn’t been home since the fire so he may have been burnt. There are burnt bodies of wallabies and kangaroos, cats, birds, little animals all through the bush.

  I have enclosed some match case tops of Australian fauna for you, Fran. We are members of the World Match Box Collectors Society and collect them from all over the world. If you get any tops you don’t want would you let me have them please, Fran? The Australian fauna set runs up to No. 64 and I will put a few in each letter all in order.

  Well, Fran, I must away now and do some work.

  So love,

  Dulcie

  23rd October 1960

  Dear Fran,

  Many thanks for the match box covers. It doesn’t matter what is on them, Fran, I’ll be pleased to get any you send. Both Len and I smoke so we use lots of matches.

  Mark must be quite a nice big boy now. Terry can talk quite well and repeats words like a parrot. He is just 3 feet [91 cm] tall and weighs 32 pounds [14.5 kg]. He takes after Len. He is 6 feet 1 inch [185 cm] tall and weighs 196 pounds [90 kg].

  Enclosed is a snap of Terry taken when he was 20 months old.

  The other photo is one I took from our front verandah when the bush fires were burning.

  This fire was burning on the road in front of our house. The road is between the trees.

  We had a thunderstorm last night but only had a light shower of rain from it. We are out of water and most of the other folks about are also out of water. We all have to go to a creek 5 miles [8 km] away and fill a small tank on the back of the truck and bring it home and pour the water into our house tanks. I don’t know what we’ll do when the creek dries up. It will not last too long as everyone is carting water from it. I hope it rains before the creek goes dry.

  We bought Terry a pedigree Scotch collie pup last week. She is only 6 weeks old. Terry loves her and she will be good company for him when she grows up. Her name is Lady Maree of Collville, but we shortened it to Lady.

  24 October (continued)

  Well, I left your letter till today to finish it. We are in the midst of another storm - thunder and lightening everywhere but no rain so far. Gosh, what a noise it’s making. The cat and puppy are both scared and are under the kitchen stove. Terry is half scared and half curious. There’s a terrific wind blowing and I can see peaches and pawpaws blowing off the trees. The barometer reading is 29 so looks like we are in for a bad gale. I have the radio on short-wave trying to pick up the storm warning - but I can hardly hear it.

  Well, I guess I’d better close and lock down the windows and doors as Len isn’t home.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  PS It’s starting to rain.

  6th December 1960

  Dear Fran,

  It is extremely hot here today and the march flies are bad. Terry is having a nap and I had to put his net down as they bite so hard.

  [The females of most species of march fly take a blood meal after inflicting a painful bite with their piercing mouthparts.]

  We have the Federal election coming up this Saturday. We have to vo
te for the next Prime Minister. I somehow don’t think the present one, Mr. Menzies, will be voted in for the next term. He is a Liberal member and I think either a Country Party or Labour member will be our new Prime Minister.

  Christmas isn’t far off now. Terry has asked for a Road Grader instead of a pedal car now. He’ll get his wish and perhaps get the car for his birthday.

  We went with Len for the day last Sunday. He had to go to Rockhampton to play with the Yeppoon Cricket Team.

  Terry and I watched the cricket for a while then went to visit the zoo. It was a very nice day out. We have a new short road to Rockhampton now. They have just finished putting bitumen on it.

  It’s only 42 miles [67 km] from here to Rockhampton now. Just 1 and ½ hours drive. The speed limit only allows one to travel at 30 miles per hour [48 kph]. The last 12 miles [19 km] is unsealed and terribly rough so it takes a bit longer to get over it. However, much better than it was before.

  I’ll send some papers during the next week, Fran, if I can. Our post offices here close for overseas mail on the 9th of this month. That is, of course, until after Christmas.

  I had an enormous wash to do today but it’s so hot the clothes were dry half an hour later.

  Well, I guess I must away now and do the ironing.

  Merry Christmas to you all.

  Yours truly,

  Dulcie

  23rd December 1960

  Dear Fran,

  Many thanks for the parcel. I don’t know what I was most pleased with, the tray or matchbox tops or papers. The tray is very beautiful and interesting. All my friends have been to admire it and are very envious. I couldn’t get anything depicting Australian scenes except a handkerchief for you. However, I’ll keep looking around for something.

  Have a heap of match tops to send you. You seem to use book matches over there. We only have ours in small boxes with scratchers on the sides. At present they all have pictures of Australian animals and birds but in the new year they are to have Australian wild flowers on them.

  Len went to Rockhampton this morning. Terry and I didn’t go as we have to cart water for the sheep and cattle each day. Have two sheep on the back lawn trying to keep them alive as they are good ones and we can’t let them die.

  I am going to drive out to Dad’s place after we get the work done as I have to help him butcher a pig for Christmas.

  I iced my Christmas cake yesterday and it looks lovely. Have made the pudding and most of the patties and cakes. Haven’t much to do now, only the fowl, etc.

  We heard on the radio a couple of days ago that there was a bad air-crash in New York. Pictures of it were in the papers. It must have been horrible.

  Am listening to the hit parade at present. Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now or Never” and “Are you Lonesome Tonight” are the two most popular records here now. Also “Save the Last Dance for Me” and “Please Help me I’m Falling“ are quite popular.

  Terry, Len and Dulcie 1960

  Well, Fran I must away and get this work started on. Best wishes to all and happy returns to Mark at the end of December and also to Ricky in January.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  17th January 1961

  Dear Fran,

  Well, I don’t remember who wrote last but as I haven’t heard from you I guess it must be my turn. Well, we had a good, though very hot start to our new year.

