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Port
Augusta
Monday June 18
Mayor
Joy Baluch
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Hawker
Tuesday
June 19
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Spencer
Blinman
Wednesday
June 20
Lisa
& Jordan
John & Michelle Henery
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Creek
Thursday
June 21
Nicole
Slater and Laurie Cowan
Rex Guthrieand Michael Diorio
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Fee
Visitor Information
Centre Staff
Iga
Warta
Friday
June 22
Coulthard
Family Members
Marree
Saturday
June 23
Chelsea Rose
Jan White
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Creek
Sunday
June 24
Helen
Anderson
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Monday
June 25
SOTA
Year 7 Class
Women of the Outback
Alan
Wilson and Bev Kemble
Rosanne
Woodforde
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Student Representative Council
Ruby Plate and Adele McCallum
Dr Terry Cutler
Lynnie
Plate
Mataranka
Tuesday
June 26
Peg McFarlane
Maryanne Lewis
Alice
Springs
Wednesday
June 27
Brenton McRae
Alec Ross
Tennant
Creek
Thursday
June 28
Alderman
Peter Davenport
SOTA Students and Parents
Jimmy Hooker
Katherine
Friday
June 29
Bill Daw
Peter Haddow
Emma & Caitlyn Lowe
Norman Rosas
Pine
Creek
Saturday
June 30
Tex
Moar
Bolda Hunter
Gaye Lawrence
Darwin
Sunday
July 1
Duguid
Children
John Ahnfeldt
Eddie Quong
Irene Patanzis
Katrina Fong Lim
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|
Repeater
Station - Chat Archive
Chats and Forum Archives
| Biographies
| Special
Dates
| Room:
|
with
Tex Moar - 10-11am Saturday CST |
| Topic:
|
Pine
Creek Cattle |
| Jun
30, 09:59: |
Melanie has left the room |
| Jun
30, 10:02: |
Elaine has entered the room |
| Jun
30, 10:02: |
Welcome
Elaine,
Welcome to the CTC chat room! |
| Jun
30, 10:03: |
Elaine>
Melanie, this is Elaine giving this a
test run before Tex gets here in half an hour. |
| Jun
30, 10:08: |
Elaine>
My connection with Telstra will automatically
shut down after 20 minutes of inactivity. I don't know how
to solve this problem while we wait for people to log in,
other than to type a nonsense message every 10 minutes or
so to keep it active? |
| Jun
30, 10:16: |
Melanie>
hello elaine |
| Jun
30, 10:17: |
Elaine>
Hello - I am expecting TEx here in about
10 minutes. I guess we just sit here and wait for someone
to ask him some questions. |
| Jun
30, 10:19: |
Melanie>
i guess so!!! |
| Jun
30, 10:25: |
Melanie>
What do you do in Pine Creek Elaine? |
| Jun
30, 10:27: |
Elaine>
I work at the Council office and am the
Librarian. Tex is here and awaiting questions. Does he have
to log in? |
| Jun
30, 10:28: |
Melanie>
yeh if you log out and then he can log
in as him self |
| Jun
30, 10:30: |
Elaine has left the room |
| Jun
30, 10:30: |
Melanie>
go back one more step elaine |
| Jun
30, 10:31: |
Melanie>
So TEX what do you do with your self |
| Jun
30, 10:31: |
Melanie>
welcome tex too!!! |
| Jun
30, 10:32: |
Tex>
Well, I am retired from the cattle game.
I live in PIne Creek and I do part-time work at the REpeater
Station Museum as the caretaker. I have a bit of a gemstone
and rock specimen shop. |
| Jun
30, 10:34: |
Melanie>
i read in the blurb as i entered the chat
that you shoot crocs and buffalos...what was that like? |
| Jun
30, 10:36: |
Tex>
It was a means of aliving back in those
days. Buffalo hides after the war were still a reasonable
price, as much as 5 pounds a hide, which made it very worthwhile
in those days. Crocodile shooting came on the scene a few
years later when there became a worldwide market and they
shot up in price. It was a means of earningan income, as
in those days the cattle gaem wasn't very productive, and
we had to try anything to make ends meet. |
| Jun
30, 10:38: |
Melanie>
did you ever have any nasty experiences
with the animals....no lost limbs i hope!!! |
| Jun
30, 10:41: |
Tex>
WE've had dead crocs come alive in the
boat in the middle of the night! That's a bit of a turn-up
at the time. It's not unusual for a dead buffalo to come
to life when you walked up to start skinning him. I still
have all my limbs, but there are very few bones that I haven't
broken after a lifetime on horseback. |
| Jun
30, 10:43: |
Melanie>
wow...you life sounded so exciting back
then...i guess you are a bit more relaxed now... hey. Do
you find all of the rocks and gemstones that are in your
shop |
| Jun
30, 10:45: |
Melanie>
Have you lived in Pine Creek all of your
life? |
| Jun
30, 10:47: |
Tex>
Yes, over a period of many years. I first
started an interest in gemstones and minerals when I contracted
to take a team of geologists to the head of the Katherine
River in 1954 searching for uranium. The Doctor of Geology
in charge of the camp started my interest in minerals, and
since then I've been very interested and travelled all over
the Territory collecting stuff. I don't get around much
now, I'm a bit too crippled up. I still have a very good
collection of rocks and minerals in the Museum and also
in the Old Timers Rock Hut in PIne Creek. I first came to
PIne Creek as a drover's boy in 1945 just as the war finished.
