Grandpa George

[by Raymond E MacRae 11.06.08]

We didn’t see each other very often but when we did we had a special connection. He knew it and so did I and we enjoyed our time together.

I remember one time he had decided he and I would walk 250 sheep into town to be loaded onto the train and dispatched to Homebush abattoirs in Sydney.

My dad and the rest of the family tried desperately to change his mind, he listened to their advice and explained how he needed to enjoy once more the role of being important and of course Ray needed the experience. Grandpa was near 70 and I was less than 10 and the journey was 12 miles.

Fortunately dad’s best dog Mick and the young ***** Dolly were used to working with me both in the paddock and in the yards so we did have some help. We would take Smokey, dad’s horse, saddled in case I needed to chase leaders and to carry our water and food.

The evening before G/Dad and I had brought in the mob and the family assisted in drafting off the 250 for the sale.

4.30am seemed to be a magic time as dad and G/dad always seemed to be in the kitchen lighting the fire and preparing breakfast at that time. Mum and G/Ma always seemed to be discussing why they had to get out of bed at that time. It doesn’t seem like they ever came to an agreement on this point.

G/Dad came into the room I shared with my brother and gently shook me awake and whispered. Come on our day has started, your breakfast is ready. I climbed out of bed and looked about for my clothes; I put my special walking gear out the night before, but as it was dark and I was not allowed to have a candle I still had to feel my way about. Dressing on my way to the kitchen I could smell the fresh fire in the stove and bacon, coffee and porridge smells which I still associate with those wonderful days.  
We men sat around the large table enjoying the breakfast and dad still trying to get G/Dad to listen.

“Dad you are almost seventy I could come and follow a few furlongs behind in case something happened”.   Gently G/Dad offered,

“Thanks son, but it is something young Ray and I need to do it is a bit like a handover from me to him. Something like you and your G/dad Ewen, you still remember how I wanted to help but my dad wanted to hand over to you. We will be OK”.

We moved off to the yards in the dark. I went and let Mick and Dolly off their chains they jumped up excited and ready for my orders. Dad brought Smokey saddled with my saddle, a water bag, plus a shoulder bag with our food.   The morning was being born, the light was beginning to grow and we could see a little better. The light grew and showed a serrated edge to the east above the hills and then the pines down the lane came in to view. I loved this time of day the dust was settled and the air was fresh and the smell of the land was intoxicating.

Are you going to help?   Came from G/dad.

Yes! I said coming to the present.   One last look at the sunrise and I opened the gate, the 12 mile walk had begun. I was excited and had no thoughts of any problems that might occur on our journey. That G/dad was old and I was young didn’t present a problem for a young mind full of excitement.

Dad walked with us to the boggi gate and let us through we formed up the mob and said good bye.   G/Dad led Smokey while the dogs and I set the mob towards town, we had a head wind so the sheep would walk faster today and I would have to keep an eye on the leaders.

After 30 minutes we had passed through the pines and were out in the open, there was a little grass and the sheep began to eat as they went. We settled down to a slow walk the dogs knew their work.   G’/Dad moved over to where I was walking, he and Smokey joined me.

That log up there, he said, I think we will sit awhile.   Seemed like a good idea, I agreed.

The wind had fallen and the grass was good so the mob moved slowly we had all the time in the world.   See those pine trees over there; he nodded towards a stand of pines in McKenzie’s paddock.

They are still much the same size as they were when I first saw those years ago. They are a slow growing tree but they are white ant resistant, that’s why we use them in flooring. G/dad always had interesting thing to tell me.

We walked on and though G/Dad was in an old body his mind was still young and he told me many things about his life particularly during his youth. I felt my life was tough and difficult but his was tougher and more difficult. He was a bit of a philosopher and quickly added that he lived a better life than his Dad.

We eventually arrived at Lake Cargelligo and walked the sheep up to the railway stock yards where the local rail stock man Jack O’Connor helped us lock the sheep in and provided us feed and water for the overnight stay of our flock.

By this time Dad had arrived in our A model Ford had made Ute to collect G/Dad and take him back to Craig Leigh our home on the land. I rode Smokey and the dogs ran with us, what a day.

G/Dad George and I had many a quiet walk around our 3 properties namely “Craig Leigh”, “Glencoe” and “Glen Roy” on the Lachlan River. We held two other pieces of land one was known as “The Lease” and the other “Priests”. In all about 3500 hectares which included a half a km of river frontage.  G/Dad loved the land in all its terribleness. He explained many times the good and bad of living on the land but always wanted me to love it as he did.