TELLEBANG
Memories
Goolga Q.D.O. - 50 Years 1946 - 1996
Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation
A booklet was produced in 1996 celebrating 50 years of the Goolga QDO.
The following is the first entry in the book, after the Foreword by Col List, Secretary.
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EARLY DAYS OF GOOLGA - "Halfway to Nowhere" ​by Peter Otto
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In 1946, Alan Cockerel and Cecil Keen (Mel's father) came out to Ted Keyworth's residence to start a branch of the Queensland Dairymen's Organisation. Many locals came, and that was the beginning of the Goolga branch. Ted suggested the name. I understand that "Goolga' is an Aboriginal word meaning "halfway". Ted said, "We're halfway to everywhere - or are we in the middle of nowhere!
Remember that old saying, "Sydney or the bush?" We chose the bush - "Home among the gum trees with lots of plum trees". In our case, it was among the brigalows and soft-wood scrub! After many years of scrub-felling with the axe, I won the woodchop at Monto Show in 1938. Eventually, I built a "nest" and married that "bird", Crissie and we lived happily ever after!
Ted was our first President. He suggested that all of us take turns to be president, and most of us did, doing two-year terms. I think this is what made our branch such a success - lasting 50 years! I was president twice and some others were, too. We were very fortunate that Norm Keyworth was willing to be Secretary - an office few people are willing to accept. He was an excellent secretary for many years, and went to district conferences many times. I went seven times as delegate. We had many other local committees and I was on our School Committee, Tellebang Sports Committee and the Bush Fire Brigade - to name a few. In the army, I was sent to New Guinea and saw action in Bougainville. Life was very horrifying in the trenches, at times half-filled with mud and water, with Jap shells lobbing all around. After I returned home the QDO was started in 1946. About the middle of the 1946 drought, dams were drying up. We decided to ask the government for army water trucks to cart water for stock. Many farmers in our area got one. We needed a forty-four gallon drum of petrol on board as we got only five miles to the gallon! About 1952, while holidaying at Hervey Bay, I visited a relation farming nearby who was using molasses to mix with the dry fodder for his animals. He got it from the Maryborough Sugar Mill. On my return home, I suggested to our QDO that we purchase some molasses. We learned we had to order a railway truck load. Because other farmers, besides us in the QDO, wanted some too, we ended up ordering three truck loads in forty-four drums! A PCD director heard of this, and suggested that PCD do the same. PCD got the molasses in bulk to supply to farmers, who took their drums to be filled in Monto.
However, I came to Kapaldo long before we started QDO. Just before my 13th birthday, with a few belongings in a sugar bag, I left Woowonga and walked into Biggenden, five miles, and spent the night with Mick Sheen who was a boot maker. Next morning the train was late and I chopped wood at the pub till Mrs Baulch called to Mick, "Bring the boy in for breakfast too". Then off I went on the goods train to join my brothers Pat and Joe, at Kapaldo.
Baulch Commercial Hotel
​Our camp on our farm was five miles from the siding, and it was often my job to ride our bike to get bread, meat, mail, etc from the train. I remember one day I was so hungry that I ate part of a loaf on my way home along the narrow, rough road, flanked by tall trees, mostly brigalows. On the carrier, front handlebars and my back I carried about ten tin loaves, and the meat, in sugar bags.
Pat and Joe had bought a "Mystery" Overland Utility at Biggenden, having only half a windscreen, for £30 ($60) - ten pounds down and five pounds a month for four months - from Harry Proctor. We often had it overloaded going to dances in homes or barns.
In wet weather, roads got very wet and boggy, so we had to use grip-chains on the wheels of our Overland to drive anywhere. One Monto Show, about 1933, we got up at 3a.m. to muster the cows. It was hard to find them in the dark. We were milking by hand, and had to wait till daybreak to find the stragglers. We went to the Show and stayed for the Ball - and had a great time. After starting for home, the ute slipped into a bog-hole on the slippery wet road. We tried, with great difficulty, to put the chains on, and with much pushing and shoving and heaving - in our suits! - we at last got home, covered with mud, at 4a.m.
​In 1937 we bought an International truck and a W.12 McCormack-Deering tractor, both of which made a great improvement on our farm.
