- Mr B C C Kirkegaard and his sons had taken a load of produce to town in their horse drawn wagon. While in town, they had purchased the requirements for building a gate. During the home trip, the sons had constructed the gate in the wagon and on reaching home, stopped the wagon and swung the gate into position.
- Drovers were also a common sight and often camped in the area, and stopped at the store for supplies. In 1947 drovers camped in the back lane with 200 head.
- The creek - the main source of water for stock was dry during the drought of 1923, causing farmers to search for underground water supplies. The first water bore in the area was sunk in 1923, on Jim and Arthur Christensen’s farm. Oswald Shelley and the Kirkegaards also bored for, and got good water during 1923.
- Do you remember the time the drovers were going through town and one the beasts played up? The drovers called to the butcher, "How much for him?" The butcher named his price and the drovers left the beast and the butcher promptly shot him.
- Do you remember the country dances held at one district or another? Clyde Simon remembers one night going to Goomburra with 26 on the back of an open truck.
- Do you remember the pump up petrol lights?
- In 1916, a bull was sold for 3 pounds.
In 1941, one cow sold to Percy Shelley for six pounds 15/-.
In 1941, house insurance cost 12/-
In 1941, a pig sold for 2 pounds nineteen shillings and nine pence halfpenny.
- The following is taken from a receipt for ring barking in 1936.
20th June 1936.
I have this day received from John Hart the sum of 6 pounds less 3/- relief tax for two weeks ring barking.
Signed A F Pepper.
Work was carried out from 8th to 20th June 1936.
- The story of how the Johnson Grass came to Freestone:-
John Shelley is said to have been the first person to plant Johnson Grass. He bought a pound of Johnson Grass seed from England for one pound. Johnson Grass was said to have been an everlasting feed. It was first planted in a paddock now owned by the Payne family.
- DEER - Deer were imported from Scotland and released at Maryvale Station, where their numbers increased. Some of the deer crossed the mountains to the Upper Freestone Valley. They found this area to their liking and could be seen here up until 15-20 years ago.
- Dave and Elsie Mauch owned one of the first wireless sets in Freestone. This was made for them by Frank Hall.
- When Rene Shelley played the piano for dances, the pay for the night was Rene - piano 2 pounds, Ted Peters - violin 2 pounds and Ted Roberts - drums 15/-. During these dances Mr Lancaster, hall caretaker, used to boil the water for tea and coffee outside in tins - 3 tins for tea and 1 tin for coffee.
- Thiess’s Orchestra during the 1920’s and 1930’s received 15/- per player, for piano, violin and drums. This is a far cry to the prices paid today, when $500 is often the price for music.
- In 1931, homemade butter sold for 6 pence per pound.
- In the 1930’s, the average wheat yield was 10-12 bags per acre.
- Do you remember the Swagman called Charlie Chook Chook? He used to visit the Freestone area regularly each twelve months. He would do odd jobs in exchange for tea, sugar, flour etc.
Story from Norm Madsen.
- Do you remember the pranks that Billy Mutch and Larly Shelley used to get up to. One such incident happened when Billy, aged about 12, with a little urging from Larly, climbed an apple tree in the lane just opposite the school, to get eggs from a bird’s nest. When Billy was just a short distance from the nest, Larly urged him on a little further, and as Billy stretched out to reach the nest, he fell breaking both wrists. Billy’s father was no impressed. For punishment, he sent Billy to school at Swan Creek, where the teacher was said to be more strict than the Freestone teacher. This cannot have had the desired effect as Billy ended up going to Scots, while his sisters still went to Freestone.
Story from Billy Mutch.
- On the 4th January 1919, one of the worst hail storms to hit the district caused much damage.
Here are some extracts from magazines that have entertained readers over a period of time:
WHAT IS A COW?
A cow is a completely automated, milk manufacturing machine. It is encased in untanned leather and mounted on four vertical movable supports - one in each corner.
The front end of the machine or input contains the cutting and grinding mechanism utilising a unique feed-back device. Here also are headlights, air inlet and exhaust, a bumper and a fog horn. At the rear the machine carries the milk-dispensing equipment as well as a built in flexible fly swatter and insect repeller.
The central portion houses a hydro-chemical conversion unit. Briefly this consists of four fermentation and storage tanks connected in series by an intricate network of flexible plumbing. This part also contains the central heating plant complete with automatic temperature control, pumping station and main ventilating system. The waste disposal apparatus is located to the rear. Cows are available fully assembled in an assortment of sizes and colours. Production output ranges from two to twenty tons of milk a year.
There is a similar machine known as a bull; it gives no milk but has other interesting uses.
ECONOMIC ADVICE
(Especially for the thirsty)
Since you cannot refrain from drinking, why not start a hotel in your home? Be the only customer and you will not have to buy a licence.
Give your wife 7 pounds 12/- to buy 4 cartons of beer at available cut prices. There are 240 drinks in 4 cartons of beer. Buy all your drinks from your wife at 1/- per glass. At the end of 7 days (when cartons are gone) your wife will have 4 pound 8/- to put in the bank and 7 pound 12/- to buy 4 more cartons of beer.
If you live 20 years and continue to buy all your drinks from your wife, then die in your boots, your widow will have 4576 pounds - enough to bring up your children, pay off the mortgage on your home, marry a decent man and forget she ever knew a bum like you.
TIN KETTLING
They tin kettled Ned Sparksman
It was on a Saturday night
And Dough boy came from Warwick
His ambition was a fight
He started at Ken Mackinon
And abused him for his life
And Ken got very hostile
When he spoke about his wife.
He knocked poor Doughy rotten
He lay just where he fell
And Ken stood over his opponent
And waited for the bell
But Doughy boy dingoed badly
He showed his yellow streak
His body very heavy
But his heart very weak.
That ended Dough boys fighting
Percy Shelley said he’s beat
The Sparkie boys they carried him out
By the head and by the feet
And Doughy, lay on the ground
And had a real good snooze.
The relics of a booze.
(J.Doran)
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