Mount Cootha Memories
Excerpt from Barbara Lovelock's book, Mt Coot-tha Memories.

MOUNT COOTHA: BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (OR ONE TREE HILL) as it was known in those days (about 1920). In our younger days my two sisters, myself and Mum and Dad, lived at Simpsons Road, Mount Cootha, near the present picnic grounds, at the time called "The Dams", now called "The Slaughter Falls". Some of the old dam is now demolished and covered in overgrowth.

There came a great "depression" and the "Swaggies' would come ask for a'billy of tea' or a little flour or salt to make'damper' with. They would offer to chop firewood or do a good deed in return. Wood stoves were all the go.

Our Mum and Dad were both from Birmingham, England. Sadly our lovely Mum died when we were little. Some years on our Dad re-married and we then shifted house to a suburb called Toowong.

Several years later, the Ranger and his wife and family of five moved into our old home at Mount Cootha. They were a great family by the name of Dunn and many a meal and lots of fun was had by us all.

One day a little wizened figure appeared in a shirt too big for him Ð swag, cork hat, billy etc and asked the Ranger's wife if she could oblige him with a billy of hot water etc. In those days the woodstove seemed to smoke all day Ð like an ever-ready torch. It turned out fairy cakes and scones galore without too much ado. As he looked so thin and worn they cut a large lunch with extras. Looking aghast at the starved, skinny apparition before them they knocked back any offers of chopping wood etc. After some time the Swaggie removed his hat and false beard to reveal that she was a very little and dear friend of the Ranger's wife.

What a funny morning, we all had laughed till we ached. These were the antics that kept us all alive and alert. When this same lady had to walk a mile or so to meet her daughters (in the dark) on the old gravel road, she always put on an old felt hat and dressed up as a man. She lived until 103 years of age (Alice Andrews).

If you wish to read the rest of Barbara's story, please contact Sue Wickenden

© Barbara Lovelock.

Material may not be reproduced without permission from the owner.

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