Pat Ritter. Books

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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 12:

We sailed from Fremantle the same day, and arrived at Port Adelaide on the 24th of August. I went through Port Adelaide to Adelaide by train, but the state trains are very slow, ours going nine miles in forty-five minutes. Pleasure broad, clean streets after the filthy streets of the foreign countries.
The ship left port the same day, and arrived at Port Melbourne on the 25th of August. I went to Melbourne by electric train, which was faster than the last train I travelled to view some of its wonderful parks and gardens. Most of the trains are run by electricity, carried by overhead wires.
The city has an excellent supply of tramcars. After two days in Melbourne, and one day’s sailing after leaving Melbourne, we arrived at one of the most wonderful harbours in the world, Sydney Harbour. The entrance is guarded by the Heads, which make the entrance very narrow, thus doing away with break waters.
The harbour stretches inland for about five miles, and in some places three miles wide. The shore formed in bays, usually covered with bushes and trees. We were welcomed by an Y.M.C.A. agent, who looked after our welfare for the next three days. Most of the buildings were ten storeys high, and the streets are typical of London streets. Hyde Park, a Cleopatra’s Needle, and Paddington in the city, similar to London. We sailed from Sydney on the 1st of September, and arrived at our destination, Brisbane, on the 3rd of September.
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'His Life Worth Living' - Page 13:

Chapter 2
Arrival in Brisbane my accommodation a very old building at Kangaroo Point, historical whitewashed inside and out and looked, an Immigration Centre. My first meal midday dinner, corned beef, pumpkin, mashed potatoes. I'd never before eaten pumpkin or salt beef and didn't eat any. Next time food was placed in front of me I overcome my scruples and cleaned my plate.
Two days later I met the Dean of Brisbane on Coronation Drive. A bearded man, overpowering, a look of determination in his eye, sat behind a huge wooden desk. He smoked.
'Where is your four shillings landing money? Your tin trunk was taken off at Sydney. You will pay to have it transhipped to Brisbane. The money will be taken from my wages.' He roared.
I signed papers in triplicate and received a sermon on economy otherwise I wouldn't survive in Australia. I had no money whatsoever for I couldn’t afford one penny to pay the ferry fare across the Brisbane River. Instead I walked from Kangaroo Point to Coronation Drive and back again.
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'The Shearer' - Page 106:
‘G’day mate’, Joe called pleased to see his cobber after a couple of weeks. They shook hands. ‘How did you get on with contacting Spence? I’ll have what he’s having,’ He said to Isabel Gray, known as the Eulo Queen, owner of the hotel, standing behind the bar who he met last time he was in Eulo.
‘Couldn’t reach him mate but I’ve got some better news - take it out of my lot will you Isabel?’ He pointed to the loose change on the bar in front of him. Isabel placed a tumbler of beer in front of Joe Ryan who quickly scooped it up and drank it down in one gulp.
‘Better give me another of these.’ Joe licked his lips to rid the foam. ‘Give my mate here another thanks, Isabel.’ Isabel quickly served both beers and this time Joe Ryan paid. ‘Well, come on I’ve been shearing me arse off for the past couple of weeks and you couldn’t reach him!’
‘Ah…don’t worry, there’s plenty going on up north at Wellshot Station,’ Joe Gibson replied.
‘Where the bloody hell is Wellshot Station?’ Joe asked.
‘South of Ilfracombe. Plenty going on, shearers wouldn’t accept the conditions of the cocky and bloody went on strike.’
‘What a beauty! How did you hear this?’
‘Bush telegraph – good news spreads fast - shearers from all parts marched on Blackall and about six hundred shearers joined in. They started a Queensland Shearer’s Union.’
‘This is great news. Isabel, two more drinks thanks.’ Joe said with a huge smile.
All eyes went to a stranger who entered the bar. His gait straight, clothes soiled, hat pulled over his eyes, ‘Seen him before?’ asked Joe.
‘Never seen him before in my life. Looks like a stranger for these parts.’ Joe Gibson’s eyes followed the stranger as he sat next to where they were seated.
‘G’day.’ Joe Ryan looked at the stranger and put his hand out, ‘I’m Joe Ryan, pleased to meet you.’ The stranger sat silent and looked directly into Joe’s eyes. So this is Joe Ryan, boyfriend of the lass I stole the necklace and ring from. The stranger’s left hand felt for the necklace and ring around his neck and held it firmly.
‘Billy….Billy Wells, pleased to meet you. Joe Ryan was it?’ He shook hands with Joe.
‘This is my mate, Joe Gibson.’ Joe introduced his mate to the stranger who let go of the ring and put his hand out to shake Joe Gibson’s hand. When he leaned across to shake Joe’s hand the necklace and ring swung from the man’s neck. Joe immediately identified his ring and the necklace he’d given to Hannah. Joe jumped to his feet.
‘Where’d you get the ring and necklace?’ Joe roared, grabbing the stranger by the shirt pulling on the necklace and ring. ‘Where did you get this ring?’ His rage was uncontrollable. Holding the stranger with his left hand with a tight grip on the front of the stranger’s shirt, Joe punched the stranger in the face hard with his right fist.
The stranger fell back across a table and chairs landed on the floor. Joe jumped on top of him, punching his face over and over shouting, ‘Where did you get the necklace and ring?’
IMPORTANT NOTICE: I'LL BE AWAY ON VACATION UNTIL 19TH JULY 2016.
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'The Shearer' - Page 113:

