Kirrama: Life on an Australian Cattle Station

By Barbara Gunn

Kirrama, Life on an Australian Cattle Station is real and as far removed from comfort and safety as anything you could find in the best fiction adventure novels. It is the true-life story of an average Texas ranching family who took a giant step across the boundary that lies between normal to extra-ordinary adventure and sacrifice. The Gunn family migrated from a small two-thousand acre Central Texas ranch in Williamson County, Texas, to a beautiful one hundred and six thousand acre (166 sq. mile) cattle station (ranch) in Queensland, Australia.
The family in this book is living proof of the true strength and courage we all possess when faced with a challenge. How do we learn to live without modern comforts and the advanced technology that has become very much a part of our everyday existence? Little did we realize at the beginning of our journey that we had seen the last of automatic washers, dryers, hot water heaters and electricity for many years. Now, we would experience the use of concrete rub boards graduating to gas powered wringer type washers. The children would be home schooled. Outpost radio was the only means of communication with the outside world, as well as the Royal Flying Doctor Service for verbal diagnosis and treatment of all medical conditions. There was no landing strip on this property located on a rough, remote mountain range, therefore, the doctor could only be used to instruct in a verbal capacity.
Kirrama (aboriginal meaning for lots of water) will take you through camping experiences on rivers infested with saltwater crocodiles, deadly snakes, sharks, wild hogs, and dingoes. You will enjoy the wild life of the graceful yet awkward looking kangaroos, curious emus, and beautiful colored parrots as well as the sad times of having to prepare a loved one for burial, while experiencing aboriginal life in the Great Outback of The Land Down Under.
Sold on Reality? Time Magazine September 27, 2001, reported Reality TV such as Survivor II, The Australian Outback, was watched by hundreds of millions of people in more than forty countries by people fascinated with excitement, adventure, and reality far removed from the everyday routine of their lives. Reality none the less, being experienced by ordinary people like themselves, it creates an awakening within them that each and everyone of us possess; the basic human as well as spiritual strength to survive in situations outside the safety and comforts of our own normal lives.
Oprahs last show in Australia was a tremendous success. People are in awe of the huge cattle stations, the Great Barrier Reef, the unusual animals, and the whole of Australia in general.
The stories in Kirrama will take you from our long forty-two hour travel time from Austin, Texas, U.S.A., to Cairns, Queensland, Australia; including the feelings and trials of moving to a new country on to the many moves to various cattle stations in very remote outback areas and finally to our new home with many more adventures and trials.
People Weekly magazine in their February 5, 2001, addition covered the complete story of the arrival of the Survivor II crew to Goshen, which was the adjoining station to Kirrma Station. The faux Stone Age Tribal Council was actually built on the rocky edge above the Herbert River where Blenco Falls cascades for 500 feet into the Herbert River Gorge on Kirrama Station. Kirrama was purchased by the Gunn family from Doug and Ruth Farquhar, the Australian family who then purchased Goshen Station. Much of Kirrama is written about this area, as well as the very remote cattle stations in the Cape York Peninsula.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781479736867

Barbara Gunn

Barbara Gunn grew up in a small town in central Texas, worked as assistant manager, escrow officer, as well as assistant secretary for various companies owned by Georgetown Title Company. In 1969, Barbara married, Tate, the older son of the Gunn family. They moved their young family to Australia in 1972. Kirrama is written from personal experience having lived the Australian Outback life, getting to know the people, seeing and hearing their amazing stories, as well as her own. There are other books on her agenda.

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Copyright © 2012 by Barbara Gunn.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1:   Usa To Australia

Chapter 2:   New Beginnings

Chapter 3:   Silver Plains

Chapter 4:   Jerry’s Memories Of Silver Plains

Chapter 5:   Mount Mulgrave

Chapter 6:   Kirrama

Chapter 7:   Medical And Education

Chapter 8:   Alick

Chapter 9:   Moving In

Chapter 10:   Seasons

Chapter 11:   Tully

Chapter 12:   Hospital

Chapter 13:   Twelve Days By Bob

Chapter 14:   Work Begins

Chapter 15:   Arrivals And Departures

Chapter 16:   School In Cardwell

Chapter 17:   Australians

Chapter 18:   Trials

Chapter 19:   Jill

Chapter 20:   The Last Chapter

Glossary Of Australian Slang

[DEDICATION]

