Pat Ritter. Books

[patritter]

'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 11:

'Probably the only one apart from the one we have here. Have no idea when the bore went down. Been giving us a free flow of water for years. We'll need to put bores on each property because to my reckoning we're in for a long hot dry summer with no rain, poor winter.' Nat sat down at the table to a mug of tea with scones on a plate in front of him.
'Take a seat Joe. A cup of tea with freshly cooked scones will be on the table soon.' Ma told him. Joe followed her directions sat across from Nat who quickly chewed into the scones, slurped on his tea.
‘Anyone drill for water around here?' Joe asked in between eating scones drinking his tea.
'Why don’t you ask around when you're in Cunnamulla? Might be someone. Ask Alex at the pub. We're having a New Year Eve's party here tonight to celebrate 1897.' Nat replied.
'New Year Eve party?' Joe mumbled with a mouth half filled with scone.
'We've invited all the managers, wives, ringers from the properties to bid farewell to 1896. Welcome in 1897. Having the celebration in the shearing shed.' Nat explained.
'Can't wait. Been a long time since I kicked up my heels. We've had a wonderful 1896, got married. Now own a property thanks to you and Martha.' Joe said.
‘We’ve been cooking all week. Can't wait till everyone arrives. In the meantime, Hannah can help with setting the tables whilst you men gather fire wood for a bonfire.' Martha commanded.
'And here I thought I wouldn't need to do anything.' Nat grumbled.
'I'll give you a hand.' Joe rose from his chair. 'Come on Nat or God. Help me.' Both men ed left the kitchen walked to the shearing shed side by side.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 12:

Fire roared outside the shearing shed, people arrived with food enough to feed an army, smiling, chatting warm welcomes from everyone. Four men sat on stools, one with an instrument never seen before, another with two spoons in his hand, another using tins drumming with a stick, the other calling everyone to order to dance.
'Isn't this the best thing which has happened to us except getting married?' Hannah placed her arms around her husband's neck smiled looked deep into Joe’s eyes.
'Hannah, who would've thought this was possible, seeing everyone; us two dancing.' Joe whispered in her ear over the sound of the music which everyone enjoyed especially the playing of the spoons. They danced into the night. Ate supper waiting for magical midnight to arrive.
Suddenly the music stopped. The caller shouted. 'We have ten seconds to midnight everyone. Join your partners on the floor. Help me countdown to midnight.’ Everyone joined hands whilst the announcer shouted in his loudest voice, 'Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year!' Everyone shouted almost lifting the roof from the shearing shed.
After the crowd quietened, Hannah stared into Joe's eyes started to sing in a golden voice:
'Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
And never thought upon;
The flames of Love extinguished
And fully past and gone:
Is thy sweet Heart now grown so cold;
That loving Breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On Old long syne.
Everyone sing the chorus, she shouted:
On old long syne my Jo,
On Old long syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
On Old long syne.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 13:

After celebrating the end 1896 welcoming in 1897 everyone said their farewells.
'This has been the best New Year’s Eve I’ve ever had.' Hannah whispered in Joe's ear. 'Best time ever. To think we only married a week ago.' She kissed her husband.
After breakfast, they bid farewell to Martha, Nat and Ma, left to return to Cunnamulla. Hannah leaned on Joe's shoulder whilst he drove. Nat’s horse secured by reins tied to the rear of the sulky.
'How long has Pa given you before you return?' Hannah asked.
'Until the end of the month, he told me. Nothings to be done until I find out more about cost of getting bores on the different properties. I suppose with the bore on ‘Tilbaroo Station’ I’ll fix fences so Nat put his sheep on the place. Plenty of grass. With no rain forecast, winter in a couple of months. Makes sense. What do you think?' He asked his wife whose eyes closed, slight noise of snoring escaped her nostrils. 'Ah, don't worry. I'll work something out.' Joe muttered to himself.
Arriving in Cunnamulla Joe pulled the sulky up at the rear of the house. Hannah's eyes opened.
'Are we home Joe?'
'Yes, wait here. I'll help you down.' Joe walked to the other side of the sulky to help Hannah down. 'I'll put the horses in the stables, feed them. Won't be long.' Hannah nodded walked to the rear door of the house. She disappeared inside.
Joe finished his tasks, carried their belongings into the home instantly smelling the odour of freshly cooked chops and gravy. He walked to his wife, wrapped his arms around her waist kissed her on the lips.
'Go. Wash up. I'll have lunch ready in a jiffy.' Joe hurried off to wash.
After lunch he told Hannah he'll visit Alex at the hotel to find out if anyone drilled bores in the area. She had much to do. She didn't want her husband getting under her feet.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 14:

'Thought you'd still be on your honeymoon,' Alex called when Joe entered the bar. He quickly poured a tumbler of beer placed in front of him. 'This one, on the house. Welcome home.' A smile spread across his face.
Joe drank the amber coloured fluid, wiped his lips with the back of his hand. 'Thanks Alex. Great to be back.'
'You still on your honeymoon?' Alex asked.
'We spent a week at ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Had a good look about discovered a bore. You wouldn't have any idea who drills bores. Do you?' His question directed to Alex or anyone within hearing.
'Ole Billy Campbell. He's the only person around here who does that type of work.'
'Where can I find him?' Joe asked finishing his drink.
'Normally comes in around five. I'll tell him you're looking for him.'
Joe finished his drink, farewelled Alex returned home where he found Hannah seated at the kitchen table enjoying a cuppa.
'Do you want one?' She asked when he walked into the kitchen.
'Don't mind if I do.' Joe poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot sat beside his wife. 'Alex told me ole Billy Campbell drills bores. He'll tell him I want to speak with him.'
'Joe, can we sit on our swing on the front veranda after our dinner tonight.'
'Yes, of course. We're still on our honeymoon.' He smiled drank his tea.
After finishing their dinner, washed the dishes, they sat on the swing on the front veranda. Night clear sky, stars shining brightly.
'Joe, I want you to build our home on ‘Tilbaroo Station’ exactly how you built this one.'
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 15:

