Out of bed at 4 o’clock each morning to get part of the work done - return to the house at 7 to get Terry bathed, dressed and breakfast and onto the bus at 7:30, then back into the house and off again.
Return at 5 to meet the bus and take Terry with me again to finish off. Then home at 8 pm to get Terry bathed and fed and into bed. Then all the house animals and fowls and ducks, etc. fed and the housework and cooking done for next day. Into bed at midnight and up again at four and on it goes again.
Despite all this there’s only 60 head of cattle left. The hardest part is having to shoot the ones that are down and too weak to get up. The way the poor things look at me as I stand over them with the rifle. I usually end up crying after I’ve shot a few. This has been going on for weeks now and I still can’t harden myself to this task.
The government is at last going to offer some assistance to the cattlemen to help save some stock by setting up a drought relief fund. Why they had to wait till nearly everything’s gone is hard to understand. Hatred of the Prime Minister, Mr Menzies, is high in three states and now he has had his bodyguard increased to 30 men to accompany him everywhere.
The only thing he appears to be interested in is Royalty and thinks nothing of inviting the Queen or others of the Royal family to tour about out here and waste money while others are desperately in need of it.
Strangely enough the weather isn’t as hot as it should be in drought time. Only just reaches 100 degrees [38℃], never higher, so I guess we have a lot to be thankful for.
Len isn’t home yet. No sense in him leaving there as we certainly need the money he earns. Although sometimes I wish there was a man here to help with some of the harder work.
There’s hundreds of all kinds of birds around the house. The poor things are starving and come for any scraps of bread, peelings and seed and water. Our cats feast on them, judging by the feathers about, but still they come. Even wallabies and kangaroos, bandicoots, possums and rats in broad daylight. They are too hungry to be scared.
Brendan would have been three today. My eldest brother Tom also celebrates his 31st birthday today.
I’ll get a Christmas parcel off to you, Fran, sometime next week as I’ll have to get into Yeppoon for some food supplies then.
Well, I hope everything is going well over there at your house. Write soon.
Love,
Dulcie
Friday 19th November 1965
Dear Fran,
It’s good to know someone, somewhere in this world is still having pleasant times. Your trip sounded wonderful and for the first time in my life I envy you the cold weather. I wouldn’t care now if we had snow 20 feet [6 metres] deep - anything to escape this 100 degrees [38℃] of heat, dust, and thirst. I’ve enclosed some newspaper cuttings. Need I say anything more about the drought?
Terry has just passed his end of year exams and will be in Grade 2 next January. Four more weeks of school and then a break for Christmas. Christmas Day will pass like any other day for us this year. I can’t see us celebrating anything other than the loss of everything we own.
Our Church of England minister called out last week and seemed shocked when I told him I am now an unbeliever. I cannot and will not believe there is a God after this. After the deaths of Karen and Brendan I accepted this minister’s explanations for His reasons.
But I will not believe there is a God who has any reasons for letting innocent animals die in agony of thirst and hunger and sometimes bogged, just waiting hopelessly to die, while crows, hawks and dingos eat them alive. If this is done just to punish the people who own the stock, then it’s a cruel rotten way to do it.
The Rev. McBlack took his departure still imploring me to have faith. Unless someone can explain it better than he did then Faith is a word of the past now as far as I’m concerned.
Oh Fran, what’s the use. I can’t even think straight enough to spell the words properly. To hell with life and everything else.
28th January 1966
Dear Fran,
Thank you so much for the lovely gifts you sent. All our friends have been fascinated by the tablecloth and key ring. I’ve been shopping and have found some little novelties to send you. Terry started school on January 24th in pouring rain. We’ve had 21 inches [53 cm] since Christmas. On Wednesday, the creek was flooded too high for the school bus to cross. So Len had to swim over and carry Terry back over to our side in the afternoon. Had I known the water was so high I wouldn’t have sent him that morning. The rain has eased to scattered showers now so the creek was lower this morning.
Len decided against going away to NSW as we’ve been able to borrow £2000 from the bank to restock. The trouble is to find any stock for sale. We can’t select the best breeds. Just have to take what is available. So now we have a mixture of Jersey, Hereford, Zebu, Illawarra, Santa Gertrudis and a few with a mixture of all breeds! However, we still have our own bulls that I hand fed last year so maybe we can breed a few decent things again.
We have to pay back £1000 by 31st December and the other £1000 the following year. Len will be going back to the cane in June to enable us to do this. We were planning to see if we could enlarge our family this year. Debts and all, we will have to go ahead or we will be too old soon. Terry is 7 now and it’s 4 years in October since Brendan was born.
If our plans do become a fact, the only trouble will be Len is away for the last 6 months of the year. Still I think I could rely on Mum to mind Terry and the house pets for the week I’d be away and to baby-sit when I need to muster and dip, etc. Oh well, just keep your fingers crossed for me and we will see what happens!
Terry was thrilled to receive a letter from Ricky. Said he would write when he has time on the weekend. He doesn’t have much spare time during the week as he has homework now to do after he gets home at 5 pm. And then I give him another try out on spellings, etc. before the bus calls at 7:30 am. Well, Fran, I must away and milk the old cow before Len and Terry arrive.
