YOUNG INLANDERS

Evening Star, Issue 22272, 25 February 1936, Page 11

YOUNG INLANDERS

AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK - CHILDREN PLENTY OF INITIATIVE Much has been written and said of the men and women in outback Australia who are helping to develop country once spurned for its isolation (writes J. M'Carter, in the Melbourne ‘ Argus ’). ~, , . In my meandermgs over inland Australia I have met many. children about whom grand stories could have been written. Some, from early childhood, blended school with minor domestic tasks; others, because of isolation from even group education by Government subsidised teachers, have had to grasp whatever learning they could while assisting about the tiny homestead or in the paddocks. Even the more fortunate families who are able to employ tutors or governesses .for their children sometimes set their kiddies small tasks to develop initiative, confidence,' and dependability. For example, little Nellie, aged six years, will take as much care of motherless lamb pets as she will of her doll, if the feeding bottle is provided for her. She might be a little nervous when such a responsibility is placed upon her, but after seeing her father or mother or other members of the family bring the long-tailed I pets galloping to them. by a mere call, she soon essays the feeding process, after which the small but necessary task is left to her.

Perhaps she sees more fun than work in the frolicking lambs, which learn to follow, causing her to laugh with joy when they wag their silly tails while sucking from the pickle bottle of cow’s milk. But she has taken the job from someone’s hands . . . someone to whom 10 minutes is valuable.

By the time that Nellie reaches the age of 12 years she has mastered many duties, and, if not an academic wonder, is blossoming into a thoroughly domesticated young woman, able to milk, sew, make butter, feed calves, bake bread. make damper (loaf scones), work sheep dogs, muster stock, and generally show that she is a bright young unit in outback society. SELF-RELIANCE. Bush children invariably develop a rich sense of self-reliance. Few .are flustered in difficulties, whether confronted with individual working problems or when faced with snakes. Elder sister will always care for younger sister, and, while somewhat scorned by elder brother perhaps, they will always have his instant support in emergency. Many a young outback girl aged 12 years has had to take full responsibility of domestic duties while mother is holidaying or in hospital at the nearest town bringing another sturdy Australian into the world.

And, wonder of wonders, father and brother i will allow her full command, knowing that she will see them through; preparing meals, obtaining aid on washing day, and attending -to the housework until mother returns. At times she might bd impetuous. “ Bill, I must have some more wood for the brick oven.” “ Bill, I’ll tell father on you if you don’t keep the dogs out of the kitchen ” ; “ You’ll have to go to town Bill, for flour . . . we’re running short ”; or “ What’s gone wrong with the cows? . . . How can you expect scones and cream if you don’t keep up the milk? You wait! I’ll tell mother when she comes home.”

Yes, outback children get through their jobs. Lads living within riding distance of town frequently quieten young horses for their fathers by riding them to and from school, and can be relied upon to take sheep or cattle to the railway for trucking to market. They save their elders such tasks as “-running up the horses ” when someone needs the animals; assist at the branding yards; or learn the ins and out of shearing. It is a rare outback boy who cannot hold his own either in the sheepyards or at mustering, though he is hard on horses. ' Many inland children like to keep their steeds on the move and are dissatisfied with leisurely ambling or jig-jogging pace. In many Queensland towns it is common to see young lads with miniature wagons laden with wood or water from the nearest supply directing a team of goats. With all the gusto of adult teamsters (and sometimes accomplished in “bullooky” language) they command the leaders to “ Gee ” or “ Come here.” Its a very wise goat which obeys such boyish instructions. \

YOUNG BULLOCK DRIVERS

I remember a youthful bullock driver at Coolabah, in Western New South Wales. His Whip was so large and weighty that he was almost swung off his balance when wielding the thong. But he guided the bullocks skilfully while his father was temporarily absent. The young lad had waited for several hours, but when his father failed to revive, he obtained help, yoked the bullocks, and drove the wagon home. With the aid of a box he liberated the animals, covered the load with a tarpaulin, then harnessed a sulky horse,' and returned to town for “ Dad,” who, incidentally, was very ashamed. Although outback lads saunter along like _ adults, they can move with alacrity when speed is necessary ._ They join in conversations, but only in rare instances require correcting for rude interjections. By listening, almost since the days of swaddling clothes, they have learned to speak intelligently, or to remain silent. *

- I recall a conversation with a girl aged 14 years, who _ lived at Tibooburra, a small town in the north-west corner of New South Wales. ■ - She had long, fair plaits, and was a strong girl, which probably accounted for the fact that her father allowed her to assist him in breaking-in camels, _ if you please! Horses are difficult animals to handle when unbroken, but camels! When 1 saw her she was among tha Far West children who attended the Rev. S. G. Drummond’s annual summer camp,at Manly (New South Wales). With others she had never seen tha sea, and was more at home among tha camels and donkeys than within a stone’s throw of the Pacific Ocean, which surprised them because it waa salt! .. -

Outback children have no modern sport or regular recreation hours. Most, of their fun comes from practical games, such as kangaroo shooting, rabbiting, fox-hunting, and poisoning,which, incidentally, swells their banking accounts. Children in country towns, of course, indulge in such pastimes as marbles, tops, kite-flying, and sports. But the boys and girls far removed from closely-settled places receive more fun from horses, dogs, and bush athletics, which take the form of front and back standing jumps, handsprings, high jumping, and so forth. As the girls grow up there is always the possibility that they will make wives for young men bent on extending the boundaries of settlement, and the majority of outback boys nurse tha hope that when they reach man’s estate they will own a selection.