Dear Fran, Love Dulcie

by Victoria Twead

  I agree it was a big step for you to change homes and jobs. Good luck to you. I do hope everything works out well for you both. I guess I’m too “stuck in the mud” to move now. Really, I know I couldn’t, so that’s why all buyers’ offers are refused. I can’t really explain why but any amount of money couldn’t shift me now.

  I love the country, where we have put so much work into, and I love my animals and know they wouldn’t settle if moved elsewhere. And Terry, who will own the property when we are gone, plans to keep it for his lifetime and his children (if he has any).

  Talking of children, we are all excited. A new baby is to come to the family again. Tom and Coral expect a baby in March. Irene is 7 and ½ now and Coral had been to so many specialists and was always told she would never have any more. So we have been throwing our hats in the air and already celebrating the event. Terry’s comment, “Gee, mum, when it’s as old as I am, I’ll be as old as you.” Poor old Terry.

  Well, Fran, I must off and feed my pets and wrap up the flowers for you. Not being close to town, one has to search for something to wrap with and my good Parker is dry and this lousy old 20-cent Bic doesn’t write when it should. Still I want you to have just a small part of our world, in case I’m not here to do it again, (getting old you know).

  Lots of love,

  Dulcie

  Tuesday 27th November 1979

  Dear Fran,

  For once I envy you enjoying the cold weather! Has been a little too hot for comfort lately. Seems a widespread heat-wave over most of central Queensland, with temp readings of 47ºC in the shade, about 115 on the old Fahrenheit scale. No rain and the grass is burning off fast, not to mention the water evaporation. Really hope it rains soon or we will be in trouble with the stock.

  I drove up to Rockhampton yesterday to inspect a Caterpillar bulldozer we wanted to buy. Seemed like 147 [64℃] in the city and I was glad to get home to some shady trees. Coral went too, to do some shopping, and you know how long it takes to inspect machinery and test it. And the day wore on.

  When I picked Coral up, the poor girl had about had it. Being pregnant in the heat is not comfortable. Anyway, the machine had too much wear in the pins and bushes, idlers and rollers, for the price they were asking, $26,000. Wouldn’t drop the price so I didn’t take it. Back again and I had to start the light-plant.

  Yes, Fran, $900 air fare to USA does seem reasonable, but still money and time are not easy to find and I think the fare is dearer when it’s summer in the USA. Perhaps we Aussies would die in the American winter!

  Lending rates on money here is 11½% but there is a way to dodge that. For instance we have money invested in the ANZ Bank and receive 12% interest. We can draw it at any time if we want to. But we can leave it there to earn 12% and borrow the same amount at 2% interest.

  Complicated, but for instance if we had $20,000 invested and received 2½% per cent per annum and we wanted to borrow $20,000 then we still receive 12% on our money and pay only 2% on the borrowed money, so we earn 10% clear still. We have convinced Terry it is wise to invest his money, too, at the bank. There are other “get rich quick” investment companies that pay higher interest, but the bank seems safer.

  Terry boards all week at his job, and comes home weekends, so I’m still alone, Fran. It doesn’t worry me now as I’m used to it. Oh yes, I bought a new piano a couple of weeks ago. The old one was rather seedy so now I amuse myself at night and time passes quickly to bedtime.

  I wonder what’s going to happen to the US hostages in Iran? Why isn’t the Shah sent back as the Iran students demand? Why doesn’t President Carter drop a bomb on Iran? Perhaps we are not told the true reason why the Shah is in the USA. Perhaps he is not ill, just hiding. Would he be taking millions of dollars to USA and so the government wants him and are willing to sacrifice the hostages? Do you think Kennedy will defeat Carter, Fran?

  Guess I’ll have to leave this. A bulb blew sometime back so I’ll have to fix it before I begin to write sideways.