First and foremost to Our Heavenly Father for giving me the opportunities to experience these wonderful places and to meet the people that helped create this book. Thanks to my husband, Tate, for his many contributions. Thank you, Susan, for all of your computer time, valuable input, and to Jim for your encouragements. I dedicate this book to my seven children, my family and great friends (American and Australian) for their support. Louise, Tyler, Kathy and David thanks so much for your contributions. A special thanks to Les and Kay in Australia. Love you all!!

PREFACE

In October 2000, the crew of Survivor: The Australian Outback (a TV reality program) was flown into Goshen, the adjoining property to Kirrama.

Two rival tribes had been selected from contestants from the United States, all from various backgrounds and professions, both men and women. One tribe was given the name Kuchas (Aborigine for Kangaroos) and the other Ogakors (Aborigine for Crocodiles). The sixteen contestants would be faced with many unsuspected challenges. The site of the Tribal Council where the contestants were voted off each week was situated on Kirrama Station above the Blencoe Falls and the Herbert River Gorge; however, the true survivors of the Australian Outback were those men and women who first settled in that harsh and sometimes deadly land. The first people had settled in the area known as Kirrama Range on February 1, 1896. This property was purchased jointly by H. C. Wilson and E. D. Collins. Collins had married Mary Wilson, and the couple began living there at the time of the purchase. Joint ownership continued until 1909, when Wilson sold his share to Collins. Edgar Collins bought Blencoe, which was the adjoining block, and the total area comprised 140 square miles then known as Kirrama Station. This property carried four thousand head of cattle. During that time, a lot of cattle were speared by Aborigines. There was a tri-monthly police patrol from Herberton (a small town north of the station) because of the Aboriginal problems.

Edgar Collins was born in England in 1868. He was the fourth child of five. He moved to Australia in 1887 for colonial experience. Conditions necessitated the payment of one hundred pounds and three years’ hard work for no salary at all. He arrived in Port Douglas by PNO Co. ship and traveled by coach to Herberton, then rode on horseback to Gunnawarra Station which was located near Mount Garnet. Mary Wilson was born in New South Wales, Australia, in 1876. Her father was manager of Gunnawarra Station in 1888, where her future husband was a jackaroo.

Roy and Maggie (known as Bob) Gunn purchased this property in 1972, from the youngest daughter of Edgar and Mary Collins. Ruth Collins Atkinson Farquhar and her first husband, R. L. Monty Atkinson, had purchased the property from the Collins’ heirs after the death of her parents. Edgar and Mary were buried in a nice grave plot near the homestead on Kirrama Station. Ruth later married Doug Farquhar, and the station was purchased from them by Roy and Bob.

Roy Francis Gunn was born in Llano County, Texas, USA, on April 16, 1902. On December 24, 1925, he was married in Kingsland, Texas, to Maggie Lee Williams, who was born on August 6, 1904. She died at Kirrama Station on June 18, 1974. The couple ranched together for twenty-six years near Georgetown, Texas, before moving to Australia with their children and families to continue ranching on a much larger ranch (cattle station).

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Bob and Roy Gunn 1972

USA TO AUSTRALIA

I suddenly realized, after dashing about for months, that we were halfway around the world, in another country, strange, exciting, and unknown. It was the month of April in 1972, when we arrived at the Sydney International Airport in Australia. I probably appeared to resemble someone between Annie Oakley and Ma Kettle with my arsenal of guns and children, not to mention a saddle. Four of my five children were David, aged fifteen; Jerry, aged twelve; Susan, aged ten; and Stacy, aged seventeen months. Steve, my oldest child, aged sixteen, David, Jerry, and Susan were from my previous marriage.