Instead of knocking on the front door he opened it and walked through the house to the kitchen. Hannah’s face broke into a smile when Joe entered. ‘Where did you come from?’ she screamed as she jumped from her seat, threw her arms around Joe’s neck and kissed him on the lips. Tears welled in her eyes.
‘Good to see you too, Joe,’ Ma cried. ‘When you’re finished Hannah, I want to say hello.’
Joe released Hannah and moved to Ma swung his arms around her neck and kissed her on the cheek, ‘How are you Ma, I’ve missed both my girls.’
‘What’re you doing here?’ Hannah asked delighted to know he’d come to town.
Joe put his hand into his pocket to retrieve the necklace and ring which he handed to Hannah, ‘It’s a long story.’
Hannah smiled, ‘Where did you get this?’ She screamed, took the necklace and ring and immediately placed it around her neck. ‘I’ll never let anyone take this away from me again.’ She kissed Joe on the mouth. ‘Tell me where you found this?’
‘Last night I was drinking at the Eulo Queen when this stranger came into the bar. I introduced myself to him and started to introduce my friend when I saw the necklace and ring I gave you. I went off my head, knocked him to the ground and would’ve almost killed him if Constable Fitzgerald hadn’t stopped me,’ Joe explained.
‘Was it Billy Wells, the fella who held up the stagecoach?’ Hannah wanted to know.
‘Yeah Constable Fitzgerald and I bought him in this morning. He’s locked up at the police station,’
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'The Shearer' - Page 114:

‘I have some better news. Grandfather and Nana are coming out for Christmas and we’re been invited. Isn’t it great news?’ Hannah shared.
‘What about your Pa. Did he agree I attend?’ Joe asked.
‘Yes, mother sent me a letter to say so.’
‘Sounds like your mother talked him into it.’
‘We’re going, you Ma and me.’ Hannah finished.

Early Christmas morning Joe hired a sulky and hitched his horse to it. He dressed in his Sunday best and even polished his boots, feeling nervous going to Christmas Dinner with Hannah and Ma, particularly not knowing how he was going to cope with Mr Young. ‘Are you both ready?’ He called to Hannah and Ma.
‘Be a minute, just wrapping the last of the Christmas presents,’ Hannah called back. She wanted this Christmas to be the best in her life with the man she loved, her adopted Ma and her parents and grandparents. Nothing could be better.
‘What have you got there, Ma?’ Joe asked, after loading the last of the presents onto the back of the sulky.
‘Never you mind, it’s a surprise. You’ll have to wait and see,’ Ma replied as she climbed on the seat and sat next to Hannah.
Joe climbed into the seat next to Hannah, took the reins and clicked, ‘Giddy up’ to his horse. They were on their way to his future in-laws. His thoughts were crazy to believe Mr Young would allow him to marry his precious daughter and to have Hannah’s grandparents on the property at the same time of their visit. Joe’s stomach churned. He needed to stay calm throughout their visit, play everything by ear, show respect and utmost courtesy toward his elders.
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'The Shearer' - Page 115:

