1912

Summary

This year I put up a new fence along the front of my place. I also paid £ 3 to a man for clearing the pear on the top of the hill. I also added 1,500 pines to the number already in the garden. I now have 7,500 pineapples. I also made a dark room, which cost me about £2 .I also bought 1 dozen fruit trees from J. W. O Shanesy. I gave Pete Beal 1 and the remaining 11 are at least alive on my own place and that in spite of the exceedingly dry spell we have experienced ever since they were planted. I planted about 80 papaws but owing to the dry weather several of them have seen fit to die. I managed to get a nice piece of new ground ploughed for the first time, it has been too dry to get any further with it. The tomatoes did very well, and I got a few shillings weekly from them, which came in very handy indeed. 2-1...60 people were hurt and in hospital through the strike in Brisbane. 4-2Ö .Brother Charley met with an accident on the bridge over the railway at Gracemere , his horse fell on him. 4 stitches received. 19-2...The road gang picked all the stones off Brothers Ernies ground. 28-4....Gracemere C.E.Society held its 11th Anniversary. 15-5.... I took a photo of Alexanders New Hymns it was in the May issue Every Ladies Journal. 28-5...A lot of land sold for rates in and around Gracemere they went very cheap. 3-6...Arthur Yates, the seed merchants only son charged 5/- each to prune Mrs Dunns and Cecil s rose trees. 7-7...I went to a service at School of Arts a cont inuation of the Baptist Jubilee. 27-7....Cecil and I started to train my pony for the sulky. The first time we were putting the harness on him he reared and got on top of Cecil and after a while he got me down too. We took him for a bit of a run and he bolted over a stump and he threw both of us out, but he didnt hurt the trap. 5-9...Cecil went to Brisbane to compete in shooting. 9-10...I have been feeding my pony 11 weeks. I have been using him for 2 months before he was anyway what you could call quite . 10-10...I helped Arthur with his well. There is a terrible lot of sand in it. 11-10...A storm blew the entire roof off my dark room. 12-10...Walter Reids large Ware House was struck by lightening and completely gutted it. 17-10...I worked all day at my well and got water at 22 feet. 4-11...I printed my own post cards and sold some too. 30-11...The Baptist Chapel erection to build took 3 hours and 20 minutes. There was a very large gathering

1-1--: We had a picnic at Fairy Bower. The weather was very warm, but all the same we had a fairly good time. After tea I drove Gertie and Louise King home. We drove through Depot Hill and up a 2 way street as far as the Park. I got back home somewhere about 10.30.
2-1--: I put the front in the cart I am building. I also gathered about 29 dozen pines and cased a lot of them up for Arthur. Just the other side of Gracemere they had 3 inches of rain, but we seem to get very little of the precious article, but our turn will come.
3-1--: I went around to my place before breakfast and finished casing pines for Arthur. After breakfast I mixed poison and sprayed pear for Cecil, whilst he took the pines to the station. After dinner I poked around a bit and man aged to run a nail into my foot and have just about crippled myself for walking Cecil dipped the cattle today and they are getting very low, if rain does not come shortly they will die.
4-1--: I stayed in the house all the morning on account of my foot, it being pretty sore. After dinner I picked a few tomatoes and counted 8 doz. pines to take to town tomorrow. I also dug between a few short rows of pines at the top of the garden.
5-1--: Cecil and I went to town with pines. We had a pretty fair time consid ering it was the first time we have gone round this season. We charged 4d. each for the best. We got home rather wet, but when we got home we found that there had been practically none. It has rained rather nicely since we came home however.
6-1--: We had a nice shower of rain. I sowed 2 packets of tomato seed. The weather now is very close and feels in every way like rain. I went down to the farm and got a bottle of oil. Boiled Linseed from Ted.
7-1--: I went to the Archer Street Church. It was awfully windy and we had rather crook horse in Fairy she broke the reins.
8-1--: I gathered 23 dozen pines and printed a couple of photos. After that I rode my bike out to Mr Rays to see about an old cottage I heard he had for sale. After dinner I went to Newmans and helped Eddie to plant maize. We planted 6 rows each, hope it grows well.
9-1--: I dug 5 holes along the front for trees, and started to bank pines near the shed. The rain seems to have cleared away, although it was rather warm during the day, it is now a bit close inside the house, but there is a bit of a breeze outside.
10-1-: Cecil and I went in with pines. We had a pretty fair day, and got home about 3.30. It was again awfully hot at times and I should think that it would rain. We need rain very badly for the cattle. If it does not storm rain I think that there will be very few left. I left an offer to Ray at Allens for an old building.
11-1-: I dug a row of holes for trees leading from the gate. I also painted a little of the cart Laura came home from Bilkingtons and brought home several kinds of mangoes.
12-1-: I dug holes for some mangoes and painted a bit at the cart.
13-1-: I planted a short row of suckers on the side of the track and banked a row above the shed.
14-1-: I didnt go to church. I went down to the farm and got an old basket to hawk pines with Eddie Newman and I put the shoe on Oscar.
15-1-: I gathered 42 dozen pines. After dinner I went up to the station and got a load of cases, which Arthur had sent. In the evening I drove Laura and Ada Fisher over to Bunnagas and got some mangoes for seed. Some of them are very good and others are rather stringy.
Pineapples

16-1-: Cecil and I went in with pines. We had a pretty good day and could have sold many more than we had. I got up and took a photo of the pines before we went to town and they came out very well. I developed the plate after tea.
17-1-: Buxton went to town with a large load of pines at 6 oclock. He gets a very early start considering there is only himself to do all the work. I picked 11 doz. pines. Cecil went to town with his pines and did fairly well. He went around Depot Hill & met several people that had known Dad and Mother when they started to sell milk.
18-1-: I took 7 cases of pines to the station for Arthur and I drove Ada Fisher and Laura over to Beals in the sulky, we had a nice time and got home about 11 oclock. It was very windy and also a little cloudy, but I don t know what to make of the weather.
19-1-: I worked amongst the pines. In the evening I started digging a new p iece of land with a pick of course it is very dry, but it digs well all the same it is not as hard as anyone would think it would be.
20-1-: I dug ground for pines. The day was awfully windy. I have sold 57 1/2 dozen pines this week. Mrs Fisher came and took Ada home. Cecil and Tom have gone to take a sugar bag.
21-1-: I never went out, neither did Cecil.
22-1-: I picked 34 doz. pines. I went to the top of the hill and burned heaps of prickly pears. It has been very windy today, seems to blow all the rain away.
23-1-: Cecil and I went to town with pines. We had a very good day. We had two boys with us Randall and Maskell. They both sold some pines.
24-1-: I made some shelving for the spring cart and went to the top of the hill and burnt some of the pear. Cecil and Laura went over to Beals and brought mother home. It is very hot indoors tonight but the rain seems to hang off. We don t know what to think of it.
25-1-: I gathered 14 doz. pines. Painted a bit of the spring cart, and dug a little new ground for pines. The weather was rather windy, but there is apparently no indication of rain.
26-1-: Cecil and I went to town with pines. We sold nearly all of them on Depot Hill. We saw Dad Barnes and he seems a bit low. We heard that Mr. Bunnage had broken his neck and is in a critical condition. I made 4 photo frames this afternoon.
