going to be hard to pick up this thread again as it is over 12 months since I wrote the others

well here goes.

finished that shed and moved on to the next one, dont know how many sheds we done but not finish till the end of October, just a few things that I remember were one time one of the rousetabouts needed a haircut, he had a crew cut and u can imagine what that was like when get too long, I volunteered to cut it, thought no worries, so out came the scissors and way I went , snip snip.Hmmm that not look too flash so took a bit more off, still not look too good so off came some more, finish up he had no hair left so got the razor and gave his head a close shave, to make matters worse he had a big scar on the back of his head, he would have fitted in quite well these days but back then stood out like a sore thumb, went into nearesr town for weekend and that poor bloke got chiacked all weekend.

went to another shed way out in the donga and the only lighting they had were carbide lampsand if u know anything about these u would know they a bit on the bugle, will try and explain if can, apparently carbide gives up a gas when a bit of water is splashed on it, so here we were with this tube with a mantle at the top, mantle like on old coleman lanterns, anyway drop a bit of water in the tin then light up, served the purpose, I may be wrong in how it works but was a long time ago and memory gets dimmer with age.

when the shearing season finished in Queensland and having a few bob in my pocket got a plane to Brisbane and from there to Sydney then onto Melbourne in Victoria, the very first thing I done in Melbourne was to buy myself an overcoat, it was that bloody cold.

Caught a train to Ballarat where the next shed was someone must have come and picked me up ant took me to where ever we had to go met all the other blokes and next day into it to see who was top dog or as we call the fastest shearer , the ringer, these were an entirely different breed of sheep to what I was used to and had a lot of trouble getting a swing up but still managed to ring that shed, at the end of the week when only had a few sheep left, but a few too many to do before weekend ,and would have upset start to next shed , I managed to throw on my legarthy and shore quite a few more then I had, so we finished on time. just as a matter of interest the shearers pay the cook and if not happy he gets shown the way down the track, anyway in Queensland the tucker bill per week was about $15.00 and in victoria in this shed was only $6.00, but we seemed to only live on eggs and eels that the boys caught, but we put up with it. It was at this shed that we were slaving away one day when it started to snow , or u could see the flakes coming down but melt when hit the ground, we had to knock off as they needed the shed to put the fresh shorn sheep in for shelter...the boys took me to Melbourne after finishing there and left me at this hotel, little did I know that it was the hangout for Queers or whatever u call them , had to keep my back to the wall, managed to leave with my virginity still intact.

the next shed was a beauty24,000 sheep for 12 shearers this was out in the west of Victoria at place called Mortlake, the shearers huts were an old gaol from way way back, still had the little trapdoor so the gaoler could spy on you., this shed was a split board, meaning here that there were 9 shearers one end then the tables and then another 4 shearers, where the 9 shearers were it was all old overhead gear ,and the other end was brand new electric gear. Well monday morning we had to draw for stands , that is where the shearer works, and I was lucky I got the stand nearest the tables and the new electric gear.

twelve shearers wonder who will be the fastest, had to go flat out and at smoko have a look in the book and see how we all going, the 3 other shearers up my end , no worries but what about the other nine, as it was there was only one that I had to contend with, but couldn't waste a minute if wanted ring shed,but just manage to do it.

Next shed was north from here at a place called Glen Thompson , only 4 shearers here and I kept my end up by ringing this one as well, went into a larger town to a dance one Saturday night got onto the herbs during day so was in an adventuressmood by time of dance, cottoned to this good looking sheila boy was she gorgeous, so after dance thought be gentleman and walk her home only about a mile and a half away and the boys had to wait for me, anyhow walked home gave her a peck on the cheek and away I went as happy as Larry, we had arranged that I take her to pictures following week.

rocked up at picture theatre with much anticipation , but this time I was not under the influence of the hops and had forgotten what she looked like , but think the one I thought was crossed eyed and was not a very nice looking girl at all, ah well maybe next time. After this shed finished I caught the steam train back to Adelaide , picked my car up and headed home for the harvest just couple of days before xmas....Emu

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