N S W D P I

Reflections on the past

N u m b e r 4 4 wi n t e r 2 0 0 7 F R e e n e W s l e t t e R hotography P voke E hoto: P ay. ay. H arden at arden at G ose R eritage eritage H

Bishops Lodge Historic House the region’s extreme climate. This is just one of the great things ouse & & Heritage Rose Garden The building is surrounded by a you can see and do as part of the H

Bishop’s Lodge (pictured above) historic garden which contains a 2007 Women’s Gathering to be istoric is an 1888 iron house designed remarkable collection of heritage held in Hay from 2-4 November. H by architect John Sulman and the roses, some of which are unique See pages 19-22 for program and Bishop of the Riverina to combat to this garden. registration information. Bishops Lodge

I N C l u d e s t h e 2 0 0 7 h a y W o m e n ’ S G at h e r I N G P r o G r a m & r e GI s t r at I o n

P u b l i s h e d b y n s W D e p artment of Pr i mary Industr i e s Issn 1039–5202 THE COUNTRY WEB contents The Country Web is produced by NSW Department of Primary Industries FEATURES Rural Women’s Network (RWN) and is distributed free, three times a year. 8 it’s not like it was in the For more about RWN see page 5. old days Daphne Kennedy from Walgett EDITING/DESKTOP PUBLISHING shares her story about life in the Allison Priest ‘old’ days and her hopes for a CONTRIBUTIONS better future for our young people. Letters, stories, poems and photographs 10 Knowing Geordie from rural women and their families are The promise of a new life in the always welcome. country was exciting. With six FREE MAILING LIST young sons, leaving the city If you live in New South Wales and would seemed like a good idea. Told by like to be on our free mailing list, contact Jill Baggett from Mudgee, this the RWN. personal story transports you back to 1982 – a time of fuel (wood) ADVERTISING stoves and mud-brick houses. 14,000 Country Webs are produced each edition. We welcome advertisements and 19 007 Hay Women’s Gathering Rural women leading the way for program and registration offer very competitive rates. Contact RWN primary industries information 16 for more information. Sponsorship and Gatherings are a wonderful insert options are also available. opportunity for women from all CONTACT DETAILS over NSW to come together and Rural Women’s Network network or just have fun! Hay’s Locked Bag 21 2007 Gathering will be no Orange NSW 2800 exception, offering participants Ph: 02 6391 3620 tours, dinners, networking, a wide Fax: 02 6391 3650 range of workshops, keynote TTY: 02 6391 3300 speakers, fun and laughter! Email: [email protected] Website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn 24 Writing a successful grant application Writing an application for financial COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS assistance for any worthwhile See pages 13 & 23 for competitions. community project, can, at times, 1. Information on how to enter and prize details be likened to running a marathon. form part of the Terms & Conditions. By entering the This article lists some of the major competition, entrants accept these Terms & Conditions. 2. To enter, you must provide your full name and postal considerations that need to be details, and in 25 words or less answer the competition explored well in advance of filling question. 3. Entries must be posted to the stated address in the application form. by the stated date. 4. This competition is a game of skill. Protect your children against bites The best answer as judged by the RWN will win. The 26 for the love of river boats and stings this summer. judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be 18 entered into. Prizes cannot be transferred or redeemed This story takes readers on an for cash. The winner will be notified by mail within 14 historic voyage back in time along days from the judging date. the Clarence, to an era when Disclaimer river boats were at the centre of Recognising that some of the information in this people’s lives. document is provided by third parties, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the State of New South Wales, the author and the publisher take no R e gu l a r f e a t ur e s responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability and correctness of any information included in the document provided by such third parties. The information 3 editorial 23 book reviews 34 saC Update contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because 3 Calendar 24 Grants/Funding 36 Web Watch of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is 4 letters 28 health 37 What’s on, up to date and to check currency of the information with What’s new? 5 rWN Report 31 Women in the appropriate officer of NSW Department of Primary decision Making 38 resources Industries or the user’s independent adviser. 18 Parenting

