Book reflects on rural family life
THE hard work, humour and love shared by 11 children and their parents form the heart of Merle Johnson’s family memoir.
The Normanton author has faithfully captured what life was like for bush kids from the 1950s to 1970s in ’Leven Little Lonsdales – a story familiar to many rural Queenslanders.
The book begins with the wartime marriage of parents Ned and Doris and their early family life on a dairy farm in the South Burnett region.
The original farmhouse was typical of the time, with no electricity, limited plumbing, chamber pots under the bed and an outhouse up the back.
“Baths were Wednesdays and Saturdays,” Merle recalls.
“The other nights you just washed your feet and face.”
The children hand-milked the dairy herd before breakfast, changed into school clothes and walked barefoot several kilometres to their oneteacher school.
The 11 little Lonsdales created their own fun when their daily chores were done, exploring the farm and building cubbie houses and billy carts.
They held pram races, recruiting younger siblings to the sport: “We had a few busters and they all fell out or tipped over at times, but no harm was done.” With 11 children, the household was never dull.
“The strap was used regularly and sometimes had the desired result,” Merle says.
Merle recalls that when her mother was stressed, she either yelled at her children or baked biscuits. “She was quite capable of yelling and baking at the same time and we always had plenty of homemade biscuits.”
While times were tough, Ned and Doris ensured there was always enough food on the table. The Sunday roast was followed by rice pudding, tapioca or baked custard.
Some of the family favourites are listed in the book
Education was very important to Ned and Doris and they made many sacrifices to help their children get the best schooling available.
“We were encouraged to do our best and make the most of our opportunities,” Merle says.
Ned and his sons went on to build a state-wide reputation as resourceful mechanics, technicians and master builders who could fix anything with their bush ingenuity and strong work ethic.
Merle doesn’t hide the stressful side of remote living when medical care was limited. There are heartbreaking times when one of the boys is killed in a motorbike accident and six brothers carry his casket from the church.
’Leven Little Lonsdales costs $25 and pick-up can be arranged in Cairns. Email floydandmerle@bigpond.com or call 0409 053 122.
Merle will also introduce her book at Carpentaria Shire at Normanton at 3pm today.