LINDSAY HARRIS - Tracks No. 3

Kwolyin was only a small town and there was no need to use a car, so most people walked to their destination; this created many tracks in the town.

When the school was still operating, there were many tracks going towards it, made by the local students. Even the schoolteacher had his own track to the hotel. One day he went for a counter lunch at the hotel and never returned and the kids were left to their own devices.

A very important track was one that led to the well, where we would collect water. My uncle would harness the horse and cart, place a 44-gallon drum on the back of the cart and proceed to the well.

He would fill the drum with water and head back home. I knew the water was good as there was always a frog at the bottom of the well.

I made a special track to my great grandmother’s camp when I would visit her, if I was lucky enough, she would give me some damper. Old Granny, as we used to call her, was a cripple, so sometimes she would ask me to go to the shop. Her needs were small, such as flour, sugar, tea, jam and baking powder.

Old Granny became crippled when she entered a ‘men’s business’ ceremony, was caught and had her Achilles tendon cut. They say she lived to over 100, I believe she lived to her 90’s. Anyway its amazing she lived that long, considering her diet and lack of exercise.

Another important track was the railway track.

The train was a passenger train that went to Merredin. Trains also carted wheat, livestock and goods to the shop and hotel.

The train does not run anymore; the shop, hotel, school, hall, houses, camps have gone.  However, as the trees and bushes grow back over the tracks, only the memories are left.