USC295_0010

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them. Cassells got O.K. No limp, no Doctor. I have
some scars, one about 6" long. A few years ago a
Doctor remarked what a good job it had been, no
doubt thinking he was complimenting another
Doctor, but the Doctor was Mum and she had no
medical training.

Later, when at Orange Tree Camp, when the new
Scrub Camp (Central Station) was being formed a
settlement was established with superior living
conditions - large rectangular tents on raised
wood floors with galvanised iron fly and with wood
and iron galleys - come kitchen and later, huts
instead of tents. At this time several families were
installed and when the babies were born it was Mum or
Mrs. Walker or both, who had many a wild drive in
the buggy, day or night.

Talking of the buggy at night, returning from
Indian Head, Dad, Brother, Moncher and myself,
brother and I riding, Dad driving buggy - the night
was so dark coming through Eurong Scrub and
and the track was not over wide - I was riding a grey
mare and Tom was wearing a white shirt, by riding
one on each wheel track directly in front of the
buggy and because the horses were both dark
coloured and not discernible in the dark, Dad
could see my horse and Tom's shirt and so keep a
safe course.

On coming to the crossing of tramline just east of
the present central Station, a track of Carrol
Scrub, there were some Satinays which had been
felled. The big Satinays were not cut. A fire had got
into the area and a big Satinay near the road was
alight for about 200 ft. or so - just a big red glow
which lit up the road for 100 or more yards on each
side. We hesitated for a few moments and I guess
Dad realised that if it fell we would have to stay the
night and cut a way 'round so he told Tom and I to
apply spurs and gallop past and wait for him. This
we did and it could only have been half a minute
after Dad reached us there was a spectacular
demonstration of fireworks as the whole bole
collapsed and squeezed out millions of sparks of
various sizes as it tumbed and rolled and pounded
to a great glowing heap. That tree was only half a
mile or less from the old black's grave tree above
Walker's Camp and could even have been one itself
- maybe the first crematorium.

While on that trip - "The End of the World" had been
predicted by, well, I don't know who by, as I didn't
read the papers and anyway they were only
delivered once a month or so. The night we pitched
camp at Middle Rock was the date for the 'end'. On
the way along the beach all that day the sea was
purple and there was a great deal of seaweed
washed up and literally thousands of snakes of
every size, colour and shape and sea birds not seen
on shore, dead and dying. The snakes also were
dead or dying, not interested in attacking
anything.

After pitching camp and having a feed I was asleep.
I was hustled out to hang on to a tent flap and spent
the rest of the night there. It blew, and then
somehow I knew we were full of sand, ears, eyes
and any other places. It became calm next day and
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gradually the sea resumed its normal colour but
great heaps of seaweed remained on the beach.
We ran out of tucker and the last two days we ate
only wongs which were O.K. for us but not for
Moncher who was a Scotch Pom - it was really a
joke. On reaching home late at night Mum called
from the top step, "Coffee and scones on.
Moncher leapt out of the buggy and ran up the
stairs to be called back and made to help
unharness and unload and put the horses away. He
almost wept.

Back to Orange Tree Camp

While still living at Orange Tree Camp, areas were
being prepared for planting. Trees from the
nursery were being transported by buggy and tram [??]
Carrol block and other blocks.

There was "Never a dull moment" as Banjo Owen
the legendary aboriginal would have said. After
being dumped in the saltpan the gala football
match against the Pialba team Banjo took off [??]
half time whistle at full pace, pausing to visit a
going in one window and coming [out??]
otherside. Having paused just long enough
divest himself of excess energy, he returned [??]
horse paddock before the match finished. The
referee did not notice his absence due no doubt [??]
his resemblance to a shadow, coupled with
liberal dose of medicine from a cask provided by
the visitng team. The football match was one [??]
the biggest events on Fraser Island in a decade
was attended by almost every island resident and
lots of people from Hervey Bay who brought a [??]
of liquor.

In 1917 I was away at school. In 1918 we shifted
to Scrub Camp, Central Station.

[photograph]

STEAM TRAIN OPERATING ON THE
WOONGOOLBVER CREEK RAILWAY LINE about
1916. This railway terminatd near the Orange
Tree Camp at the Mouth of Woongoolbver Creek
and reached into Central Station or "The Scrub
Camp" during the Petries time on Fraser Island