Daniella - Until We Meet Again

By Sharon Elliott

Book 2 in the Mulga Station Series

Daniella – Until We Meet Again
In Book 2 of this series, we meet Mercy’s granddaughter, Daniella, growing up at Mulga Station with her cousin, Ellen. She follows her grandmother into nursing and while working at Broken Hill, she meets a young doctor.
Daniella and Ellen are stationed in the Northern Territory during WWII, and despite the hardships of war, the girls find love. Then, as the War is about to end, the family is devastated by the death of one of their own in New Guinea.
After the war, Daniella takes her fiancé home to Mulga Station. Through him, Mercy discovers an amazing link to her past and a long overdue reunion is celebrated.
Meanwhile, Mercy’s husband, Gerard finally finds closure as his father’s identity is revealed

Ebook ISBN 978-0-6458617-5-4
Print ISBN 978-0-6458615-5-6

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sharon Elliott
• Release date: Jan 7, 2024
• ISBN: 9780645861754

Sharon Elliott

About Author After the death of two loved ones in 2017, I began my writing journey with my mother's story which I called Rose – The Last Straw under the pen name Jaime Wren and published through a hybrid publisher called Tellwell Publishing. Following a steep learning curve, I now have a collection of eBooks and print novels under my name: Sharon Elliott, which I have written, designed the covers for, and self-published. I grew up in Sydney, Australia and country NSW then worked in Sydney before moving to the Riverina, then Nambucca Heads on the mid north coast of NSW. I now live in sunny Queensland with my fur family and continue to write. You can follow me on my Facebook Page: Sharon Elliott Author, Instagram; Shazzell4, Pininterest:  Shazza's Books. my Payhip store: SHARONELLIOTTEBOOKSTORE Amazon.com.au Lulu.com bookstore, apple books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, scribd Draft2Digital: Smashwords, Vivlio, Tolino, Gardener, Everand, Borrowbox Australian National Library and State Libraries

Book preview

Book 2 in the Mulga Station Series

Daniella

Until We Meet Again

By

Sharon Elliott

Dedication

Kathy and Bob

Disclaimer

This novel is a work of fiction with fictional characters. Some historical content has been used and sources acknowledged and at times quoted or adapted. Any similarity to real people and any errors in facts are unintended. Nothing in this novel is meant to offend anyone.

As far as I can tell there was no boarding school in Orange, NSW in the 1920s and 30s so the information relating to such is not based on historical fact.

Cover Photo: 131613267 © Andose24 | Dreamstime.com

Printer: Clark & Mackay (Brisbane)

Copyright © 2023 Sharon Elliott

All rights reserved.

Ebook ISBN 978-0-6458617-5-4

Print ISBN 978-0-6458615-5-6

Character connections in this book:

Mercy

Husband, Andrew

Parents, Peter and Susanne. Sister, Amelia. Son, Stephen

Amelia

Husband, Chris Brooks. Children, Peter, Sally, Robert

Barb

Husband, Brian. Children, Oliver and Beverly*

2nd Generation:

Stephen

Wife, Kathleen. Children, Daniella and Drew

Peter

Wife, Matilda. Child, Neil

Sally

Husband, Bill. Child, Pearl

Pearl marries Peter Wilson

Robert

Wife, Beverley* Children, Ellen, Greg and Ian

Ellen marries Paul West

Oliver

Wife, Imelda.  Twin Children Leo and Lucas

Beverley (as per Robert)

Michael’s family. Mother Beth, Father Harry

Twin sisters Emily and Rosemary and brother, Cliff.

Table of Contents

1945

Daniella

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Nursing

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Broken Hill

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Pearl

Chapter 12

WWII

Chapter 13

Enlistments

Australian Army Medical Corp (AAMC)

2/17th Battalion

Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS)

Middle East

Northern Territory

Chapter 14

Daniella, Darwin 119th AGH

Ellen, 119th Berrimah

Twins, 2/1st AHS Manunda

New Guinea

Chapter 15

2/9th Australian General Hospital

Homecoming

Chapter 16

Peter

Chapter 17

2/25th Brigade

Peter, Kokoda

Pearl’s Marriage

Chapter 18

Michael

Chapter 19

Epilogue

1945

The couple were having lunch when the dogs started barking as a vehicle approached the house.

They both stood up, scaping their chairs along the timber floor, and bustled to the door. Upon seeing the visitor and the document in his hand the wife gripped her husband's forearm, Tell him to go away. I don't want his damned telegram.

The man took off his hat and extended the document. The husband reluctantly reached out his shaking hand to receive it.

The messenger turned and walked back down the porch stairs, placing his hat back on his head. The couple watched him leave and turned their attention to the telegram they did not want to read.

Come and sit down, Love. He led his wife to the couch. Her eyes were already moist from tears of anticipation of bad news.

Once seated he opened the telegram and his eyes traced the words on the page. It was from the Australian Infantry Force.

The wife watched her husband’s face loose its colour as he read the contents. Nooo, it’s bad isn’t it

Yes Love, will I read it to you? His hands were shaking.