W12 McCormick-Deering tractor 1930
Grande Hotel & Comet Snack Bar, Newton St, Monto ca 1920/1930
Opening of railway line from Many Peaks to Monto
​The railway line ran from Maryborough to Monto, but in 1931 the line from Many Peaks reached Monto. On 4th July, when this line was officially opened, three trains came from Maryborough and three from Gladstone and Rockhampton. We started in the old Overland - thirteen of us which was too many. So three of us got off at Kapaldo Siding to go on a train. It was packed! The guard put us in the guards van. We were told there were one thousand on this train. That day, Johnnie Walters in the Grand Hotel served one thousand dinners - give or take a few - at two bob (20c). There were also two other pubs and two cafes.
Nothing was built where the Post Office, Shire Hall and doctor's residence are now, and a chap with a plane was giving joy-rides at ten bob ($1) for ten minutes. What a thrill for those early pioneers! It was a very exciting day! I think I haven't seen a bigger crowd in Monto since. Besides trains and cars, there were horses and bikes everywhere, and many people walked. ​During the Depression, many men came looking for work. One city chap asked for a job and was with us for a while. One morning I woke him very early, still dark, to get the cows in. He said, "Why do you have to sneak on them in the dark? Are they wild!" In those days, we had to milk, and separate, by hand, sending the cream to the Monto factory, and feeding the skim milk to the calves. So I told this chap to get the calves in. He was quite a while, and when he came, he was a lather of sweat, puffing and blowing. We asked if he had trouble, and he answered, "Oh no, it was all right except for that brown one", and when I looked, he had brought in a wallaby too! Another time, we had a chap working for us on our top block, three miles away, fencing, and I was carting the posts to him. At lunch time he offered me a cup of tea. He said "I am just about out of food. I've only got dry bread and tea." So we had some in his tent. He asked me if I'd like some pudding, and when I said I would, he grinned and said, "Dip your bread in your tea!" Soon after war broke out, some things were rationed, such as clothes, tea, sugar, butter and petrol. We mixed power kerosene, or Shellite, with our petrol to make it go further. We also had to have blackout covers on the headlights, leaving only a narrow horizontal slit for a little light to come out. So it was hard to see what might be on the road. One night we didn't see a beast on the side of the road and Joe ran over it and killed it. What a bump! When we went to town, 32 km away we took the covers off until near Monto, and put them on. After we left town we removed the covers and put the glass in.
Most of the children went to their one-teacher school and many of them had long distances to go - to walk, ride a bike or on a horse At Kapaldo school where Cris was Head Teacher, several children rode horses. One slow-plodding, reluctant horse carried three children on its back, arriving half an hour late regularly, but when homeward-bound, it covered the long journey home quite briskly, the kids holding on tightly.
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Kapaldo School 1942
The Goolga children had a long way to go to school, so the parents asked the Department to build a school or consider running a bus. An inspector came, and decided to run a bus, to be owned by the driver who would be paid so much per mile, depending on the size of the vehicle. The first State School bus to run in Queensland was this one to Tellebang State School. The school buildings at Langley and Glenloch were moved to join the Tellebang School, and it became a three teacher school. The schools at Kapaldo and Selene were sold for removal. Later Moorooka (Splinter Creek) and Old and New Cannindah schools were closed. At one time, four buses ran to Tellebang. Of course, they did not resemble buses at all, but were cars, or utilities and trucks, canvas-covered with wooden seats. Milton Sallaway who had been a previous teacher for a long time had built his own house when he married. Single teachers boarded with local people. When Milton was transferred, the Department refused to buy the house as a teacher's residence, so he rented it to the next head-teacher. It was later bought by a local person who moved it to the farm next door to Col List. Fond memories of these early days are often recalled - among them our QDO Christmas parties. They were usually held, in turns, at our homes. When our children were young, all parents took gifts for their own, labelled, and put them on, or under the tree while the kids were entertained. A maximum cost was given, thus keeping all the "presents from Santa" much the same value. What a great Santa Harry Cain was! Year after year, he arrived throwing sweets to our excited children.
There are other memories too - bush fires, droughts, tragedies! But these really brought us all close together, helping where we could, caring for one another and forming life-long friendships. Fifty years is a long time!