27-1-: I finished framing 4 pictures for Dunns and helped to take a sugar bag near Newmans. I got a couple of photos. Mr Danker was very wild about us felling a tree, the bees were rather warm, but there was 4 tins of comb . I got a letter from Mrs King.
28-1-: I never went to church. Arthur and his wife came down and gathered up their children.
29-1-: I gathered 32 doz. pines, and cut out nearly two picture frames. Dick Archer came over and told us that Joseph Bunnage had died from the accident, he fell from a mango tree back last Thursday. He has left a brother and 5 sorrowing children.
30-1-: Cecil and I went to the city with pines, we sold them readily for a good price. The people were real sorry when we said that we would not be around any more.
31-1-: I made a couple of picture frames and dug a bit of ground at the top end of the garden. The weather is continuing awfully windy and there is every sign of further dry weather. I don t remember such dry windy weather at this time of year before.
1-2--: I dug a little at the top end of the garden, and after dinner I went to the top of the hill and burnt a bit of prickly pear. I am not feeling very good in my inside, I dont know why.
2-2--: I dug a little ground and other things about the place. Laura, Cecil and I drove to town in my sulky. We left it at Emerys while we went down town. I heard 60 people were hurt and in hospital through the strike in Brisbane.
3-2--: I finished framing a couple of pictures for Mrs Dunn. I did very little else. I have not been feeling too good lately. I fear that the labourers are going out on strike in sympathy with the strikers at Brisbane.
4-2--: Charley met with an accident on the bridge over the railway at Gracemere, his horse fell with him. I drove him to town and he got 4 stitches put in.
5-2--: I did a little digging and gathered a few dozen pines. In the evening I went up to the Memorial service on account of the death of the late Joseph Bunnage, it was very largely attended and 30/- taken up in the interest of the church. It was a little like rain.
6-2--: Cecil and I went to town with a few pines and 6 fowls. Pines sold very well, the only thing was that we did not have enough.
7-2--: I dug a little ground and poked about the garden.
8-2--: Nearly all the towns in the state are dead on account of the strike.
9-2--: I did practically nothing.
10-2-: I went to town and got a new tube in my bike, and also bought a new felt hat.
11-2-: I went to Archer Street Church.
12-2-: I dug ground at the top end of the garden.
13-2-: I set fire to a few stumps and other little things.
14-2-: I went to Mt. Morgan with Arthur.
15-2-: I poked around Arthurs shop and went up town to see if I could get the use of a dark room. Very nice rain fell.
16-2-: I spent the day at Arthurs, there is no doubt we had splendid rain. I came home by the 1/4 to 8 train.
17-2-: I planted different kind of seeds and a few suckers.
18-2-: I stayed home all day.
19-2-: I carted 600 suckers from Ernies place and planted some of them. The rain has held off again, but I think we will have some more shortly. The ground is nice and damp. The road gang is picking all the stones off Ernies ground.
20-2-: I planted about 200 suckers in the morning and 280 in the afternoon. Eddie Newman was helping me in the afternoon.
21-2-: I finished planting the suckers that was left over from yesterday, and cut out a couple of picture frames.
22-2-: I got 400 suckers from Ernie. I have now got all he owed me. I went to town in the afternoon and got some moulding and other little things.
23-2-: I planted the suckers, and went to the Mount with Arthur.
24-2-: I was at Mount Photographic Holiday.
25-2-: I was at Mount Morgan.
26-2-: At Mt Morgan Photographic Holiday.
27-2-: At Mt Morgan Photographic Holiday.
28-2-: At Mt Morgan Photographic Holiday.
29-2-: I went to an evening at Goodalls and had a fair time. I am still at Mount Morgan.
1-3--: At Mt Morgan.
2-3--: Went to lodge at Mt. Morgan.
3-3--: Went to Goodalls at Mt Morgan.
4-3--: I came home from the Mount. We have had splendid general rain and it looks as though we could have any amount more.
5-3--: I sowed tomatoes seeds, cucumbers and cabbage seeds. I also went to the city on my bike and bought photo material and seeds. After dinner I did a little digging and after tea I went round to my place and took out prints.
6-3--: I dug ground and helped Tom to get a start with the plow, he ploughed a nice piece.
7-3--: I went down and helped Tom to fix the Disc plow, and got some sweet potato cuttings and planted them. I had enough for 6 rows.
8-3--: I did a little hoeing and planted nearly 50 suckers. After dinner I rode the bike to town and bought some moulding. I also ordered a rubber stamp.
9-3--: I caught early train to Mt. Morgan and took a few photos of Arthurs children. I went to the I.O.G.T. Session and had a fairly good time.
10-3-: I took a couple of photos of Arthurs family and in the evening I went to Bob Eastons and took a photo of his family group.
11-3-: I packed up my trap and got ready for my home trip. I caught the 2 oclock train at Walter Hall and went as far as Moongan where I was met by Lily Mowthorpe and went to their place and took 4 different photos for them and I got 4 good results.
12-3-: I cut out a frame for Mrs Harry Dunns enlargement and sowed 2 rows of peas and a packet of tomato seeds. I also did a little hoeing and cut out a frame to put a photo for Clara. After supper I printed some photos.
13-3-: I finished Mrs Dunns enlargement and hoed about 6 rows of pines. I also printed a few photos. I went to the city and got a bit of photo material and several sheets of glass.
14-3-: I hoed a good few rows of pines and finished framing Mrs Dunns pictures. After supper I pointed a couple of dozen photos. . In the evening I took a photo of the enlargement and it came out very well considering it is the first I have attempted.
15-3-: I hoed my smooth leaf pines and also the squashes besides looking after the photos. After tea I went down to Toms and had a bit of a yarn with him.
16-3-: I put the mounting machine on a stand, it appears to be all right. I got my rubber stamp it was 5/-.
17-3-: I went to Gracemere Church. Mr Youngman was in the pulpit.
18-3-: I pulled 100 suckers for Mr Youthorpe and I put the posts in for the fence to enable the passion fruit to climb over. I also took Rebecca Johnsons photo and I had a bit of a job to do it.
19-3-: I took the suckers to the station and worked in the garden. I charged 10 shillings for the 100 suckers.
20-3-: I hoed pines. It was a bit hot during the day although last night it was rather cool. Rain seems to hang off.
21-3-: I hoed amongst the pines and did other little things about the place.
22-3-: I finished running the wires for the passion fruit. In the evening I went to town and got some mounts for Mowthorpes photos.
23-3-: I hoed a long row of pines. In the evening I went to the Maskells and had a cup of tea, after which I went and saw Dad Barnes. He is very cheerful. I also went to lodge and had a rather nice time.
24-3-: I went to Church at Gracemere. After tea I drove Mother, Laura and Eadie to the Baptist Church. There were a lot of people at the Baptist church.
25-3-: I hoed amongst the pines. The weather was awfully hot. Mother and Laura went over to Beals.
26-3-: I have started the day with a mighty crook inside. Cecil has gone to Mt. Morgan by the early train.
27-3-: I hoed amongst the pines. It was awfully hot, but it seems too clear for rain.
28-3-: I hoed pines. Hop Lin came with a couple of exposed plates and I tried to develop a picture out of them but it was impossible as they were over exposed.
29-3-: I hoed amongst the pines. Cecil helped me, we got on very well with it.