Steve had remained in Texas to continue his schooling as a draftsman and lived with his father, Harry Sharpe. Stacy was Tate’s only child at that time. I was not aware of what was to follow. I had traveled very little during my thirty-five years and then to only four or five states within the United States. This was our first flight other than small aircraft as my husband, Tate, was a pilot and had been a crop duster for years. I really did not notice the change of time or season as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. Here I was, alone in a foreign country with only four of my children. I knew the seasons were different here down under. Rain, I was told, fell for months at a time or the sun burned on endlessly in an unforgiving sky. I moved forward.

The customs officer smiled as he gazed at me with a curious sense of unreality. He had quickly and very politely informed me of the very strict Australian gun laws and also of anything coming into the country that had been on a ranch or farm due to possibilities of diseases that could be introduced into their country. After a thorough examination of our belongings, he graciously informed me that he would have to relieve me of the guns and saddle. The decision would be made as to what would be allowed, if any, that could be confiscated or possibly sent back to someone in Texas. Guns that we would be allowed to keep would be sent to a gun dealer in the nearest town to our destination. The saddle would be quarantined for a time and then sent to us. The children I could keep! I thanked him and proceeded to find food for the children which was an experience of its own.

What an ordeal, four children aging from seventeen months to fifteen years and having to decide what food to choose from: jaffels, Chiko Rolls, or meat pies. We had never heard of any of them. Drinks were served without ice and no Dr. Pepper. We were all so excited about this new, strange place (strange to us). People talked funny and were hard to understand, even though they also spoke English, especially when they were speaking fast. I can only imagine what we sounded like to them! Everyone was very friendly and helpful during our six-hour layover in Sydney, making a lovely impression on our future Australian home.

We continued our flight to Cairns. We were to be met there by my husband, Tate, and his mother, Bob. Our only layover was in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. I couldn’t rest on this flight with the millions of thoughts racing through my head. I was eager to share these new adventures with my husband, but the concern rising within me was due to my fears of the unknown. A new country, new people, and new customs; and as the time passed I really realized what a different life we had begun. I had left behind the people and dear friends that I had known all of my life, as well as my beloved family. I would severely miss my normal life style and grow to look forward to the unknown adventures of our new life. I do not think I was afraid of being able to make new friends, but of how much I would miss my old ones. The ones I worked with, socialized with, and those whom our children were raised with. One could never replace the other. But most of all, the thoughts of my oldest son, Steve, would be with me constantly as I wondered how he was doing, what he was doing, and how much he would change in the days, months, maybe even years to come. I knew he would be cared for and loved, but I would be so far away.

I tried to stop the emotions rising up in my thoughts and the tears from welling up inside. I tried to imagine what the new life would be like but not really having a clue. When the children were awake, it was easier as my focus was on their needs, fears, and questions, which were many. By the time we arrived in Cairns, our trip had taken forty-two hours from Austin, Texas. We were dazed with fatigue and excitement by the trip, but mostly the anticipation of once again being with family.

Departure from our home in the USA had been as dramatic as our arrival in Australia. The rain was pouring on the day of departure. Our passports with Australian residency visas had not arrived yet. We had been assured of all paperwork being in our hands by the date of our scheduled departure. While last-minute items were being thrown in our luggage, I was still on the telephone with the Australian consulate. I was told someone would meet us at the San Francisco International Airport with all documents. The thought of if not kept entering my mind, possibly minimizing the horrible weather outside. How would they find me? How could they not? Tate and his mother had been in Australia since November of 1971. They had gone ahead to locate and purchase a cattle station or ranch before the rest of the family who would follow at various times.

The children and I were to go first; and Tate’s father, Roy, would leave upon completion of the U.S. transactions. The others would arrive depending on their jobs. My dad’s house was chaotic with anticipation, dread, laughter, tears, and chatter. Everyone was lending a hand in one way or another. My sister-in-law, Leona, was sitting on one of my bags so I could get it closed. My dad, Anderson F. Morris, although wishing me well, was in his eighties and could hardly bear to see us leave. My mother, Mary Lessie Mitchell Morris, had passed away a couple of years before. I was his youngest child and had lived in the same town for thirty-three of my thirty-five years. I reminded him of his earlier days when as a young man in the early 1900s he had left his home in Louisiana and traveled to Texas to start a new life. It had taken him longer at that time to travel by train to Texas from Louisiana