At a Kimberley Cattle Muster
A Western Australian story.9 total reviews
Comment from JudyE
Loved this and it's very authentic. I know it's really hard work in those regions in the heat and the dust. Unfortunately, I never spend time as a jillaroo but I doubt I would have stuck it. I did spend the last term of a school year just north of Carnarvon as a governess and helped with mustering over shearing. Sheep are a bit tame compared to cattle. It's another world on the stations.
reply by the author on 25-Aug-2019
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Loved this and it's very authentic. I know it's really hard work in those regions in the heat and the dust. Unfortunately, I never spend time as a jillaroo but I doubt I would have stuck it. I did spend the last term of a school year just north of Carnarvon as a governess and helped with mustering over shearing. Sheep are a bit tame compared to cattle. It's another world on the stations.
Comment Written 25-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 25-Aug-2019
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Your governess time would have been interesting. Those poor sheep with their woolly jumpers on in the heat up Carnarvon way.
I had this cattle station experience when I was on my motorcycling trip around Australia 10 years ago - I was 55 that year so the cattle yarding was fairly challenging. I'm a tough nut.
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Wow, I'm even more impressed. You must be a really tough nut!! lol
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Still pretty agile. I'm tall and still strong after a lifetime of sport - hockey, squash, mountainbiking.
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That's great. Good for you. :) I keep telling my husband he needs to learn how to use the washing machine as I keep hearing of people dying who are all around my age! lol I'm three months older than he is. However, he has 8 tablets a day to my zero so perhaps I shouldn't be too worried. lol
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I'm not a pill popper either. You must be a healthy type - and your husband might be at the mercy of an overprescribing doctor?
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It must be in the genes. Mum lived to 104 and Dad to late 80s. I hear what you're saying about the doctor but he is actually a very caring man - one of the older style 'family doctor' types. Type 2 diabetes accounts for a couple of the pills and a much stricter diet might get rid of those but Vince isn't prepared to make the 'sacrifice' lol His readings aren't bad and are being kept at a safe level.
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That's reassuring on the longevity genes, and about having a good older-style doctor.
104 is a good target to aim for.
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Something a bit less will do me. Mum never got dementia, thankfully, but the last twelve months were a trial for her.
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Aim at the round century then.
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written story about a girl who can be a cow girl that can tell a western story just like any cowboy, the work on a range don't separate women and men and both work equally hard,
reply by the author on 24-Aug-2019
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A very well-written story about a girl who can be a cow girl that can tell a western story just like any cowboy, the work on a range don't separate women and men and both work equally hard,
Comment Written 24-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 24-Aug-2019
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Thanks for your review - some places are great equalizers of effort with hard work for everyone. No place for complainers or shirkers.
Comment from Rosemary Everson1
Such a dramatic poem. Love the scenario about the bull, although you sound pretty tough as a cowgirl. They can become mean. We had a bull that chased my dad; dad crawled under the fence. It sounds like this one was mean and liked fences, too. Great wording.
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Such a dramatic poem. Love the scenario about the bull, although you sound pretty tough as a cowgirl. They can become mean. We had a bull that chased my dad; dad crawled under the fence. It sounds like this one was mean and liked fences, too. Great wording.
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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I was actually a quivering wreck... not used to big animals so close. I was a 'townie' looking for a rural experience. I sure found it! I think I'd get grumpy too if I was rounded up and put in a pen, about to get branded. I hope your dad didn't get gored.
Comment from Janice Canerdy
This skillfully-written poem is exciting and informative. You have made excellent use of specific details to tell the story of the brave, scrappy Australian girl (you)?
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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This skillfully-written poem is exciting and informative. You have made excellent use of specific details to tell the story of the brave, scrappy Australian girl (you)?
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Thanks for reviewing. Yep, that was me - and I wasn't such a girl at the time either! It was 10 years ago and I was 55, travelling around Australia on a motorbike.
Comment from humpwhistle
And tell a fine story, you did. I'm guessing 'muster' is the same as 'round-up' here in the States.
A grueling business for any gender.
I enjoyed this very much.
Best of luck.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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And tell a fine story, you did. I'm guessing 'muster' is the same as 'round-up' here in the States.
A grueling business for any gender.
I enjoyed this very much.
Best of luck.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Thanks for your comments, Lee. I added 'muster' to author's notes. I did not realise it was a specific Aussie/NZ word.
Comment from Susan X Smith
As they say, even cowgirls get the blues. I have never been to Australia, but would love to go. I do have friends there but they're in the city, away from all the action you described. Good job!
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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As they say, even cowgirls get the blues. I have never been to Australia, but would love to go. I do have friends there but they're in the city, away from all the action you described. Good job!
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Thanks for your review... yes, even cowgirls get BLACK and blue. I got quite bruised from the hard work involved with the cattle.
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Yes, Cowgirls certainly can! (almost sounds like 'yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause!'). You've got a really great offering here for this contest -- such a wonderful story! And I learned a thing or two along the way - cool! ;) Thanx for sharing and best of luck at the polls!
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Yes, Cowgirls certainly can! (almost sounds like 'yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause!'). You've got a really great offering here for this contest -- such a wonderful story! And I learned a thing or two along the way - cool! ;) Thanx for sharing and best of luck at the polls!
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Thanks for your comments, Yvette. I added more to my author notes because Lee pointed out that 'muster' is not the usual word. I did not realise it was an Aussie word. So you might learn even more now!
Comment from Mystic Angel 7777
This meets the contest requirements splendidly as it delivers a well rhymed poem about cowboys - even if they are Aussies LOL. I thought your approach refreshing and clever as it seems every time one of these is posted - it becomes less about the poetry nd more about a lesson in historical western figures. Good luck in the voting and thank you very much for sharing it.
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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This meets the contest requirements splendidly as it delivers a well rhymed poem about cowboys - even if they are Aussies LOL. I thought your approach refreshing and clever as it seems every time one of these is posted - it becomes less about the poetry nd more about a lesson in historical western figures. Good luck in the voting and thank you very much for sharing it.
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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I noticed the same thing about getting the history lesson in historical western figures - also I thought it was time a woman told the story. Thanks for your review.
Comment from dragonpoet
This is a story of determination to do the job you took on. It was hard and painful work but you prevailed. I think you showed intelligence by getting out of that bull's way. Did they ever catch him and pen him again?
I knew the word station from reading the book, 'Thornbirds' and
watch the TV miniseries made from the book.
Good luck and keep writing
dp
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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This is a story of determination to do the job you took on. It was hard and painful work but you prevailed. I think you showed intelligence by getting out of that bull's way. Did they ever catch him and pen him again?
I knew the word station from reading the book, 'Thornbirds' and
watch the TV miniseries made from the book.
Good luck and keep writing
dp
Comment Written 23-Aug-2019
reply by the author on 23-Aug-2019
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Thanks for reviewing!
That mean big old bull got rounded up again, but it took a truck to bunt him back into the pen. He hadn't been in a muster for 5 years apparently, and didn't take kindly to it.
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No problem.
Joan