  Back again and now I can see the page. Lightning is flicking miles off to the west so maybe a storm for someone. Hope rain falls for them and a little comes our way by morning. Nights are so hot and sticky with moths and bugs crawling about the lights.

  One of my possums just followed me in and is sitting on the desk eating an apple. Funny little bright-eyed furry things. Guess I’d better take her out soon and close the screen door. So hope you are all well and write soon, Fran. Let me know how Kentucky was.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  30th January 1980

  Dear Fran,

  Eleven months left in the “new” year and are we having a long heatwave! From November to now the days are well into the 100s [38℃]. Plenty of dry electrical storms. In fact, a 19-year-old mate of Terry’s was struck by lightning last week. He was mustering cattle and how many times have we told the young ones to get off their horses and leave them. Lightning always seems to be attracted by horses. Anyway, the lad was dead when his father found him.

  We had a hot Christmas but enjoyed Christmas dinner with all the family and friends coming. We had 32 people to dinner and the sides of the house bulged out.

  Terry had a party for his 21st. We were going to have a barbecue but the weather didn’t suit so we changed to Lake Serpentine and everyone had a marvellous time. Eats, swimming and games. Terry’s cousin, Kim, was 21 two days before and, as his mother’s dead and his father doesn’t seem to care much about the children since his re-marriage, Kim and Terry’s party was combined.

  Fortunately, they were on holiday to recover. Us too! Terry and Len are both back at work now. Len helped me with some cattle while he was home and sold 2 semi-loads (60 head). Prices are coming up again, $393 a head. It is thought prices will rise and peak about the last quarter of the year and possibly fall in 1981. So I must send off more about June if we get any rain.

  We also found time to do some fishing, first time for years. We have been able to drive the Land Rover there instead of bikes. Sure is dry up that end, but we caught stacks of crabs and some good fish.

  The fish are getting smaller though, most around 4 to 5 pounds. [1.8 - 2.2 kg] I think the trawlers off the coast are taking all the good ones. Tom is out in his boat trawling too. I haven’t heard from him so he can’t have his box full yet. I hope he does well. They need a good few catches to help with costs of the new baby to come.

  And the best news is last, Fran. After a meeting, a delegation took various proposals to the Federal Government (bypassing the State Government) and the news was broadcast last week. The Federal Government has stopped the [Japanese] Iwasaki Company from purchasing any more land in Queensland.

  And if Iwasaki does not commence to build or develop the property he now has, by March 1980, the Federal Government will reclaim the whole lot. It will therefore be Crown Land and can either be declared a National Reserve or Wild Life Reserve, or it can be sold in equal portions by the Crown at public auction to Australian Citizens. So we haven’t lost yet, even though the High Court let us down!

  You see Federal Law states that land cannot be owned by one particular person or company for more than 2 years without being developed or used. Not even a block of land in towns to build a home on. This stops the greedy from buying up vast areas or blocks and holding them to make profits. The last we heard, the State Government Premier had no comment to make. For once he is beaten!

  Oh well, best go and feed my animals and do a few jobs before my bones grow together.

  Lots of love,

  Dulcie

  28th May 1980

  Dear Fran,

  Your country is certainly getting a beating. I see on TV films of Mount Saint Helen’s volcano and earth tremors in San Francisco.

  I read many years ago a story about San Francisco but don’t know if it is true. Was stated that holes had been drilled and tested, plus lots of other things and, to cut a long story short, San Francisco would one day be demolished by earthquake. Let’s hope
it doesn’t happen. I never knew the USA had any active volcanos either. Australia supposedly doesn’t.

  I trust your horrible snow has gone and you are enjoying spring. Winter hasn’t started here yet, very late this year. But I’m taking no chances and bought a new truck in February and have been busy selling off as many cattle as I can. We didn’t get any autumn rain so it could be dry by spring.

  Coral had a son (April 10th) and named him Tom III. He is really beautiful but rules his mum. She even moved into the spare room to sleep with him till Tom (his dad) called a halt.