I was born in Queensland. I have lived in the Territory
, and always in the PIne Creek area since I first came here.
I used to drove cattle into Qld from the big cattle stations
in the Victoria River District, and into the Wyndham meatworks
in WA. |
| Jun
30, 10:49: |
Tex>
ONe year I drove 600 head of cattle from
Victoria River Downs to the Wyndham meatworks which is a
3 week trip, then back to VRD to pick up 1250 bullocks on
the road for Queensland, which was a 17 week trip. Then
all the way back to PIne Creek. WE used ot be paid one and
eightpence per head per 100 mile on delivery. NOt much money,
I'm afraid. It was all pack horses , no motor transport.
Probably a good 10,000 miles on horseback for that one year.
|
| Jun
30, 10:52: |
Melanie>
So do you agree with me that you have
had a pretty exciting life so far! Its so hard to actually
imagine people doing that back then, we get used to seeing
trucks transporting animals theses days. How many people
would be involved in a trip like that? |
| Jun
30, 10:54: |
Tex>
For a mob of 1250 it took 5 men. There
was a cook and a horse tailer, the man who looked after
the horses, and 3 men with the cattle. |
| Jun
30, 10:54: |
Melanie>
were you single back then when you were
doing these long trips or did you have a family back at
home? |
| Jun
30, 10:55: |
Melanie>
Did you ever lose any cattle??? |
| Jun
30, 10:58: |
Tex>
If you had 1500 head, which wasn't normal,
you would allow for one extra man. We could have used more,
but couldn't afford to pay them. The exciting times on a
cattle drive was when the cattle 'rushed' in the night,
which could get pretty hairy at timnes, especially if they
came towards the camp, and you were out on the open plain
without any trees, I married in 1952 and took over the ownership
of Jindare Station in 1949. That was 600 sq mile, not a
very big property in these regions at that time. I still
went droving when I was on Jindare. ONe of my last trips
was 1250 head of cattle from Dorisvale Station to Roper
Valley Station and I took my wife and children along. My
wife drove an old Chev truck behind the cattle. Well she
was supposed to but she got drunk at Mataranka, and ran
the truck up a tree! |
| Jun
30, 10:58: |
Melanie>
How many years did you drove/drive (what
ever the correct term is) cattle for? |
| Jun
30, 11:00: |
Tex>
About 20 years on and off. I later took
up Dorisvale Station and did all my own droving to Katherine
or Darwin. In a stampede sometimes on a stormy night we
would lose lots of cattle, and had to go back and look for
them. Any man that lost cattle soon got a bad name. |
| Jun
30, 11:00: |
Melanie>
LOL....i bet you probably tell everyone
that story about your wife!!! |
| Jun
30, 11:01: |
Melanie>
are you doing your own typing TEX?? |
| Jun
30, 11:02: |
Tex>
No Melanie, this is Elaine and I am typing
as Tex talks. |
| Jun
30, 11:02: |
Melanie>
My typing is very slow...and you seem
to be very quick |
| Jun
30, 11:02: |
Melanie>
oh ...lucky him |
| Jun
30, 11:03: |
Melanie>
Did you have children?...and did they
work on the your station |
| Jun
30, 11:04: |
Bongo has entered the room |
| Jun
30, 11:04: |
Welcome
Bongo,
Welcome to the CTC chat room! |
| Jun
30, 11:05: |
Bongo>
Gidday Tex ... gidday melanie ... |
| Jun
30, 11:05: |
Melanie>
hello bongo |
| Jun
30, 11:06: |
Bongo>
you guys have been having quite a conversation
I see ... |
| Jun
30, 11:07: |
Tex>
Three children on Jindare to start with,
which was 30 mile out of town. For the first 7 years we
had no vehicle, so it was all horseback when we had to come
to town, which was only 2 or 3 times a year. The kids boarded
in PIne Creek when they were about 6 years old so they could
go to school. then they went to Queensland so we didn't
see them much. The 2 girls went into nursing, and my son
was apprenticed as a carpenter, so they didn't come back
to work on the station. They are still close to the bush
and country life, and one daughter now lives in PIne Creek.
