AustLit logo

AustLit

y separately published work icon Down Another Track selected work   autobiography   poetry   prose  
Issue Details: First known date: 1982... 1982 Down Another Track
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Charters Towers, Charters Towers area, Far North Queensland, Queensland,:Mimosa Press , 1982 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Bottles in the Birdseed, Richard Magoffin , single work prose humour
Following a party to celebrate a move to another property, the narrator hides the leftover bottles of spirits in some birdseed bins. He has to move quickly when the gardener finds the stash early next morning.
 (p. 25 - 26)
Arson, Richard Magoffin , single work prose humour
A drunken shearer sets fire to the lavatories so that he will not have to work the next day. Because it was against the Award for shearers to work without a lavatory some quick action is called for, greatly inconveniencing Old Norm, the gardener..
 (p. 27 - 28)
By a Lonely Track : A Household Remembers, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin relates how his ancestor, the first Australian Richard Magoffin, perished in a dust storm on 6 December 1885. The author restored the grave in 1981. The grave is near the remains of the old Welford Hotel, which local lore asserts provides the background for A. B. Paterson's 'Bush Christening'.
 (p. 28)
The Great Gamble, Richard Magoffin , single work prose
Explains the difficulties of making a living from grazing on the open downs country of North Queensland.
 (p. 37)
The Luck of the Draw, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin writes of the hardships faced by graziers in the 1960s.
 (p. 38)
Meeting Old Jim and Mister Booty, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Seeking agistment for his sheep, Magoffin and his father fly to Corrie Downs, the property of Jim Wheeler on the Burke River. Wheeler informs Magoffin he has lost many lambs to wedgetail eagles, but Magoffin believes it is more likely it was Wheeler's own dogs, known collectively as Mr Booty and the 'pups'.
 (p. 39 - 40)
Pundits, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
A neighbour receives 416 points of rain, but Magoffin records only 16.
 (p. 41 - 42)
Leprechaun at Bluebush Bore, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin relates the history of the feud between Jim Wheeler and his neighbour, Ernie Kirkham.
 (p. 42 - 44)
Plotting a Course, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin describes how he sought out a route to move his sheep to agistment.
 (p. 44 - 45)
The Territory Tick, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
'The Territory Tick' makes it clear he does not want anyone crossing his land.
 (p. 46 - 47)
Tit for Tat, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Not everyone is prepared to abide by The Territory Tick's attempts to bar people from crossing his land. Things get worse for him when he discovers one of his windmills has been stolen.
 (p. 48)
Getting There, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin describes the perils and difficulties of moving more than 6500 sheep on the long journey to their agistment.
 (p. 49 - 51)
The Wily Weaners, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Five hundred weaners prove sheep aren't as silly as people think.
 (p. 52)
Beating the Band, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin attends the Corrie Downs Horse Sports, is bucked off his horse, plays the accordion for the dancers, and gets drunk for the first time.
 (p. 52 - 54)
Off With the Quambetook Sheep, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Old Jim orders Magoffin's sheep off his property, but is placated with a bottle of Scotch. On a visit, Magoffin runs over one of Jim's dogs.
 (p. 55 - 56)
Shearing at Corrie, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Shearing on Old Jim's property proves a hazardous experience.
 (p. 57 - 58)
Talking Turkey, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
With no feed on his property, Magoffin has to search for more agistment.
 (p. 59)
North to the Gulf, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin secures agistment in the Gulf country.
 (p. 60 - 61)
Strike on the Saxby, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Magoffin averts a threatened walkout by his workers.
 (p. 62 - 63)
Breaking of the Drought, Richard Magoffin , single work autobiography
Following rain, Magoffin is able to move his sheep off their agistment in the Gulf country and take them home. But first he has to draft more than 10,500 sheep while suffering a hangover.
 (p. 64 - 66)
X