30-3-: I hoed amongst the pines. I did not go out but stayed at home, in the evening reading.
31-3-: I went over to the Bower and Newmans. In the evening I went to the Sunday School Annual, it was packed.
1-4--: I hoed a good deal amongst the pines. I also planted some tomato seeds that Tom got from Brisbane. The weather was awfully hot.
2-4--: I went down to Arthurs land over the creek and put the day in spraying pear. I took a photo of the bottle tree and one of Tom using the spray pump.
3-4--: I did a little hoeing and sprayed the pathway between Cecils roses.
4-4--: I hoed amongst the pines.
5-4--: I did no work. In the evening I went to the Endeavour Convention.
6-4--: I hoed amongst the pines. The weather is awfully hot.
7-4--: I went to Gracemere Church and stayed at Wards for tea and a bit of a singsong. Eddie Newman was with me.
8-4--: There was a large picnic near the black bridge at Gracemere, about 100 persons were gathered together and a most enjoyable time was spent. It seemed like rain during the day, but it held off until nighttime.
9-4--: I hoed amongst the pines.
10-4-: I hoed amongst the pines. In the afternoon I took a couple of photos of Toms baby.
11-4-: I hoed amongst the pines, I have now been all over the pines with the hoe since I came home from the Mount. The weather is a great worry to all of us, the dry spell instead of a wet season being not at all to our liking.
12-4-: I hoed the pines at the back of the shed. After tea I went to town and got photo material. I met one of the Keirs near the Post Office and walked up and down the street with him.
13-4-: I printed photos until 9 oclock. I went to town and had a look at the building that Curtis had for sale .I offered £12 for it.
14-4-: I went to Church at Gracemere and after tea W. McKenzie towed me to town with his motorbike. We went to Emerys and from there to the Baptist Church.
15-4-: I have commenced to bank the pines. They're not doing so well just now on account of the exceptionally dry spell. I have never seen it so dry this time of the year. I don't know what the country is coming to.
16-4-: Continued the banking of the pines. In the morning it came up very like rain in fact a few drops fell but eventually it all cleared away.
17-4-: I dug between and banked pines. It has blown like rain the biggest part of the day, but it hangs off terribly.
18-4-: I spent the morning banking pines and in the afternoon I hoed short rows at the top end of the garden, until about half past 3. I went to Barnes and had a look at Arthur Nedries sulky. I ordered one like it, had tea there and came home.
19-4-: I finished the hoeing, the short rows, after which I started banking the long rows opposite. It will be a good job if only we get some rain. It is very muggy, but the rain seems to hang off dreadfully.
20-4-: I worked amongst the pines. I did not go to lodge, but stayed home and took things easy. Tom took the sulky harness away.
21-4-: I went up to church and to town with Jim Emery. I had tea at his place and went to the Baptist Church. I got towed home by W.Mc. Kenzie.
22-4-: I have been going on with the banking of the pines, if it doesnt soon rain I dont know how things are going.
23-4-: Banked pines. Mrs Bilkington came out and had a look at us.
24-4-: I banked pines all the morning. After dinner I went to town and banked money for Arthur and Charley. I had a drink at Lacys.
25-4-: I finished banking the pines and put a couple of posts in for the verandah of my hut.
26-4-: I started clearing prickly pear round near Holdens. The weather is awfully dry we have had no rain for about a couple of months.
27-4-: I cleared a bit of pear and drove Daisy and Mother up to vote. After tea I went to town and watched the figures go up. I also got a hair cut and a shave, got home about half past 11.
28-4-: The Gracemere C.E. Society held its 11th. Anniversary. And it passed off very successfully, there were about 100 persons present.
29-4-: I went down to the dairy and cut a couple of sapli ngs to use in the making of the shed to put my sulky in. After that I went to the top end of my place and cleared a bit of ground. The soil is lovely, although the weather is so dry, it digs easily.
30-4-: I gathered 3/4 of a kerosene tin of tomatoes and a few pines and I also worked at the pear. Tom and Birdseye are working for Charley getting bush hay from Kellys place at Malchi and Cecil is busy getting ready for camp.
1-5--: I worked at the top end of the garden and did a little to the verandah at the hut. In the evening I went up to Wards and spent a nice little time.
2-5--: I worked at the verandah. It has come up like rain but I suppose we cannot expect much, the nights are so cool.
3-5--: I worked about the place at different things. We got a drop of rain.
4-5--: We had nice rain. I sowed beans and tomato seeds. Cecil went to encampment.
5-5--: I went to church. Mr Bongers preached.
6-5--: I planted some suckers. After dinner I went up to Mrs Wards and took a couple of photos. After tea we went to Presss and had a bit of sing.
7-5--: I dug a bit of ground and put a few suckers. After dinner I started to put the roof on the verandah. I seem to have caught a bit of a cold somehow.
8-5--: I worked a little at the verandah. I seem to have caught a nasty cold. I suppose it must be the complaint that is going about.
9-5--: I did very little as the cold or whatever it is has about got me beat. I went to Christian Endeavour to run over the piece they want me to play in for the Church anniversary.
10-5-: I went around to my place in the morning to try and do a little and a very little it was.
11-5-: I was still rather crook and did hardly anything in the way of work.
12-5-: I was too sick to go to church.
13-5-: I worked a little at the shed, but was not well enough to do much. Mrs Ward and Mrs Braddock came down here in the afternoon and stayed for tea and till about 9 oclock.
14-5-: I excavated a track up the hill for the sulky. In the evening Mother, Laura, Cecil and myself went up to Wards and spent a fair little time. Mrs Merrill and Press were there.
15-5-: I gathered tomatoes and took a photo of one of Alexanders new hymns it was in this months Every Ladies Journal. It came out very well for the first one I have attempted. It is quite plain enough to sing from.
16-5-: I dug ground at the top end of the garden. I cannot get on with work good at all as I am still crook from the cold or what ever it is that has got hold of me.
17-5-: I have been digging ground again today. It digs very well and if a chap was well he could get a nice bit done. I have had a sheep on the top of the hill, for three weeks, it has had no drink for that time, but seems alright.
18-5-: I dug ground all morning and part of the afternoon. It came up very much like rain but did not get any to speak about.
19-5-: I went round the places with Arthur.
20-5-: In the morning I gathered tomatoes and worked a bit at the shed. After dinner I went to the city and ordered a set of harness. I came home about 4 oclock and Cecil and I went and got the sheep that has been on my place for 3 weeks.
21-5-: I sent some tomatoes to Arthur and did a little work about the place.
22-5-: I worked a bit in the garden. I hoed the French beans, they are doing pretty fair, but could do with rain.
23-5-: I hoed the spear grass on the road up to the hut. After dinner I went down to the farm, where they held a bit of a party on account of Teddy being 5 years old.
24-5-: I did very little of anything. Arthur came down from the Mount and started drawing stumps, with what he calls his Forest Devil.
25-5-: Cecil went to Brisbane today. I gathered a few lbs. of tomatoes and Laura took them to Mrs. Allens and got 2/9d for them.
26-5-: Went up to Church and after tea I drove Mother and Laura to the Congregational Sunday School Anniversary.
27-5-: I worked at the top end of my place clearing pear and lantana. I went to the farm and had tea with Ted and Martha. I arranged with Ted to bring me out timber to make a door for my sulky shed.