  We had 8 inches [20 cm] of rain last week and it was very welcome.

  The garden looks lovely. All the roses are in bud and there are quite a few different plants in open flower.

  The pines are ripe and we have started to pick - only a few crates so far but will be going full time in a week or two.

  Len with young Terry sitting on pineapples

  I had to mow the lawn yesterday and it looks nice too. I have mailed you some matchbox tops and magazines. Also a big picture of Australian wild flowers.

  You can either frame or hang it or roll it up and put it away. I hope it doesn’t get ruined on the way over.

  Terry will be two on the 20th January. We bought him a little toy barrow to help me in the garden. He always tries to push mine when it’s full of weeds and soil. Now he can push his own.

  I drove in to Yeppoon to have a couple of hours on the beach yesterday. Terry loved it but it was very hot and we couldn’t stay long - else he would have been badly sunburned.

  I have a hen sitting on 12 eggs. They should hatch on Terry’s birthday. I hope to get a few chicks.

  Well, Fran, must away and try to get Terry to have a sleep.

  So love,

  Dulcie

  23rd February 1961

  Dear Fran,

  Gosh is it hot here! The last four days have been terrifically hot. Over 100 degrees [38℃] each day. Two weeks ago we had a terrific downpour of rain. Eighteen inches [45 cm] of rain overnight! The whole countryside was just a sheet of water when we got up in the morning. We were cut off from all others for four days - by two flooded creeks. One creek was ½ mile [0.8 km] wide and the other 10 feet [3 metres] over the bridge.

  The road is just a big washout. Had to go into Yeppoon by tractor. We didn’t have any damage done by the water but some people lost stock and their crops were washed away. Dad lost his old pet sheep but it came back 2 days ago. Must have been washed a long way. The water was only 18 inches from our floor (in the house) and we had 2 dogs, 1 cat, fowls and 2 sheep on the verandah.

  Houses here aren’t built like yours. Ours are made on high blocks 7 feet [2 metres] or 3 feet [91 cm] high from the ground depending on how low the land is. Ours is about 3 feet. Of course no one in Australia has basements as you say you have over there. I believe they have them in England too.

  I must take a photo of our house to send you. I bought a colour film to take some coloured photos to send you. I haven’t taken any yet. Terry has a heavy cold. He was very bad with croup last night and neither he nor I had much sleep. I made two new dresses for myself. One is a satin-striped poplin and the other embroidered nylon. The nylon is very pretty.

  Australia Day was celebrated a few days ago. Australia was discovered 173 years ago. Not very old is it? Our Governor General, Lord Dunrossil, died too a couple of days ago.

  I have been doing some reading lately, “Where Eagles Gather” by Douglas Baber was one good book I read.

  Our top tunes seem to be all of German origin now. Elvis Presley’s “Wooden Heart” and “Sailor” by Lolita, and two others I forget what the names are. I rather like them too.

  I bought an LP record of Johnny Horton last time I went to Rockhampton and I’d like to get Elvis Presley’s “GI Blues”.

  We had to pick and crate pineapples yesterday. Gosh! It was hot work and I got a bit sunburnt. They ripen quick when the weather gets hot. Have sent 248 crates off so far - still more to go too.

  Will tie up a bundle of papers to send you on Monday 27th.

  I think I’ll be going into town that day.

  Well, Fran, I hear Len coming home for dinner so I guess I’d better close and get it ready.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  27th March 1961

  Dear Fran,

  Well, it is raining again today. Gosh, it always rains when I hang the washing out.

  I went to Yeppoon this morning to collect a kitten for Terry. It is pure white with lovely blue eyes. I wish he would stay small - he looks so beautiful!

  Yes, Fran, I read Errol Flynn’s story, “My Wicked, Wicked Ways”. I thought it a disgusting lot of rot!

  I read a good Australian book last week, “A Straight Furrow” by Frank Kellaway. It was very interesting.

  We haven’t been out much lately so we went to the pictures on Saturday night. We saw “Tammy”. I liked it very much. So far “The Sundowners” hasn’t been showing in Queensland.

  I don’t know about the southern states though.

  No, Fran we don’t find the American dialect hard to understand as most of the recordings come from America and also
nearly all of the radio serials are American ones.

  Even the children’s ones, Wyatt Earp, The Lone Ranger etc. They are all made in America so we get quite used to it.

  Well, I must away now, Fran, and feed the animals.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  Tuesday 23rd May 1961

  Dear Fran,

  Please forgive me for not writing before this to thank you for the lovely birthday card and good wishes. Gosh, I’ve been sick. Could hardly get about for 3 weeks. However, I am okay now.

  We are getting some cold nights here now. Winter is well on the way. We had a light frost but it didn’t do any damage to the crops.

  Len has been busy burning timber that he bulldozed off. We will probably plant fruit trees and pineapples in the new clearing.

  Did I tell you in my last letter that we bought a new car? It is a Holden, an Australian made car - lovely too!

  We are going for a trip to Mackay soon, in the Holden. We haven’t had a holiday for about 4 years so we will really enjoy this one.

  I have enclosed some match tops. They have pictures of Australian Wildflowers on them. If you collect them I will send you some in each letter. They are a series and go from 1 to 64 so I will try and get you a full set.

  Also enclosed is a picture of part of Yeppoon beach. I took some colour pictures of Terry and Len on the bulldozer - when they come out I will send you a couple - if they are good!