  All these Tom’s are very confusing. When my brother Tom was young, people used to call dad, Big Tom, and my brother Little Tom. In later years it became Old Tom and Young Tom. Now there’s another one!

  Terry came home last weekend. He hasn’t been home for 8 weeks because it is such a long way. It takes till mid-day Saturday to get here and he has to leave noon Sunday. He looks so grown up now but has been working long hours. He is studying to operate a Water Treatment and Sewage Plant at night and has to spend from 7 pm to 11 pm, three nights a week, at the city water plant.

  Yeppoon is supposed to be building a water treatment and sewage plant next year and, if Terry passes his course, he plans on applying for the position of operator. He brought home two little dogs for me.

  My old dog, Augy, died in his sleep some weeks ago. Quite upset me when I got out of bed one morning and he was dead on his mat. When Terry phoned one night I told him and he must have thought I needed two to take care of in the house. There are the cattle dogs outside of course but working dogs can’t be pampered and spoiled inside because they won’t work properly.

  Wish you could see the new ones, Fran. One is black and a very friendly little pup. The other is a Silky Terrier, masses of long silky hair and such a funny little face. I don’t know if they will ever be as good a mate as Augy but they fill a gap and are good company, especially at night. The black one is named Soot and the little hairy one, Scruffy. Old Sugarplum doesn’t care much for them and after a few whacks to their noses, they keep clear of him.

  I’ve been fencing and picking pumpkins today. Have about 2 tons of pumpkins so far, and more for tomorrow, so guess I best get off to bed and rest the muscles!

  Write soon and hope you are all well.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  25th July 1980

  Dear Fran,

  Rain is falling tonight - how lovely - we need it but not as badly as Texas, USA. I see on TV pictures of the drought there. How well I know what it is. I’m sorry for the people and the animals.

  How about your printing business? Great! But, Fran, don’t overdo the work load. Hey, you and Dick look so young, what’s the secret? Gee, Dick is so handsome, wouldn’t mind stealing him from you! Be a good idea really. He could print things for me. Recently I had about 40 sheets to be photo-copied and the old machine coughed, wheezed and groaned before it finally turned out the copies. Only last week I completed our taxation return and typing that and a copy was hard enough.

  So glad you’ve had 25 years of marriage. Isn’t hard is it? Our 26th came up on July 10th and we bought a dozen orchid plants for the garden. Hope they flower every year.

  Terry came back from Brisbane last weekend. Reached home at 4 in the morning. Long drive for the poor kid after sitting for his exams. Ten hours down and ten hours back. Still he thinks he has done fairly well. I hope so.

  I went up to Rockhampton last week and bought a new Leyland tractor and plough and the tractor has a blade too. So now I can learn how to use it and off to work. This rain is good. It will soften the soil. This will have to be my last new unit for this year. What with a new truck, chainsaw, etc. I’ve spent my budget for 1980.

  My new dogs, Scruffy and Soot, are coming along very well although old Sugarplum still gives them a paw-full of claws every so often. And Rachel, my kangaroo rat, bites Scruffy every chance she gets. Poor dog turns and runs! Soot can’t stand the piano being played and howls horribly. Maybe it’s the way I play!

  Still miss old Augy though. He was so clever. Knew when I put my good clothes on, he couldn’t come because I was going out. If I put on my house shoes and garden hat, I was just pottering in the garden. But if I put on my riding boots, clothes and hat, he always beat me to the gate. But they all have to go some time and at least these two fill a gap. Even though I didn’t need two. Well, the rain is still falling and I must off to bed. Do write soon and tell me how your business is going.

  Good luck to you both.

  Love,

  Dulcie

  10th December 1980

  Dear Fran,

  Sorry I’ve been slack at letter writing. I notice your last letter was in October.