28-5-: I worked at the same place as I did yesterday. There was a lot of land sold for rates today in and around Gracemere and I heard that it went very cheap. Tonight is the Gracemere U.P.Church Annual meeting. Conrad Schirmer is going to sing a Solo.
29-5-: I worked a little about my place
30-5-: I made my cart track up the hill a little wider.
31-5-: I made the doors for my sulky shed and early in the evening I went to the city to see about my sulky and harness.
1-6--: In the morning Tom helped me to hang my doors. In the afternoon I helped him to hang his gate.
2-6--: Laura is over at Beals and Mother has gone to Church.
3-6--: I finished making the shed fit to put the sulky in and gathered 2 dozen pines and a case of tomatoes for Arthur. A chap came and pruned Mrs Dunns and Cecils rose trees. He said he was Arthur Yates, the seed merchants only son. I dont know whether or not it is a straight yarn, he charged them both 5/-.
4-6--: I brought my sulky home. Laura was staying at Mrs Beals and I went and brought her home. During the night it rained a little but not sufficient to do much good, however it is rather close and may rain more.
5-6--: I was excavating. It seems as though it could rain and I hope it does. After dinner I mixed some poison solution and injected the pear along the dividing fence between Ernies and my place.
6-6--: I sprayed prickly pear.
7-6--: Laura and I went to the show it was the first time I used the sulky.
8-6--: I did not bother to do much. I had intended to go to the show but it was too much like rain. Those that went got in a bit of a mess.
9-6--: Was a sort of a wet day and I went round to Ernies and had dinner.
10-6-: Was a wet day. I planted a few suckers and tomatoes. It rained all day steadily.
11-6-: W ill and I dug ground all day.
12-6-: Tom and I ploughed a nice piece of ground and Will dug a good bit also.
13-6-: I planted 150 pineapple suckers and about 180 tomato plants.
14-6-: I got the harrow from Toms and Judy and things ready to harrow the ground we ploughed. I harrowed it over twice and went down and got the cultivator ready for tomorrow.
15-6-: I cultivated the ground and harrowed it again as well as cultivating some pines. I also got about 70 tomato plants from Tom and planted.
16-6-: Mother, Laura and I went to the Campbell Street Sunday School Anniversary.
17-6-: I began to dig ground along the top of the pines. It digs splendid and there are practically no stones to contend with.
18-6-: I gathered tomatoes for Ted and went on with the digging.
19-6-: I gathered a few pines and took them and the tomatoes down to the dairy ready for Ted on Thursday morning. I also dug a little more land and went round to Ernies and ordered suckers.
20-6-: In the morning I carted 3 loads of suckers from Ernies. In the afternoon I started to plant them. I went with Cecil to Church of England the first time for a long time. It was a fair little meeting.
21-6-: I have planted all the suckers. I got from Ernies.
22-6-: I dug and threw a lot of soil in the hole near the front fence. It came up a lot like rain. After dinner I went down to the farm to take Teds lantern back.
23-6-: It rained pretty well all day. Arthur and Alick Black came down and we went round the farm together, it was a wet journey.
24-6-: It rained pretty well all day, too much to be able to work in. Charley was taken bad last night and his man came up early this morning for Cecil to milk the cows. Charley thinks he has poisoned himself with eating tinned fish. Creek came down this morning.
25-6-: Will Birdseye worked with me, we got quite a nice piece ground dug. I also put out a few tomato plants and sowed a nice few rows of French beans. Tom and Cecil went knocking fish got a 5 1/2 lb. Barrow for tea. Creek up to the bridge all day.
26-6-: Will and I dug ground, we finished what I wanted to do up the hill and started the little piece between the track up.
27-6-: Morning it rained too much to do any work. After dinner I planted tomatoes and went on with the digging Will and I started yesterday afternoon. Will worked with Tom and Cecil.
28-6-: Was a wet day and I did no work.
29-6-: I finished digging between the tracks and dug a strip at the side next the hut.
30-6-: We walked up to church. Mr. Youngman did not turn up so Press took the service. Arthur was down, it seems very like rain.
1-7--: I gathered a few tomatoes and French beans and dug ground near the hut, it dug very well and will be a big improvement to my place. We have had sufficient rain for a week or two.
2-7--: Bother it rained all night. I finished running over the beans and went down to the farm, Ted thinks his oats have had plenty of rain.
3-7--: It has been a semi rainy day, the rain does not seem as though it can leave us and we have had plenty for a time.
4-7--: I wheeled a barrow load of stuff down the road to meet Ted. After which I dug ground.
5-7--: I finished digging for the time being. This lovely wet weather has enabled Cecil and I to make a great difference to the hill. I sowed a couple of rows of French beans, the others are coming up nicely.
6-7--: The morning is rather fresh but I have seen no sign of frost. I went to town with Mother and Laura in the Pheaton I gave Barnes and Sons a cheque, we went over and had a look at Beals.
7-7--: I went a service in the School of Arts a continuance of the Baptist Jubilee, some of the singing was very nice.
8-7--: This morning there is a great mist. I worked in the garden.
9-7--: I hoed and gathered a few tomatoes and cased them up for Arthur. I also did a bit of hoeing.
10-7-: I hoed a few cobbler pegs and gathered 5 doz. pines and took them down to the dairy for Ted.
11-7-: I hoed amongst the pines and beans. I also grubbed out a few trees and stumps. I also went round to Arthurs farm with him.
12-7-: I put in a pretty big day planting potatoes for Arthur. We got about an acre done. It seems as though it could rain again.
13-7-: In the morning we worked until we finished the patch of spuds, it made it up to about 2 1/4 acres. I went down to the farm after dinner and had a look at Ted.
14-7-: Last night it rained hard, this morning the creek is a banker. We went up to the Church, Morrell was in the pulpit.
15-7-: In the morning I finished planting all my French bean seed and Cecil and I went down to the paddock and tried to get a fish or two. We saw a few but all we could get was an eel. I am now getting ready to take Mothers and Lauras portrait.
16-7-: In the morning I grubbed out Iron bark saplings at the top end of the garden. After dinner I got Duke in the plow and ploughed the ground, it ploughed well, but there is a bit on the top that I will have to dig.
17-7-: I dug the bit of ground that I left yesterday and gathered pines and tomatoes. After tea I wheeled the pines down to the dairy in the wheelbarrow. This morning there was a slight frost on the low land but I saw no sign of it at my place.
18-7-: I shovelled the soil into the hole near the front fence. The weather is hot in Rather cool during the night.
19-7-: I went down to Toms and got the Stump Jack and jacked the gatepost into its right position. I also hoed between the beans at the top end of the garden. Cecil went and looked for my pony, but couldnt find him.
20-7-: The Gracemere Sunday School picnic was held. Mother and Laura have gone to it and taken Ernie and Lily. I was rather unwell last night and have been crook all day.
21-7-: I went to church at Gracemere. Mr Shaw was in the pulpit and he brought a young fellow out to sing a solo.
22-7-: I was not very well and in consequence I did very little in the way of work, however I cleaned thistles out of the tomatoes near the shed and poked around the garden.
23-7-: I dug a bit at the excavation, and gathered tomatoes. It is unseasonable weather just now and a lot of folks have colds of one sort and another.
