Droving through eventful life
Arthur Hanson (above) was a man of many occupations across western and north Queensland before he died at Atherton, aged 84.
LAURENCE ARTHUR HANSON, Drover, shunter, National Serviceman, publican, cook 11-04-1934 — 22-05-2018
ARTHUR Hanson was a man of many occupations across western and north Queensland before his death last month at Atherton aged 84.
Born at Burketown to Olief and Lorry Hanson on April 11, 1934, Arthur’s dad managed Armyranld Station. Brother Kevin was born in 1938.
When Olief and Lorry hit the road droving cattle, the boys stayed with family friends in Cloncurry, droving during school holidays.
Arthur told stories of riding in saddle packs when they were young with only their faces peeking out. While their mother tended to camp duties, they were tied around the waist and tethered to trees, so no harm could come to them.
When the marriage collapsed, his stepfather proved a hard taskmaster. Arthur would be up at 5am to milk 200 goats, clean out pens and deliver milk around Cloncurry before making lunch and going to school.
At 14, he began work as a lad porter at Cloncurry Railway Station, droving with his dad during the holidays. He also started courting sweetheart Margret Mummery.
Arthur was called up for National Service in 1953 at 19, training at Wacol in Brisbane, later returning to Queensland Railways in Mt Isa as a guard.
He married Margret in 1955 and was promoted to shunter and shunter-in-charge at Cloncurry. Their son, Ean Robert, was born on March 7, 1956 and daughter, Desire Joanne, on March 3, 1958.
In 1959, Arthur’s father was injured while droving cows when a horse fell on him. A medical examination also revealed cancer of the spine. Arthur and his brother took on their father’s droving commission and he died shortly before his 60th birthday.
In 1961, Margret bought the lease on the Blue Bird cafe at Cloncurry and Arthur started droving full-time, helping her between droving jobs. When his marriage ended, he managed the station camp at Lawn Hill Station. He went on to manage Neumayer Valley Station, Carsland Station and was head stockman at Coolullah Station and Gleeson Station.
He married Mavis Bauer on June 25, 1977, helping her to run the Gregory Downs Hotel and, later, the Tolga Hotel.
When Mavis died in 2010, Arthur joined Herberton Bowls Club and was president in 2014- 2015. He was presented with the Anniversary of National Service 1951-1972 Medal in 2002 and his photo hangs in the Longreach Stockman’s Hall of Fame, with those of his mother and brother.