 t h e C o u n t r y W e b • R�����������������������e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t editorial COUNTRY WEB NO.43 The past provides an enormous canvas on we have lost some important principles COMPETITION WINNERS which to think and reflect. There are many which help to make life meaningful. Congratulations to the following books and television programs dedicated to I often complain that no one takes Country Web readers for their examining many different ‘pasts’. responsibility for their actions any winning entries in the No.43 We all have ‘personal pasts’ providing more. There is less honour among men. Country Web reader give-away. memories. For some it will be happy Remember when a handshake was as good images of a wonderful loving and secure as a written contract? 2007 Communities in Control childhood. For others, suffering early grief, With the focus of most news stories on Conference: Due to the high illness or abuse, such memories can be the dreadful things happening around the standard of entries received, Our opposite. There is also the ‘historical past’ world, it is easy to become overwhelmed Community decided to give all uncovered and shared by historians and and forget to reflect on good things we six entrants a double-pass to the archaeologists. once valued – like helping people and Conference: Meredith Boyd, Mt One thing is certain, in all its manifestations, contributing to the community. We need Hutton; Helen Dalton, Condobolin; the past will fascinate us at some time in more stories of the many wonderful people Mary Hollingworth, Deepwater; our lives. Many people become fascinated everywhere who help others suffering or in Lee McDonald, Corowa; Cathy researching family trees and spend vast trouble. Walsh, Boorowa; and Denise Willis, amounts of time and money sleuthing long- If I am truly honest I admit throughout Upper Lansdowne. lost cousins, grandparents and great great history little has changed. There have The Greatest Life Never to be aunts. We like to know where we come always been and will always be honourable Lived: Jenny Magner, Tenterfield from and why we are as we are. men and women alongside dishonest, My own personal reflections on the past are unscrupulous and cruel people. It is well Beyond Burnout to Balance: for the most part happy. We all have times to look back and reflect on the past. We Strategies & Solutions: Mary in our past that we would rather forget, can learn a lot if we just take the time. Hollingworth, Deepwater & Jenny but on the whole I have lived a blessed life I guess if it was an ideal world we would Symons, Molong and am grateful for it. It is easy for me to have nothing to strive for. My reflections Meditation – Mind, Body & value the past, yet I feel many great values on the past have made me wonder if we are Spirit CD: Jennifer Duddle, Milvale learned from the past have disappeared. imperfect for a reason and if this is why we Meditation for people with I most certainly wouldn’t want to return to all need to keep working towards a better cancer and people in remission: the good old days of no washing machines world. Norma Stewart, Port Macquarie or refrigeration, no power and all things less Denise Turnbull, former member of the Rural technologically advanced. However, perhaps Women’s Network State Advisory Committee.

c a l e n D A R o f E V e n t s : l o c a l a n d r e g i o n a l n s W e v ents & acti v i t i e s gu i d e c a l e n D A R o f E V e n t s August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 WHAT’S NEXT? 13-14, Manly (Sydney) 22–23, Gundy 15, STATEWIDE The next edition of The Country 2nd National Men’s Shed Shaping Our Futures Together Applications close for 2008 Web will focus on ‘Recovery & Conference. Call 02 9954 4400 Contact Sonia Muir on 02 6391 3611 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. Resilience’. or [email protected] or [email protected] See page 17 for information. or go to: www.mensshed.org If you have stories, poems, pictures 22–23, Kyogle November 2007 or information of interest, we would 15-23, National Farmers Mental Health love to hear from you. History Week. More than 200 2-4, Hay Gathering. Contact Julie Greig diverse events across NSW are 2007 Women’s Gathering. Contributions required by 14 on 0429 126 656 or being planned to showcase A wonderful opportunity for September for publication in [email protected] history – exhibitions, talks, walks, women from all over NSW to December 2007. September 2007 workshops, open days, special come together to network or just Send your stories to: The Editor, events and much more. Contact have fun! This year’s Gathering 12-13, Broken Hill RWN, Locked Bag 21, Orange the NSW History Council on offers participant tours, dinners, Shaping Our Futures Together 2800, Fax: 02 6391 3650; or 02 9252 8715 or go to: networking, a wide range of Contact Sonia Muir on 02 6391 3611 Email: [email protected] www.historycouncilnsw.org.au workshops, keynote speakers, fun or [email protected] and lots of laughter! See pages 19-22 for more information.

R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t������������������ • t h e C o u n t r y W e b  letters Write to: Letters, The Country Web, Locked Bag 21, Orange 2800