Lots of love,
Dulcie
16th February 1966
Dear Fran,
I can’t find an easy way to tell you that we are once again sunk to the limit. Len’s sister came home from hospital on February 1st and everyone seemed carefree and happy again to see her well. Then on Saturday 12th her husband phoned us. She had shot herself dead.
[Two paragraphs have been removed to protect surviving family members from a graphic description.]
All we can do now is make the children as happy as possible. The eldest boy Dennis, 18, is working at the Commonwealth Bank. Barbara will continue at college and James, 11, and Pat, 5, are at primary school and Len’s mother has taken the baby aged 5 months.
Australia changed to decimal currency yesterday and I’ve posted an envelope for you with the first new cents stamp.
Lots of love,
Dulcie
7th March 1966
Dear Fran,
Received your letter and tape a few days ago. Terry was delighted with the boys’ poems and enjoyed the recordings they played. At the time we made a tape to send you, our record player was broken down, but it’s going again now and Terry has recorded some records for Ricky and Mark. But so far the tape isn’t completed. I wanted Len to say a few words but I haven’t been brave enough to speak to him about it yet.
Since his sister’s death he is bad-tempered and shouts at Terry and me over the smallest thing. We had two of Violet’s children here for 2 weeks but he seemed upset each time he came home and saw them so his parents took them.
I asked his mother to see if she could get Len to consult the doctor. Maybe a sedative would help him as he doesn’t sleep well either. However, he raged at her too. So Terry and I just keep out of his way as much as possible.
I heard on the radio that North America is having a terrific blizzard. I do hope you are not in the path of it, Fran.
I went to Yeppoon today with Mum and Dad. The first time I’ve been to town for 4 or 5 weeks. Wasn’t a very nice trip
as we’ve had inches of rain and the road is all muddy and boggy. I drove down to our bottom boundary fence two days ago, to see if the cattle needed bone meal put out, and the car bogged on the way back. Terry and I walked the 3 miles [5 km] home to get the tractor to pull it out. Then the tractor bogged and it is still down there. Will have to wait till the rain stops and the ground gets hard now. Anyway there is green grass 2 feet [61 cm] high everywhere and the country looks really nice.
I’m sitting at the kitchen table watching the supper cook while I write this letter. Terry isn’t home yet. The bus broke down yesterday afternoon and an old truck brought the kids home (all sitting out on the back in the pouring rain) at 5:45. Must have had another mishap today as its now 5:30 and no sign of the bus yet. Terry’s raincoat is hanging in the bathroom cosy and dry where he left it last night so he will be dripping wet when he gets here.
Well, guess I’d better feed some animals and put them into their pens while I have time.
Lots of love,
Dulcie
PS We caught a little sea turtle on the beach a few weeks ago and it lived only a short time - so we had a man from Yeppoon stuff it. Terry thought Ricky and Mark might like it.
27th May 1966
Dear Fran,
Received your letter and the parcel of magazines. The papers arrived at a good time, me curled up in bed with flu, so I’ve been catching up on some reading. It’s wonderful weather to lie in bed. We’ve had a few frosts and the days are chilly. I only get out to get breakfast and see Terry and Len off. Then feed the animals, ducks, etc. sweep the house, make the beds, wash the dishes and then back into bed till 4 o’clock, then prepare supper and feed animals again. Len and Terry both take their lunch with them.
We all had anti-influenza injections last year, but they don’t seem much good. You mentioned measles vaccine in your letter. There was talk of it last year but the BMA [British Medical Association] wouldn’t allow its use in Australia.
Ricky and Mark’s photos are very good. They look so grown up compared to Terry. He is only just getting his front teeth and doesn’t look very handsome just now!
We had a great time last Saturday night. It was Empire Day and 13 families gathered here to set off a fireworks display. The adults enjoyed it as much as the children. But gosh! You should see the lawn, it’s littered with firecracker paper. I’ll have a bonfire when I rake it up.
* * *
June 16th.
Well, Fran, I just didn’t get around to ending this letter. We’ve been so busy. I recovered from the flu and have been extremely busy getting the work cleaned up so Len could leave for the north. He went on the plane Sunday night.
Terry and I and my parents are going to the Rockhampton Carnival tomorrow. I do hope the weather warms up a bit for it.
We had a visit from the people we picked fruit for in NSW today. It was lovely to meet them again. They drove 1700 miles [2736 km] up to see us and Len isn’t home. They are staying in Yeppoon for 4 weeks so I shall be able to have a good talk to them later. They keep Brendan’s grave in order for us at Griffith. I think this is very good of them.
Well, Fran, time is short and the school bus has just dropped Terry so I’ll have to say cheerio.
Lots of love,
Dulcie
26th September 1966
Dear Fran,
Congratulations to Mark. His baseball team must be very good. I’m afraid baseball is not played in Australia but I imagine that it is very much the same as cricket. Am I right?
Terry’s school just finished their annual inter-school sports. Terry’s house won the shield again. Three years running now. They just made it this time by 3 points. I won the swimming again in the PTA [Parents Teachers Association] section. I’ve held the record since I was 14. However now the new pool is opened in Yeppoon the rest of the team will be able to practice more often so I’ll probably miss out next year. I do my swimming in the cattle dams while the cattle look on with very interested expressions on their faces! Good day for swimming today.