24-7-: I started digging between the pines, I also hoed a few tomatoes. Cecil got my pony in and we are going to break it into the sulky. I took nearly 6 doz. pines down to the dairy for Ted to-morrow.
25-7-: I took tomatoes down to the dairy for Ted. When I came back I hoed amongst the pines. Cecil snigged a hollow log around to my gate for me to form an approach with.
26-7-: I hoed amongst the pines. I also made an approach to my gateway. The weather is very mild for this time of the year, we have had practically no frost yet.
27-7-: We put m y pony in the sulky for the first time. When we were putting the harness on him he reared and got on top of Cecil and after awhile he got me down too. We took him for a bit of a run and he bolted over a stump and he threw both of us out, but he didn't hu rt the trap.
28-7-: Cecil and I went to town with the sulky and pony in the morning we drove him about 11 miles. Arthur Neddrie came out with his girl in the afternoon.
29-7-: I hoed in the morning and after dinner Cecil and I drove to the city. I paid Barnes the balance of the account I owed him. The pony seems to be getting nice and quiet. He pulled the trap up the hill nicely, when we came home.
30-7-: I gathered a few tomatoes and helped Cecil to fix up a water closet. Mother and Laura have gone to a sale. The pines are flowering.
31-7-: I took a tin of tomatoes and 3 doz. pines down to the dairy for Ted to take in tomorrow. In the afternoon I drove Cecil to the rifle range and marked for him so that he could get a little practice.
1-8--: In the morning I ploughed over a piece of ground near the row of passion fruit. After dinner I hoed amongst the pines. Ted brought Lauras sewing machine out. Arthurs posts came down from Moongan today.
2-8--: Arthur put up the posts for his stables. I hoed amongst the pines.
3-8--: In the morning I hoed and afternoon Arthur got me to help him square his wall plates. It has come up like rain.
4-8--: I drove up to Church in the sulky. After service, Cecil and I drove to town and back. Mrs. Fisher Ada and Arthur were here. Sharrod was in the pulpit.
5-8--: I gathered 2 1/2 doz. pines for Arthur and also 43 lbs of tomatoes. I also started to hoe amongst the farthest lot of pines.
6-8--: I sent away the stuff to Arthur. After doing which I hoed. I also did a little of the excavating. We are having a little frost every morning.
7-8--: In the morning I pulled a few dozen pineapples and finished hoeing the lot of pines I was at, during the last day or two. After dinner Cecil and I drove over to the rifle range and Cecil did a little practice after tea I wheeled a barrow load of pines to the dairy for Ted.
8-8--: I have been doing a bit of hoeing and cutting out a couple of pieces to make a harrow. I went round and paid Maud for the suckers I got some time ago.
9-8--: I worked with Arthur all day helping him to cut out the roof of his stables and put the iron on. The weather has taken a turn for the better as it is now much warmer and it is also like rain. Mrs. Beal came out.
10-8-: I worked with Arthur at his stable all the morning. I went back and did a little after dinner too. Mrs Beal is staying here for a few days.
11-8-: In the morning Tom and I rode our bikes over to Newmans. After dinner Cecil and I drove in the sulky up to Church. Mr Shepperd was in the pulpit.
12-8-: In the morning I did a bit of hoeing and sharpened my hand saw. Mrs. Beal and Mother came round to my place and had a look round. After dinner I cleaned the sulky harness and did a little towards making a harrow. Mrs. Mc Kim has died, buried tomorrow.
13-8-: I did a little hoeing. Mrs. Beal and Nem and Annie came out, so I took them round to my place, they said I had got it greatly improved since they were out last. After dinner I put the teeth in the harrow. I took a photo of Mrs. Beal and group also Mother.
14-8-: I finished making the harrow, and picked about 50 lbs. of tomatoes and gathered 6 doz. pines. It has come up very windy. After dinner I went over to the rifle range and did some marking for Cecil. I had a few shots and did fairly well.
15-8-: I sen t some pines and tomatoes up to Arthur, I also took 3 1/2 doz pines down to the dairy for Ted to take to town tomorrow. Mr. Beal went home and got caught in a shower on his way. Mother and Mrs. Beal went and spent the afternoon at Mrs. Press. They stayed to Endeavour.
16-8-: I have been hoeing amongst the pines. Mother and Laura have taken Mrs. Beal home. Mrs. Dunn brought me home a rose tree, one that bears its flowers in clusters of up to a hundred, dont know the name of it.
17-8-: I helped Arthur to do a bit of building at his shed. I also planted the rose tree. Cecil has gone in to a tea fight. I have not gone out on a Saturday night for a some time.
18-8-: I went and had a look round the farm and stayed for dinner. After dinner Cecil and I drove over to Beals, his orange trees are looking splendid.
19-8-: I did a good piece of hoeing. The ground is getting fairly dry. The thistles and weeds are sucking all the moisture out of the land. Pineapples are budding very slowly.
20-8-: Cecil helped me to hoe amongst the pines near the hut, we made a great splash. After dinner we went over to the rifle range, and I marked for Cecil and Theo Kingels son, they did some very fair shooting.
21-8-: I finished hoeing near the hut amongst the papaws. After dinner Cecil and I went and dug out the pear along the inside of my fence between Ernies and my property. After tea Mother, Laura and I walked down to the farm. I took Ted 2 photos for 1/6d.
22-8-: I picked and packed a case of tomatoes for Arthur and gathered 3 doz. pines for town. After dinner Cecil and I went over to the range again. Cecil did some good shooting, but I couldnt get a bull s-eye at all. Young Kingel was there also and did not do too well at the 300-yard range.
23-8-: I poked about a bit at one thing and another. Arthur came down by the nine train and I worked with him at his shed all day. We were neither of us in good form but we got a long fairly well with it, we had Tom helping us as well.
24-8-: I worked with Arthur until half past 3. After I knocked off I came home and got tidy and went down to the farm and they got me to stay for tea. The night is a bit cool, but it was quite warm in the sun today.
25-8-: Pony kicked the dashboard of the sulky in. I did not go to Church Mr Ernie Briggs and his mother was here for tea, he sang a little.
26-8-: I did a little hoeing and fixed up the passion fruit vines near the hut. I also went down to Arthurs place and got a piece of timber and made an axle for my manure cart. In the afternoon I took a couple of photos of Laura, but I spoilt them in the dark room.
27-8-: I did not feel very good, the weather is very hot and muggy, and it seems a little like rain. After dinner Cecil and I drove over to the rifle range and did a bit of shooting and I did a bit of marking.
28-8-: I gather a couple of tins of tomatoes and a shilling of pines, I also began to manure the smooth leave pines near the hut.
29-8-: I worked about the place all the morning, afternoon Cecil and I drove over in the sulky and did a bit of practice at the rifle range. It was awfully hot and we both got a headache I took a few lbs. of French beans down for Ted.
30-8-: I hoed along the bottom of the passion fruit vines. After dinner I went and burned prickly pear. Jimmy Dunn has bought a little camera and the plates do not fit, and we have a bit of fun over them.
31-8-: I dug out a few pear amongst the pumpkins and set fire to 3 stumps. The weather has taken a cool turn again. In the afternoon Tom and I dove over to the Bower with the pony and sulky, the breastplate made his shoulder sore.
1-9--: I went up to Church Mr Bongers occupied the pulpit, there was not a very good attendance.