Supporting women make a profound impact! It is better that most women bring I have written a few years ago truly inspirational to know there to management and leadership in praise of the Rural Women’s are so many energised, highly roles. Network, however, I feel I able and enthusiastic people in Certainly rural women already must reiterate the important our world. have many of these skills and role you have in supporting May many others be encouraged abilities and use them in their women through this devastating to attend and, as a result, families and in agricultural drought. I do hope governments be lifted to a higher level of businesses. The RWN team: Allison Priest continue to recognise your understanding and ability to Since retiring nearly four years (Assistant Coordinator) and important work in community make a difference. ago I have been conducting Sonia Muir (Coordinator) matters. Meredith Boyd, Mt Hutton leadership programs for women, The Rural Women’s Network The recent Country Web had mostly in the public sector, and excellent content and we can all Ed: See ourcommunity.com.au for have come into contact with (RWN) is a statewide gain some help and inspiration information on the Conference. many successful women with a government program to survive the drought problems passion for their work and a desire within NSW Department and hope for better times. to lead. In every group, however, of Primary Industries and Frances Gavel, Condobolin Women – leaders in families the discussion of whether the is based at Orange. RWN price of leadership is too high is The reference to Women & works in partnership with a major issue. Women look for Leadership in Rural Australia’s a leadership style which allows individuals and agencies Communities in Control Future in the last Country Web them to be themselves and have to share information and prompted me to read Wendy Thank you for the opportunity a balanced work and family life. promote action on rural to attend the 5th Communities McCarthy’s Rick Farley Lecture. As a result, we spent time in women’s issues. The RWN: in Control Conference 2007! A passing reference to women workshops developing self- The excellent presentation as leaders in their families ■ provides information awareness, reviewing our of authoritative, entertaining caught my eye. A few years and referrals; motivation and life needs and and empowering speakers was ago I completed my Masters looking at skills to be self- contained within the framework honours thesis on organisational ■ supports the managing in a leadership role. of a wonderfully hospitable, change using, as my research development of local This affirms existing knowledge well-managed and accepting topic, the career development of initiatives; and enables the group to move environment of hosts, good organisational change agents. on and apply their capabilities. ■ works with rural women food, great program and friendly Broadly speaking, the profile The group interaction is a very and families to identify and delegates! which emerged was not powerful part of that experience. The leadership of Rhonda greatly different from that of bring attention to priority Wendy McCarthy, in her lecture, Galbally, CEO of Our Community, corporate leaders in Australian issues; pointed to the possible waste of and Joe Caddy, CEO of Centacare organisations, with one major resources in offering leadership ■ develops projects with Catholic Family Services, was exception: the primary role training programs. Certainly other agencies to address inspirational and community- models for both men and women educational research indicates creating in itself! The young in this group were their mothers. needs; that around 80 per cent of members hosting the Conference Those were the days of very ■ provides a medium for adult learning occurs at work. reflected the authenticity and limited opportunity for women Nevertheless the kind of learning networking and information integrity of the vision – they and all of these mothers were that occurs in the groups I sharing; were helpful, non-judgmental, home-based for most of the have experienced can be an obviously enthusiastic and helped time. Clearly they were also very ■ promotes the profile of invaluable support for women to add to the overall camaraderie intelligent and very frustrated. All as they develop as leaders rural women; and warm ethos of the gathering. were striving to find a better way in a broad sphere. It affirms ■ provides a two-way link in whatever they did and this What an honour and a blessing existing capabilities, provides inspired their children, not only between government and to attend! I feel I have been valuable feedback from others with a passion for improvement rural women; and given a privileged insight into the and introduces opportunities to but also for improvement within workings of people, organisations compare the leadership cultures ■ provides policy advice. an ethical commitment to the and processes that will not return of various organisations and the growth of others. Contact the RWN on void. The bringing together of impact on individuals. It helps such resources with a common With more than thirty years in women make choices about how Ph: 02 6391 3620 or Email: vision, one of encouraging all in senior executive roles in large they want to lead. [email protected] making a real difference in their organisations, I have observed Kay Lord, Lyndhurst own spheres of influence, must that it is this drive to do things

 t h e C o u n t r y W e b • R�����������������������e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t rwn update By Sonia Muir, RWN Coordinator ‘Nothing about us without us.’ Quote from the 4th World Congress of Rural Women