'Exactly! This one is small compared to what I had in mind.'
'This one would do fine. A shame we can't lift our home from here replace the same house on the property.' Hannah curled up to Joe who wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
'Before I do anything, I'll need to ask Jack when he has time to build our home.'
'Can't you build the house?' Hannah questioned. 'You did a good job with Pa’s shearing sheds.'
'This is our home for life Hannah. I'll help Jack as I did this one, but honestly I think he should build our dream home.' Fancy Hannah wanting me to build our home. Jack will build our home. I'm certain.
'Okay ask Jack.'
'What about the costs?' Joe asked.
'I've saved enough money to pay Jack. Timber is free, only costs will be Jack. You work for free. Time for bed.' Hannah took his hand. They retired for the night.
Over the next couple of days Joe met with ole Billy Campbell at the hotel. After shaking hands Joe said. 'I own ‘Tilbaroo Station’. Found a bore near the back boundary.’
‘Ah. Let me think. Would've been about ten years ago using ‘Canadian Bill’.' His thoughts swung back to the time. 'Russell Clarke owned the place then. He burned to death in a fire last year. If my memory serves me correct.' Ole Billy Campbell wasn't ole as in age, everyone thought him by ole because his family had been in the area since Cunnamulla began.
‘Canadian Bill’. Who’s he?’ Joe queried.
‘A steam powered drilling machine I use ‘Canadian Bill’ to bore for water. Can go down a thousand feet.’
'I didn’t realise. Have you met Russell Clarke?' Joe asked in an inquisitive voice.
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'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 16:

'Bloody oath mate. He was the best water diviner in the whole country. I remember.' Billy placed his hand to his forehead as if forcing a memory to the front of his mind. 'Yeah, he was good at his job. His ole man didn't think so, always put him down, thought he was a nutter. Russell had a gift for finding water. He held in his hands a branch like fork started walking around paddocks. Suddenly his hands began to pull toward the ground. He'd stop. Ask your father-in-law. Russell found water on his place years ago.' Billy broke from his trance.
‘I asked Nat. He couldn’t remember.’ Joe intercepted. 'What happened after his father died left him the property?' Joe asked.
'Russell wasn't like his ole man. Wasn't a cockie. He hated the land, only wanted to be a water diviner. Used to drink a lot. In the end, I suppose he had enough. Done himself in.' Billy returned to drinking his beer.
'I found him after the homestead burnt down.'
'You weren't the mongrel who told him to leave?' Billy said angrily.
'Yes. I spoke with him the day before. He told me he'd leave the next morning. I suppose he changed his mind. I worked shearing sheep on the property about five years ago. The conditions wages shocking.'
'I called in the night before the fire. He'd been drinking. Told me some prick came by to tell him to leave.' Billy started to move away when Joe placed his hand on his forearm.
'Hold on mate. I'm sorry about your friend. Honestly he squatted. Nat Young owned the place. I'm his Overseer. He told me to tell him he wanted him off the place. I was only doing my job.' Joe explained released his grip on Billy's forearm.
'That's a different story to what Russell told me. Knowing him as I did his drinking took up most of his life.
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[patritter]

'Tilbaroo Station' - Page 17:

What can I do for you?' Billy started to relax with Joe.
'Nat Young wants bores on each of his properties. Nine properties to be exact. Can you do the job?'
'Only trouble is to find water. I'll tell you what I'll do. On the grapevine, word is a Great Artesian Water Basin under the ground. Some tell me you only need to drill under the ground anywhere in this area water spurts out like a fountain. I can try. A water diviner would be a great advantage.'
'Apart from the person you spoke about. I haven't a clue who divines water. If what you say is correct we may not need a diviner. What equipment do you have?' Joe asked pleased to be working with Billy rather than fight against him.
'Don't worry, I've got all the drilling equipment we need. You show me the area. When do I start?' Billy smiled drank the rest of his beer.
'By the end of the month. Our first property is 'Kahmoo Station' about ten miles west of Cunnamulla on the Eulo Road. Already a bore near the homestead. We need another in the paddock.'
'I'll be at ‘Kahmoo Station’ by the end of the month.'
'Good, I'll tell Nat to expect you.' They said their farewells.

Chapter 3

One evening before returning to 'Kahmoo Station' to start work, Joe and Hannah sat on their swing on the front veranda in the early evening. His thoughts gave him a bright idea to design a delver by using tough weathered branches of a gidgee tree coupled to harnessed horses to delve a drain to water the stock across paddocks. Each drain began at the bore head finished when the drain stopped. This delver, a steel tongue fastened to a forked branch of a gidgee tree. Toughest timber in the outback. In his mind's eye the delver appeared in shape. Delighted with his idea, enthusiasm overflowed took Hannah by surprise.
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