The last week the weather has really warmed up - 101 [38ºC] today. The calf drop is well under way now with the warm weather. Every day there are more new ones to rear, mark and brand and give a vaccine to. I did 106 yesterday and only put in ½ a day today as I had to catch up with some housework.
Len’s mum went home last week. Terry has a new pony I bought last week and he is anxious to try him out this weekend, so I’ll have help with the cattle then and can catch up with the house-cleaning and baking. Just finished quite a pile of sewing - shirts and shorts for Ann’s three boys.
Brian is thinking of selling their property and moving closer to town. Ann has never liked it out here. She was a city girl and finds it very lonely here. She can’t drive and won’t learn. She has no interest in gardening, can’t sew or knit and has no interest in the property or stock. So I guess she would be better off and happier in town. Really can’t see Brian getting an office job and being happy though.
I’m trying to listen to the radio while I write but the thunder storm keeps banging and making static. It’s most annoying just when a song I especially like is being played. My favourites at the moment are “Angel of the Morning” “Kitty Can” and “Little Arrows”. Will be going to Rockhampton next month some time and will shop for things to send you for Christmas.
Storm over the land
Is there anything any member of the family would especially like, Fran? The macadamia nuts will be as scarce as they were last year I’m afraid. The horses eat them all off the trees as high up as they can reach. Just as well they like them green - they sure wouldn’t be able to chew the ripe ones up!
Father Clarke’s [Len’s father] friend came out from USA and had a good trip over by plane and returned last week. I only got to see him once for about ½ an hour. I always meant to make time to talk to him again but the days just flew and before I knew it, it was time for him to go. He is very nice, not as old as I thought he would be.
He went up to see Len and they of course had a good time together. Len was 15 when he last met him. Anyway, he will be retiring from his job in 32 months and is coming back to live here. So guess I’ll have to wait till then to get to know him.
Well, Fran, the school bus will soon be in and I’ll have to meet Terry in the car as it’s raining quite heavily now. The rain mixed with the bangs and lightning flashes has really ruined my radio program.
Write soon and hope you are all well.
Love,
Dulcie
8th November 1966
Dear Fran,
Well, I spent a day in town yesterday and finished all my Christmas shopping. It’s so much easier to do it before Terry finishes school. I can hurry through the stores without worrying about him getting lost.
It’s very stormy looking today and hot enough for a 102 degrees [39ºC]. We could do with 4 inches [10 cm] of rain too.
Terry and I had to take the tractor 5 miles [8 km] down to the paddock to pull a cow out of the creek last Friday afternoon. She had 2 new calves sucking her and she was very weak. Poor old thing, we had to shoot her and the calves. One of the calves she adopted from another dead cow. I hated killing the calves but they would have tagged onto other cows and we’d lose them too.
How’s Ricky’s guitar lessons going? He is a good age to start learning. Tell him to practice every spare minute he has and it won’t be long before he is perfect. Terry had difficulties with the guitar, his fingers become sore and blistered so he has been learning piano for some time now.
You wrote that Mark asked why no one gathers around and has singsongs any more. Well, here we just have to if we haven’t any amusement. There is no TV and it’s too far to go to town very often. So we all gather at different homes and “state” a concert now and again.
Most of our instruments are easy to carry about and if the home doesn’t have a piano, well, we do without it and make enough noise to disguise the fact. Our guitars have battery powered amplifier
s as there is no electricity.
No, Fran, Tom doesn’t race his car. He says he is too old. He turned 32 on October 25th.
Did I tell you Len’s younger sister was expecting triplets? Well, she only had twin boys after all. Both big babies 6 pounds 10 ounces [3 kg] each. She named them John and Mark.
My brother’s wife, Ann, also had another son, 7 pounds 4 ounces [3.3 kg]. They were very disappointed because it wasn’t a girl. Still, he’s a lovely little fellow. Their twin boys are just 17 months old so Ann will have her hands full for awhile. Gosh, this looks bad for us with twins on both sides of the family.
Last week there was a Square Dancing and Country Music film showing in Rockhampton. The title “Country Music on Broadway”. A shocking long way to go to see a film I know but I just couldn’t resist it. It was lovely! The square dancing group were called the “Stony Mountain Cloggers”. Gee, I thought they were great.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKkEC7O8_2E]
Some of the singers were: Furlin Huskey, Bill Anderson, Hank Williams (Senior and Junior) Hank Snow and Andy Williams. The other feature was about a plant in Detroit that crushes old car bodies up and melts them down into steel plate again. Have you seen this place, Fran? Heck, I think it’s a clever idea.
Well, in closing this hasty scribble I must thank you for the books. I read the American Presidential one and enjoyed it very much. Terry also was very interested.
I sent you a parcel and included a woman’s paper with an article in it about President Johnson’s visit. We heard a radio broadcast on his arrival at Canberra and the speech he made. He has quite a good sense of humour, hasn’t he?
Dear Fran, Love Dulcie Page 9