‘Rural women produce adequate housing. Having opportunities to explore issues On the political level, one about 80 per cent of the food a high level event on their regionally, nationally and third of India’s rural seats are grown in Africa, 60 per cent continent provided African internationally. It is hoped reserved for women and this in Asia and between 30–40 women with an opportunity the Durban Declaration target is already exceeded per cent in Latin America, to also spotlight their region’s highlighting the 2007 with women holding 43 per yet own just two per cent highest priorities such as HIV/ Congress recommendations cent of seats, and 20 per cent of all agricultural land and AIDS, land rights and poverty. will provide a positive influence of government budgets must receive only one per cent of Despite a tight program for action to improve the lives go towards capacity building agricultural credit. They are just about everything ran late. of rural women globally. for women’s projects. I hope critically important to our African time means going with India has agreed to host the many of you can make it to society and yet are the most the flow. Music, singing and 5th World Congress of Rural India. marginalised.’ South African culture play a strong role in Women in 2010-11. With one To find out more about the Minister for Finance. building community across billion people and the largest 2007 Congress go to: I was fortunate to attend Africa and the wonderfully population of rural women in www.nda.agric.za th the 4 World Congress of colourful costumes and the world, the scale of change A full copy of my report Rural Women and a pre- melodious voices created there is daunting. However is on the RWN website and congress study tour in South a fantastic and unique we can still learn from so- I am happy to give visual Africa during April. Over 2500 atmosphere. Meal times called ‘developing countries’. presentations to groups women from 60 countries were ‘feeding frenzies’ as the wherever possible. ■ (35 from Australia – three from hundreds of women scrambled NSW) gathered in Durban for to fill their bellies with protein the Congress. This short report – perhaps an uncommon item gives a small glimpse into this on their daily menu? experience. Personal safety was a Australian women are well constant concern and buses respected for the key role transported us from hotels they played in all past events to venues. Racial tensions in and through initiating the South Africa are complex and first conference in 1994 in certainly NOT black and white. Melbourne. Since then, World For anyone wanting alternative Congresses have been held in perspectives, an overnight Washington DC, USA (1998) stay at Mama Thope’s Bed and Madrid, Spain (2002) and now Breakfast in the black township Ann Mc South Africa. of Khayelitsha and a tour of Rae (Wagga Wagga) with Khayelitsha resident The 2007 Congress explored Robben Island prison (think issues shared by rural women Nelson Mandela), both near worldwide and will perhaps Cape Town, are a must. The sound familiar… the impact prison tour was led by an ex- of globalisation and trade; inmate who, despite sharing concern for sustainable distressing stories of prison life, development (social, economic had an inner forgiveness to and environment); climate host warders for a meal in his change; a guarantee of food home when the prison closed. security; access to land, water, Global rural women’s African A kaleidoscope of rural finance, health services and congresses have become BY ANN McRAE women. PHOTO new technologies; improved a platform for extensive transport and roads; and networking and present

R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t������������������ • t h e C o u n t r y W e b  Come visit the past at Outback House Article by Liz Tourle, Obley

My husband Scott and I cheaper to build a ‘set’ rather The first Europeans known (toilet), stables, milking shed, own and operate a farming than alter existing buildings to have seen this land were manager’s quarters, bachelor’s and grazing enterprise 40 and later return them to their explorers, John Oxley and quarters and shearing shed. kilometres south-west of 21st Century condition. Oxley Allan Cunningham. In 1817, The vegetable garden and Dubbo. In 2005 the ABC Downs, built in 14 weeks, is John Oxley wrote in his orchard created for Outback television series, Outback a complete replica of an early journal, ‘The tops of the hills House is maintained, and one House, based on the Robinson rural Australian homestead. were generally stony (granite can still discover a strawberry Land Act of 1861, was filmed The producers went to of different degrees and or dig a potato when in on our property. great lengths to purchase or qualities), but the broom-grass season.

Our children Kennedy, reproduce authentic props, grew strongly and abundantly As in 1861, there is no Tom and Sam are the sixth so we now have a wonderful in the interstices. We never electricity and we encourage generation on this land. In collection of early Australian descended a valley without children to play games that 1837 my husband’s great memorabilia. finding it well watered, and don’t need electricity such as great grandparents, Arthur With more than a passing although the soil and character marbles, knuckles, hopscotch, and Isabella Baird, came to interest in history and a need of the country rendered it fit quoits, kite flying and the girls’ Australia from Scotland. to supplement our farming for all agricultural purposes…’ game of graces using a hoop.

The Bairds spent time in enterprise, at the completion The homestead and On open days visitors can Bathurst before settling near of filming, we bought all the outbuildings house the bring a picnic and wander at Dubbo. In 1846 they bought buildings and props and now possessions of daily life in their leisure. At night events 200 acres of freehold land. open Oxley Downs to the 1861 highlighting the simple Oxley Downs comes to life After buying more land in public as often as we can. but wholesome life of our with kerosene lights, candles 1857 The Springs homestead Through Oxley Downs we ancestors. and camp fires again keeping it was built. can offer a tactile experience With the hint of wood smoke as true to the period as we can.