Sighting the sign leading to the property Joe said, ‘not far now.’ Their journey uneventful up to this point. Sun shone brightly with a cool breeze.
‘I’m excited to see Mother and Pa as well as Nana and Grandfather. You’ll love them both when you meet them,’ Hannah said.
‘I hope so,’ Joe muttered, flicking the reins to get the horse to jog a little quicker.
‘There they are!’ Hannah waved. ‘We’re here!’ She called, as a smile spread across her face.
Joe pulled on the reins to stop near the pathway leading to the homestead. Nat and Martha hurried to their visitors. ‘Welcome, Ma, Hannah and Joe to our home. Nice to meet you at last Joe,’ Martha said and helped Ma step down from the sulky whilst Hannah jumped down to wrap her arms around her Pa’s neck and kiss him on the cheek.
‘How are you Pa? Merry Christmas!’ She ran to Nana and her Grandfather ran throwing her arms around them wishing them a Merry Christmas.
‘Let your horse go in the paddock beside the house, Joe, I’ll give you a hand.’ Nat said.
‘Thank you Mr Young; been awhile since I last saw you when I was here shearing earlier in the year.’ Joe put his hand out to shake Mr Young’s hand. ‘Merry Christmas.’
‘Call me Nat. This is my father, he is Mr Young.’ Nat signalled his father to come forward. ‘This here is Hannah’s friend – Joe Ryan.’ Nat said by way of introducing Joe. They shook hands.
‘Pleased to meet you young fellar. Nat tells me you’re quite a shearer.’ Mr Young pronounced.
Joe felt humble to think his future father-in-law would praise his craft of shearing to his own father, ‘I try hard Mr Young.’
‘Try hard, Pop! He was ‘gun’ shearer here this season.’ Nat slapped Joe on the back.
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'The Shearer' - Page 116:

Chapter 15

‘Don’t worry about the mister, call me George. By gee that’s an honour particularly if Nat says so you must be good at your craft.’ George answered.
‘I try hard. Mr Young…ah, I mean, George, Nat watched over me but he almost sacked me on the spot for cutting the belly of one of his sheep.’ Joe said.
‘You were looking at Hannah instead of concentrating on your job,’ Nat explained. ‘Come on let’s get out of this heat and have a beer – you drink beer, don’t you Joe?’ Nat said sarcastically. The three men walked to the homestead veranda, ‘Take a seat. I’ll get some beers.’ Nat walked inside.
‘So you and Hannah are friends. I see a sparkle in my granddaughter’s eye and it looks more than friends,’ George commented.
‘I love her and want to marry her but I’m only a shearer when it’s all said and done. I could never marry above my station in life. I’m hoping to one day.’ Joe told George.
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'The Shearer' - Page 117:

‘Don’t worry about being a shearer. If we didn’t have shearers the wool couldn’t be taken from the sheep. This country is built on the sheep’s back.’ George explained.
‘Get your ing gear around this,’ Nat said handing a cold tumbler of beer each to Joe and his father. ‘Where have you been shearing since you left here Joe?’
‘Almost every property around the district, mainly around Eulo. Now I own a horse I can travel further out maybe as far as Dyvenor Downs.’ Joe explained.
‘A fine animal. How did you come by the horse?’ Nat wanted to know.
‘You heard about the stagecoach robbery?’ Joe said.
‘Yes Hannah was on the stagecoach returning to school. Billy Wells held it up and stole her money, necklace and ring. She told us.’ Nat replied.
Joe went on to tell his story.
‘You’re a bloody hero.’ George said with a smile in his voice.
‘Not quite a hero because I didn’t know who he was at the time only saw the ring and necklace around his neck and thought something terrible happened to Hannah. I saw red!’ Joe explained.
‘How’s this got to do with getting your horse?’ Nat asked, while taking a sip of his beer.
‘Constable Fitzgerald deputised me to help him escort Billy Wells from Eulo to Cunnamulla Police Station the next day. His horse tied on the back of the buggy and he wouldn’t need the horse where he was going so I bought the horse for five quid. Billy signed horse and saddle over to me.’ Joe answered.
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'The Shearer' - Page 118:

‘You’re not only a hero, but a smart bloke too.’ George said. ‘A man after my own heart.’ He smiled and finished his beer, ‘Got another of these Nat? This one didn’t touch the sides.’ George handed Nat an empty tumbler. ‘What about you Joe – want another one?’ Joe handed Nat his empty tumbler and nodded.
‘Dinner’s ready.’ Hannah called from inside, ‘come and get it.’
‘Joe you sit beside me. Pa you’re beside Mother, Grandfather is beside Nana and Ma.’ Hannah directed each one to their seat. Once everyone was seated, Hannah said, ‘I’ll say grace. Dear Lord bless this food of which we are about to partake. God bless the people seated around this table for I love them all, particularly Joe.’ Hannah wiped a tear from her eye. Martha looked at her, nodded and smiled.
‘Will you slice the turkey please dear?’ Martha asked her husband.
‘Why don’t we have Joe slice the turkey? This is his first Christmas with us and hope it won’t be the last.’ Nat handed Joe the carving knife and fork.
‘Thank you.’ Joe sliced the turkey and forked pieces onto each person’s plate. When Nana held her plate for Joe to place a piece of turkey she used her left hand. Hannah stared at her grandmother’s left hand, particularly the back of it. She saw a birth mark in the shape of a heart. Instantly she looked across to Ma whose eyes fastened onto the same mark. Their eyes met.
‘Thank you, Joe.’ Nana said and placed her plate in front of her.
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