2-9--: I hoed a few prickly thistles and gathered some French beans. After dinner Cecil and I were burning pear on the top of the hill.
3-9--: I gathered a couple of tins of tomatoes. After dinner I went over to the rifle range and marked for Cecil. I am teaching Jim Dunn how to take photos.
4-9--: In the morning I worked a bit and went down to the farm and got a ring belonging to the wheels, I bought off Ted. After dinner I worked with Tom, we picked a bag of peas and cut a few bags of cabbage.
5-9--: I fixed the iron wheels on to the axle and went down to the dairy and got a pair of springs off an old milk cart. I also got a bag of corn from the dairy and Tom brought a bag of chaff from the farm for me. Cecil has gone to Brisbane to compete in the shooting.
6-9--: I worked on the top of the hill-clearing pear. It was awfully hot and a thunderstorm worked up in the evening, but we did not get much rain.
7-9--: I poked around my place all the morning. After dinner Tom and I took a bag of Pumpkins up to Sandy Mc Donald for Adam Armstrong. We went down and got a load of thistles. The pony went very well.
8-9--: Eddie Newman and I went to the Campbell Street Church and spent a nice enjoyable time, splendid singing.
9-9--: I cut out a couple of pieces of wood for the frame of the little cart, I am making to cart manure. Tom and I put my pony in my spring cart and got a load of Thistle for old Duke and the Pony.
10-9-: I went to town early and bought a basket and a pair of scales for Tom and met him with them, so that he could start hawking. He had a very fair day. I came home and did a little to my place.
11-9-: I poked around and a little of this and that and the other. In the evening Tom and I got a load of thistles, later I rode my bike to the Campbell Street Church and spent a nice two hours listening to the Rev. Principle Fletcher.
12-9-: I cased up my tomatoes and borrowed a small collar and hames for my pony. In the evening Tom and I had a terrible job with the pony, the beggar lied down in the cart, but we made him bring a load of thistles.
13-9-: I rode my bike to town just after breakfast and got Donaghey to fix up the breastplate of my sulky harness he did it very well for 7/6d while he was doing it I rode over to Petes and stayed there until after dinner.
14-9-: I helped Tom to pick a few peas after which I put the pony in the outrigger and went with Tom round Gracemere with vegetables. After that we got a big load of thistles. In the evening I went over to the tail end of the C. of E.S.S. picnic. Took a photo.
15-9-: I went up to Church, the S.A. supplied a man in place of Rev. A. D Shaw. Eddie Newman and I drove around the Rector. The pony went very well.
16-9-: I gathered tomatoes and pumpkins and helped Tom to get in his bit of hay. The weather is something awfully hot and one would think it would rain, but there does not seem to be much likelihood of there being much. Everything is getting scorched to nothing.
17-9-: I poked around during the morning. After dinner Cecil and I took the Phaeton in to get done up. I also got my new dashboard and a bit of timber for my manure cart.
18-9-: I went around the tomatoes and down to the dairy for irons for the milk cart. I also framed a couple of pictures. It has come up a bit like rain, but I don t suppose we will get much. Laura has came home from Beals. Pines are doing badly.
19-9-: I was burning pear, I also finished framing the picture for Mrs. Harry Dunn and took it down to her. I went up to the Christian Endeavour meeting there was a pretty good attendance, but the majority of those present were children. We had a bit of a practice after the meeting.
20-9-: I tried my hand at making a dressing for my sulky harness. I dont know how it is going to act. I also went to the city with Cecil. We drove my pony with Tomatoes to Hilton the Fruiterer. I cleaned my harness and sulky.
21-9-: Cecil and I hoed a piece of ground n ear the little gate for Combination tomatoes. After Cecil went I dug and manured a row and planted it. After dinner printed some photos of the pony I took for Charley yesterday. Laura went to the Mount to attend the Endeavour rally.
22-9-: Mr. Press gave a Gospel Lantern service, it passed off fairly well but the lamp went crook. I had tea at Wards
23-9-: I went round the tomatoes and gathered a few pines, I also bagged a couple of bags of pumpkins for Hinton. After dinner Cecil and I went with Harry Dunn a nd caught several fine mullet in the creek. Cecil and I drove over to Beals with the biggest. We went to Baptist Endeavour.
24-9-: I went up the hill and burned a bit of pear and fixed places in the hut to stick my chisels. I also watered the tomatoes down near the little gate. After tea I took some Rosella seed and a couple of books.
25-9-: I went with Cecil to town with tomatoes and pumpkins. After dinner I drove Laura and a young lady who is staying at Wards over to Fishers. The pony went all right. Af ter tea Tom and I went down to the farm it was a lovely moon light night, but a bit too cold to be seasonable.
26-9-: I cased up a case of tomatoes for Arthur and went down to the dairy for chaff. After dinner I helped Tom to gather pumpkins. I went up to Christian Endeavour in the evening. It was an all right meeting, but the young uns are a bit too lively.
27-9-: I have been helping Tom to cart pumpkins. The day has been a fairly hot one and the job is rather warm. Cecil has gone to the dairy to help with the milking. Fred Gray is leaving and going to Barcaldine.
28-9-: I helped Tom to cart pumpkins until half past 10 and then went to the city to do a little biz. I ordered a summer vest at D.W.Murrays. In the evening I put my pony in Toms sulky and drove L aura and May over to Port Curtis Road, concert in the school.
29-9-: I went to Gracemere Church there was a man in the pulpit in place of A.D. Shaw. I was at Toms for tea.
30-9-: I cleared a bit of prickly pear on the excavation near Holdens. I finished framing Arthurs certificate and gathered tomatoes, I also planted another row of Combination tomato plants.
1-10-: Cecil and I went to town with tomatoes, he sold over £1 worth. I only had 5/- worth, they have gone down a great deal in price and we had to go to a good few shops to get rid of them.
2-10-: Tom and I went over to Fairy Bower for a load of Lance wood, we had an awful job and did not get too good ones, but we have got a track into them now and I think we will have to get another load or two. I sa w Scrub Turkeys and also found a few nests, we were played out when we got home.
3-10-: This morning I gathered pines and tomatoes and hoed the 8 short rows of pines. Afternoon Tom and I have been getting logs to make the top of a well. It has been awful ly hot. Laura has been to town and brought home the Phaeton. Barnes & sons have been doing it up.
4-10-: I have been over to Steed & Rogers saw mill after well timber. Tom brought a load home whilst Arthur and I picked out more I came home with Tom on a load we landed home today between 500 & 600 ft
5-10-: I worked with Arthur joggling timber for his well during the morning. After dinner I poked around for myself. Laura is staying over at Mrs Pilkingtons. The day has been an awfully hot one
6-10-: I drove Eddie Newman to Church. We had a practice for a social evening. After the service we took young Minnie Ward and Ivy Broom for a drive.
7-10-: I got a couple of logs ready for the top of my well. I also started to put the new dashboard in my sulky. I got some irons for my manure cart ready down at the dairy for Cecil to bring up in the cart.
8-10-: I went to town with Harry Wells and we got a load of timber. Tom also brought some of mine out and I have nearly got all mine out now.
9-10-: I spent the day on my own place and went down to the well and put up a frame to enable us to have a bit of shade to cut our timber under. Arthur came down by the 10 to 8 train.
10-10: I worked with Arthur at his well. We got on very well but there is a terrible lot of sand, which makes it very awkward to get down.