The Springs was to be used for school children as well as on the breeze and fires Since opening we have for the filming, however the families. It is a lesson in history burning in the parlour and made many new friends who producers realised it would be but also in early Australian life. kitchen, the atmosphere is share a common interest in very authentic. The homestead history, tradition and rural with its wide verandahs and life including the Outback strangers rooms, replicates an House participants who return 1848 construction complete regularly. ■ NEW SOUTH WALES with hessian lined walls, calico If you would like more • Women 50-69 years are eligible for a FREE Breastscreen ceilings and shingled roof. • no Doctor referral required information, please call us The outbuildings are made of • breast cancer can affect 1 in every 8 women on Ph: 02 6887 7264, slabs covered with bark roofs • breastscreen sites at Orange and Dubbo Email: [email protected] (2 mobile vans visit other towns) and include a kitchen, laundry, or go to: www.oxleydowns.com.au • simply telephone 13 20 50 for appointment meat house, long drop

 t h e C o u n t r y W e b • R�����������������������e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t By 1942, yet another greeted by row upon row of call went out by WANS for vegetables. Huge paddocks all labour on farms as fruit and laid out with precision as far as Wartime vegetables were rotting in the the eyes could see. Oceans of Gosford area. Women and beetroots, onions and carrots. memories girls were asked to volunteer We spent day-after-day Article by Helen Dempsey, Mudgee to go to the farms to help weeding, planting, picking with the harvest, releasing the or hoeing. At the end of each By the end of 1941, men for the Armed Services. working day we were grateful advertisements were These women would soon be for the irrigation canals where beginning to appear in called The Australian Women’s we would cool down with a newspapers reminding Land Army. splash and a bit of fun. people of the need to help The noise from the can the war effort for Australia, This was it for me! Still According to the seasons, making area of the factory and a call went out for awaiting call-up, my sister large crops of oranges, was incredible. The cans were volunteer telephonists to man volunteered with me. We were lemons and the best quality stamped out of steel, formed emergency switchboards in told to buy a uniform from grapefruit I had ever seen, and conveyed then dropped the event of enemy attack. David Jones, some overalls were all carefully gathered. We and boots, and report to often picked from the top of to the preparing benches Although fifteen years old the Sydney Central Railway a twelve-foot high (3.5 m) ‘A’ below where women cut the at the time, I had left school Station where we would be frame ladder. A four-wheeled vegetables to size and packed hoping to join some kind of given a rail ticket. So on a flat wagon pulled by the most them into the cans. From service. My brother was in certain night we met with a patient horse was loaded there they travelled on to the the Army and in training in group to travel to an unknown high with boxes of the day’s huge cookers. Queensland. My only sister destination. pick and taken to the packing At the end of the hostilities, was waiting for her 18th shed. The fruit was packed the Australian Women’s Land birthday and call-up into the By noon the next morning, with our love and prayers and Army was quickly disbanded Army Medical Service. She was we disembarked at a railway sometimes a note with our when the men began working as a volunteer nurse. station in the flattest country I had ever seen. We had no best wishes for a safe return returning to their farms. I applied and was accepted idea where we were. We had to all the service men and Enduring friendships were to learn to operate the to ask the station master women. made and kept along with our massive switchboard at the because all names had been When winter arrived and the memories. Metropolitan Water Board in removed from the stations days turned wet, being unable One memorable event Sydney. Within a week our so as to confuse the enemy to work in the paddocks, the stands out for me. There were group was considered ready should they have managed Land Army Girls were asked a number of Italian prisoners to join other women in the to get as far inland. So here to help at the cannery. The of war (POWS) working in then yet to be completed we were, at Leeton, in the huge Letona cannery supplied a paddock quite near to the under-ground railway tunnels Riverina region of southern goods for civilians and the road. Each morning for a week at Wynyard, near Circular NSW. armed services. The factory we drove past on our way to a Quay. We were placed under worked non-stop every hour, farm. On the second morning the auspices of the Women’s At the barracks we found every day. Peaches, plums, our driver slowed as the POWS Australian National Service that an advance group of apricots and fruit salad were began to sing. I have never (WANS). How I would have Land Army Girls had made processed and vegetables, forgotten the beautiful sound responded or reacted had I everything clean and neat soups, stews and jams were of those men’s voices on that been on duty on the night so that we were all ready to canned by the thousands. foggy morning. ■ that enemy submarines begin work the next day. entered Sydney Harbour, We headed off in our clean I often wonder. overalls to various farms to be

To be modern is to find ourselves in an environment that promises us adventure, power, joy, growth, transformation of ourselves and the world – and, at the same time, that threatens to destroy everything we have, everything we know, everything we are. Marshall Berman

R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t������������������ • t h e C o u n t r y W e b  It’s not like it was in the old days Story on Daphne Kennedy, Walgett. From Aboriginal Women’s Heritage: Walgett & Collarenebri, produced by the Department of Environment & Conservation NSW (now the Department of Environment & Climate Change NSW)

and they’d go on the weekends too. And thought the dogs would come up and grab we used to go out hunting rabbits. I can us and take us under the water if we swam remember how we used to dig them out in these places. And they had these other of their burrows. You know, we never set stories about ghosts and spirits and how rabbit traps; we just worked out what they would follow you home if we stayed burrows they were hiding in and how to out after dark. The stories were enough to get them out. scare me.