THE OTTO FAMILY by Joe Otto
​Goolga Q.D.O. 50 Years - 1946 - 1996
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We selected our blocks of land in 1929. After clearing some of the land by chopping scrub with brush-hook and axe in 1929, 1930 and 1931, planting grass, making dams for water and doing some fencing, we bought some cows and started dairying in 1932. About that time the Depression was on and the price of butter went down to 6d per lb. We got 6d per lb for our butter right from the start. It was impossible to produce butter at that price, but we kept going.
​As the years passed we gradually cleared more land and milked up to 120 cows by hand. About 1938 we got milking machines.
As we carried on we had some good seasons, but a lot of dry seasons and droughts - 1946, 1951, 1957, 1969 and 1970. We were 43 years on that farm. We sold out in 1973.
I remember Goolga QDO starting. Peter and I joined from the start. Peter attended the meetings more often than I did. We used to have our mid-winter and Christmas parties every year.
​DID YOU KNOW
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(The following was taken from the last page in the Goolga QDO 50 Year Booklet - the author is not mentioned)
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Did you know that dairy cows don't give milk - you have to take it from them.
The dairy cow is an ingenious arrangement for turning grass into butterfat and whey. This whey should not be confused with the stop sign for horses. They consist of a north end, chassis, and south end. The north end is used to open gates, break fences, scare city people and is the fodder intake end; it has attached to it a set of handlebars. The south end has a communication card attached. This card is elevated periodically to allow Canberra propaganda to pass through.
The chassis has one leg at each corner. This allows a panoramic view of the landscape and lets the cow meander about.
On the end of the communication card is a fly-chaser, this is also used to flick dirt into the farmer's eye at milking time.
Milking is a recreation for the cow and the opposite for the farmer. Under the chassis is a receptacle called the udder, which has four compartments. The contents of one compartment goes to the milk board, one goes to the bank, one goes to the government and one goes to the farmer.
One compartment may become defective due to an inflammatory condition called mastitis. This compartment is always the one that goes to the farmer.
Some cows will pay and some won't. Just ask the local shopkeeper.
'Mountain View', Tellebang, with Martha Otto standing at the door
Land Selection AF 1319 - Harold James (Pat) Otto - Transferred to Rudolph (Peter) Otto
(Under The Land Acts 1910 to 1929 and the Upper Burnett and Callide Land Settlement Acts 1923 to 1929)
In approximately August 1929 Pat selected Portion 30 in the County of Yarrol, Parish of Tellebang.
On 16 Jan 1930 he applied to add Portion 28, which was approved.
On 27 Sep 1930 Pat officially submitted an Application to Select Agricultural Farm No 1319 being Portions 28 and 30 having a total area of 572 acres two roods. The first year's rent (including five shillings Lease duty) was Sixteen pounds two shillings and sixpence. Pat was 19 years of age. Licence to occupy was subsequently approved.
​On 9 Jan 1931 a Special Licence was issued allowing him to reside on AF1243 (selected by his brother, Edgar), however, on 28 Jan 1931 the Special Licence was amended to state the intention to reside on AF1319.
In 1931 the property was subject to a Mortgage to the Agricultural Bank.
In 1935 there were numerous communications in regard to the 'Water Facility' condition not being complied with as there was no natural or artificial water supply on the property. It appears from documents that the water condition was met with and a Lease to occupy AF1319 was granted.
On 13 Nov 1943 Pat married Mary Wilton (nee Reddacliff). In October 1944 it appears there was a transfer of Leases from Reddacliff to Otto. The Leases are described as PLS 821 and 1111 (Perpetual Lease Selection) and PCL272 (Perpetual Country Lease). The document reads:
"I have to inform you a transfer of the above selections and of Mrs Reddacliff's interest in PCL272 to James H. Otto and his wife will be allowed if lodged in order." Signed "Secretary" and addressed to M.W. Cooper Esq, Solicitor, Monto.
Transfer of AF 1319 to Rudolph (Peter) Otto
On 27 April 1945 M.W. Cooper, Solicitor wrote to The Secretary, Land Administration Board seeking consent to a Transfer of AF 1319 from JH Otto to R Otto. The arrangement appears to be transfer of Lease (with no livestock, goods, chattels or effects) for an amount of £1,600.0.0. A deposit of £200.0.0 was to be paid, with the balance being £786.0.0 as it appears an amount of £614.0.0 was owing to the Agricultural Bank. There is, however, reference on a subsequent document to a total amount of £2,014.0.0.
