No Looking Back – School’s Out and Life Begins (Pt X)
Chapter 7 – 1972 – Secondary School’s Finished – or So I Thought
School had finished! YES! And I had gone home. I have no idea what the rest of the girls at that school, day bugs or boarders, did after they finished school and to be honest, I had not given the future much thought either. I really had no idea what I wanted to do.
However, it seemed that my mother wanted me to follow the family tradition. All three of my brothers spent their first year after leaving school on the pay roll at home on the station. I think the aim of this was to give them some chance, now school was out of the way, to think about what they wanted to do. I think my father wanted them all to go on the land, but the boys didn’t necessarily want this. And no-one was going to force them.
My eldest two brothers did both go to different agricultural colleges, both in Victoria I think. But my youngest brother was looking into a different direction altogether. And now, many years down the track, through circumstances and many things, my eldest brothers has lived and worked on several rural properties, not including ours. He now lives in the Philippines. My middle brother has worked on our station as well as several others but is now living in Victoria and works on farms when he can. And my youngest brother? The one who had a different career altogether in his sights? He has worked in various areas too, including mining but at the moment, I believe he spends his time between the city (where his wife and he have a home) and our station, which now actually belongs to his wife. It is my understanding that they plan to retire up there – doing the exact opposite of most country people!
The point of this is that it did seem to be a tradition in my family for the children to go up and work on the station for a year after leaving secondary school. Apparently I was no exception and I must admit, I was thrilled to do this.
Although, there was a moment when I thought I might even be returning to that school to have yet another ‘go’ at 4th Year (leaving). The school contacted Mum at some stage during the school holidays as apparently they did think I would be returning. And they very excitedly told Mum about all the things I would be doing: I would still be boarding in the senior boarding house, but I would have my own room! I would also be head prefect as well as head of my own house/faction and several other things were to be bestowed upon me. This all excited Mum but I have to admit that I really was not sure how I felt about it all. For a few minutes, I did actually envisage myself in all these things – but then the other memories came flooding back. I think Mum felt it would all do me the world of good and she was probably right, but I really wasn’t sure about returning for yet another year. And the more I thought about it, the less I wanted to do it. Even if I did do and have all these things and most of the girls who bullied me would have gone, it didn’t appeal enough. Not really. While Mum was excited for me, she also knew how I felt and she would never have pushed me. So the answer was no. I didn’t go.
Hut on the hill. One of the original buildings on the station.
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