If you must, but I want it to go away.

I do too, Love.

Go ahead.

His voice quivered, We regret to inform you he stumbled, that your son ...

Oh noooooo!!! heart wrenching sobs escaped as she collapsed against him.

He continued, has died..., again he paused to clear his rising emotions and inhaled a deep breath, as a result of his injuries sustained in the defence of his country in New Guinea on 2 February 1945.

Once read he carefully refolded the telegram and placed it in his pocket then cradled his sobbing wife in his arms and rocked while stroking her hair.

Why? Why him and why now when the damned war is nearly over! It is not fair!

I know, Love. It is not fair.

Daniella

Chapter 1

Looking back on her childhood Daniella only had happy memories of growing up at her home Kalare Flat with her parents, Stephen and Kathleen and her younger brother, Drew.

Her grandmother, Mercy, met her husband, Gerard when she first came to Australia on his ship in 1893. Seven months after she arrived, she gave birth to Stephen. His father, Andrew, remained in England where he later died. Andrew was Gerard’s unknown brother which explained Stephen's resemblance to Gerard. They also discovered Barb was Gerard's sister. Gerard said she looked like their mother and all siblings had a birthmark in the same place.

Daniella did not meet her own father or grandmother until after the end of WWI, as they were away when she was born. Daniella’s grandmother, Mercy returned with her fiancé, Gerard and Daniella and Ellen were flower girls to their marriage in 1919. Daniella believed her grandparents lived an exotic life travelling by sea around the world as her grandfather, Gerard was a sea captain. Her grandmother always sent home beautiful presents from far off places.

Ellen, her best friend since forever, was born to Robert and Beverley the same month as Daniella, then Ellen's brother Greg was born at the same time as Drew after the war. Greg was named after his uncle who died and then Ian was born in 1927. They lived at Spinifex Run one of three of the Mulga Station homesteads. Beverley's mother, Barb was Mercy’s best friend which was how Ellen’s parents met. Ellen did not meet her father or grandmother, Barb, until after the war either. Both fathers were best mates and Ellen lived nearby.

When Mercy arrived in Australia, she met Barb in Sydney then they travelled west together. Mercy finally reunited with her sister, Amelia at Mulga Station where she stayed and raised Stephen, Daniella's father.

The Brooks family have lived at Mulga Station since the 1840s. Mercy’s sister, Amelia married Christopher Brooks. Greg Brooks (senior), Chris' brother, built Ellen's home at Spinifex Run. Daniella's father bought land from Mulga Station to build Kalare Flat, Daniella's home.

On 25th April 1920 Daniella and Ellen’s fathers dressed in their Army uniforms and spent the day at Lake Cargelligo, leaving home before the girls were even out of bed. Stephen and Robert did this once a year for as long as Daniella could remember and since returning from the war.

Trying to leave the war years behind them, Stephen and Robert settled back into property life with their families and took pleasure in watching their young daughters and infant sons grow. Daniella remembered how shy she was when she met her father and then how much time he spent with her playing, reading her stories and teaching her things. She often sat tall on his shoulders as he walked around the property and he tucked her into bed of a night.

*

A couple of years after their marriage in 1919, Mercy and Gerard returned to the sea.

Daniella, I have a letter from your grandmother. Go get your father so we can read it. Her mother, Kathleen said.

Daniella ran outside. Poppa, Poppa, quick, come into the house. We have a letter from Grandma. She grabbed his hand and started for the house.

Hold on there, Dani. Just let me take the saddle off the horse and I will come with you.

Can't you come now?

How would you like to be a horse that has been ridden for hours in the heat left with a heavy saddle on its back when all it wants is a rest, a drink and feed?

I couldn't wear a saddle, Poppa; they are too heavy. Stephen placed the saddle on a hay bale and put the horse in its stall to rest.

Okay Dani I am all yours. Let’s go see what Grandma has to say.

Kathleen set the table with a jug of cold lemonade and some sandwiches for when her husband and daughter came inside. When they were all settled at the table, she read the letter.

"Dear All,

I am writing from Tahiti, well before Christmas and Daniella's birthday so you receive the letter in time.

We are currently at a tropical group of islands between America and Australia. The weather is very humid and there are afternoon storms, sometimes severe, and the tide goes out a long way. The water colour is like no other with palm trees and white sandy beaches. The native people are lovely and wear colourful clothing and live in huts. They live an uncomplicated life.

We are unable to make it home for Christmas and we wish Daniella and Ellen a very happy fifth birthday. I am posting a parcel which you should receive close to this letter.

So, Merry Christmas and much love to you all.

Mercy and Gerard"

Grandma is sending me a present! Yippee!!!

It's a shame they won't be home for Christmas.

Chapter 2

A week before Christmas Daniella and Ellen celebrated their 5th birthday with a joint party. All the families attended and the girls were swamped with presents which they compared and shared.