11-10: I put another day at the well. We got a good storm in the evening. The wind blew at a terrific rate and blew the entire roof off my dark room.
12-10: Last night Walter Reids large warehouse was struck by lightening & completely gutted it. The damage is estimated at about 35 Pounds sterling. Laura and I drove over in the sulky and had a look at it.
13-10: I was at the farm for dinner. I did not go to church and went down to Toms and had my tea. Nearly all the children about here have measles.
14-10: I banked pines near the shed and picked a few pines I also did a little towards the completing of my manure cart. The weather is unduly warm, and we have had a storm or 2 and it seems as though we could have more.
15-10: I cut 3 pieces of glass for Mrs Thorsen and gathered some tomatoes, did a little to my cart and went to town with Cecil. I brought home a bag of corn. I went down to the farm and took some photos of the reaper and binder at work.
16-10: I worked with Tom at the well. I also fixed up a couple of kerosene tins of tomatoes for Eddie Newman to sell tomorrow, he has the lend of my cart to take his stuff to the city to hawk as he finished his job at Charleys and got paid yesterday.
17-10: I worked all day at the well, we got water at about 22 feet. Eddie Newman gave me 4/- for the 2 tins of tomatoes he took to town. Mother went to stay at Beals. Pete has gone to hospital to go under an operation.
18-10: My bike came home today after being renovate d. I worked down at Toms all the morning, picked and packed tomatoes. After dinner went down to Thorsens and got 3 photos to frame, after which I went to the dairy and started to fix up the dray.
19-10: I worked at the well and fixed the dray up a little more. I sold 8/- worth of stuff out of my garden in the evening. The weather is awfully hot and one would think we were in for a storm.
20-10: I went down to the farm and stayed and had dinner. After dinner I drove Laura and Eddie Newman to church, after service that was conducted by Mr George we drove to town and back by tea.
21-10: I went down to the dairy and got Victor and went down to the farm and got 5 bags of chaff 3 for Tom and 2 for myself. I then took the dray down to Toms and fixed it up ready to cart manure, after dinner I got 2 loads. The day was a regular corker as far as heat is concerned, it had just about got me bowled over.
22-10: I went around to my place and gathered a few pines and took them and some papaws to Tom for him to sell. After that Eddie Newman and I carted 8 loads of manure from the dairy. I feel fairly tired, as I have been on the go since 5.30 this morning.
23-10: I went round the tomatoes and Eddie and I carted 7 loads manure, we would have got our 8 but it came on to rain and put a very effective stop to manure carting for the day.
24-10: It rained fairly hard during the night, the creek came down before dinner. I havent seen it come down so quick for a long time. I started to plant suckers near my gate. Ted has a lot of oa ts cut and they will be very wet. I put out a few tomato plants.
25-10: I went on planting suckers and I also shifted my tank. Sowed a few pumpkins and went to the top of the hill and tried to dig but it was a bit too hard for a fork. Arthur has been down breaking mettle for concrete.
26-10: I got a lift to town with Tom Wheeler, banked Arthur some money, did a little business for myself and came out by the 10.30 train. I sowed cowpea seed after dinner.
27-10: I went to church. Whyte was in the pulpit and there was a very poor attendance. I had tea at Mrs Wards.
28-10: I went to Emu Park with the Excursionists. We had a very fair time, the train was not being over crowded as it generally is. I took a few photos and some of them have turned out pretty well. Took 2 photos of Mr Newman.
29-10: I was sowing cowpea all the morning and got very sick of the job. After dinner I planted more cowpea and also some maize after that I pulled 100 suckers and gave work best for the day.
30-10: I finished planting the bit of land between the tracks with pineapple suckers and took 20 to the top of the hill and set them, after dinner I planted pumpkins. After tea Jimmy Dunn and I went round to my place and printed photos. I turned out some fairly good ones. Cecil is working for Ted. It came up a bit like rain this morning and was very hot.
31-10: Arthur began to set his engine. I finished sowing the piece of land with pumpkins and gathered pines and tomatoes.
1-11-: I went down to the farm and put a day in amongst Teds hay. The weather was rather warm and some of the sheaves rather damp. Jacky Tanner was with us and there is no doubt that he is a hard doer.
2-11-: I went to the city and bought some glass and ferrotape plates for squeegeeing. I also finished framing Thorsens photos and took them down and got paid, they gave me 3 more to frame. I went down to Dunns after tea and made a focussing screen.
3-11-: I didnt go out at all, only down to Mrs Dunns. It was an awfully hot day it must have been stifling in church.
4-11-: I planted maize between the cowpea and started to hoe along the bottom of the pines. I printed some post cards for Xmas, there is no doubt they look first rate. Mrs Dunn bought 4 as soon as she saw them. I gathered nearly 2 doz pines.
5-11-: I did a little hoeing, gave Tom the pines and a few passion fruit to take to town. I rode to town on my bike and got up to 20 lb of tomatoes ordered. I also got some moulding, glass and varnish, I also got my hair cut.
6-11-: I hoed amongst the pines. Tom and I also cut 2 bags of chaff with Mrs Dunns chaff cutter. It was so awfully hot in the middle of the day that I couldn t work. I took Thorsens 3 photos that I had framed for Mrs C. Thorsen paid me but the old dame owes me 3/- she said it would suit her better to pay me later. O. Dear. O. Dear .O. Dear.
Pineapples

7-11-: I have been hoeing again and am keeping 3 printing frames going all the time. I took a photo of a papaw tree this morning, it came out well, but the light coming into the dark room spoiled the one I took of Laura. Killed a brown snake 7 ft long 3 inches thick. I had a hard fight with it, I beat eventually.
8-11-: Was another very hot day and was felt by me in hoeing the pines. I also printed a couple of post cards for Eddie Newman. I went down to the dairy for scrap pieces of galvanised iron to put on my dark room, but they didnt act.
9-11-: I did a fair bit of hoeing and went to town and back on my bike before dinner. After dinner I cleaned my sulky and drove Laura to Fishers. When we came home I took a photo of the sulky.
10-11: I went down to the farm. I did not go to church.
11-11: I hoed nearly 3 rows of pines, besides going round my pines and helping Tom to plow out potatoes. It was rather warm in the middle of the day.
12-11: I had Eddie Newman with me, we hoed a nice lot of pines. We also picked over a tin of tomatoes, but although Cecil took them to town he reckoned he couldnt sell them and brought them home again. It is muggy and like rain.
13-11: I was hoeing amongst my pines, but first thing in the morning Tom and I cut with Mrs Dunns chaff cutter.
14-11: I hoed amongst the pines. Mother has come home from Beals and is up to her neck in things for the Gracemere sale of work.
15-11: I helped Arthur to cut chaff and then went round to my place and bogged in to the hoeing.
16-11: I hoed amongst the pines. Afternoon I went up to the School of Arts, where there was a sale of work in aid of the Church, it went off very well and they sold over £40 worth of articles.
17-11: Went up to Church, Youngman was in the pulpit and told some awfully gruesome yarns about the Heathen.
18-11: It has been trying to rain. I hoed a row of pines and gathered a few also. I also picked a dozen papaws.
19-11: I finished hoeing the lot of pines at the other end of the garden. I have now started hoeing the cowpea. Tom sold Dobinson 1 dozen Papaws and 6 1/2 doz Passion fruit for 4/ 6.
