Latest Book: The Politician and the Pedestrian
INTRODUCTION
ON JIMBOUR STATION
‘Out on the Jimbour plains, a plant of the saltbush species called the roly-poly grew into a ball about four feet in diameter. After the first frosts of winter these became dry and broke off and went bounding before the winds in thousands, across the unfenced land. In a few days, with a change of wind, they set off in another direction. Stock that were not used to the roly-poly bolted in fright.
In the year 1863, Joshua Thomas Bell, fondly known as Master Joey, was born. His arrival at Jimbour from his birthplace of Ipswich coincided with the first of the roly-poly bushes dancing across the plains in front of the carriage, startling the horses and the two ladies inside.
One year later, Charles Samuels, first called Sambo Combo, was born at Jimbour Station. He was an Aborigine, a native of the country, like the roly-poly.
As children, Sambo Combo and his friend from the Big House, Master Joey, chased along with them, prancing and squealing. Sambo always outran Master Joey. It was about the only sport on Jimbour Station in which the black boy could best the white boy. Sambo’s life continued in various directions, running on the track and away from it, while Master Joey took a very different direction, ever impulsive and energetic and ambitious. Both lives ended painfully away from Jimbour.
Then there was the big grey female kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), with her long muscular tail and agile leaps, loved by Sambo Combo’s mother for the animal’s nurturing maternal care, chosen as her son’s totem. The kangaroo produced milk specifically made for the needs of her joey: she could produce two different types of milk, one for the newborn joey in the pouch and another for the older joey still dependent on her milk.
Sambo’s mother nurtured him as diligently as the totem animal, as carefully as Master Joey’s mother and nurse. She knew that connection with the kangaroo was part of his destiny, one that would take him away from his home range to different places in the white man’s world inhabited by Master Joey.
This is the story of the white boy, future debonair politician, and the black boy, the fastest foot runner in the world in his time, from Jimbour Station in Queensland.’
Location of Jimbour Station in South-East Queensland
Western Downs Regional Council: Provider of Regional Arts Development Fund Grant for Promotion of Book
Is a writer born to write? I have always been a scribbler. Read on…