We lived out there on the reserve until I Work on a station left school and got a job. Other than fish I had to leave school at age 14. We all and rabbits, the family lived on rations in had to go out to work at that age; there those days. I can still remember how we wasn’t any choice. And it was only ever used to get our ration book and then walk housekeeping work that was available to into town to get what it was we needed. us in those days too; there were no other Things have changed in Walgett, its It was mostly things like flour, sugar, tea, not like it was in the old days. The work opportunities. You see the station some meat, dripping and butter. kids don’t realise how good they have owners would hire the Aboriginal girls as ‘it now. They have opportunities in Life as a child soon as they finished their schooling. So I school, we didn’t. They don’t have to We had our set chores to do when I was went out to one of the stations and I was be sent out to work as soon as they young. That was before and after school. there for about five years. I got paid but it are fourteen. We still had to go to school. But we had wasn’t very much. Eventually I came back time for play; I think some of our games into town and worked here. You see the boarding houses and the pubs would put Born in Walgett ’ probably turned into collecting food for the family. Especially things like catching us on as domestics. I was born in Walgett on the 30th April rabbits. But we still had time to play other 1928. I was the second eldest out of The family got together for games. I remember the kids were always seven children. My parents’ names were Christmas having a game of rounders. Rounders was William Kennedy and Sarah Gardiner. I do Christmas was a time when the family a game like baseball. I didn’t have dolls or remember my grandparents but I’m not tried to all get together, you see people anything like that back then. We just spent sure of their names on Dad’s side. I know always worked out on the properties so most of our spare time going down to the there was a Charlie Kennedy but I don’t Christmas was the one time when they river. We’d go swimming. The older ones know my Grandmother’s real name. She would try to get in to the one place and be would keep an eye on the younger ones passed away before I was born so I never together. The family at home would cook so it was always pretty safe. It was a good met her. lots of things and invite everyone over. We community back then; people had to look had a big family ourselves and then there The family lived on Gingie Reserve out for one another. And there were lots of was an extended family too and sometimes rules back then too. Like you couldn’t go The family lived on Gingie Reserve when it was really hard to bring everyone anywhere unless you had a grown up with I was young. It was good there. We only together. So that’s how it was for Christmas you. And you couldn’t be out in the night. had a little tin hut to live in and it only had and it was very good. a dirt floor. I remember we had to carry the You had to be home before it got dark. My husband and I lived over at water up from the river every day in those They had stories that kept you safe days. We had to get water for drinking and Namoi The adults and parents told us lots of water for washing, things like that. It was My husband Perry Dickson and I met stories back then when I was a kid and I hard work because we had to carry the here in Walgett. I was only 19 at the time. guess the stories were probably told to water in buckets on a yoke. There was a We got together and started a family. We keep us safe. I remember they had this little black school there at Gingie. I went lived over at Namoi back in those days. It one story about the Water Dogs1. You see there for a while and then I ended up was hard when the children started coming there were places along the river where we going up to the convent school in town. along because we had to go down to the weren’t allowed to swim because they told After school the kids would go fishing riverbank to do the washing. That was us these Water Dogs were there. Well we and that was just about every afternoon