Release of Mortgages to Agricultural Bank and new Mortgages
On 28 January 1947 there is a document referring to Release of 3 Mortgages from JH Otto to Agricultural Bank. On the same date there is a further document referring to Mortgages from R Otto (Mortgagor) to Agricultural Bank (Mortgagee) and JH Otto (Mortgagee).
On 25 June 1948 there is a document referring to Release of Mortgage from R Otto to HP Otto and a further document of the same date referring to another Mortgage to Agricultural Bank.
Release of Mortgage R Otto to Agricultural Bank
On 21 July 1953 a document refers to Release of one of the Mortgages to Agricultural Bank.
Potential Sale to Storey
In 1960 there was a potential sale of AF1319 to Storey, subject to finance and approval of Minister of Lands, however, the sale lapsed before it could be completed.
Application to Purchase
On 21 July 1961 an Application to Purchase was lodged by R Otto. The purchase price was seventeen shillings and sixpence per acre with the full amount of £500.18.9 having been paid by way of Rent. A further £3.10.11 was paid for Deed Fee and Assurance Fund Fee.
It appears the Deed was forwarded direct to Agricultural Bank as Mortgagee.
Land Selection AF 1243 - Edgar (Joe) Otto
Early in 1929 Joe selected Portion 25 in the County of Yarrol, Parish of Tellebang and in July there were letters between Bruno & Joe and the Land Administration Board seeking a second lot to adjoin Portion 25.
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On 1st April 1930 Joe officially submitted an Application to Select Agricultural Farm No 1243 being Portion 25 having a total area of 254 acres three roods. The first year's rent was Eleven pounds seven shillings and two pence. Joe was 17 years of age. A Licence to occupy the selection was subsequently issued.
On 16 August 1930 Joe was officially advised that the addition of Portion 34 had been approved and added to AF1243, making a total area of 534 acres 1 rood.
On 14 April 1931 the property was subject to a Mortgage to Agricultural Bank. On 5 January 1932 there was a second Mortgage to Agricultural Bank.
It is interesting to note that in January 1932 a letter was written by the Land Ranger, District Land Office, to the Land Commissioner regarding water facilities on Joe's selection. The Land Ranger commented "This man and his brother, J.H. Otto, are excellent types of farmers."
On 27 October 1933 Joe was notified that an area of 2 roods 32 perches was resumed for road purposes. This land was "along and within parts of the eastern boundary of Portion 25". He was invited to submit a claim for compensation. The amended area of the farm was 533 acres 2 roods 19 perches.
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On 25 October 1934 Joe applied for a Lease of the selection. The Land Ranger made his usual inspection and report and the Lease was granted on 14 February 1935.
On 25 July 1951 Joe applied for a Deed of Grant. A Certificate of Performance of Conditions on Selection was obtained. The purchase price was twenty-seven shillings and sixpence per acre, being a total of £733.11.6. An amount of £420.17.7 had already been paid as rent, leaving a balance of £316.14.6 which included Deed Fee and Assurance Fund Fee. The National Bank of Australasia provided this amount and took fresh security over the land. Deed of Grant was issued on 11 September 1952.
Tellebang Photo Gallery
It is believed this photo would have been taken at the Tellebang farm in about 1934. The building on the left could well have been the kitchen which was constructed largely with the assistance of Hugo, uncle of Pat, Peter & Joe. The kitchen burnt down at some stage. Apparently it was not uncommon in those years for kitchens to suffer this fate which is why they were usually constructed as a separate building.
Elsie, unknown girl, Marie, Rene, Norma, two unknown boys.
Eva & Colin in front and possibly Pat in the background
(Those who are unidentified may be the children of Hugo & Maud Otto.)
Martha with Colin & Eva
Above: Tellebang School
Right: School photo with Eva Otto & Colin Otto
Rene on horse
Elsie, Ronnie, Eva, Marie, Norma
Marie, Elsie, Ronnie
(unknown man in car)
Joe, Pat, Peter, Marie, Rene, Martha, Elsie, Colin
Peter & Eva on horse
Rene & Marie
Eva, Rene & Norma (at the back)
Ronnie & Marie (sitting), Colin