Hello Bongo, welcome. Where do you come from? |
| Jun
30, 11:07: |
Melanie>
yes...tex has had quite an amazing life |
| Jun
30, 11:08: |
Bongo>
Tex ... I'm in the Adelaide Hills ...
what's it like in Pine Creek today? |
| Jun
30, 11:09: |
Bongo>
is there a really big guy in Pine Creek
called Rusty? |
| Jun
30, 11:09: |
Tex>
It's beautiful weather, round about 28
degrees with a nice breeze. Of course, we are in the middle
of winter here. |
| Jun
30, 11:10: |
Tex>
Yes, we know Rusty. He has lived here
all his life, I've known him since he was born. How do you
know him? |
| Jun
30, 11:10: |
Melanie>
Thats nice that one daughter lives close....oh
middle of winter...i wish it was 28 degrees here |
| Jun
30, 11:10: |
Bongo>
sounds good, tex ... it's also a nice
day here ... |
| Jun
30, 11:12: |
Bongo>
I met him while I was travelling through
... but I wasn't sure if I had recalled his name correctly
... anyway ... Rusty was very friendly and helpful ... |
| Jun
30, 11:14: |
Bongo>
his house is made from old shipping containers,
I think ... do you know, tex? |
| Jun
30, 11:15: |
Tex>
Last I heard he was living in a demountable
on the edge of town. I guess they do look a bit like shipping
containers! |
| Jun
30, 11:15: |
Bongo>
tex ... do you play the didgeridoo ...
Pine Creek seems to be the didgeridoo headquarters of Australia! |
| Jun
30, 11:17: |
Tex>
Not nowadays, I leave that to the young
people. Have you been to the Didgeridoo Jam which is held
in PIne Creek every year? About 500 people turn up, and
around 100 didj players. |
| Jun
30, 11:18: |
Bongo>
melanie ... do you know how to archive
this chat ... I was just reading bits of Tex's earlier conversation
... I think heaps of schoolkids would be facinated by this
stuff ... tex has got some great stories there! |
| Jun
30, 11:19: |
Bongo>
No I haven't ... but it sounds really
cool ... I have heard a bit of the didgeridoo jam on this
website ... but I'd love to be there "live" |
| Jun
30, 11:20: |
Bongo>
I also noticed that you guys are still
into gold panning ... that looks cool too ... do many turn
up for your festival? |
| Jun
30, 11:20: |
Oasis Cafe,Marree has entered the room |
| Jun
30, 11:20: |
Welcome
Oasis Cafe,Marree,
Welcome to the CTC chat room! |
| Jun
30, 11:21: |
Tex>
Well, it's going to be held on the long
weekend in May next year, so we could see you there. WE
had about 100 people competing this year, it was won by
a 14-year old girl. |
| Jun
30, 11:22: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> Just thought we would enter
the room so that the tourists who come in could join in
the chat if they want to, so even if you don't hear a lot
from us it's because we have to count the hardware for stocktake
AAAAHHHHH!!!! thanks chels |
| Jun
30, 11:22: |
Melanie>
yes i was actually thinking that....i
will definitely archive this one...tex had really had an
amazing life |
| Jun
30, 11:23: |
Bongo>
hey tex ... try this ... oasis cafe has
just entered the room ... you can also see them chat if
you go to the window underneath this chat window and navigate
to Marree and click on the Marree webcam ... it will take
a short moment to load ... but you can see and say gidday
to Marree |
| Jun
30, 11:23: |
Bongo>
gidday oasis ... welcome back |
| Jun
30, 11:24: |
Tex>
Any last minute questions? I have to leave
here to go and open up the museum in 5 minutes. |
| Jun
30, 11:25: |
Bongo>
I can see you ... so behave yourselves
... you don't know who else could be watching |
| Jun
30, 11:25: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> heya bongo, gotta go count
sorry!!!!!!!!!! |
| Jun
30, 11:25: |
Melanie has left the room |
| Jun
30, 11:25: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> Why start now!!!!!!!!! |
| Jun
30, 11:26: |
Bongo>
is that you Tex ... in the museum VR scene
on this site? |
| Jun
30, 11:26: |
Melanie has entered the room |
| Jun
30, 11:26: |
Welcome
Melanie,
Welcome to the CTC chat room! |
| Jun
30, 11:26: |
Tex>
I've told enough lies for one time - Goodbye |
| Jun
30, 11:27: |
Tex has left the room |
| Jun
30, 11:27: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> Bye tex |
| Jun
30, 11:27: |
Melanie>
sorry guys...my computer died for a bit... |
| Jun
30, 11:28: |
Bongo>
so who's there at oasis ... did I just
see Kym? |
| Jun
30, 11:31: |
Melanie>
i'll be back..just going to archive this |
| Jun
30, 11:34: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> Kym and Chelsea, I am filling
the icecream freezer and Chelsea is counting the Hardware |
| Jun
30, 11:37: |
Melanie has left the room |
| Jun
30, 11:38: |
Melanie has left the room |
| Jun
30, 11:38: |
Oasis
Cafe,Marree> Just down to us eh Bongo |
Created by Kate Dibben, Open
Access College, South Australia, Australia
email:
kdibben@oac.sa.edu.au
|