 t h e C o u n t r y W e b • �����������������������R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t terrible. Percy used to work out on the it would rain for days on end. I don’t think from the butcher shop. No one goes into stations around here; he did the shearing the young ones today could imagine the the bush now. They don’t get that sort of when the season was on and fencing strain. thing. They still go fishing and that’s it. during the other parts of the year. So I The hardest thing was carting water I have my own family now used to pack up the kids and go out and stay out there with him. That was when I think washing was the biggest problem I have my own family now. I had 12 the kids were little. But it was a hard time for me with all the children, especially children over the years and I’ve lost four. when we were young and bringing up the when they were little. I had to wash in I lost two girls just three years ago. They kids. I mean now you just press a button either a bucket or in a boiler. That’s sheets passed away nearly on the same day as and things work for you. But in my day we and everything! All the white things had each other. So now they are both together. rd had to carry the water up to the house, to be boiled! The real trouble was carrying One of them passed on the 3 of July th we had to fetch and carry the wood, we the water up before you even started. And and the other passed on the 4 . There had to wash things by hand and try to dry it was the same for our baths. We had to was even further tragedy when I lost my things when it was raining, and back then carry the water up, heat the water and son. He was only 22 and he died on his bath in a tub. We only had dirt floors in our birthday. He was asthmatic. It was very hut in those days but we had these bags hard. So I have lost three girls and one boy. F a m i l i e s on the floor to make it a little better. And Now all the grandchildren have grown but believe me it was hard to dry things when I have one here with me. He is just a little it rained for days on end. And besides that fella. He is my youngest girl’s boy. The dust blew in as thick as mud you always needed dry wood for the fire! You couldn’t see a thing Things have changed in Walgett Percy had built our place himself. It had And when it passed the work began two big rooms and he put a verandah on Things have changed in Walgett As we all commenced to clean it. Believe me, it was hard work raising a nowadays, it’s not like it was in the old It wasn’t nice, it wasn’t fun family way back then. days. The kids don’t realise how good they But dust and scrub we must have it now. They have opportunities in ‘Cause families pulled together We went fishing school, we didn’t. We didn’t have choices Be it rain or dust I can remember good times and one at all. We couldn’t say, no we like school;

The sheep they needed shearing of them was when we went down to the we want to be a teacher or something like The men were working hard river to do a bit of fishing. We’d walk along that. No, that wasn’t for us. We were sent They sure can be so difficult the river and find a good spot, but we out to work as soon as we were old enough To get into that yard never camped overnight. I’m very afraid of to go and that was that. Sometimes we snakes you see. But we used to go for long didn’t even get paid. Nowadays they don’t The girls were cooking up a storm walks out in the bush and for some reason have to be sent out to work when they Cakes, biscuits and scones we never ever got lost. You see when we turn 14 and they can go on in school and The cow was milked the cream was beat were young, like as kids, we’d always have be whatever it is they want to be. They For shearing had begun an old person with us when we went out just don’t realise how hard it was for us We all worked hard, we pulled our in the scrub. So they must have shown growing up in our day. Life was so very weight us how to do it. They showed us how to different. And remember, back then, the You didn’t even think know where we were and how to stay safe. roads were just dirt tracks; we didn’t just The life was close the work was hard I was able to do it myself as I got older jump in a car to get about. The houses It was a real good thing because I used to walk around everywhere didn’t even have washing machines and We loved it all, we shared the life getting the wild fruit, the quandongs and clothes dryers in them, not like today. All The good the bad the sad bush food. I never used to eat wild meat. I those things weren’t there for us, we had ‘Cause families pulled together wouldn’t eat goannas or anything like that. nothing. We even had to cart water; and ‘Cause family was all you had that was an impossible task some days. It Bush food Dad came home heavy and sad was all very hard. I hope the young people I used to collect a lot of bush food. The fire had burned all day realise our struggle and decide to take Sometimes I would eat it as I went along. I took his hand, it was so black advantage of what there is for them in their Sometimes it can give you a stomach ache There was nothing that I could say present day. ■ if you don’t make sure it’s ripe. I never ate 1 A Water Dog is a spirit dog that lurks around The troubles come and go goanna and I used to eat porcupine but near water after dark. The Water Dog is a common The work goes on forever I can’t stand it now. I didn’t want to eat theme appearing in several previous books in the You didn’t have to ask for help kangaroo either. The only thing I didn’t Women’s Heritage series. ‘Cause families pulled together mind was rabbit. But now they buy rabbits JUDY WEST, MOLONG