  I finally finished all the ploughing and planting. Took ages and ages but now we have had rain and there’s hectares of beautiful green fodder. Quite a sight for sore eyes. I’m glad the crop is up and away before the wet season starts in a few weeks. Shouldn’t have any erosion problems.

  The inland areas have been badly affected by drought and the rabbits have travelled to the coast. I dug a burrow out last week and found 7 baby rabbits. They are so cute, little furry things about the size of kittens. Couldn’t resist keeping them.

  I don’t expect the rabbits to be much of a pest because they won’t have much hope of survival here. Once the wet sets in they will all drown in their burrows or be washed away. Scruffy dog is afraid of the little ones. They try to cuddle up to him and he races off and hides!

  Terry was home for 2 weeks holiday. He left Utah Coal Company and moved to Middlemount. He won’t be home for Christmas as they haven’t got an assistant qualified to relieve him yet.

  [Middlemount was a coal company town built almost overnight for coal workers and opened by the Duke of Edinburgh.]

  He bought a new car while he was home and brought his girl to stay too and was very helpful doing some of the ploughing, etc. The girl, not being a country girl, found things a bit different, but was very good, prepared meals, etc. for when we came home.

  She wants to learn to drive but did Terry have to start teaching her with the semi-truck? Poor girl was terrified and she said she only wanted to drive a car. But Terry said driving is driving and that means everything and she should be grateful he took the stock trailer off the prime mover!

  I can see Terry will have to change his mind about what girls are capable of doing or he will be an old bachelor.

  When I was in hospital, in August, my black dog died, so I didn’t get another one as Scruffy is a big enough pest. He is about 7 inches high and won’t grow any bigger but he can’t wait to go outside the garden fence and boss the cattle dogs around. But he runs away from baby rabbits.

  Sugarplum ignores him so when he’s out at the barns he clashes with all the farm cats and gets quite a few scratches. Old Sugarplum is hardly able to walk now. He limps badly and just gets about.

  The vet examined him but there’s nothing can be done. He has arthritis in the leg joints.

  Well, I have the last load of cattle to truck to the sale yards tomorrow morning (last for 1980) and won’t be selling anymore until the wet is over so I’ll be able to have a spell and do a bit of gardening.

  Do have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

  Lots of love,

  Dulcie

  Card

  9th May 1981

  Your kind expression of sympathy is gratefully acknowledged and deeply appreciated from the family of the late Dulcie Clarke 21-4-37—30-3-81.

  Terry

  16th May 1981

  Dear Terry,

  I was deeply saddened upon hearing from you about your mother. It was a great shock! I had always dreamed of someday meeting with her in person.

  As you know our friendship began over half our lifetime ago when we were both newly married young girls. Through the years we shared many parts of our life, many happy and many sad.

  Throughout I always had a deep admiration of Dulcie. Her swe
et singing, her compassion and love for the animals she tended, her openheartedness at taking care of people who needed help; her love for nature and your property. But the one trait I always admired the most was her courage. She always met life head on. No task was too big for her, nor too hard. She saw what had to be done and she did it, like to or not!

  I shall miss her too. And someday if you could, please write and tell me what happened and tell me how you are doing too. And please remember if you ever come to the US you know I would love to have you spend some time here with us.

  As ever,

  Fran.

  Epilogue

  Truth is truly stranger than fiction.

  Fran Globke, 2021

  One can only imagine Fran’s shock, back in 1981, when she received the sympathy card from Terry, announcing his mother’s death. There was no warning or explanation.

  The card, so short and so abrupt, presumed that Fran had already been informed of Dulcie’s death by either Terry or Len. I asked Fran when, and how, she had been notified of Dulcie’s death.

  She replied:

  The last letter [from Dulcie] was in December 1980. The next correspondence was the thank you/sympathy card from Terry that I am enclosing, listing date of death as March 30, 1981. I wrote him but neither he nor Len ever answered.

  Joe and I stared at the writing on the forty-year-old card, trying to guess what had happened.