Kathleen gave the girls Mercy's presents and their little eyes grew wide and their mouth’s formed a perfect O when they lifted out dolls made on the islands.

Look what Grandma sent. Aren’t they beautiful.

Yes, they are lovely presents.

Are you girls ready for your birthday cakes?

Their mothers walked out each carrying a cake with five lit candles on them.

It's time to blow out the candles. Take a big breath.

The girls inhaled filling their lungs and their cheeks then a stream of air whooshed from their mouths as they blew out the candles then everyone sang Happy Birthday.

Now for the best presents from your Mummies and Daddies. Close your eyes and come outside. The girls were led out to the verandah.

Now open your eyes.

Squeals of delight erupted from Daniella and Ellen. A pony! Look we have ponies!

They ran from the verandah to the two horses and patted their noses. The ponies were saddled so the girls were lifted onto the ponies for a ride, led by Stephen and Robert.

What are you going to name your ponies?

Daniella put her finger to her mouth and her brows crunched. I am going to call mine Dancer after one of Santa's reindeers.

I am going to call mine Prancer. Ellen said.

The girls were having a break from their schooling over Christmas and spent a great deal of time with their ponies. Over the following months their fathers taught them how to care for the ponies and showed them how they saddled the horses. At five they were way to young to be lifting the saddles. They learnt to ride as the horses walked and later a trot and a run and they were shown how to get the horse to go and stop before they were allowed to ride on their own in the enclosure.

The girls were being home schooled by Peter's wife, Matilda with their son, Neil.

Can I ride my pony over to Mulga Station, Mumma?

No. You need to stay close to home while you are learning.

Can't Poppa ride over with me?

Not yet.

Anzac Day 25 April 1921 soon approached and their fathers again dressed in their uniforms and attended the dawn service and gathering afterwards. A yearly tradition to remember their fallen mates, not that they didn’t remember them at other times as the war years were hard to shake from their memories.

Daniella slept in that morning. Where's Poppa? Mummy? She asked while she was eating breakfast and her mother fed Drew, her brother.

He went into town in his uniform because it is ANZAC Day. You remember what ANZAC Day is Dani?

Yes, Mumma. It's when Poppa and Ellen's poppa put on their war uniforms to watch the sun come up and then they have a meal with other men in their uniforms.

That is right, Honey.

Poppa talks funny when he comes home on ANZAC Day.

That's because the men drink a little bit too much beer but he doesn't do that very much.

Poppa is funny when he drinks beer.

He is, isn't he. Kathleen laughed.

Ellen said her Poppa talks funny too.

The families often received post cards from Mercy from the most amazing places they visited and they loved their life on the sea. Mercy always remembered family birthdays and sent interesting gifts from foreign countries.

Barb, Mercy’s best friend, lived at Wisteria Grove, in Orange with her husband, Brian and son Oliver and his family, but regularly visited her daughter Beverley at Spinifex Run. Ellen looked forward to visits from her grandmother.

Barb’s son Oliver and his wife ran their property, and Sally, Robert’s sister, lived next door with husband Bill, their daughter, Pearl and Bill’s parents.

Later in 1923, Daniella was eight, and on this day, she rode out to the letterbox to check for mail then she raced her pony back and ran inside the house.

There's a letter from Grandma, Mumma.

Go get your father, he isn't too far away from the house today, and tell him lunch is ready. ... and don't forget to wear your hat!

Daniella raced outside putting her hat on her head and looked in the barn. Her father wasn't there so she checked the paddocks and saw him in the distance.

She got back on Dancer and rode out to him.

Poppa, Grandma has written a letter and Mumma said to come in for lunch. Stephen wiped the sweat from his brow and put down the tools he was using to mend a fence and climbed into the buggy.

Giddy up, he called and Daniella rode Dancer beside him back to the barn where the horses could stay cool. Father and daughter walked across to the house.

Wash your hands and sit down, lunch is ready, Kathleen said.

What does Grandma's letter say!

Eat your lunch and I will read it to you, Dani.

Kathleen opened the letter.

"Dear All,

We hope you are keeping well.

We have good news. We are very excited as we will be home for Christmas and can finally see you all again. It seems so long and we have been to many places.

Gerard and I are both well and look forward to seeing you in the near future.

Love you all Mercy and Gerard."

Daniella leaped to her feet jumping up and down beside her mother, when will they arrive, Mumma?

She hasn’t said when, but probably the middle of December in time for your birthday, I am sure.

Can I go tell Ellen?

Kathleen laughed at her daughter’s excitement. How about you and I and your brother take the buggy over to Ellen's place for a visit?

"Yes! When can we leave?

After we finish lunch. Do you mind riding a horse out to finish your work on the fences, Love?

No, not at all. Have a good time. Stephen ruffled his son and daughter's hair and kissed his wife before going back out to work.

Daniella, go get your hat before we leave.

They took the carriage over to Spinifex Run and Ellen ran outside to meet them.

Mumma, Mumma, Daniella is here with her Mumma and baby Drew.

Beverley walked out to the verandah wiping