R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t������������������ • t h e C o u n t r y W e b  said pointing over the hill. ‘I’ll old said enthusiastically. ‘Man,’ LETTER TO THE EDITOR Knowing teach you how to trap and skin echoed the 14-year-old, ‘Man.’ a fox soon enough, good money There at Geordie’s feet were Ed: RWN received lots of Geordie in the pelts.’ He waved as Druid the legs and feet of a human feedback on the Men’s Shed broke into a full gallop and skeleton, the upper body hidden article, featured in the last By Jill Baggett, Mudgee disappeared over the hill. under a spade, fork and gold edition of The Country Web The promise of our new life in from readers who would like to ‘When can we go Mum,’ six pan. ‘Who,’ I started. ‘Must be the country was exciting. With see a Men’s Shed established young voices clamoured. ‘When? old Mick, the old Chinaman who six young sons, leaving the city in their local community. I When can we go? Today?’ I knew built this place. I’ve dug him up. seemed like a good idea. The also received a letter from there would be no peace until My, would you believe it? Poor Chris Simpson, outlining trials of leaving our brick veneer we did. old Mick. Well, well. Come on some additional information home, moving into the old fibro laddies, help me cover him up. and support for communities farmhouse, learning the art of The next day we did battle interested in setting up a Guess I’ll leave his elderberry tree lighting a fuel stove, using a with the fuel stove. ‘Should be Men’s Shed who have limited instinctive,’ John said. ‘People after all.’ resources. chip heater and starting a water pump, were new experiences have been cooking on these darn Willing hands helped restore ‘...information and a wide things for centuries.’ However, Mick to his eternal rest and scope of expertise can which hadn’t yet lost their appeal I felt it was going to take me I wondered if future visits to be gained free of charge and novelty on that special from the Lane Cove Shed, summer morning in 1982. a lot of practice and not just Geordie’s would be as surprising. operating since 1997. For instinct to learn the intricacies They were. It was special because that more information or assistance of this blackened beast. A was the morning we met In the weeks that followed contact Ruth van Herk or Ted batch of scones of barely edible Donnelly on Ph: 02 9418 8459, Geordie. We were exploring, he would lead us along the consistency resulted. Fax: 02 9418 8434, Email: trying to find the boundaries of watercourse showing us the ruins [email protected] our hilly 100 hectare property We set off to cross the three of the mud brick and corrugated or go to: www.mensshed.org when we heard the sound of hills and swiftly running creek iron dwellings the Chinese gold or www.mensshed.org.au a galloping horse and were which separated us from prospectors had built when they ‘Also, the Men’s Shed startled to see a man dressed in a Geordie. Hot and flustered, we opened our valley in the 1800s. movement, hosted by Lane eventually saw his mud brick The boys loved to eat the sweet Cove Shed, has a conference in tasselled leather shirt and pants, house a few hundred metres juicy figs and crispy Asian pears Manly on 13–14th September red headband holding back a 2007 that I would urge mane of long grey hair, riding a downstream, smoke billowing from the trees flourishing in the interested parties to attend. magnificent appaloosa stallion, from the chimney. It looked summer sun, laden with fruit and Details can be obtained by appear over the horizon. inviting and we welcomed the planted long ago. going to the national website cooling wade across the creek I always think of summer when noted above. ‘Whoa Druid,’ he shouted until our three-year-old slipped as he saw us, the horse rearing I remember Geordie. I don’t ‘Interestingly, Associate on the rocks and was tumbled Professor Barry Golding, School in protest and snorting his know why, because some of the down the watercourse with of Education, University of disapproval. ‘Hey there,’ he happiest moments were spent alarming swiftness. I think his Ballarat, has just completed addressed us, the horse now sitting around his big open fire, research into Men’s Sheds older brothers enjoyed the rescue turning in circles and my the aroma of a spicy rabbit stew and can be contacted at: and we arrived at Geordie’s children taking shelter behind a cooking in the big hanging cast [email protected]. battered wrought iron gate with large tree. ‘You the neighbours? iron pot and the kettle boiling ‘And for those who doubt six laughing, dripping children. merrily while a storm raged the value of a Men’s Shed Have you seen 16 horses by any Geordie was standing in outside and the creeks rose, to the female population, I chance? I’m your neighbour quote a local woman whose from across the creek, Geordie a corner of the rambling effectively cutting off our exit to husband has several severe they call me.’ overgrown garden looking at the road home. health problems and joined our the ground, scratching his head. ‘What a vision,’ were my These were the times he’d local shed: “He just enjoys the He beckoned us calling, ‘Come company and I know he is safe. thoughts as I looked at his bring out his penny whistle and see what I’ve found. I was going From being a full-time carer I craggy lined face and blue eyes transport us to his homeland to move this elderberry tree – it now have part-time employment squinting against the sun. My with the tunes and songs of and the chance to socialise with hasn’t been doing so well and I husband John was introducing the English North Country. His my female friends. The Shed want to make some wine. Would us and shaking his head to the gravely voice was none the less means so much to both of us.”’ you just look at what’s here?’ query of the whereabouts of the musical and we loved to listen to Chris Simpson, Secretary, I gasped in shock as I looked the rich brogue when he recited Grenfell Men’s Shed & missing horses. at the ground where he pointed. the poetry of Robbie Burns. Secretary/Treasurer, ‘Come visit me laddies, first ‘Wow, look at that,’ my 13-year- Independent Men’s Shed house over the creek’, Geordie

1 0 t h e C o u n t r y W e b • �����������������������R e f l e c t i ons on the p a s t