The Northern Territory's major contribution to the Bicentennial celebrations, was a cattle drive - entitled "The Last Great Cattle Drive," consisting of 1200 head of bullocks. Commencing from Newcastle Waters, Northern Territory walking along the old stock routes, down to Longreach in Western Queensland - a distance of 2000 Km. On reaching Longreach the cattle were sold and proceeds were donated to the Stockmans Hall of Fame. The drive was in charge of the Boss Drover - Pic Willetts with his two sons - Dennis and Brigalow - and others, men well qualified to handle cattle, Pic with his 40 years in the saddle, and his sons following in his footsteps. The centre of activity is, in and around the camp and the cook, without a good cook you may not eat so well. Rodney Watson was a good cook, damper, bread, brownies, roast beef and stew - not forgetting the spare-rib. Last into his swag at night, and first to rise in the early morning - 3:30am, prepare breakfast for the ringers (jackaroos) and the Boss. Then as the mob moved off at daylight, the cook and helper would break camp and move to the dinner camp about 5 miles away, usually on a bore. Each week a "killer" would be slaughtered, and it was the cook's responsibility to care for the meat, some fresh and the rest salted. The salted would be placed out on an old iron bed each night to air, then in early morning the meat would be packed into wheat bags and stored under all the gear on the truck, a daily chore. The meat keeping fresh up to 10 days. The Artist (Arthur Hamblin) was part of the camp life, recording the events of "The Last Great Cattle Drive". The dramatic changes in the landscape as you would move along the stock route is evident, ranging from the open plains of the Barkley, to the Georgina near Urandandi - through the Gidgea bush, and bull-dust. Conditions change from thick bull-dust in the dry season, to boggy mud after rain, which can hold up the movement of cattle for days. The "ringers" who follow the mob through these conditions, "eat" dust in the dry - and sleep in their swags, in the mud, after rain. The Gidgea wood makes good fire wood and coals for camp-oven cooking - and can ruin a good axe. After being up about 4 am, had breakfast, saddled up and moved out with the mob at daylight, the Dinner Camp was a welcome break. Dinner consisted of cold boiled beef, damper and billy tea, or left-overs from last nights meal. During this time the cattle were watered, and the men took their turn to have dinner, and a snooze. At one o'clock the mob would be on the move again heading in direction of the night camp, five miles away. The bullocks only travelled 10 miles a day. The cook taking his truck on ahead and setting up camp, and cooking tea. Fresh bread, brownie damper - roast beef, spuds, pumpkin - and old billy tea. The horse-tailer's job is to care for the welfare of the horses in the droving plant. His constant job is to be with, and to know where the horses are, to hobble them at night, catch them in the early morning long before daylight. Then to follow them during the day, either ahead or behind the mob. Doug Willetts, known as Brigalow, became the horse tailer on this drive. Only 20 years of age, he was a skilled horseman - and could take on any horse. Horse tailing could be a lonely job, requiring patience and a liking for one's own company, and this young man seemed to enjoy this position. To the drovers and those who work with cattle in the North of Australia - having a Bogey, is having a bath. During the dinner camp, from 10:30am - 1:00pm, a time to relax, do your washing, and have a "bogey". Water was very important commodity to the Boss drover, his whole mob will survive or perish on his ability to find water. In latter days, government bores were sunk along the stock routes at 10 mile intervals, removing that danger. The bullocks could do without feed for many days, but water was necessary on a daily basis - unless they were doing a "dry stage". The bore, the wind mill and the "turkey nest",(the raised up bank of earth which held the water pumped from the bore) has become a very distinctive land mark, rising up in the flat landscape, like a turkey nest. |
The Last Great Cattle Drive |
Australia |