20-11: I was hoeing amongst the pines. I gathered a couple of tomatoes.
21-11: I was hoeing cowpea. The flies are something awful.
22-11: Still hoeing pines and cowpea.
23-11: I hoed some cowpea. Afternoon I drove Laura to the farm in Toms sulky. I took photos of Jacky Tanner. We had an early tea and drove over to Beals, after which we went to the Hospital Fete. Saw several folk I knew, had a fairly good time.
24-11: I never went to Church. There was a Chinaman killed by lightning along the road to town.
25-11: I hoed amongst the pines and drove Cecil to the Doctor, he has a boil or something on his back. In the afternoon it was showery. I hoed a couple of short rows of pines.
26-11: Eddie Newman came over to work with me, we hoed a good few pines and then went amongst the cowpea. After supper I went round to my place and printed a few photos. It has come on to rain.
27-11: I hoed round most of my pumpkin plants, thinking it was going to rain, but it hasn t come off yet. I also hoed amongst the cowpeas and some pines. I gathered a few pines, papaws and tomatoes for Eddie to take to town. The flies are very bad just now. I have not known them to be so bad for several years.
28-11: I got up early met Eddie at Burns corner with the few things I had, there was 8/- worth. When I came back I spent the day hoeing. I went over to the top of the hill first thing after dinner and burnt a few prickly pe ar heaps. There is a tomato vine covered with fruit right on the top of the hill.
29-11: I made a frame and put Jacky Tanners photo in it and took it down to the dairy. I also finished hoeing the cow peas practically finished the pear.
30-11: I hoed the pines between the tracks and manured the 3rd. double row of smooth leaves. Afternoon I drove Laura over to the Baptist Chapel erection. They put the building up in 3 hours and 20 minutes, there was a very large gathering.
1-12-: I went down to the farm and stayed to dinner. Came home too late for Church, had tea at Mrs Dunns.
2-12-: I started burning stumps out on the top end of the garden. The weather is awfully hot and it is getting rather dry.
3-12-: I lighted up my fires and did a bit of hoeing.
4-12-: I kept the stumps burning and started to cut weed with the sickle. The weather is altogether too hot to work in the middle of the day. I gave Eddie a couple of tins of tomatoes, 5 doz. passion fruit and 7 papaws for 8/6. Fruit sells well now oranges a re 25/- per case or 2/ 6 per dozen.
5-12-: I went on with cutting rubbish and stump burning.
6-12-: I finished cutting the weeds in the piece of ground next to the cowpea and had a bit of a bush fire. After tea I went down to the farm and got some pictures to frame, I got home about 11 oclock.
7-12-: I burned all the weeds on the piece of land I sickled, and gathered a few tomatoes and covered a few pines. Afternoon I drove Laura and Mrs Mowthorpe round the town. Called at Birds they were very pleased to see us.
8-12-: It has started to rain and I hope it will keep on for a while.
9-12-: I got Victor and Duke and the disc plow and ploughed a bit of ground. It ploughed much better than I thought it would have done, but it is very full of couch grass and rubbish for much, in fact to be able to plant anything.
10-12: I worked in the garden in the morning. Afternoon Tom and I went over to the Bower and cut blocks.
11-12: It was a fairly rainy day and I did hot get much done.
12-12: I dug a bit of ground on top of the hill in the morning. After dinner I started digging in the garden near the passion fruit.
13-12: I dug in the same place as yesterday. After dinner I helped Arthur with his well, but we had hard luck and did not get much done. I went to the city in the evening.
14-12: I gathered a few tomato, and printed some post cards, but they were a failure somehow I had an early tea and went to town. I was at a meeting at the Army hall with a couple of young ladies, had a fair time.
15-12: I went to church. Dr Hay was the preacher, it was fairly warm and there were not many in attendance.
16-12: I ploughed a piece of land over with Duke in my plow. It was awfully hot in the morning, but about 3 in the afternoon it became much cooler. I put the picture of Queen Mary in a frame and made a frame for King George.
17-12: I cased up 20 lbs of tomatoes and a couple dozen of pines for Arthur. I drove Mother Laura and Mrs Pilkington to town and went round to the Archer Street Endeavour meeting, there were a nice number present.
18-12: I was hoeing at the end of the cowpea. I gathered 3/- worth of tomatoes and Mother took them in to Vales. I also burnt some stumps out down near Thorsens.
19-12: I hoed again and poked around doing different jobs. The sun gets too hot about 10 oclock and I came into the house until it cools off a little.
20-12: I hoed in the same spot as yesterday. After tea being Friday night I went to the city and said good-bye to Winnie Graham. Bike went flat near Morris and I had work coming home.
21-12: I drove to town in the sulky and got Dick shod. Came home for dinner and framed Kings photo. Drove Laura over to Pilkingtons had a cup of tea, came back as far as Beals, had tea and gossip and came home.
22-12: Went to church, in the evening went to Sunday School Annual had a nice time and came home.
23-12: Got up very early and gathered a few pines and tomatoes. This is our first day to the city with pines this season. Eddie and I went to the Salvation Army young peoples annual and prize giving. It was that slow that we went round the street for a walk and went back later.
24-12: I hoed a bit amongst the cowpea, washed my sulky and mended my bike, fed and groomed my pony. After tea I drove Laura and May Dunn to the city Eddie Newman was with us and we had several drinks and feed and came home.
25-12: I was feeling rather seedy. I lied about reading all the morning and after dinner I went over to Mrs Newmans and spent a nice hour or two. I had tea with them and some games and drinks and came over to Toms with him and slept with him. In the mean time Mother and Laura were very busy getting ready for their trip to Yeppoon.
26-12: I am writing this after just having seen Mother and Laura off to town to catch the train. I did not go anywhere for a picnic, but I had a very good dinner at Mrs Dunns. Cecil and I feel rather lonely all on our own.
27-12: I gathered about 12 dz pines and 20 lb. of tomatoes. I am all alone today Cecil is dipping cattle.. There is a good deal of wind about and the sun is rat her warm. After tea I run to town on the bike and bought a pair of scales and bought a packet of Tomato seeds and called in at Earls.
28-12: Cecil and I took our produce to town and sold it. We got home about 3 oclock. After that I cleaned my sulky a little and poked about, had tea at Toms. Slept on my pad and had a crook night of it.
29-12: I got up very early and went in with the sulky and brought Amelia out for the day. I drove Tom and her up to church and about 8.30 I took her home.
30-12: I am feel ing rather seedy. We have nothing to eat here on the meat line and cake makes a fellow feel crook in the bingee. I went round the tomatoes and gathered a few pines. I rode the bike to Gracemere and got a lb. of mutton and made a stew, it was a booster.
31-12: Cecil and I got up fairly early and took our pines to the city, we got on fairly well but I fancy they are going to be rather cheap this season, they seem much more plentiful than last time. I bought a couple of weeping figs and planted 1 each side of my gateway.

This material has been transcribed by Connie Johnson, of Bundaberg; who has provided the transcription on the condition that any further copying and distribution of the transcription is allowed only for noncommercial purposes, and includes this statement in its entirety.

Any references to, or quotations from, this material should give credit to the original author(s) or editors.

Last modified on: Sunday, 5 May 2002